Hope you like what I'm doing with things so far.

My aim is to create a slightly warmer version of Louise who can learn to work together with her new familiar.

Michael awakens in the aftermath of his fight with Guiche to find Siesta by his bedside.


Aftermath

I open my eyes with a deep groan and my vision is fogged over. Inhaling and exhaling deeply, I blink away the distortion and do my best to sit upright. My sides feel sore and bandages wrap my middle.

No, I'm worse than sore. Feels like I've been kicked around by a damned horse!

Looking down at myself, I realize I'm in a bed and wearing only my briefs. My legs are uncovered and my feet are cold. There's a thick, woolen blanket over me and I'm lying on a very soft mattress.

"O-Oh, Michael, you're finally awake, thank goodness," says a familiar young lady.

I look up and see a pretty, young dark-haired girl dressed in a maid uniform, and my heart skips a beat.

"Siesta... What in the heck happened?" I cough gently, my body tensing for a moment. "I feel absolutely dreadful."

"Well, you were in a duel and you collapsed afterward," Siesta replies, coming over to my side and gently putting her hand against my forehead.

"Yeah, I remember now, I taught Guiche some manners."

Well, hopefully I did. The last thing I can remember is collapsing after beating him and his golems.

"How long was I out for?"

"About three days," Siesta says gently.

My eyes widen a touch. "Three days...?"

Siesta nods. "Mmm-hmm. Miss Vallière has watched over you all this time. She's worn out, I'm afraid."

I look across the room. Louise snoozes against her writing desk with her head propped against her arms. I frown and feel bad for causing her worry.

"Here," Siesta says, holding out a glass of water.

I nod and accept the glass gratefully.

"Thank you, Siesta," I reply, drinking it all down in one go.

My eyes wander over to Louise again after I set the glass down on the bedside table.

A remorseful twinge grips my chest.

"You're kind beneath that snappy exterior, aren't you?" I whisper. "You could have just left me there on the ground and gone about your own business. You didn't have to watch over me the entire time. That's really... Nice of you, Louise."

I turn to look back at Siesta.

"Thanks, Siesta. I do hope she hasn't had you running around too much because of me."

"Oh, no, not at all. You needn't worry either way, Mister Michael. I think you're amazing."

I laugh limply. "Not exactly the words I'd use to describe myself, but all right."

Siesta touches her hand to mine, her cheeks pinkening.

"And why shouldn't I think highly of you? You stood up for Miss Montmorency, and me, too."

People said a fair few nice things about me back home. Sadly, I didn't take them to heart all too often. Not because I didn't believe them. More because I'm a guy who sells himself short, I guess.

I shrug, a sheepish grin tugging at my lips.

"Yeah, well, I guess I did."

I'm not one to go looking for a fight, but once I'm in one, I don't let up.

"You did, and you shouldn't forget it," says Siesta, squeezing my hand gently for an instant.

"Thanks, Siesta."

She smiles prettily. "You're welcome, Mister Michael."

A small plate of apples sits by the empty glass on the bedside table.

"Are these Louise's?" I ask. "I'm a bit peckish, now I think about it."

"No, Mister Michael. Those are for you. Miss Montmorency stopped by and left them here for you earlier."

Now there's a surprise.

I point toward my head. "Miss Ringlets? Guiche's girl?"

Siesta nods. "Yes. She insisted on bringing you something, as thanks for opening her eyes, I think she said."

I pick up one of the fresh green apples and smile. "Well, that was nice of her."

"I think so too, Mister Michael," Siesta agrees.

"Hey, listen, you don't have to call me that," I tell the maid, setting down the apple.

Siesta tilts her head.

"You can just call me by my first name. Folks aren't usually so formal where I'm from."

"But you're a noble," she replies, confused.

"I'm not. Not in the slightest. I'm a regular guy through and through."

Siesta frowns. "But you can use magic. We all saw as much when you fought Lord Guiche."

I look thoughtfully at the meteor-shaped insignia etched into the back of my hand. Then I sigh.

"If I knew how I actually evoke it, I'd tell you. Sadly, I don't have a clue."

"I'm certain that you will discover how," Siesta says, smiling again.

I chuckle, looking away.

"We'll see. Whatever the reason, though, I'm fairly convinced it relates to Louise."

"What do you mean?" Siesta asks, curious.

"I'm not certain," I admit, looking down at my hand. "All I know is I didn't gain the ability to perform magic until after she kissed me."

Siesta looks puzzled by what I've told her. "So you couldn't use it before...?"

I shake my head. "No. Nobody has the power to use magic where I'm originally from."

"Wow," she breathes, staring at me.

"Yeah, wow," I mutter, looking away.

"Well, whatever the case may be, I'm just happy to have you back with us again."

Louise stirs from her slumber, muttering gently.

"Michael..."

Hearing Princess' voice is something of a comfort, I won't lie.

"I'm up, Louise, I'm up," I tell her.

She jerks upright, her eyes widening.

"Michael!"

Louise hurries across the room to my bedside, her cheeks flushed.

"You're alive!"

I chuckle, making light of how achy I still feel.

"Either that or I'm a pretty convincing illusion, yeah."

She takes my hand into hers. "Thank the Goddess. I was worried sick!"

"Ah, c'mon. You've seen me do more impressive things than getting knocked on my butt, haven't you?"

Louise narrows her eyes and frowns, her persona shifting like the flick of a light switch.

"Don't joke, Michael. You could have been seriously hurt, you big, stupid idiot!"

I sigh and rub my temple.

"Yes, yes, I know, I know."

"Don't brush it off so casually!" Louise scolds me. "As my familiar, you're supposed to do as I say."

"But Miss Vallière " Siesta speaks up, "he was only sticking up for myself and Miss Montmorency."

"Be silent!"

The maid bows her head and withdraws from the bedside wordlessly.

"Hey," I protest.

"Be quiet, Michael," Louise commands.

I glare at her. "I'm sorry, who's the one lying here in bed? Because I'm pretty sure it's not you."

"You did that to yourself, idiot!" Louise retorts, scowling.

"Only because de Gramont is a two-timing prick," I growl back.

Louise exhales grumpily and shakes her head.

"There's just no making you understand your place, is there?"

"Being your familiar, I can deal with," I tell her flatly. "If it's a genuine one-way trip, at least."

"What I can't and won't deal with is people treating others like crap just because they can," I continue with a firm tone. "I'm not perfect, Princess, far from it. But there are just some things I won't budge on."

"Fine," Louise replies curtly. "I'm not going to try to argue with you. Just know that there's a basket of laundry still outstanding once your injuries have fully healed. And I want you out of my bed and down on the floor come nightfall, as well."

"Whatever, Louise."

Louise glares at me for another moment before huffing and turning her head away.

"Since I'm a kind mistress, however, Michael... I'll show remorse this time."

Louise turns and looks at Siesta. "I want you to bring a spare mattress in here later this evening for my idiot familiar, and a blanket, too."

Siesta nods her head respectfully.

"Of course, Miss Vallière."

"And, you'll be helping him with my laundry, too," the mage adds.

"As you say, Miss."

Louise returns her attention to me, her expression neutral.

"A principled familiar is better than a perverted dog without morals. But don't think I'll take you ignoring me lightly the next time, Michael."

"I'm not going to get any further with you right now, am I?" I ask with a half-smile

Louise's cheeks redden slightly.

"S-Shut up, idiot."

...

I'm down on my new floor bed. It's late at night and the sun has well and truly set.

The pain's easing and it's a little easier to move than when I first woke up.

It's only my second conscious night here and how quiet the academy gets still surprises me.

It's peaceful, don't get me wrong. But it's a little unsettling, too.

No cars or traffic. No television. No neighbors next door blasting music in the small hours.

All this stuff I grew up with is just... gone.

I sigh deeply.

"No Anna to keep me warm, either," I whisper under my breath.

That sensation right there's a bittersweet one, for sure.

I hear the covers rustle as Louise turns over in bed.

"Michael... are you awake?"

Won't lie, Louise's voice is a wonderful break in the silence.

"Yeah, I'm still up."

I sit up to look at her. The moonlight through the window's dim, but it's enough to make her out.

"Having trouble sleeping?" I ask.

"Mmm," Louise mumbles. "I can't seem to drift off. What about you?"

"Eh, can't lie," I admit, scratching the back of my head. "I'm not the best sleeper."

Louise sits upright.

"You aren't? Why?"

I shrug. "I overthink things. That. and I'm still adjusting to being away from home."

"Is London truly all that different from Tristain?" Louise asks, curious.

"Oh yeah. In ways you couldn't begin to imagine."

"Like what?"

I smile ruefully. "Like, there's no magic. The people are a lot taller. We don't have familiars or dragons. Shops in the city never close. There are no masters or servants, either."

"Don't mention my height, idiot," Louise protests.

I laugh softly.

"I wasn't talking about you, Princess. Though, yeah, you're a bit shorter than most girls back home, I suppose."

A lot shorter. And girls back home don't have natural pink hair, either. I won't mention either of those things, though.

Louise scowls.

"It's not my fault that the other girls here are so tall," she snaps.

"Eh, height's not something folks should make a big deal of if you ask me. Way I see it, it's all about people. What you put out into the world comes back at you in the end."

"...Is that why you challenged Guiche like you did, Michael?"

I nod firmly. "Yeah, it is. Can't say the way Anna treated me didn't play into things a little bit, though."

"I didn't want you to get hurt," Louise tells me. "You realize that, right?"

"I know," I reply quietly.

"I'm glad."

I watch the princess yawn and stretch, then lean back against the headboard.

"Of course, my trying to stop you was only expected. As a master, I can't have my familiar getting hurt doing reckless and stupid things," Louise proclaims.

I can't help but smile wryly.

"I'll wager your heart's in the right place, Louise. At least compared to most of the other nobles here."

"What do you mean by that?" Louise asks.

"I'm just saying a lot of the students here seem to have an inflated sense of self-importance," I tell her. "With you, though... Well, I imagine you're pretty gentle behind that... exterior of yours."

"A-And what makes you think you know me so well, hmm?" Louise questions, her cheeks surging bright red.

"Nothing. Nothing at all. Just call it a hunch. Something I picked up from having a friend like you in school."

Louise is silent for a few moments.

"Would you prefer we be friends, Michael...?" she follows cautiously.

"Well, you're not exactly a bad person," I reply. "I think maybe it would do you good to have a friend, yeah."

"You aren't a bad person, either," the pinkette admits quietly. "Even if you are reckless. And an idiot."

I chuckle dryly. "I've been called way worse, trust me."

Smiling softly, Louise offers up one of her dainty hands.

"Well then, Michael... Friends?"

"Friends," I echo, clasping her hand gently.

She giggles sweetly, making my heart skip a beat.

"This is a nice change, I think. B-But I'm still your master, you hear?"

I nod and release Louise's hand. "Loud and clear, Princess. Night."

Louise pulls her covers over herself, and I lay down on the mattress.

"Goodnight, Michael."

I roll over onto my side, thinking about things for a short while.

I've already got the attention of a handful of folks, it seems.

Not what I intended, but hey, it is what it is.

And, if I'm going to be stuck here long-term, I might as well make the best of it.

For my sake. And Louise's too, I suppose.

To be continued...


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