Chapter 4

- POV: Private First Class Brenner: the next morning -

Laundry was a rather upsetting affair. Just as I'd believed Louise and I were making progress, she had simply chalked my well-being up to a 'responsibility' she had towards me. Now she was making me do all of the laundry that had piled up over the three days I was recovering - and she had wanted all of it done before class.

I was only glad that she woke me up way too early for me to do this. If only I had the time to make myself some coffee. Alas, when I asked for her to make a flame so I could heat up a cup of water, she just threatened an explosion at me.

Back to square one, as the professionals would say. I was about halfway done when Louise had barged in on me, demanding to know what was taking so long. Needless to say, an argument broke out and the two of us were no longer on speaking terms.

She had me attend classes with her in person, which was a very boring affair. For one, Louise and her class were all second years, so someone like me couldn't hope to understand what advanced magical topics were being taught. So I did the one thing to piss off Louise and probably the rest of the class.

I opened the four pack of cigarettes and a matchbook from my breakfast ration pack a few days ago, taking one of those cancer sticks and lighting a match as quietly as I could manage. I never was one to smoke, but I was feeling both spiteful and stressed. I'd done so a few times back in France, so why couldn't I do so here?

And by quietly, I meant that the loud zip of the match caught everyone's attention as I lit the end of my cigarette. Inhaling deeply, I sighed - a long and gentle puff of smoke exiting my mouth before looking at the rest of the class. They were all clearly distracted - including the teaching professor - by my antics. Shrugging, I popped the cigarette back in my mouth and inhaled once again.

Maybe smoking in the middle of class wasn't the smartest thing to do - but no one risked a fight or an argument, and the class continued once the windows were open - with Louise fuming all the while.

Despite that, I paid marginal attention to the class, such as Montmorency - who seemed to have gotten over the nasty breakup from three days ago - answered a question about mage skill, where two elements mastered formed a line, three elements mastered formed a triangle, and four elements mastered formed a square.

I looked up at Montmorency - who was sitting behind Louise's desk, and nodded in greeting. She gave me an unreadable expression before looking back to the rest of class.

"Pardon me, Miss Chevreuse," a familiar voice said. Louise and I turned to see Kirche standing up. "But a student that can't even use one element - with a success rate of zero percent, is among us." I spotted Kirche's eyes turn to eye us. No, she was looking at Louise.

Looking around, I saw that the rest of the class was staring at Louise as well. I realized a lot of things that day. Specifically that Louise was apparently bad at casting magic, and that the rest of the class looked down on her for it.

I was still angry at Louise for this morning, but I couldn't help but feel bad for her situation. Who couldn't feel bad - she was practically being shamed. Yet she held her head up high and took it all in stride.

I stamped out what was left of my cigarette and avoided causing any more trouble for the rest of that class.

- several hours later -

Much of the classes were done and gone for the day, and I was now walking with Louise towards the dining hall for lunch. "Hey, you alright?" I found myself asking as I inspected my Garand behind her. Colbert had agreed that I keep my weapon with me at all times, as long as I keep its safety activated and only use it in the most dire of circumstances.

"I don't need to explain myself to you, servant," Louise spat - with much more venom in her tone.

"I'm just asking," I said. "You didn't deserve that talk in class earlier."

"Well it wouldn't have happened if you'd just behaved! I heard the other students talking earlier, they're saying my familiar is a disobedient renegade that his stupid master can't control!" Louise yelled, whirling around to glare at me. "You can't follow simple directions, and now you humiliate me even further?!"

"Hey, I was just-" I began to say.

"Quit it! Just stop talking back!" Louise screamed. "Don't bother coming to lunch with me! In fact, you're skipping dinner as well! Don't bother coming back to my room tonight either! Now go!"

And that was that. Louise was clearly lashing out, and fighting back wouldn't have worked. I just left her without a word, hearing her storm off in the distance. I sighed as I made my way somewhere else - anywhere else.

Maybe I shouldn't have smoked.

- POV: Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière: several minutes later -

I ate alone. I've always eaten alone, with a two course meal for breakfast, a three course meal for lunch, and a five course meal for dinner. Every student ate their meals while conversing with one another, while I always ate by myself. This was no different than the other times, except for one thing.

I didn't feel very hungry. In fact, I felt somewhat sick. I was mad, I had every right to be. He humiliated me by misbehaving today. He made me look like an incompetent master by billowing that horrendous smoke in the air. The worst thing about that was that nobody else complained. No one stopped him. They let him do it!

So did I. I was so mad and focused on planning retribution that I hadn't spoken up. I didn't wish to cause a scene by punishing my familiar, but it looked instead like I was letting him misbehave. Why did this bother me so much? It was his fault! He went and got himself beaten in that stupid duel, so what if he won?! He was still coughing up blood, and that scared me!

My thoughts were interrupted by a rather infuriatingly familiar voice. "Oh? Where's your oh so loyal servant, Zero?" Kirche teased.

"He's skipping his meals. Punishment for humiliating me in class today," I scoffed tiredly. "Now leave and bother someone else with your back problems."

"Hmm," Kirche continued, ignoring what I'd just told her. "You know, Tabitha and I spied that little scuffle you two had this morning. Yelling over a pair of panties? How uncouth..."

"That was private!" I shot back. "And you don't seem to understand how uncivilized and disobedient he is!"

"Maybe, but he did fight Guiche, did he not?" Kirche asked. "From what I hear, he exposed Guiche's cheating tendencies and served to honor a duel that he had no obligation to accept. He has honor. As I'd expect from a kind soul who fed my Flame and Tabitha's Slyphid."

He had food? Why didn't he tell me- no. That wasn't the point. "What're you saying?"

"If you keep abusing your familiar, then perhaps he may not be so kind in the future. And I'd hate to deny Flame such a good friend. In fact, I may be able to convince him that I'm a better choice than you," Kirche said before she walked by. Frowning, I simply went back to eating my own meal. If that Brenner had his own food, then he could go and eat that instead. I won't have to bother bringing him here for meals anyways.

What would Kirche know anyways? She never treated anyone with respect - more like tools and disposable toys.

- POV: Private First Class Brenner: several hours later -

It was well into the night by the time I finished the main course of what was in my dinner ration box - a can of salty and chewy pork with processed Swiss cheese. Like before, it was nowhere as good as fresh food - but I had no right to complain. It was what I ate for weeks on end in the war, and it was just another taste of home for me.

I pulled out my bayonet as I set the emptied can aside before grabbing the hard chocolate bar in my supper box. I normally didn't open other boxes before finishing one, but this was a much needed exception. As I unwrapped the chocolate, I took my knife and began shaving the edge - leaving thin curls of chocolate that I could bite off. K-ration chocolate was hard to eat -abnormally hard. One of the troops that had been around had told our squad how to eat our chocolate without breaking our teeth, which was the knife method.

The chocolate was a sweet breath of fresh air in comparison, munching the thin shaved curls as I cut another. I lay back on my blanket and munched on the second curl of brown sweetness. I suppose sleeping outside wouldn't be so bad. I had my mini tent and the blanket roll. I slept in cold rainy dirt before - so quiet and dry grass shouldn't be a problem-

"Brenner?"

I sat up and turned to see Siesta looking at me. "Oh. Hi," I said with a grin. "What's up?"

"I was finishing my rounds when I saw you. We're just about to finish our duties for the night. But, what are you doing here?" Siesta asked me, her head slightly tilted.

"Oh. Louise kicked me out, so I'm gonna sleep out here," I explained. I shaved off another bit of chocolate and took a bite. "I probably shouldn't be bothering you."

"Oh, you aren't," Siesta reassured me with a kind smile. "In fact, would you like to come with me? I may be able to help."

I blinked. "Sure," I said as I got up, pocketing my hard chocolate bar and putting my bayonet away in my scabbard. As I began to pack my things, I wondered what Louise was doing - before shaking it out of my mind. "Where to?"

It turned out that the destination was the school kitchen. The staff of cooks and maids had welcomed me inside and sat me down - a bowl of hot stew and a plate of bread placed before me. I ate with earnest hunger - despite the clear audience I had, with all of them smiling and chuckling. The stew was good, and I mean insanely good. My own mom's home cooking didn't compare to this. The head chef, a muscular brown haired man said it was all leftovers so I could ask for more if I wanted to.

"We all ate before we began our cleanup, so you don't have to worry about us. It's your well-being that we're all concerned about," the man said with a hearty smile, in response to me asking if they were going to eat. "So get as much as you'd like, soldier!"

I finished my first helping of stew in the span of a few minutes, and I got seconds right after. I'd just eaten my own rations earlier, so I wasn't that hungry - but it tasted incredible regardless, so I practically stuffed myself with what they offered. When the spoon dropped, they all erupted in cheers and laughter.

"Soldier?" I asked, referring to what the chef said. "Did Siesta tell you?"

"She did. You should've seen her smile as she talked, even if she didn't say much," the chef said. "And we all heard about that duel you had with that snobbish bastard Guiche. Your victory was good news to us peasants, so we decided to give you a name. Soldier of the Peasants!"

I leaned back in my seat tiredly. "True...though I only got in that duel because that guy was cheating on two different nobles," I said. "I dunno about defending only peasants. What about...both?" I was a bit nervous about suggesting this - since there was clearly a line of animosity over the peasants and nobles. I really didn't want to piss off these people.

But my expectations were clearly averted when the chef laughed, "Of course! You truly are an honorable spirit!" he laughed as he came over, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "I like you a lot, soldier! Lemme give you a kiss!"

I immediately pushed on his face as the rest of the staff all chuckled. "No thanks!" I managed to grit out, though we all ended up laughing as a result. We ended up chatting for a bit, and I was allowed to refill my canteen with water, as well as use the restroom. However, I was later sent out so everyone else could clean up - with Siesta being assigned to escort me back to where I was before - which was the dormitory. I'll probably sleep in the hallway or...something.

As we walked, Siesta cleared her throat. "Brenner..." she said as she brushed aside a lock of hair. "If it's alright to ask, I'd very much like to know you better in the future."

Where was this coming from? As out of the blue as this was, I was a bit flattered that she was willing to know me better, especially given my rather alien nature. I was a complete unknown, and I probably looked like a threat or something compared to everyone else. Still, Siesta was smiling - and blushing, judging by those pink cheeks of hers.

"I'd like to talk as well," I said before yawning. "Maybe tomorrow? I'll probably get to see you then."

"Of course," Siesta said, bowing slightly. "Thank you."

"No, thank you. This is probably the first time I've had good food in a long time," I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

"What about earlier?" Siesta asked curiously as we approached the doors to the dormitories. "Food in a...tin can, I think I saw."

"Those are Army rations. Not at all good. I mean, they're good as they give a lot of energy, but they don't taste nearly as good as proper food," I said, opening the door. "I think I know my way back from here, so you can go back and get some sleep. Have a nice night."

"G-good night!" Siesta said, before practically skipping off, humming to herself. Smiling to myself, I sighed and closed the door. Looking around, I searched for a cozy place to sleep, specifically by a wall. In the end, I decided to head back outside, where the moonlight was shining - rather than the overly dark interiors of the dorms, where the candles could easily be blown out.

As I stepped out to look at the moon, I froze. There was not one white moon, but two moons - one larger blue moon and a much smaller red moon. How the hell did I not notice that earlier? This truly was a different Earth.

I walked back to the grass before pulling out my e-tool, or my entrenching tool, and began digging. The shovel worked effortlessly against the tender soil - overturning grass as I began to make my own foxhole - which was a rectangular hole that could fit my body height in its length, at least two feet deep. It took me a whole hour to get it perfect before I got to work in setting up my sleeping position.

I lay down in the dirt before draping my blanket over me, resting my Garand above the blanket with the sling wrapped around my wrist, just for safety. It didn't take long for me to get comfortable, and I was soon facing up at the dimly moonlit night sky, sighing as I stared up at the height of the building.

Kirche stared down at me from one of the windows on the third floor.

I stared up in a bit of shock - not knowing anyone else would be awake, but before long - she disappeared back into her window, closing it with a light thud. I wonder what that was all about...

I began to close my eyes, already anticipating the uncomfortable cramps that I would get for sleeping in a hole in the ground for the night. But it was something that I'd grown accustomed to. Soldiers sleep in the dirt because the fighting isn't going to wait for me to find a bed and get a full eight hours of sleep.

I was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Sitting up quickly, just in case someone was going to ambush me, I gripped my rifle and aimed - only to see Flame approaching me from the doorway. "Oh. Hi," I said as I lowered my rifle. "Sorry, I don't have any midnight snacks for you."

Flame didn't stop, instead casually trotting to my hole before gripping the sleeve of my jacket with its mouth and pulling at me hard. "Hey, be careful!" I said as Flame began to tug me out of the hole, forcing me up to my feet. "Can you knock it off? I'm trying to get some sleep."

Flame didn't answer - or really respond. It began to push me towards the door. I was barely able to grab my things - blanket included - before being nudged inside. "Alright, I'm in. What do you want?" I asked. I wouldn't get an answer, as the salamander kept pushing me. I complained for him to stop, but he didn't. He pushed me all the way to the stairs and grunted. "What, want me to go back up?" I asked. "No can do-"

He opened his mouth and his throat began to glow.

"Okay, okay! Calm the fuck down!" I conceded as I reluctantly walked up the stairs towards the second story hallway, only being forced to head up the stairs towards the third story when Flame smacked my leg hard with his tail. On the next floor was a hallway of many doors led to various bedrooms. However, one door was open - with very little light coming from it.

Flame grunted softly, and I found myself walking towards the door, with Flame pushing me inside with his nose. As I walked inside, I found that it was empty and quiet, except for a few candles here and there. The room itself was very much like Louise's, but larger and much more luxurious.

"I see you're good at following directions." I turned around, rifle in hand as the door slammed shut. Right in front of the doorway was Kirche, hand outstretched towards the opening. Had she been hiding behind the door this entire time? However, my thoughts were interrupted by what she was wearing.

She was dressed in a set of skimpy night clothes, which consisted of a purple nightgown and a pair of purple panties, all of them frilled. I coughed, choking on air for a second as Kirche approached me with a strut in her slow and sensual steps. Was she really doing this?

"Oh, I didn't mean to startle you..." Kirche said as she took my hand, rubbing circles over it with her thumb as she pouted. "I couldn't help but notice you sleeping outside in a hole in the dirt. I simply wanted to offer my hospitality to such a kind soul."

I knew she was clearly wanting to sleep with me - but I couldn't help but look back at Flame, who sat in place, watching the whole thing. "Yeah, well...your lizard over there was pretty pushy."

"I know," Kirche said. "I do apologize for scaring you so much, but I simply wanted to make sure you were taken care of. No one deserves to sleep without a roof over their head."

"Tell that to the entirety of the Army currently camping out in Europe." I held my tongue, however - remembering that the U.S. Army wasn't a thing here. There was no world war here. "I...I appreciate it. Though it is pretty late, so I'm gonna start getting to sleep..." I began to unroll my blanket, draping it on the floor and moving to lie down before Kirche planted herself next to me.

Great.

"Oh, don't be like that. I've seen how stressed out you look," Kirche said as she took my hand, planting it right on one of her breasts, much to my awkward chuckling. However, she didn't seem deterred - even if I seemed very nervous indeed. "And I know I'm being a little naughty...but I'd like you to know something about me..."

She leaned in close, and I gulped nervously. "Some people know me as Fever...I tend to burn up...like a flaming torch," I could hear her breath tickling my ear. "You don't seem to know the effect you have on me, you handsome stud..."

Stud?

"Eh... heh heh...ahem," I coughed as I nervously looked away. "Well, I didn't mean to get you all bothered, so I'll just-"

"You looked so incredible...so fast and skilled against Guiche's brass puppets that I became more than Kirche the Fever. Now...now I'm Kirche the Passion..." the very forward young woman cooed, and she leaned closer, pushing me against the side of her bed and puckering her lips.

Before she could make contact, a voice rang out from the window. "Kirche! What are you doing here with that man?" We both turned to see a familiar looking guy outside the window - the third story window. Was he floating?

"Styx. What are you doing here?" Kirche asked as she coyly tilted her head at the guy.

"I stopped by because you didn't arrive at the arranged time set by the both of us. Now answer my question, what are you doing with him?" the guy, Styx said. Clearly, he was upset.

"Is this your boyfriend?" I asked, backing away. Was this another Guiche moment?

Kirche quickly shook her head and lifted up her wand from somewhere hidden on her person. "I didn't mean to be so late - but could you return in two hours?"

"That wasn't our deal, Kirche!" Styx shouted. However, Kirche was clearly not in the mood for more arguing - and she waved her wand. Before my eyes, one of the flames on the candles billowed into a serpent of inferno, flying right into Styx and sending him falling with a shout.

"...he'll be okay from that, right?" I asked, a bit concerned and put off.

"Oh, he'll be just fine..." Kirche purred, licking her lips as she turned back to face me. "Now, where were we?"

"Kirche! I demand to know who that man is! And I thought we agreed that you would be making love with-" Kirche's next magic fire attack sent him falling in the middle of saying "meee!", and I coughed awkwardly.

"Another boyfriend?" I mumbled. I didn't exactly want this, I just wanted to get some sleep.

"Just another old friend..." Kirche continued. "In any case, I simply want to spend every single moment of this night with you...and surely you must feel the same..." The third attempt at kissing came, and once again - we were interrupted.

"Kirche!" three separate voices shouted.

At this, I quickly stood up. "Okay, who else have you been sleeping with?" I asked. "I'm not just another mark for you to cross off your list!"

"Oh, don't think like that! I just wanted to offer you a night of fun..." Kirche whined. "You won't regret it, I promise..." Oh my God, this was another Guiche.

"Look...I mean this in the nicest possible way," I said as I took a deep breath. "But...this is exactly what Guiche is doing. Please stop."

"I-" Kirche shot up at once, offended.

"Look, they were all believing that they were the one for you. And you're playing them! That stuff hurts, you know?" I asked. "I just wanted a place to sleep. I'm not really looking for sex. As hot as you are."

Kirche pouted, crossing her arms as she looked at the other three boys that were currently half squeezed in the window. "Louise the Zero didn't threaten you to avoid me, did she?" she asked before snapping her fingers. And with that, a burst of fire from Kirche's salamander sent all three of them spiraling down in a billow of smoke.

"Well...she did say you played around often. Guess that's true. Or it's just common here," I said. "I...where I come from, we have couples. Polyamory isn't a very common thing because it's hard to pull off. I want a girl who I can rely on, a girl who's kind...is willing to listen...is faithful to me. For me. And I want that girl because I want to be faithful to her. For her."

"That's a rather specific notion. Nobles have mistresses and concubines all the time. It's the norm here, if only you'd see for yourself!" Kirche said.

I looked away. "Yeah, I get it. But telling multiple people you'd only date that one person? That's kind of a scummy thing to do! I guess what I'm saying is...you aren't exactly my type," I said.

Kirche looked upset now. I know what I was saying was probably hurtful, but I was fairly certain that she didn't know what she was doing - only focused on having fun. "And is Louise your type?" she asked.

"...no, not really," I said. "She's way too rude for starters. She told me she was willing to get to know me and she went back on that, so definitely not her. But I don't really know who my type is. I don't know a lot of people - and I never got much of the chance to really explore my options." I sat down and sighed. "I'm a soldier. I know I'm not good at this stuff...but I wanna avoid hurting others. And those other guys are probably gonna be hurting. A lot."

Kirche frowned before looking away, quietly. Was she thinking about what I was saying? Or was she just trying to buy time for some comeback? "Look, I know what I said probably hurt. But I wanted to say thank you as well," I said. When she turned to look at me, I grinned - or tried to given the sour mood. "You were one of the first nicer people I ever met. And...well...you bothered to talk to me. And you offered me food much earlier than that as well, and-"

The door opened, and I turned to see Louise at the door in her own much more modest nightgown. On her face was a very unreadable expression, her arms crossed in a presumably stern posture. "Oh. Louise," I said. "Hi."

"What are you doing here, exactly?" Kirche asked. "Come to take back your familiar?"

"Yes, in fact. I need to talk to him," Louise said. "Brenner. With me, now!"

"Oh? And what will you do this time? Deny him a meal? Force him to sleep outside once again? He was digging himself a hole in the ground when I found him!" Kirche shouted, and I realized that she was actually angry here. Was she just lashing out at Louise?

Louise gripped the sides of her nightgown, clenching her teeth before shutting her eyes. "I said, come with me. Now," she said.

"Look...she said she just wants to talk," I said. "She probably won't beat me up. I'll be alright, I promise." I patted her shoulder, before picking up my things and heading out, leaving a quiet Kirche and a snoring salamander in the room.

As I closed the door behind me, I turned face to face with Louise. "Alright. What is it?" I asked.

Louise looked at me before turning around, heading down the hallway. "We'll talk in my room," was all she said as she walked.

Well, if that wasn't very ominous.