Zero no Tsukaima:Volume5 Story2
Chapter Two: The Encounter with the Flame and the Friendship with the Wind
Well, this was the Tristain Magic Academy. The summer vacation just started and in the dorm, two nobles were killing time.
They were Kirche the “Ardent” and Tabitha the “Snowy Wind”. Kirche was laying lazily on Tabitha’s bed in a very immodest pose. She had undone all her shirt buttons and was fanning her large chest with her hand. Kirche did like heat but could not stand warmth.
She was not able to control the boiling heat in the sun-baked room.
“Hey Tabitha, would you mind making some wind for me?”
Tabitha waved her staff without looking up from her book.
“Give me a cold one. One that will cool me to the bone, just like your second name.”
As expected, there was some ice mixed in the wind. The snowy wind immediately cooled Kirche’s body.
“Ahh- that feels good.”
Drinking in Tabitha’s cool wind, Kirche finally took off her shirt. She crossed her legs in a manner that would never be seen by any of her dozen of male friends that worshiped her like a goddess.
Kirche stared at Tabitha who was reading her book the whole time. Tabitha did not shed a single drop of sweat, as she was completely immersed in her book. “Maybe her second name “Snowy Wind” cools her body as well as her mind,” Kirche whispered.
“Hey ‘Snowy Wind’? You really like to read books don’t you? Just like a Protestant. Could that be the popular Protestant book about the ‘The Practical Doctrine’?”
“The Practical Doctrine” was a book that the Protestant sect of religion recited by following the interpretation of the book “The Founder’s Prayer Book” ,that recorded the great deeds and teachings of the Founder, Brimir.
Although every version of “The Founder’s Prayer Book” claimed to be the “original”, their contents were slightly different. Furthermore, there were theories that “The Founder’s Prayer Book” was written hundreds of years after the fall of the Founder Brimir. “The Founder’s Prayer Book” that had been passed down through the Tristine royal family didn’t even have words in it. Therefore, many theologians interpreted it in such a sketchy way so that it would improve the political powers of the Halkeginia’s churches and themselves. The body of practitioners of the “Practical Doctrine” started in the religious center of the country Romania and was made of commoners who wanted to reform the corrupted churches that exploited them. This soon became an international matter. It spread out from commoners and farmers and they stripped power and land from the monks and priests, but no one knew if their practices and interpretation was right. The only one that could possibly answer that was the Founder Brimir himself.
Tabitha closed her book and showed Kirche the title. It wasn’t a religious book, but an ancient magical research book.
“Just reading,” said Tabitha.
“I know. There’s no way you're a Protestant anyways. Man, it’s really hot today. REALLY hot. That’s why I invited you to go to Germania with me. It’s much cooler there.”
Tabitha reopened her book and continued reading. Kirche, who knew the situation of Tabitha’s family, decided to invite her to the Zerbst House, but Tabitha would not agree to come. With no other choice, Kirche decided to keep Tabitha company in the Magic Academy.
She couldn’t stand to let Tabitha be alone.
“We're probably the only ones who would remain in this kind of sauna.”
Kirche thought about having a water bath in the courtyard. Since all the students and teachers had left and gone back to their homes, there shouldn’t be any danger of peepers.
But then…
A scream was heard from the floor below.
Kirche and Tabitha exchanged quick glances.
Kirche quickly put on her shirt and jumped out of the room with her wand. Tabitha soon followed behind her.
In a room a floor below, another pair of students were in the middle of a quarrel.
“What were you thinking?!”
“Um, I’m… I thought it was hot, and I was trying to help you!”
The clamor was between Guiche and Montmorency. Why didn't this pair leave the dorm for summer vacation?
“I see, so that was your purpose! ‘Let's make potions together’, my butt! I shouldn’t have listened to your cajolery about being able to make any Forbidden Potions I want. Just what were you trying to do?”
“That was my objective! I'm not lying!”
“You're having weird thoughts because no one is around, right? Sorry, but I’m not gonna forgive you one finger until I’m married!”
Guiche shook his head.
“Don’t come closer!”
“I’ll swear, I’ll swear.”
Guiche put his hands on his chest.
“I swear in the presence of the Founder and God that I, Guiche de Gramont, did not unbutton the sleeping Montmorency because of any bad intentions, but I really thought you looked hot. You were sweating really bad so I was worried you were going to be steamed to death.”
“Really?”
Montmorency stared with a doubtful look.
“Swear to God.”
Guiche answered seriously.
“…not gonna do anything weird?”
“No, not even gonna think about it.”
After Montmorency thought for a moment, she raised her skirt and flashed her panties. Because Guiche jumped at her in an instant, she screamed out loud.
“Dear God! A liar! He’s a liar!”
“White! White! It was really white!”
“No! Stop! Please stop!”
After they were fooling around for a while, the door opened with a bang. Kirche and Tabitha came in and their eyes met Montmorency’s eyes, who was just pushed onto a bed by Guiche.
“…oh, you were just about to do it,” sighed Kirche.
Guiche, who suddenly became serious, stood up and said in a very dignified way, “Oh, I was just…straightening the wrinkles in Montmorency’s shirt.”
“By pushing her onto a bed?” Kirche asked with a scoff.
“Straitening the wrinkles,” Guiche repeated himself.
Montmorency said in a cold tone, “Quit it already. That’s all you have in your head.”
Guiche flushed.
Kirche opened her mouth and said tiredly, “You two are a really cheap couple. You don’t have to do it in this suffocating dorm.”
“We are not doing anything! …and I should ask what you're doing. It’s summer break.”
“It’s just not worth the trouble for us. Although it is a vacation, it’s a pain to cross the border just for that. So what are you two doing anyway?”
“We were, um…”
Montmorency fidgeted, as she could not say that she was making Forbidden Potions.
“Ma-, magic research.”
“Well you were doing some kind of research.”
“It was Guiche who wanted to do weird research! He probably fried his brain in this heat!”
The criticized Guiche hung his head.
“I guess.”
Kirche muttered, “What do you mean, ‘I guess’?”
“Let’s go out. It wouldn't be a surprise if we get our brains fried in here.”
“Huh? Where?”
“Let’s go to the town. It’s gonna be a long break, so let’s have some fun.”
“Well, I do want to drink something cold…”
Guiche agreed. Montmorency, who didn’t even want to think about what would happen if she was left alone in the dorm with Guiche, also agreed.
“Really cool your head down when you drink, ok?”
“I will, swear to God.”
“So, what about that little fella?”
Montmorency pointed her finger at Tabitha. Kirche answered.
“She’s going.”
“You can tell by just looking at her?”
“I can.”
Kirche said it as though it was obvious.
Tabitha then closed her book, walked over to the window sill, and blew a whistle with her mouth. A flapping noise was heard. In a blink, Tabitha jumped out of the window. Kirche followed.
As Montmorency peeked outside the window, she saw Tabitha’s floating Wind Dragon. Kirche was riding on its back and was waving.
“Hurry up or we’ll leave you!”
Guiche and Montmorency both jumped after her and Guiche, who got ahead, tried to catch Montmorency.
Then Montmorency started screaming things like ‘don’t touch me’ and ‘don’t look at me’ to tease Guiche.
“But…I was only trying to catch you.”
“Where do you think you’re touching?”
“I thought you two were lovers,” muttered Kirche with surprise.
The group finally arrived at Tristine’s castle town and went to a road that forked from Bulton Avenue. It was just about sunset. In the darkening streets, the magic lamps started to color the surroundings. That magical, wondrous sight created a happy atmosphere that wrapped around the street with the summer heat.
If Bulton Avenue was Tristine’s front face, then this Chicton Street was the bowel. Indecent bars and gambling dens were lined up along the street. Montmorency frowned, but Kirche walked on unworriedly. While walking, the group discussed which bar to go to. “Do you know any of the bars around here?” Kirche asked Guiche.
Guiche answered with a smile,
“Well, I do know a good one that I've always wanted to go to.”
“It’s not a weird bar, is it?” Montmorency asked as she heard an amorous tone to his speech. Guiche shook his head.
“It’s not weird at all!”
“Then what kind of a bar is it?”
Guiche fell silent.
“See, it is a weird bar! Just say it!”
Montmorency started to choke Guiche.
“N-, no it’s not! It’s just girls in cute clothes bringing wine for you… Arg!”
“If that's not weird, then what is?”
“That kind of sounds like fun.”
It seemed to have piqued Kirche’s interest. Kirche suggested to Guiche,
“Let’s go there, just some plain bar would be too boring.”
“WHAT?” Montmorency bellowed.
“Why does no Tristine woman have any confidence in herself? Makes me sick.”
Because Kirche said that in such a taunting way, Montmorency suddenly stood up and said,
“It’s just that wine will taste bad if we just let some low-class women pour it.”
But because Guiche, who had been backed up by Kirche, started to skip away, Montmorency had no choice but to follow.
“Hey! Wait for me! Don’t leave me here!”
“Welcome!”
As they went into the shop, a tall man who wore a leather shirt welcomed them to the shop.
“Oh, are you new? More noble ladies! How beautiful! How très bien! The girls in the shop will be jealous! I’m the storekeeper, Scarron. Please enjoy yourselves today!” he said while he twisted his body and bowed. Although he seemed kind of gross, he complimented them so Montmorency was now in a better temper. She combed her hair with her fingers and said clearly, “Guide us to the cleanest table”.
“Every table in this store is scrubbed to shine as much as the Majesty’s villa.”
Scarron guided the group to one of the tables. The bar seemed to be really prospering.
Just like the rumors said, girls wearing suggestive clothing were carrying wine and food.
Guiche, who was already looking around the bar in ecstasy, ended up with his ear being pulled by Montmorency.
After the party settled down around the table, a strawberry blond haired girl came to take the orders, but for some reason, hurriedly covered her face with a tray. Her whole body started to tremble slightly.
“Why are you hiding your face?” Guiche asked discontentedly. Without answering, she gestured to ask for the order. By looking at the girl’s hair color and height, Kirche quickly realized something and, for the first time this summer, an extra-large smile appeared on her face.
“So, what do you recommend?”
The girl who was hiding her face with a tray pointed at the neighboring table. On it was a dish with a honey grilled baby chick wrapped by piecrust.
“And what’s the recommended wine?”
The girl pointed at a wine that had been served to another table, a well-aged Gernew wine.
Then Kirche said in a surprised tone, “Ah, familiar-san is flirting with a girl!”
The girl came out from behind the tray and stared around the room with sharp eyes.
Everyone in the group except for Kirche shouted.
“Louise!”
Louise noticed the broad grin on Kirche’s face and realized that she had been tricked, and once again hid her face with the tray.
“It’s too late, La Vallière.”
“I’m not Louise.”
Louise spoke in a shaking voice. Kirche pulled on Louise’s arm and laid her on top of the table. Kirche grabbed on to the right arm, Guiche on the left, Tabitha grabbed the right leg and Montmorency held on to the left leg. The immobile Louise faced to the side and said with a shaky tone,
“I’m not Louise! Let go of me.”
“Really, what are you doing here?”
Louise would not answer. Snap! Kirche snapped her fingers and Tabitha cast a spell. With the power of the wind, Tabitha coiled the air around Louise and controlled her. Louise bounced on top of the table to a seiza pose.
“Wha-, What are you doing?!”
Kirche snapped her fingers once again. Silently, Tabitha waved her staff. The mass of air which controlled Louise became multiple invisible fingers and started to tickle her body.
“Ahahaha! Stop! It tickles! Stop!”
“So under what circumstances are you working here?”
“I’m not saying! Ahahaha!”
The fingers of air continued to tickle Louise but she wouldn’t confess. Eventually her body went limp.
“Such a tight-lipped kid. You've been hiding many things recently.”
“If you understand…then leave me alone…”
“Will do.”
Kirche picked up the menu dully.
“Hurry up and order something.”
“This,” said Kirche pointing at the menu.
“I can't tell, which?”
“Well first of all, everything written on this menu.”
“Huh?”
Louise stared at Kirche blankly.
“Just bring me everything.”
“You're really rich… I’m so envious.”
Kirche then said to Louise,
“Oh, of course it’s your treat. I’ll happily accept the offer, La Vallière-san.”
“What? Don’t sleep-talk! Why do I have to treat you?!”
“Or I’ll tell everyone in school that you're working here.”
Louise dropped her jaw.
“If you say it…I’ll, I’ll kill you.”
“Oh my, I wouldn’t want to die. So could you bring all the food quickly?”
Louise sadly dropped her shoulders and disappeared toward the kitchen while hitting many things on the way.
Guiche said shaking his head,
“You really are a nasty woman.”
Kirche happily replied.
“Don’t misunderstand me, but I don’t like that girl. We're basically enemies…”
Kirche cut off her speech and fixed Tabitha’s disorderly cloak.
“You should really fix that habit of messing up your hair and cloak when you cast spells. Women are about appearances and smarts are secondary.”
Kirche was fixing up Tabitha’s hair like an older sister taking care of a little sister or a mother worrying for her daughter.
Guiche looked at Tabitha. Why does this mean Germanian woman has her trust in Tabitha and only Tabitha? Thought Guiche. Although it was summer vacation, the two didn’t go home and stayed together at school. Moreover, they seem to be communicating telepathically. Maybe it’s because Tabitha rarely speaks, but they are able to understand each other by just exchanging looks and are as close as sisters.
But…Guiche puzzled over his memory. They weren’t this close when they first enrolled. It’s not clear because I was fooling around with other girls too much but didn’t they even start a duel?
Just when Guiche wanted to inquire about it, a new customer came into the bar. They were good-looking nobles. They were wearing hats with large brims furnished with stylish feathers and had sword-shaped wands sticking out their cloak. They seemed to be officers from the royal army.
They probably had been training the whole day and they came in without a care and started to look around for tables.
The officer started to talk about the different girls in the bar. Many different girls poured the wine but none seemed to satisfy the officers. One officer noticed Kirche and winked at her.
“Isn’t that a noble girl? Women that could be together with us will have to carry a wand around!”
“That’s right! This is a rare break that her Majesty has given to us, the officers of the royal army. We can’t just have some commoners pour our wine.”
While saying such words, they were loudly deciding whom to go and pick up the girls. It seemed Kirche was used to these kinds of things and continued drinking wine calmly, but Guiche was feeling uneasy. He supposed himself to be in a position where he should be escorting the girls, but couldn’t be firm in front of nobles that were officers in the royal army. He would probably get beaten up.
Eventually the decision was made for whom to go talk to them. One of the nobles stood up. He was a handsome man who was just over twenty years old.
As he played with his mustache and was full of confidence, he elegantly bowed for Kirche.
“We are the officers that belong to the Navaaru regiment. We were stricken by your august beauty and would like to invite you to our dining table.”
Kirche answered without even looking.
“Sorry, but I’m having a good time with my friends.”
The officer’s friends started hooting. If he got rejected now, it would shatter his pride. He started to persuade Kirche with enthusiastic words.
“I will plead you to ignore that. Please bestow a moment of happiness to us who have nothing but the unforgiving battle to await us.”
But still, Kirche just waved him off.
The noble went back to his friends disappointingly.
“You’re not popular with women,” said an officer. But the young man shook his head.
“Did you hear her accent? She has to be a Germanian woman. Quite suspicious as a noble, if you ask me!”
“But I heard Germanian women are really lewd. Quite rare to see a woman with firm conduct.”
“Probably a Protestant to boot!”
Maybe it was partly because of the alcohol, but the officers started saying insults against Kirche. Guiche and Montmorency looked at each other and asked Kirche if she wanted to leave the bar.
“But we were here first,” muttered Kirche as she stood up. Her long hair seemed to be burning as though it was a wild fire. Other customers and waitresses and practically everyone who was watching over the whole incident fell quiet.
“Ah, so have you changed you mind and decided to accompany us?”
“Yes, not with goblets…but with this.”
Kirche smoothly pulled out her wand.
The men fell out of their chair laughing.
“Don’t even try, young lady. We are nobles and will not point our wands at women.”
“Are you scared of Germanian women?”
“Ridiculous!”
The men continued laughing aloud.
“Then I will make you draw your wand.”
Kirche swung her wand. Fireballs equal to the numbers of men came out of the tip of her wand and instantly incinerated the decorative feathers on their hats. The bar stirred. Kirche stood up to bow to the audience.
The men who were being made a laughingstock of all stood up at once.
“Miss, this joke has gone a little too far.”
“Really? But I’m always serious. And, wasn’t it you who invited me?”
“We invited you to drink, not to fight.”
“Then could I duel you gentlemen for insulting me just because I didn’t accept your offer to drink?”
The atmosphere in the bar froze.
One of the officers spoke determinedly,
“Foreign young lady, are you aware of the No Duel Policy? Under the order of her Majesty, we are restricted from dueling. But you are a foreigner. As long as we reach an agreement among ourselves, we could do practically anything to you. Are you speaking under this knowledge?”
“Nobles in Tristine really give long speeches. If this was Germania, the duel would have ended by now.”
They couldn't back down after they had been made fun of like this. The officers looked at each other and one of them gripped his hat’s brim and said, “Chose your opponent, you have the right.”
But Kirche didn’t change her expression. But there was fiery anger swirling inside her. The more Kirche got mad, the more composed and mannered she became.
“As you have said, Germanian women are lewd, so I’ll take care of all of you together.” Applause was heard inside the bar for Kirche’s brave words. The officers’ faces were flushed bright red due to anger from the insult.
“We are nobles but at the same time also soldiers. When insulted, when challenged, we will not hold back even if the enemy is a woman. Come.”
The noble pointed outside of the bar with his chin. Guiche was shaking under the situation. Montmorency was just drinking wine as though it was none of her business. Louise was talking about how the stupid woman was getting herself into useless trouble again and hiding in the kitchen. Saito unfortunately fell victim of Louise’s anger against Kirche and was passed out because of the pain that Louise had inflicted upon him; so he couldn’t intervene.
So, the one who stood up was Tabitha.
“You don’t have to worry about it. Sit down, it will be over in an instant.”
But Tabitha shook her head.
“Do you mean I won’t be able to beat them?”
“No. But I’ll go.”
“This doesn’t involve you,” said Kirche, but again Tabitha shook her head.
“I owe you.”
“You mean the incident in the Ragdorian Lake? Don’t mind it. I did it out of my own will anyways.”
“Not that.”
“Eh?”
Then Tabitha clearly muttered,
“Owe you one.”
Kirche recalled with those words.
“That’s quite a long time ago.” Kirche smiled.
She thought for a moment but finally decided to leave it to her friend.
“What happened? Got scared? We will forgive you if you apologize now.”
“You’ll still have to pour drinks for us though.”
“You’ll be lucky if it ends with you just pouring drinks.”
The officers laughed. Kirche pointed at Tabitha.
“Beg your pardon, but she has even more skill than me. She even has the title Chevalier.”
The officers put on a doubtful expression.
Tabitha just walked toward the entrance of the bar reticently.
“Do any of you gentlemen have the Chevalier title?”
The officers twisted their necks in unbelief.
“Then she should prove to be more than a match.”
As Kirche finished speaking, she sat down on a chair as though her job was over. The officers, who couldn’t back down, followed Tabitha to the outside of the bar.
“Is she gonna be ok?”
Asked Guiche. Kirche was just drinking her wine elegantly.
“That girl never forgets this kind of boring promise.”
Kirche muttered happily.
Outside, Tabitha was facing the officers at 10 paces. Around them neighboring residents surrounded the duelers excited but keeping a good distance back. In reality, though the No Duel Policy was in effect, it didn’t all together stop the fights between the nobles. This kind of fight was an everyday occurrence.
But…the opponent of the team of three apparent officers of the royal army was a very young little girl. That combination drew the attention of the spectators.
“Gentlemen, our opponent is a kid. After this people will call us bullies. Our honor is going to be ruined no matter if we win or lose. What shall we do?”
As the man that was inviting Kirche said, the youngest of three answered, “Why not let her act first?”
The man who was silent until now said in a happy tone,
“Hah, teaching children is an adult's responsibility!”
Chevalier? Sheust be joking. There is no way such a little girl can be given such a title.
Although she is a kid, she still is a noble. We cannot forgive such a lie. On top of that insulting an officer from the royal army is just absurd.
Tabitha was just standing ominously there with her staff in her right hand. Nothing could be deterred from her expression. It seemed neither the crowd nor the three officers could change her emotion.
“Little lady, please draw your staff first.”
Said the oldest of the nobles.
The onlookers held their breath and watched over them attentively.
Tabitha simply waved her staff easily, like the time she made wind to cool off Kirche. The battle ended in an instant.
As the customers saw Tabitha coming back to the bar, they gave her a huge welcome mixed with astonishment and wonder. There was a huge commotion outside. Because with just one hit from a huge “Air Hammer”, a hammer made of compressed air, Tabitha blew the officers to the other side of the street and knocked them out cold. One customer peeked outside the window timidly and saw one of the officer regained consciousness and was dragging the other two away.
“You are amazing despite your size!”
Although the bar was filled with applause, Tabitha was flipping a page in her book, not paying attention.
Kirche poured wine in to Tabitha’s cup satisfyingly.
“Let's have a toast.”
Guiche asked Kirche as if he was confused.
“Um, Kirche?”
“What?”
“Why are you two so close? You two are like sisters.”
“We just get along.”
But they were the opposite of each other. What’s more is….Guiche pondered on what he recalled earlier. The two actually had a duel like the one outside as soon as they enrolled to the school.
“Were you two always this close? What happened between you two? Tell me.”
This also triggered Montmorency’s interest and she leaned forward.
“What happened? Tell us.”
Kirche looked at Tabitha, but Tabitha was silent. However Kirche nodded.
“She said I can talk about it so I will. It’s not that great of a story though.” Kirche took a full wine glass.
She gulped down the wine, and started telling the story with drowsy eyes.
Kirche entered Tristain Magic Academy as Spring was in the air, during the fourth month, Feou's moon's 2nd week, the middle of Heimdallr's week.
The entrance ceremony was held in Alviss Hall. There, every year, the ninety or so new students would be divided into three classes. Children of aristocratic families, gathered from all over, had waited for Principal Osman with nervous looks on their faces.
Osman, leading the teachers, appeared on the 2nd floor and looked over the students a floor below.
“Students, you are Tristain's.... Argh!”
Osman, spreading out his arms and legs, had jumped from the railing of the 2nd floor, preparing to land on a desk downstairs. In mid-air, he waved his staff to use “Levitation” to land safely, but failed. He'd grown old; the time he took to invoke spells had lengthened too much and he fell straight onto the desk. The hall was filled with an uproar as teachers jumped down to help him up. Osman had pulled something badly and someone had to heal him with Water magic. He continued, with no hint of embarrassment,
“Everyone, Become the aristocrats who will support Helkeginia in the future!:
Such brave words. Everyone started clapping, feeling pity for Osman who was trying so hard to maintain his composure.
In the crowd... There was a beautiful girl who stood out even amongst the nobles. This was Kirche, who held the title of “Ardent". Giving a big yawn as she looked at the clumsy principal, she wondered if she'd made a mistake applying here.
For Kirche, however, who'd left Vindobona Magical Academy in Germania's capital... There were no further alternatives, other than going abroad to study. Her parents staying in Zerbst had planned to marry Kirche, who'd been loafing around home after leaving school, off to some old Marquis. Kirche, who had no present plans for marriage, literally flew out of the country to Tristain seeking asylum.
Her impulses moved her to act.
From young, once she took a liking to something she did all she could to get it. If someone protested, she'd shut him up with her specialty, “Fire”. The reason for her dropping out, the “Incident” that had occurred in Germania, was a result of this aspect of her personality..
The personality you grow up with is a hard thing to change. Even in Tristain, her arrogant ways were in full play
Getting back to the present, sitting next to Kirche was a petite, blue-haired girl. Compared to the beautiful goddess Kirche, possessor of a devil's body, this girl's body hadn't even hit puberty. She really was a child, after all. The jade eyes behind the glasses still carried a hint of childishness. Even though she was at an Entrance Ceremony, those eyes were still wide open, engrossed in reading her book.
For no apparent reason, Kirche started to get irritated with her attitude. To Kirche, good kids who liked to study were good targets for bullying. She asked in a low voice, “What are you reading?” and snatched away the book. The other girl looked at her with emotionless eyes.
The words in the book were too hard for Kirche, she couldn't understand a thing.
“The hell is this... 'Wind's Power's Influence on Atmospherics and Consequences'? Dunno what it's saying. Can you even use this kinda high level magic?”
The girl did not reply, only stretching out her hand.
“Hey, when you're asking a favor from someone, you should give your name, didn't your parents ever teach you?”
To be honest, it wasn't really asking a favor, just trying to get back something that had been taken away...... The girl took a moment to consider, and said her name - “Tabitha”.
“Whats that? Does everyone in Tristain use such weird names?”
Kirche was close to rolling on the floor in laughter. The teacher in charge of assigning classes shot her a glare, but Kirche, ignoring him, continued to laugh.
Tabitha looked at Kirche with cold eyes. The chain that held her parents' destinies... to hers had been mocked by someone. At that moment, Kirche totally didn't see the change in Tabitha eyes.
A girl with strawberry-blond hair, unable to take it any longer, stood right up.
“That girl over there! Something important is being announced now! Why don't you shut up!”
She'd probably been enduring Kirche's arrogance from before.
“Who are you? I am Louise Francoise le Blanc de la Valliere. To think there are people like you attending, shocking!”
“La Valliere?”
Kirche looked happily at Louise's face.
“Please look after me. I'm Kirche von Zerbst, your neghbour. To think we'd meet here! What a privilege!”
On hearing this Louise's entire body began to tremble.
“W-W-What did you say?”
“Oh, please look after me.”
Kirche gave a charming laugh. A teacher who saw them shivering in rage roared at the three,
“All of you quiet down!”
“Okay.” Saying this, Kirche returned to her seat. Tabitha snatched her book back from Kirche's hand and glared at her from the corner of her eyes, her lips pressed tight.
Every year was divided into three classes, named for the 3 legendary saints, Suen, Iyer and Seger. Kirche and Tabitha were in Suen, Louise in Iyer, while Guiche and Montmorency had been assigned to Seger.
After leaving a big impression at the entrance ceremony, Kirche was being ignored by the girls of her class. That special wild attractiveness of Germanian girls, as well as that generous bust, the hormones in the air just couldn't be shut out. In a second, she had all the boys in class to herself. This made the Tristain girls, already famous for being jealous, burn in envy.
Her personality was one of the reasons she was disliked. Even in Germania, the land of Fire, Kirche had been ostracized for her arrogance. Her personality just rubbed the Tristainians, who worshiped caution as a virtue, the wrong way. Within a short time of starting school, she'd already seduced three boys. There were two reasons. Firstly, those three boys were the better looking ones in class. Secondly, and more importantly... she was just so bored.
Number one, a seductive glance thrown in the hallway. Number two, sticking her bust out as she pretended to trip. Number three, crossing her legs in front of him.
Just like that, the three had already asked Kirche to go out with them. Kirche received their requests as though she were getting court summons. She went out with all three at the same time without hiding anything, and so the three were soon locked in combat.
At the end of the pitched battle, the third boy emerged victorious. Just as he was congratulating himself over finally getting Kirche to himself, she found a fourth one.
Several girls interested in these boys formed an alliance to negotiate with Kirche. Kirche, who'd just found five and six, and was once again three-timing, snorted with contempt at the forsaken girls.
“Don't you know when to stop? How many boys do you want before you're happy?”
“Who knows, I don't.”
Said Kirche as she sat at her desk polishing her nails.
“Quit acting dumb!”
“I didn't do anything. They just found me by themselves, saying 'Kirche, wanna come to my room and drink,' or 'I've written a poem, wanna hear it,' stuff like that.”
Kirche said, imitating the boys.
“It's always like this, I'm pretty irritated too, so I have to accept, in your language 'Oui'.” Did I pronounce it right?”
Her attitude made the girls' envy rocket to new heights instantly. “Listen here. This is Tristain, where we prize prudence and tradition, unlike your barbarian country. Even in love there are proper ways. An ignorant country-girl who doesn't even know that should just go back home!”
“If you're really so concerned about your lover, why not lock him up in your room?”
“What did you say?”
“I'm just so confused. If you've got the time to be jealous, why not try to persuade him to stay?” If you like him you should compliment him a bit. All y'all only know how to put on an angry face, you don't even know how to say things that make a man happy, do you?
“That's what guys should do!”
“Well I'm not like that, if I want someone, I'll praise him as much as possible, otherwise, I'm gonna be very sad.”
“Don't treat us like idiots!”
“However, all of you can rest assured. Although I follow the philosophy of “Do whatever it takes to get what I want,” I'd never take what's most important to someone.
“Liar! Haven't you tried to grab our boyfriends with your dirty hands?”
Kirche turned her gaze slowly to the girls surrounding her.
“To you, It's really not the most important thing, is it.”
“What did you say?”
“If it was such an important thing, you wouldn't have formed a team to negotiate with me. You'd have taken my head off my shoulders a long time ago, or am I wrong?”
The jealous girls had nothing to say.
“...Er....”
“I don't want to die yet. Therefore I won't take what's most precious to someone.”
The girls had been struck by Kirche's imposing manner and started to look at each other.
“If I plan on taking someone's most precious possession, I'll be ready to fight for it. My element is “Fire”. “Fire” controls destruction and passion. I too, want a passionate affair that turns all life to ash and burns everything to the ground.”
Just like that, Kirche's lovers continued to increase, but she was unable to make a single friend. Tabitha, however, was not much better off.
Tabitha hardly spoke to anyone at all. Whether it was break time or lunch time, starting class or ending, even in the dorms or social spaces. She said nothing to anyone. Silent, with a world-weary look on her face... only reading. No matter who tried to speak to her, Tabitha totally ignored them. Not just ignored, it was as though she was totally ignorant of their even existing.
Due to this, Tabitha turned into an object of ridicule. For some reason, she refused to give her last name, so the rumors were that she was a bastard.
The time when she really raised the ire of the entire class was during their first class.
Tabitha, who'd been taken as just a 'normal' bookworm, was found to be an adept “Wind” mage during the first “Wind” magic lesson.
Mr Quito was in charge of “Wind” class. The first words out of his mouth were,
“This year's students are just too sorry.”
Displeasure was immediately written on the faces of the students, who'd gathered in the central courtyard.
“Looking at your school record, almost all of you are 'dot' mages, only a few are 'line'. Not even one is a 'triangle' mage. What's going on?”
Dot and triangle referred to the number of elements that could be stacked. 'Dot' meant one element, 'line' meant the mage could combine two. Even if it was the same element, as long as it could be stacked, a powerful spell could be created.
“I have absolutely no hopes for any of you, but this is my job, after all.”
After Mr. Quito finished speaking in a low voice, class started. “Wind”'s basic skill's are “Flight” and “levitation”.
However... Tabitha began to show her abilities at this point.
She was the first to soar far up quickly using the “Flight” spell. Even so, to try to avoid attention, she'd deliberately not used all her power. Mr. Quito was rather confused.
“For a 'dot' mage, that pretty good.”
Not knowing Tabitha's true ability, it was unavoidable that he'd say that.
For various reasons, the only person who knew Tabitha's real power was Principal Osman. Moreover, Mr. Quito hadn't looked at the exchange students' records.
“No matter what, all of you lost out to the youngest girl in class. Don't you feel ashamed?”
With Mr. Quito's words, the entire class started to get angry.
During the break after lunch, one of the boys asked Tabitha to spar with him.
Sparring like this was basically the same as dueling. Since it was sparring, there was no little danger of any loss of life, at least not in this time period. In times past, it was said that giving your opponent the coup de grace was the way of the noble, but this age of heroes had disappeared into history. The modern method was to use spells with low lethality, and once someone was injured, the bout would be decided. Although at times there were incidents were a finger was broken, it was far safer than placing one's life on the line. In most cases, stealing your opponent's wand was considered the most elegant way of winning.
The youth who had challenged Tabitha was named de Lorraine. Born into a family famous for “Wind” magic, he was one of their year's elite 'line' magicians.
He carried a grudge from having been beaten at “Flight” by some unknown like Tabitha. He like to boast that there was no one who could compete with him in “Wind” magic, and wanted a chance to get back at Tabitha.
Walking towards Tabitha, reading in the central courtyard, he issued a declaration of war,
“Milady, I would like your instruction in “Wind” magic.”
When Tabitha gave no reply, de Lorraine started to get angry.
“To continue reading while someone is challenging you, isn't this far too rude?”
Tabitha still did not reply. De Lorraine's words went by her ears unheard as though it were sound of the breeze.
“So, when it comes to sparring you don't have what it takes. That isn't hard to understand. After all, these contests put one's life on the line! Totally different from flying and jumping around a bit in class!”
Tabitha continued to flip through her book. De Lorraine's insulting words had no effect on the jade-eyed girl.
“Heh!”
De Lorraine snorted, and smirked.
“So. It seems that the rumors of you being a bastard are true. I fear you don't even know who your mother is. To feel envious of some low-born person like you would dishonor my family's reputation!”
As he gave these words and prepared to leave, Tabitha finally stood up. If Kirche were to see her now she would probably feel it. Withing those emotionless jade eyes, an icy wind was howling.
“Have you finally gotten serious?”
Tabitha set her book down on the bench, and turning, walked towards an open area.
Tabitha and de Lorraine stood facing each other about ten meters apart.
“Although I don't want to give my name to a bastard like you, this is the common practice. I, Verrieres de Lorraine, shall be your opponent.”
Tabitha did not give her name.
“It's so pitiful to not have a name to give, even at a time like this! I shall not show mercy! En guarde!”
De Lorraine shouted, and began to chant, “Wind Break”(translator... snicker... better than break wind, anyways.) He planned to send Tabitha flying at once. Tabitha did not take a stance, and merely silently prepared to take the wind that seemed set to blow her away.
What was going on? She totally made no attempt to take an invocation stance. De Lorraine's “Wind Break” was a powerful spell, a spell to counter it would take some time to cast.
Was it because she had never sparred like this before, or had she been scared witless by de Lorraine's spell...
Whatever the reason, time was up.
Just as de Lorraine felt he had victory in his hand...
Tabitha raised her wand, and as though clearing spiderwebs from her path, waved it randomly. A single word was spoken, and just like that, Tabitha had control of all the air currents in the area.
This minute adjustment in air flow changed de Lorraine's spell's forward momentum, returning it to the caster.
De Lorraine was flung against the wall by his own wind. Giving him no time, Tabitha immediately began to cast again. Water vapour in the air froze to ice, turning into countless frozen arrows, which plunged towards de Lorraine.
“Ah!”
With a clear tinkling sound, the ice arrows pinned de Lorraine to the wall by his cloak and clothes. He was scared stiff by this power he had seen for the first time in his life. “Wind”, could it really be all that powerful? A giant ice arrow flew towards the pinned de Lorraine from the front.
“I'm going to die! Save me!"
He shouted reflexively. The arrow, as thick as his arm, stopped in front of his eye. It started to melt, turning into a puddle.
At the same time, the arrows that pinned his body to the wall too began to melt.
The newly released de Lorraine trembled uncontrollably. At his feet, a pool began to form, not from the defrosting ice arrows, but from some other liquid. From between his legs liquid flowed, forming a body-temperature puddle. He sank to his knees.
Throwing away his wand, and begging, ”Please spare me,” he crawled away.
Tabitha's little feet suddenly filled his vision, scaring him so much that he shrieked. She stood there looking down at him, her expression unchanging.
“Spare me! Let me live! S-Sparring's merely a game! Duels where you gamble your life are old history!”
De Lorraine said, denying everything he had said earlier. Tabitha stuck out a wand.
“Let me go! If you let me live, I'll do anything you say!”
Tabitha pointed at the wand in her hands, saying simply,
“You forgot this.”
It was the wand de Lorraine had thrown away.
Those were the reasons why Kirche and Tabitha were hated by the rest of their class... Kirche especially by the girls whose boyfriends she had stolen, and Tabitha by de Lorraine, who she had beaten so badly.
De Lorraine suggested a plan to the girls.
On hearing his plan, the girls clapped and agreed. This would keep their identities from being known and take care of the two most hated girls in class.
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