Zero no Tsukaima:Volume1 Story1 Chapter3

Chapter 3 - Legend

Mister Colbert is a steadfast instructor who has been working at the Tristein Magic Academy for the past twenty years. His nickname is "Colbert of Flame Snake". He is a mage who specializes in magics from the "Fire" system.

Colbert has been concerned about the commoner young man who was called out by Louise during the "Spring Familiar Summoning" a few days ago. To be exact, he's concerned about the runes that appeared on that young man's left hand. It was an unusual rune. So, he has closed himself off inside the library ever since last night, looking through books.

Tristein Magic Academy's library is located inside the main tower, where the dining hall is also located in. The bookshelves are shockingly large. It's a grand sight to see bookshelves nearly thirty meters tall line up alongside the wall. And it should be so too, because stuffed inside this library is the history of everything ever since Founder Brimir first built a new world in Halkeginia.

Colbert is inside a section of the library called "Phenia's Library" that's only open to instructors.

It's because he wasn't able to find the answer that he was looking for from the regular bookselves that are open to the students as well.

Using the spell of floatation, "Levitation", Colbert floated up to the shelves that could not be reached by hand, and looked through the books with intense concentration.

And then, his efforts were rewarded. His eyes stopped at the descriptions of one book.

It was an old book that described the various familiars that were used by Founder Brimir.

One section within the book captured his attention. As he read through the section carefully, his eyes opened up wide.

He compares the section from the old book with the sketch of the runes that appeared on the young man's hand.

Colbert went "ah", and cried out in a strange voice. For an instant, he lost his concentration needed for "Levitation", and almost fell to the floor.

Colbert held onto the book in his arms, decended to the ground, and dashed out in a hurry.

His destination was the academy principal's office.

The academy principal's office is located at the top floor of the main tower. Osman, the principal of the Tristein Magic Academy, ruffled his white beard and hair, placed his elbow on the heavy Sequoia table, and is busy looking bored.

He was pulling his nose hairs absent-mindedly, but he mumbled with a slow "hmm" and pulled the desk drawer open.

He took out a water smoke pipe from it.

And then, his secretary Miss Longville, who has been sitting and writing at the desk placed in the corner of the room swung her feather pen.

The water smoke pipe flew into the air, and arrived in Miss Longville's hand. Osman mumbled in a bored voice.

"Do you enjoy taken away an elderly person's entertainment? Miss......"

"Old Osman. Managing your health is part of my job as well."

Osman stood up from his chair and walked up to Miss Longville, who has a refined and intelligent look. He stood behind Longville, who's sitting in her chair, and closed his eyes heavily.

"With peaceful days continuing like this, ways to spend time sure is going to become a very big problem."

The wrinkles engraved on Osman's face speaks of the history that he has lived through. He's said to be a hundred, three hundred years old. Nobody knows what his real age is. Perhap he himself doesn't know as well.

"Old Osman."

Miss Longville said without removing her eyes from the feather pen running on the sheepskin paper.

"What is it? Miss......"

"Please don't touch my butt just because you're bored."

Osman opened his mouth halfway, and began walking around in tottering steps.

"Please don't pretend to be retarded everytime things go bad for you either."