A Saga of Tanya the Evil/The Irregular at Magic High School crossover.
I do not in any way, shape, or form lay claim to either of these works.
This is just a work of admiration from one fan, to those others that share the same interest.
The only characters or places I lay claim to are those solely of my own creation.
The war on obliviousness chapter 21: What Monsters are We.
Wednesday July 14th 7:00 P.M
Visha shook her head, equal parts confused and amused as she watched Tanya and their new teacher, or sensei as she insisted on being called, arguing about math and magic. What really made it both confusing and amusing was the fact their language of choice for this debate was Japanese.
Currently, the topic was relating the differences and similarities between the two systems of magic, with the hope that it can be duplicated by a local mage, along with translating the spells they use to the format of this world's mages. So far, the results were less than ideal.
Tanya kept pointing to the illusion spell she had converted over for use by the Monolith team, much to the consternation of their sensei, who insisted the spell should not work as it did. The results were be repeated, but only if the spell was executed exactly as Tanya demonstrated it. The same was true for the combat spells she had translated for Visha's CAD, which the sensei insisted should not work. Too many variables, not the correct number of symbols, too many symbols that don't correlate. It was proving to be a challenge for the two talented mages, while Visha just watched on. She had lost the thread of the conversation long before they had switched to Japanese, now she was just watching two of her favorite people debate, while using it as a chance to improve her mastery of the language.
After a particularly heated debate, Visha got up, stretched and walked into the kitchen. Few things could get the two to stop their bickering, and luckily Visha's coffee happened to be one of them. As much as their sensei insisted she didn't like coffee, she matched Tanya almost cup for cup.
"I still can't see how you are getting those results. The formula you are using is complex, yes, but it doesn't have near the complexity that one would expect in an effect like that. There has to be a way to translate your system of math-based magic into a form that our character-based can use." Dr. Nishina commented, in German this time for the sake of Visha.
"Clearly, it's your system that is not flexible enough, if it can't handle a relatively simple series of spells like a mage's passive and active shells, along with the physical reinforcement magic that are necessary for flight, much less combat." Tanya countered.
"While we have managed to get a CAD to function as a rudimentary computation jewel, the level of power that you are achieving with the type 95 is simply unacceptable." Dr. Nishina groused, then turned and bowed to Visha. "I would almost have to wonder if you weren't Japanese in your former life, Visha dear. Your master of hospitality is amazing."
Tanya almost does a spit-take at that comment, quickly covering it with a cough. "As that may be, it is still simply a lacking in your system that is making it so much more difficult to explain the concepts that we are using here." Tanya tries to be polite in her rebuke.
"I hardly think that it is our system of magic that is lacking. No, your system is so unorthodox and abstract that it is causing the problems." Dr. Nishina fired back.
"Tanya, would you like one of these pastries? They just came out of the oven…" Visha offered, playing the mediator between the two as was quickly becoming normal.
Tanya blinked and smiled as she relaxed. She turned to face Visha, and smiled a warm smile that was reserved for Visha and Visha alone. "That would be lovely, thank you Visha."
"Why can't you be more Japanese like our dear Visha?" Dr. Nishina bemoaned.
"There is nothing wrong with how I act, you are the one that defies logic in your baseless clinging to the perceived superiority of your own system, ignoring the flexibility of a more math-based approach.". Tanya argued, missing the subtle little wink that was sent Visha's way by the prickly doctor.
Visha gives the two a fond if annoyed little smile as she walked over to serve each of them. "Honestly, you two are like mother and daughter, or perhaps an old married couple."
At Tanya's bewildered look, Dr. Nishina started to laugh. "Would that make you our proper daughter who is cursed to put up with our constant bickering?". She asked in an amused tone of voice.
The flat look she gets before the blank yet warm smile she gets from Visha is perhaps all the answer she needed.
"Visha, my dear, I will make a proper Japanese woman out of you yet. I might even have a yukata that will fit you." Dr. Nishina speculated while Tanya's poor mind overloaded over the mental image.
"Is... something wrong with her?". Visha asked as she watched her companion with worry.
Dr. Nishina shook her head, hiding her laughter behind her hand. "No, I just imagine she is thinking of deep, bounteous things."
Visha immediately perked up. "Oh! I see!"
Dr. Nishina grinned. "No, no you don't. But this old woman will be most entertained when you do."
A short time later, the two are alone once more, their guest having left for the night. As they work on their assignments for the next day, covert glances are passed back and forth.
"She is an annoyingly persistent woman." Tanya commented as she put down her own and stretched.
"I like her. She is very nice, and so helpful!". Visha said with a smile.
Tanya sighed and eyed her companion. "You are much too nice and generous, Visha. But, I guess that is one of your better qualities."
The heartfelt smile Tanya got for that went a long way towards setting her mind back at ease.
"I was thinking that we could order from that japanese place you like tonight." Visha said as she checked over her work again.
There was a reason that Tanya lo….really liked this woman, Tanya thought to herself as she nodded. "That sounds good, thank you Visha."
Perhaps it would be a good night after all.
Hours later, the pair have taken their showers and gone to their respective beds for the night. Practices were going to start to really step up, preparing them for the actual event that was coming up far quicker than some would wish it to. Tanya had been pushing herself particularly hard lately, between class work, practices and now there work on converting magic. Visha peered out from under her covers, entranced by the sleeping face of her companion.
After a bit, she slowly slid out of her bed, and walked with quiet, sure steps over before she slid into the bed behind her companion. Carefully, she slid an arm around her, and smiled as Tanya settled herself against the taller girl, a soft sigh slipped from each of their lips as they settled in to sleep as they had so often since coming to this world.
Thursday, July 15th, 6:00 A.M.
The pair have quickly finished their breakfast and are making their way towards the school at a brisk pace, having gotten permission to access the magical archives before classes start. They are on a particular mission today, looking for some of the books on the earliest of the ancient magics, and some of the spellcasting techniques used before the widespread adoption of the CAD's. Dr. Nishina had suggested that they look into them, hoping that perhaps in the older systems they might find more commonality with their own style of mathematical magic.
They pass some of their usual friends, the trio of Lisa, Willa and the outlandish Jane. Quick greetings and well wishes are exchanged as the pair hurry along, only having a limited amount of time to pick up the texts that had been reserved before leaving the apartment that morning.
"Honestly, why couldn't that woman have told us about them last night, instead of sending a message in the middle of the night? It's highly inefficient to have to do all of this in a rush. Poor planning. I would guess that is the norm with her." Tanya groused.
"Now, I'm sure that she just forgot because she was having so much fun discussing theory with you last night, Tanya." Visha commented, which drew a look from her diminutive companion.
"More like she enjoyed annoying me, and intentionally waited, knowing it would bother me." Tanya said sullenly.
Visha laughed and smiled. "It does seem to have worked, though."
"Why did I save you from the Rhine front again?" Tanya said in a half-joking manner.
"Because you can't live without my coffee." Visha answered after a moment of thought.
"Okay, I have to cede the point. Well done, Visha." Tanya said with a hint of a smile.
"I learned from the best, after all." she replied.
Soon, they are heading to their first class with a couple of books, and several digital documents to review on their terminals. The low conversation between them ebbs to an end as they enter the class, Visha being immediately swamped by the gaggle of hangers on that had attached themselves to the sometimes awkward ray of sunshine, leaving Tanya to move to the desk she has next to Visha's, and to make sure that their assignments are all ready to be turned in for the day.
Besides the mild annoyance that she seemed to feel towards the group that clammored for Visha's attention, it was looking to be a good day.
That impression held up until the practice, where she noticed immediately that there were far more older students about than would be normal for the first year's practice session. Tanya took a moment to square her shoulders and adjust her cap that she was wearing for Mirage Bat practice before marching smartly over to Lutz, and giving him a look until the awkward upperclassmen gave her his undivided attention.
"Is there something I can do for you, Tanya?" He asked nervously. For some reason, she had noticed that he was increasingly on edge around her.
"I was just wondering why there were so many upperclassmen at the practice today." She answered, her gaze sweeping over the half-dozen new faces.
"Umm, oh them? They are from the full events, and wanted to see what exactly we were up to, you know? Just wanting to make sure that we were up to snuff, and all." He said without looking directly at her.
"I see. Well, then shall we get to it, then, and show them that the first years won't drop the ball in the coming competition?" Tanya said, as she turned on her heel and gave a sharp clap to gather the attention of the other students.
"Okay, pay attention! Our seniors are here to see if we can pass muster! I know that you are still a bunch of baby birds, bumbling about and unable to fly, but let's show them that we are well on our way to being capable mages, worthy of their consideration and able to step into the large footprints they are leaving for us to follow in!" Tanya called, as she received a few cheers from the other students she had been training, and skeptical looks from most of the older students.
Those looks slowly faded as they watched the younger students running through their practice. There might even have been a few fervently taking notes, worried and amazed looks on their faces.
One of the older girls who was responsible for Battle Board walked up to Lutz, a look on her face. "So, this is what they have been talking about. So, did you pull this off, Lutz? I didn't think you were this...Well..Motivated."
He shakes his head, a defeated look in his eyes. "It wasn't me. It was her." He pointed to where Tanya was directing some of the other students like a general winning a battle.
"So, the rumors were true? That...Really is her?" She said in an amazed tone of voice.
He nodded, sighing again. "Yes, Tanya Von Degurechaff. The Beast of Berlin, who has hijacked my training sessions from me."
"She seems so...small and cute…" The girl says as she shook her head in disbelief.
"Don't let her fool you. She is a monster." Lutz said as he paled a bit more when Tanya looked in his direction.
"An absolute monster."