Thanks for the cheering, youflesh840!
Next morning
"You look shaken, Louise. What happened last night?" Kirche asks the girl with a slight worrying tone. Normally the pink-haired mage would just sit down normally and start enjoying the breakfast like every other. This time, however, the younger daughter of Valliere is having her teeth clattering against each other with white eyes in fear. To add to that, Wisdom is now accompanying her and… a little too close to her, and his right hand is twitching, ready to pull his sword out for some reasons.
"M…M…My mother… she…" Seems like the girl is not calming down after Wisdom has told her what the Headmaster told him last night… in the next morning.
"My mistress' mother is heading here today." The familiar decides to take her place in answering the question.
"…That's… rare." Kirche says in confusion. "Why would your mother come here out of the blue?"
"…Karin. The Heavy Wind. Her mother." Tabitha speaks up.
"…Oh… That doesn't answer my question, though."
"It's about the summoning ritual." Wisdom replies. "Someone has reported to her that we didn't finish it. But, I'm also as clueless as why she is coming here for such simple reasons."
"Ah… right, we have forgotten about that." Kirche flicks her hair back.
"…Wisdom…" He looks down to see his mistress looking at him with a terrified face. "…When…will she…"
"…About an hour, my mistress. Please, at least eat something, or madam Valliere might have more reasons to scold you."
The girl reluctantly turns back to the table and picks up her fork. "…Wisdom…"
"Don't worry. I will help you as much as I can."
"…Thank you…"
"You know, Wisdom." The familiar looks at the Fire Mage. "I know that you are clever enough to deceive Fouquet, but how are you going to deal with the Commander of the Manticore Knights?"
"I will find a way."
…
The next hour
"Greetings, madam Karin." The Headmaster immediately stands up when the door of his office opens. He then gestures the lady towards the tea table. "It's my pleasure to see you here. Please take a seat."
The woman nods with anticipation. When the two sit down properly, the lady of Valliere speaks: "I'm sure you are informed of my arrival."
"Ah, yes, madam Karin." Giving her a poured teacup, Old Osmond replies. "I have told one of the professors to go and call young lady Valliere to come here immediately."
"Good." The woman then takes a small sip of tea before continuing. "I'm a little surprised that the recent Mage Killer got released and returned here to work. You must know who he is, right? And then the thief caught stealing in your academy as well."
"Ah… yes, we know him. He is… quite famous around the commoners. And you know how fast they spread news among the others. About Fouquet, she is in the Palace's prison now."
"Hm. A thief, and a killer. The safest place in Tristain, I see." The woman sarcastically as she takes another sip. "And that killer just happened to be my daughter's familiar. Care to elaborate that, sir Headmaster?"
"Well…"
"Headmaster. I have called them up, just as you requested." He doesn't need to really answer the question, as Colbert comes in with the nervous girl and the 'unchanging' boy following him quickly.
"Ah, thank you. You can leave now." The Headmaster dismisses the professor.
"Then I will take my leave. And good day, madam Karin." After greeting the woman, Colbert immediately exits the room and closes the door, leaving the 'unfortunate' duo to stay with possibly an upcoming storm.
"G…Gree…Greetings, mother." The pink-hair mage stammers, trying her best to say hello to her mother with her fear slowly rising.
"Ease up, Louise." The older woman orders, causing the girl to flinch. "I'm not here to punish you. However, I need some answers about some questionable events."
"I… understand, mother." Her mother's words confirm that she's not in trouble…yet. And that doesn't really calm her down that much.
"Good. Take a seat." Her daughter quickly follows the order, with the boy standing behind the girl's chair, waiting for the orders. "First, I want to confirm about your… familiar, there." Karin directly points her finger towards Wisdom. "I was told that he was indeed summoned by you, but you never finished it. Why?"
"It's… because…" She can't really say it…
Karin notices that the familiar raising a finger up, signaling that he wants to say something. She decides to let him speak: "You want to speak in her place?"
"I do." Wisdom nods once.
"…Go ahead, then. My daughter seems to not calm down yet." That makes the girl's head lower down in shame.
"First, it's because of your sudden appearance that made her feel nervous. I hope you don't blame her for her interactions."
"Like I said, I'm not here to blame her."
"Thank you. Second, it's your question about why we didn't finish the summoning. It's because of the side effects that could directly affect my mind."
The Headmaster then quickly explains what he meant to the Duchess. The woman only nods once then takes a small sip. "I see. That does make some senses. However… how do you know about it?"
"I have a friend who is an expert at… studying living being's behaviors. Would it be strange that a potentially dangerous creature would bow towards human that easily? For example, a poisonous snake or a tiger."
"Hm… you do have a point. Your friend must be a very popular mage to understand such things." Karin makes a premature conclusion.
Which makes Wisdom shake his head. "It is just common sense."
Surprisingly, Karin makes a small nod of approval. She then changes the subject: "Have you found out your affinity, Louise?"
"I… well, I do, but…" Louise says with a small voice. "It's… I can't say it."
"What do you mean by…"
"Madam Karin." This time the Headmaster intervenes. "I have to defend her at this point. Her affinity is not something we can say out loud."
"…Is it why her spells kept ending with explosions?" Karin connects the dots.
"Possible. But they were all successful, but the power was too strong that made the spells self-destructed." The Headmaster replies.
"She's just a young Noble…"
"With the highest magic potential to grow, madam Valliere." Wisdom interjects.
"…If you found it out… have you performed a spell properly?"
"…Yes." Seeing that hiding would make it worse, Louise speaks up.
"Show me." To the girl's fear, Karin orders.
"Uh… mother… about the… isn't it… supposed to be secret?" She tries to avoid showing that she's actually learning a different way of using magic, which might…
"There is only us here." Karin disagrees her daughter's reason.
"Then, may I ask who is the one telling you about the ritual? It couldn't be one of the people in the Academy." Wisdom shakes his head while asking the question.
"Viscount Wardes. Though, I just heard about it yesterday." Karin answers.
"One of the well-known Nobles around here, I believe. I only heard about his name when I was imprisoned." The familiar notices that Louise's cheeks flush up. "What is it, my mistress?"
"It's nothing, Wisdom." Louise quickly replies, the redness doesn't fade away.
"…Wisdom. That's an unusual name for a person." Karin says while keeping her stern face up.
"It's… I named him, mother." The daughter explains.
"…Must be during the Familiar Exhibition, then." The familiar decides to dismiss it. "No one is around, my mistress, so it's safe for you to show it."
That makes Karin send a small glare of suspicion towards the familiar. So far, for some reasons, she feels like the 'commoner' is leading her daughter, instead of the other way around. Though, given that her daughter is scared because of her sudden arrival, maybe the familiar decided to help her for a moment.
"…If you want to see it, mother…" Louise speaks up, then takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Karin waits for her daughter to start chanting… instead, after ten seconds, no words come out of her mouth. Instead, her arms now start being covered in some sorts of purple flame, and a few more seconds later, a transparent, purple-color barrier appears around her, covering Louise on all sides.
"That… is interesting." Old Osmond speaks up with pure curiosity. "A non-vocal spell. You sure have talents in finding spells."
Opening her eyes, Louise turns to the Headmaster and nods. "Thank you for your kind words."
"…Where did you find that spell?" Karin suspects something is wrong. "This Academy couldn't possibly have anything that teaches spells like this."
"That's the unique traits of magic users like my mistress, madam." Karin glares towards the familiar. "They will develop the spells on their own, not following the rules applied on most of the mages."
"…Who are you?" To the others' surprise (except Wisdom), Karin pulls out her own wand and points it towards the familiar. "No commoners could possess this kind of knowledge. And my daughter isn't someone who would just listen to some random commoners."
"…That took you some time, madam." Wisdom slightly bows down with his right hand placing on his chest. "Rest assured that I have no bad intentions towards my mistress. All I have done since her calling for me are to help her, nothing more nothing less."
"And I find it strange." Karin is still suspicious. "You could do more than just being her familiar. If it's anything, you can make it be turned and…"
"I have said to my mistress once, and I will say it again." Wisdom interrupts. "I did not answer her because she made a call to me. It's a terrible chant, and the spell itself is horrible regarding to the free will of the summoned." That makes Louise flinch again. "However, I decided to hear her pleads in her mind, then traced back to her chant. I then understood why the summon chose me, and I answered the call. Of course, I did make a right choice, because I do have a personal desire, and that's to help the people that's in need of right guidance. And my mistress here is obviously one."
"…That doesn't mean you could just manipulate her and do whatever you want."
"You have a right reason to not trust me. However, if I really did what you said, then we couldn't really have this conversation."
A moment of silence occurs. Her wand is still pointing, but Karin starts looking down to her daughter. When Louise looks back at her, she asks: "…Is it true? Did he tell you that in the past?"
"He did." The girl nods. "What he did so far was to help me and the mistreated commoners. I managed to perform the spell was also because he guided me. About Mott's incident… like he said, it was just an unfortunate moment."
"And I can back her up for that." Karin turns to the Headmaster. "And, so far, he has solved the problems in the school without using magic. Or at least, he used it as subtle as possible."
That makes the Duchess start measuring the current situation. Her daughter is basically following a mysterious person who happened to be able to recognize her potential of magic. If things get out of hands, he could blackmail the girl and force her to bow down to him. Worse, he could use her to control the Valliere family, then the Royalty of Tristain, the country and then the whole Halkeginia.
But, thanks to him, Louise is now about to perform spells, and her first one could be considered a very high-level spell since there is no vocal chants. If it goes on a good way, then Louise can prove that she is indeed capable of using magic, ones that are superior to the others. And then, even if that familiar tries something, Louise can easily blast him away…
However, if he's the one teaching, he can measure her and make a proper counter…
"Madam, whatever you are thinking, don't direct the negative emotions towards your daughter."
Wisdom's statement snaps her out of her inner thought, and her vision returns to see that she's looking directly at her daughter, who is having a scared face. Karin quickly averts her eyes towards the familiar, who is not flinched at how she looks at him.
"…What would you do to make me trust you?" Karin decides to give out the last question.
"Better question: Do I need to?" Wisdom asks back, then answers immediately. "The answer is no. I don't care how people look at me, as long as I can help my mistress as her familiar, ritual finished or not."
"…"
It felt like a storm just passed by!
Thankfully Wisdom is no ordinary servants, otherwise he might have been crushed by my mother's glare. And he didn't do anything rash, so she didn't really overact much.
After his answer, my mother lowered her wand and sat down, then took another sip of tea to calm down. She then asked me about what I have learnt from the start of the Second Year. I have told me nearly everything, well, maybe all if I wasn't mistaken. Even about Wisdom managing to separate her room into a different space when he revealed his secrets to me.
Then, she asked Wisdom for a fight to determine if he's capable of protecting me. However, he declined and said that it might expose both me and him. Though, he did remind her about how he managed to hide his current job as my familiar when he confessed to the Palace, which meant that he's capable of covering our backs.
"…It's time for me to return, then." Karin stands up after her teacup is empty, and she has no more questions worth to ask the others. "Louise, you might have successfully performed a spell, but don't get overconfident. This is the first good step towards your future, and I want you to make more than that."
"Yes!" The daughter immediately stands straight up and replies without a beat.
"Good." She then turns to Old Osmond and says: "Do not treat her any better than the others. You are the head of the academy, so you work like one."
"Of course, madam Karin." The old man nods, although there is a visible sweat dripping out of his forehead.
She then turns to Wisdom… and after a few seconds of thinking what to say, she decides: "Don't make me regret trusting my daughter to you."
"You won't." The familiar calmly replies, not fazed from the beginning to the end.
"Then, I wish you all to have a good day." She then heads to the exit without saying any further.
Once the footsteps couldn't be heard anymore, Louise falls back down to her chair and releases the breath she's been holding since she stood up. She then looks up to Wisdom and asks: "How were you not afraid of her? I mean, I know that you have magic, but that doesn't mean…"
"There are many things to fear more than the pressure from someone who is seemingly superior." The familiar replies, then looks down towards his left hand where the rune is, and makes it disappear. He then changes the subject: "She is proud of you, I can tell from how she acted."
"I agree with you, mister Wisdom." Louise turns to the Headmaster. "Before you arrived, miss Valliere was being mistreated by the others because none of her spells worked. Now, knowing that she managed to perform one and more in the future, madam Karin would be relieved that all of her children have their own talents."
The comments make the girl slightly blush up with new pride and excitement.
The Headmaster then asks Wisdom: "What are you going to teach her next?"
"I'm planning to help her perfecting the first spell first. Then the next spell would be decided on her own. Her own magic will recognize which spells are more beneficial for her than I do."
"I see. You don't want her to learn what you know, but rather develop her own." Old Osmond strokes his long beard. "It would make the others think that miss Valliere is trying a different way of using magic, instead of thinking that you are helping her."
"Correct."
To conclude the conversation, Old Osmond smiles and walks back to his desk and says: "I believe that it's time for you two to return back to your class. Good day to you two."
…
Three days later
"No new spells…" Louise face-plants into her pillow, grunting in disappointment. "Wisdom, can't you just give me a simple spell and let me replicate them?"
"Like I said before, your focus is still not good enough to do so. 'Barrier' depends only on the target you want to protect and it forms itself easily. And no Void spells are simple."
"Isn't Teleportation spell a simple one?" Louise turns her head towards the familiar who is in his usual spot maintaining Derflinger. "I just have to imagine where I am, right?"
"No. If you hear someone saying that it's easy, then you are tricked. Or, they want to keep their speed as a secret."
"So… you can move fast enough so no one could catch you?"
"Yes. However, with experienced fighters, that won't work for long since you are not invincible during the move. About Teleportation, it's…" He suddenly stops and turns his head towards the window. "My mistress, I suggest you sit up now. Her Highness is coming through the window."
"Heh?" Quickly alarmed by his words, the girl sits up and starts fixing her clothes then waits for the person to come… "How far can you detect a person?"
"...I do not bother to check it."
After a few seconds, true to Wisdom's warning, Henrietta floats in and lands on the floor. Upon seeing that Louise is already noticing her, the girl smiles and greets: "Hello Louise, my friend. I'm glad that you are still awake."
"Princ… Henrietta, I will stay up the whole night to talk with you if you want me to." Louise quickly replies as she leads her friend and both then sit on the bed.
"Thank you. And greetings to you too, mister Wisdom."
"To you as well, Your Highness." The familiar just nods and replies back, not dropping what he is currently doing.
"But, why did you come here alone, Henrietta?" Louise then asks. "And with no guards as well."
"…I… have an urgent request for you two." The princess says with hesitant in her voice. "…In near future, I'm getting married."
"…That is…" Louise is a little confused. If that's the true, then she would just cheer for her friend. However, given that her tone is somewhat saddened, maybe…
"A political marriage." Wisdom stops fixing Derflinger and puts him into the scabbard before speaking. "Heard many stories like that before, yours must be the same Your Highness."
"Yes, it is." Henrietta nods. "I'm going to marry the Emperor of Germania."
"Germania?" Hearing the country's name makes Louise stand up and shout in disbelief. "Of ALL countries, why that barbaric nation?"
"It's our only way to strengthen our alliance. Albion is currently having a civil war, and the Royal Family is going to be overthrown soon. If the nation falls into the Rebellion…"
"Reconquista." Wisdom knows what organization the princess is talking about.
"Yes, Reconquista. Their next target will definitely Tristain, the weakest nation in military."
Louise hangs her head down, feeling sad that her friend is doing something against her will to protect the others. "I… I see…"
Henrietta continues: "They also don't want the two nations to become allies. They have been searching for anything that could interfere with the marriage."
"And you want us to find and eliminate the evidence?" The familiar understands the request and asks, and the princess nods. "But why us? I'm sure there would be more people willing to protect it…"
"We can't trust anyone in the Palace, mister Wisdom." Henrietta explains. "After the stir you caused, we have found out some other minor Nobles who were also working for the other nations, not just Reconquista. Also, the evidence was… very personal." She then turns away in shame. "I can't believe I'm asking you two to do it. But I can only trust you two…"
"Princess!" Louise quickly walks to where Henrietta is facing and kneels down, surprising the princess. "I'm honored that you have fully trusted us for this! We would gladly do it for you!"
"Louise…" Moved by her friend's dedication, a tear has fallen out of the princess' right eye, but she wipes it out quickly. "Thank you very much…"
"My mistress." Louise turns to Wisdom, who now stands up. "I will not disobey your orders, but I need to speak out my opinions in this matter."
"…What's in your mind?" Louise hopes it's nothing bad.
"Like my mistress, I do not approve of the marriage. Not because you married a leader of a specific nation, but the event itself is basically a self-destruction move. If the marriage actually happens, you sell the whole nation to the other."
That makes the girls gasp in surprise and horror, as the master says in fear: "Wisdom, don't just scare us like that! It's just for the alliance…"
"Then let me give you a smaller scenario, my mistress, Your Highness." The familiar interrupts. "IF Count Mott SOMEHOW manages to marry Her Highness, then the leader role would shift to him, and Her Highness would no longer have any power in controlling the country. You can imagine the disasters afterward if that REALLY happens."
A few seconds later, the girls shudder at the thought. Especially Louise since she hasn't really thought of anything like that.
"That's the first thing." Wisdom continues. "The second thing is about this evidence. If it's something within the nation, then a professor in the Academy could go and retrieve it better than us. I would like to ask about this evidence."
Calming down after pushing the horrific scenarios into the back of her mind, Henrietta replies: "Yes, I was planning to tell you anyway. It's a letter that Prince Wales is keeping under his care."
"Prince Wales, you mean… isn't he in Albion?" Recognizing the name, Louise asks.
"Yes… I'm sorry that I asked you two to do it."
"Don't worry, Princess! We will help you!" Louise once again declares.
"If that's my mistress' wish, then I will comply. However… my mistress, I'm sorry for wasting the money on fixing the door."
"…What door?" Louise asks in confusion. Then, to both of the girls' surprise, Wisdom pulls out the sword and throws it towards the door, creating a large hole. What follows next is a yelp of surprise. The familiar then opens the remain of the door and grabs the sword with his left hand, while his right hand grabs on someone and he drags both of them in. "…Guiche?" Upon the person's under the light of the moons, the pink-haired mage manages to see the stalker's face.
"Hey hey hey! Release me!" Instead of focusing on the girls, the Earth mage is now trying to get himself out of Wisdom's grip.
"What should we do with him, Your Highness?" Wisdom's cold voice makes it sound like he's planning something dark, which makes Guiche try to pull away from the other as fast as possible.
"Wait! Let me help you all!" Before anyone else speaks, the playboy offers. "I could be a great help to you!"
"You, Guiche de Gramont, want to help princess? Why do you think you can help us?" Louise, switching back to her usual self, asks back suspiciously.
"Hey! At least I'm better at performing…"
"Excuse me, but…" The others stop when Henrietta speaks up. "Louise, you said Gramont, as of General Gramont? He is…" She looks at Guiche with curious eyes. "His father?"
"Um… yes, princess." Louise replies.
The Princess then smiles and stands up. "Mister Wisdom, please release him." Wisdom looks at Guiche once before following the order and he backs away. She then slightly bows down to look at the mage who's changing his position into kneeling. "Your father is a great and brave Noble, and you seem to have inherited his blood and bravery as well. Then, if you can, please help this unfortunate princess and save this nation from destruction."
"Of course! It's my honor to serve Your Highness!" Guiche is eager to help the (current) highest Royalty in Tristain.
"Then, we should depart right at tomorrow morning." Louise decides to let Guiche join, and says the plan with a serious voice. "I have travelled to Albion before, so I'm familiar with the place."
"Thank you all." Princess thanks with a grateful smile. "We have heard that Prince Wales has set up camp somewhere around Newcastle. But it will be a perilous journey…" She then heads to the table and asks Louise for a paper and her feather quill…
"Guiche." Wisdom calls out for the person. "If you really want to, and since it's Her Highness' offer, I won't stop you. But, I suggest you return to your room and prepare immediately. If there's anything new, we will tell you next morning."
"Don't tell me what to do." Guiche stands up and grunts. He then bows down and says his goodbye: "I will take my leave, Your Highness."
Watching the boy walking out of the room, Wisdom quickly closes the door before anyone else could go in. He turns back to see Henrietta giving his mistress a blue ring before whispering something to her. The princess then says her goodbye and floats out of the window, disappears into the night sky.
Louise looks down to the ring in her hand, then puts it on the table. She then pulls her chair closer and sits on it, and starts writing into her diary… "Wisdom, please fix the door by your magic."
"Already done."
"Good… you can rest now. Can't have you run out of energy in the morning."
"Only when you return to your bed."
"…Then bear with me for a few minutes."
"Of course, my mistress."
"And make yourself a bed or something."
"I did that on day one."
"…Of course, it's you after all."