Link didn't know what to expect his first time in a class but the motley assortment of monsters and mundane animals each next to a student was certainly different. The rows raised up so the seats in back have as clear a view as the people looked like it'd be helpful for teaching so many people at once.
There were only enough seats for the students, and the various monsters laid on the floor, on their respective masters being petted, or floated in the air. Some of them bore a resemblance to animals he'd seen during his travels, though the mole next to the blond boy was larger then any he'd seen before.
Kirche was in the very back sitting next to a small girl with blue hair, glasses, and her nose in a book. Perhaps because their familiars were the largest summoned and there was more room for a dragon and a salamander to stretch out up there. Link wondered how tough that salamander's hide was, it reminded him a lot of the dodongo's of his homeland.
When facing a dodongo it was best to feed them a bomb then try and cut them with a blade. Having an explosive go off in someone's gut tended to work on most monster's of that type, than again it just might blow up in the mouth if its throat was too small to swallow the bomb, that should work as well but it'd be messy.
Kirche noticed he was looking her way and waved at him, Link went to wave back but Louise grabbed on to his hand. "Don't."
Link sighed and saw that Louise's grab at his hand was sending Kirche in to fits of laughter. No way to understand women, just go along with it and it'll work out or they'll throw a tantrum where they finally explain what you did was so unforgivable. There was always the possibility that they'd just walk away and leave a man hanging but Louise really looked like the type to throw a tantrum.
Deku Tree, I wish I had a sword.
His prayer remained unanswered as a portly middle aged woman wearing purple robes and a pointed hat entered the room. Her presence seemed to be what everyone was expecting as the conversations between the students died down and their attention focused on the woman. Kirche and the blue haired girl were ignoring the woman and continued to check out the boys and read respectively.
"Greetings class, I am Chevreuse of the Red Clay and I will be your instructor today. First of all I would like to congratulate everyone, it seems that the Springtime Familiar Summoning was a great success. I always enjoy seeing the new familiars that are summoned each spring."
Chevreuse cast her eyes up in the stands and froze for a moment when she saw Link.
"My, my. You've summoned quite a... peculiar familiar, Miss Vallière," she remarked and Link was trying to decide if he had just been complimented or insulted.
"Thank you, Mrs. Chevreuse." Louise nodded, like nobility acknowledging that of course you've been awed by my accomplishment.
"Louise the Zero, getting an elf is completely absurd, I bet you just grabbed a random commoner from the streets and gave him fake ears." a random voice shouted out from the class.
Apparently Louise knew who was talking though as she got to her feet and called on the teacher, banging her fist against the table top in protest. "Mrs. Chevreuse! I've been insulted! Malicorne the 'Common Cold' just insulted me!"
"Common cold? I am Malicorne the Windward!"
"Well, your hoarse voice sounds like you've caught a cold!"
The boy called Malicorne stood up and glared at Louise. Recalling his duty, Link moved to block the boy's aim with his own body but the matter was taken out of his hands as Chevreuse pointed at the two squabbling students with the wand in her hand.
The two suddenly jerked about like puppets on a string and rigidly sat back down. Now that a real threat had been made to Louise, Link decided to keep his eye on the boy for the rest of class lest he try something again.
"Miss Vallière, Mister Malicorne. Please stop this unnecessary argument."
Louise looked visibly dejected. All the spirit and pride that she'd shown since summoning Link seemed to have evaporated.
"Calling friends 'Zero' or 'Common Cold' is not acceptable. Do you understand?"
"Mrs. Chevreuse, I'm only called that as a joke, but for Louise, it's the truth."
A few giggles broke out from somewhere.
Chevreuse looked around the classroom with a severe expression. She pointed her wand again, and, as if from nowhere, Malicorne the Windward's mouth was suddenly filled with a lump of red clay. Link grimaced, he had hoped that Colbert had been an exception and that further distance would prevent attacks from appearing point blank.
"You shall continue the lesson in that state. I hope the rest of the class doesn't require such an object lesson. By the Founder's sake boy, breath through your nose."
Malicorne's face had been turning red from lack of oxygen, till he followed Mrs. Chevreuse's advice and he began to calm down. This put the rest of the class on their best behavior.
"Now then, let's begin the lesson."
Chevreuse coughed heavily and waved her wand causing a few pebbles to materialize on her desk out of thin air. Catching a few student's interest including Link himself.
"As you are aware my Runic name is the 'Red Clay.' This year, I will be teaching you all the magic of the Earth element. Do you know the four great elements of magic, Miss Zerbst?"
In a bored tone Kirche replied, "Yes, Mrs. Chevreuse. They are Fire, Water, Earth and Wind." Just great, Link thought, there's probably a water mage that can point a little stick and then fill my lungs up with water. Protecting Louise is looking to be more and more impossible the more I learn.
Chevreuse nodded, "And combined with the now-lost element of 'Void,' there are five elements in total. Of the five elements, I believe Earth holds an extremely important position. This isn't just because my affinity is Earth, nor is it simply a personal preference."
Once again, Chevreuse coughed heavily.
"The magic of Earth is a very important magic that governs the creation of all matter. If it wasn't for Earth magic, we wouldn't be able to produce or process necessary metals. Raising buildings from large boulders and harvesting crops would involve much more work. In this manner, the magic of the Earth element is intimately related to everyone's life."
Interesting use of magic, Link thought, in most of the lands, his own included, he had traveled magic was generally imbued in to an object to perform a certain task, barring those gifts granted by magical creatures like the fairies. Then it was more like the person was enchanted to do one specific thing well.
"Now, everyone, please recall that the basic magic of the Earth element is 'transmutation'. While there will be people here who have already learned this in their first year, basics build foundations, so let's review it once more."
Chevreuse turned her attention to the pebbles and twirled her wand over them.
She then whispered a spell, and they began to glow brightly.
When the light dimmed away, the pebbles had been changed into sparkling lumps of metal.
"Is that g-g-gold, Mrs. Chevreuse!?" Kirche leaned forward to ask, her interest finally caught and her breasts pressed against the desk making a few of the boys blush.
"No, it isn't. It's plain brass. Only Square-class mages are able to transmute to gold. I'm just..." Chevreuse gave a self-important cough. "A Triangle mage..."
"Miss Vallière!"
"Y-Yes?"
"Since you were so vocal at the beginning of class, perhaps you would like to demonstrate for everyone?"
"Eh? Me?"
"Yes. Try changing these pebbles here into a metal of your choice."
Louise didn't stand up. She simply sat there looking troubled and fidgety.
Link wondered what the issue was, "Louise?"
"Miss Vallière! Is something the matter?" Mrs. Chevreuse called for her again, but Kirche raised her voice in concern.
"Umm..."
"Yes?"
"I think it would be better if you didn't let her..."
"And why is that?"
"It's dangerous," Kirche answered plainly. The majority of the class nodded in agreement.
"Dangerous? How so?"
"This is your first time teaching Louise, right?"
"It is, but I hear she's a hard worker. Now, Miss Vallière. Don't you worry, just try it. You won't be able to do anything if you dread making mistakes."
"I know you managed to summon an elf but please don't do this, Louise!" Kirche cried, her face pale.
Louise confidence returned in full force at the admission from her rival and she stood up.
"I'll do it."
Confidently, Louise walked briskly up to the front of the room.
Chevreuse stood next to Louise and smiled.
"Miss Vallière, you have to visualize the metal that you wish to transmute them into."
Link looked at Malicorne to make sure he didn't try anything but was concerned when he saw the boy huddling down on the floor, his body protectively wrapped around his familiar. Looking around Link could see that others were crouched down and looked ready to emulate Malicorne at a moment's notice. The whole situation was filling Link with a nostalgic sense of dread.
Closing her eyes, Louise uttered a short word that Link couldn't understand and flourished her wand.
The pebbles on the desk promptly exploded.
Louise and Chevreuse caught the blast full-on and were thrown against the blackboard, as people screamed dropping to the ground and tipping over desks. Frightened familiars added to the chaos. Kirche's salamander suddenly woke from its sleep and stood up on its hind legs, breathing a jet of flame. A manticore burst into flight and smashed through a window to escape. Through the hole, a giant python that had been peeking in earlier slithered in and swallowed someone's raven.
To put it simply, the classroom was in complete chaos.
Kirche stood up and pointed a finger at Louise.
"That's why I told you not to let her do it!"
"Jeez, Vallière! Save us some grief and just quit school already!"
"My Lucky got eaten by a snake! Lucky!"
Link raised his head above the desk he had taken cover behind and tried to assess the damage. Mrs. Chevreuse lay on the floor; judging by her occasional twitching, she wasn't dead. A soot-blackened Louise rose slowly. She was a miserable sight to behold. Her clothes were torn and looked ready to fall off, her hair disheveled and her arm was bending the wrong angle.
The thirty students all seemed to be uninjured though in a state of shock. At least one familiar was dead and a few injured from secondary fights that had broken out between the creatures. Maybe those students who'd lost a familiar would be luckier the next time they summoned and get something a little sturdier.
Link wondered if they'd have to wait till the next Springtime Familiar Summoning due to it working best on a certain day of the year or if it was only tradition and they could re-do it whenever a familiar died. If the first, he would hate to be that kid.
Still, Louise must have a strong nerve or else this happened with depressing regularity. She didn't seem fazed in the least by the discord in the room. She pulled out a handkerchief with her good hand to wipe the soot off her face.
"Looks like I messed up a little..." she said, in a weak voice.
Despite her quiet words, someone in the front row heard her which elicited a vehement response from the students.
"That wasn't 'a little!', Louise the Zero!"
"Your success rate is always ZERO!"
"Malicorne must be right, you didn't even summon an elf! It's just some sort of trick!"
Forget protecting Louise from other people, Link needed to figure out how to protect Louise from herself first.
------------------------------------------------
Much as he would have liked to continue to poke and prod all those strange items he had pulled off Link, Colbert found most of them defied cursory inspection and other then the strip of bark which seemed to exude magical energy out of it when left under sunlight he couldn't unlock their secrets.
He had tested the blades' edges and enchantment and found them frankly unremarkable, even some of the students could transmute something of similar quality on the spot. The masks were cursed according to Link, and despite not trusting him Colbert had other avenues of research to pursue before experimenting with that. Namely what the significance of the rune on Link's hand meant.
That's why the last several afternoons, after completing his obligations as an instructor, he found himself in the library perusing ancient tomes looking for the symbols he knew he had seen somewhere before. At first he had just checked the school records of the students he had instructed but none of them had fit. For an instant Colbert considered the fact that he might have seen it during his adventurous period but dismissed it. During that time of his life he had been more concerned with a familiar's teeth and claws then its runes.
It was these deductions that had him going through the books on the nation's heroes, a pastime he had enjoyed as a child, and discovered a tome on the Familiars of the Founder. The legends surrounding the man meant that most books written about him were filled with as much myth as fact and it was always hard to tell what was truth when studying about him. Still, whatever the book said, it contained an illustration of runes that perfectly matched those adorning the left hand of Link.
Reading even more he came to two conclusions. One, this was going to be trouble. Two, This Was Going To Be Trouble.
He would have to tell the Headmaster right away and determine what was to be done from here on out.
-------------------------------------------------
If there was one word a person were to use to describe Headmaster Osmond on first glance it would have to be harmless. Standing at average height, with a white beard that stretched down to his waist, he was known as an eccentric old man that had a habit of looking at some of the female staff's undergarments thanks to his generally unnoticed familiar, Mótsognir. The white mouse that had certainly benefited from the summoning contract by living centuries was never far from the old man's side.
During the last summer Osmond had a wonderful idea, most of his time was generally spent dealing with a lot of unnecessary paper work. Writing notes to such and such a student's parent on how a reckless child had broken some priceless artifact or how their precious angel was bullying the first years. No, it would be much easier to get someone else to write those notes and then sign the document once it passed his inspection.
Reading was much more enjoyable then writing, and generally quicker and with that he had sought out a suitable assistant. The main bonus of creating such a position was the ability to choose someone qualified and would serve as a good fit for the work space.
Naturally when Ms. Longueville had arrived, with her mature body, silky green hair, and glasses, he had hired her on the spot. As an added bonus he had even found her to be a decent hand at writing the next day when he put her to work.
Sadly this ended up leaving Osmond with the opposite problem of having too much time and as a natural result he had grown bored. Making a decision, Osmond got up from his desk and looked over Ms. Longueville's shoulder to see what the latest missive was about that would eventually require his signature. Ah yes, a few days ago Miss Vallière had caused some damaged property due to a back fired spell. Peculiar considering that problem was usually dealt with after the first couple months when a student's element was determined and even then it shouldn't have done any more then scorch a desk, not trash a whole classroom. Ms. Vallière's difficulty was generally well known so this must have been Mrs. Chevreuse's idea of determining if the summoning had broken the girl's inability to handle even the most basic manipulations of magic. Sadly that didn't seem to be the case.
Osmond was intrigued to see that Ms. Longueville was turning the most unusual shade of red and muttering to herself. Perhaps she didn't care for his proximity, it would have been more polite to just ask instead of read over her shoulder.
"Old Osmond..." Ms. Longueville finally spoke up though her quill never stopped.
"What is it Miss...?"
"If you continue to stroke my bottom, I will crush your hand so you can never feel anything in it ever again."
Osmond blinked and then looked down at the offending hand. Well what do you know, he wondered how long he'd been doing that. The answer seemed to be too long as Ms. Longueville gave him a look that would have caused lesser men to cower and beg for forgiveness. Osmond just shrugged and purposefully put his hands behind his back and strolled back to his desk. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. Regardless, if you did that I'd have to get a new secretary. Miss...?"
"As if, you would probably just use the other hand."
"I just might at that, tell me, do you know what the ultimate truth is?"
"Whatever it is, I'm sure its not under my dress. If you don't mind I'd like to kindly ask you to remove your mouse from underneath my desk, now."
Osmond's smille fell, and sadly called out, "Mótsognir."
Osmond's oldest companion fled from the dangerous feet of an angry secretary and sought the safety of its Master's shoulder. Safely perched, Osmond spoke to the rodent like a sergeant coming in contact with a scout. "Report." The mouse began chittering rapidly before coming to a stop and Osmond nodded seriously before passing some small nuts as a reward. "I see, plain white. Considering her personality, I'd think black would be much more appropriate, don't you think?"
Ms Longueville raised her eyebrow, "I just hope you know that from now on, I'm going to have traps under this desk."
Osmond shook his head, "I'm sorry I just can't allow it. Goes against the agreement on your contract."
"In hindsight, it was very suspicious for a contract to clearly state that no lethal or non-lethal traps could be kept under my desk."
Osmond nodded and went to console the woman but was stopped by that murderous look in her eyes again, hmm maybe she would go through with maiming him. Trying to decide if discretion was the better part of valor, Osmond was saved the choice as Colbert ran in to the room as if he had some important information.
Willing to trust the man's judgment on the matter he made a quick decision, "Miss... If you wouldn't mind leaving us alone for a few moments."
Ms. Longueville was curious but she didn't object and stepped outside. Colbert gave the headmaster an interested look as the old man placed his head against the door and listened to her departing footsteps, "I think we're clear, if you'd like to make your report Mr..."
"Colbert, don't you know it? I've been working here for several years now."
"Of course Cody, its just you've always said it so quickly. Don't let it bother you, now what seems to be the emergency?"
Colbert looked like he was about to say something but stopped himself, good it wouldn't due to quibble over the meaningless details when something important happened. "You see it has to do with Louise's familiar. I've been looking through the school records in order to find any information on the distinctive runes that appeared on his hand." Colbert held up an old tome for the headmaster to look at, opened to the appropriate page and an illustration that matched the drawings that Colbert had made of Link's runes.
"This is proof that Louise's familiar has the same duties as one of the familiar's of the Founder. It is my belief that the elf is the Gandalfr!"
Colbert's declaration was stopped as a knock came from the door and Osmond stared at the door frowning. "Yes?"
"Old Osmond, a fight has started up at the Vestri Court. Between Guiche de Gramont and Louise's familiar, the staff are afraid to interfere and are requesting we use the 'Bell of Sleep' to pacify them."
Osmond looked to Colbert, "Do you trust the familiar not to kill the boy?"
Colbert was torn on the matter but finally shook his head, "From my observations, he hasn't shown a violent attitude only a protective one."
"Excellent Miss... let the fight proceed and Camwyn, about what we were just talking about. Keep it to yourself for now, information like that is only likely to bring unwanted attention. Now let's see if we can't get a good view of the fight." As Ms. Longueville went to pull the cloth off a mirror that allowed the Headmaster to scry certain parts of the school, Osmond went back to his seat and pondered all the interesting things he'd learned today that he'd been unaware of despite his very long life.
A student had summoned an elf, dangerous as the odds of the local powers using her or killing her from that fact alone were high. If even a whisper were to get out that the elf had the ability to wield any weapon placed in his hands, and the possibility that Miss Vallière was a void user just like the Founder, Brimir, every human power, especially the Church, would be at the doors trying to gain that power.
In the long term it might even be better for Miss Vallière to be magically crippled then be made into a weapon. It was all the foolish musings of an old man anyways, if it was her destiny to become a weapon than there was nothing Osmond would do to stop it, but that didn't stop him from opening the lower drawer of his desk and placing the 'Bell of Sleep' on his desk.
Now its time to see if Colbert's opinion of Louise's familiar is accurate, Osmond thought.
-------------------------------------------------
Earlier that day...
Link stood over the bed of his master and sighed, "You know I was looking outside and I said to myself, I could really go for a fight, I mean, I've been here for a hand of days and besides the occasional threat to my life from the people believing Malicorne that I am not an elf, this might be the longest I've gone without wielding my sword since I started adventuring, don't ask me how long that's been because I could tell you four different answers and they'd all be true, depending on your relative point in time..."
Louise was doing her level best to ignore the annoying person that she was oh so happy to have as a familiar but would be much happier if he'd stop his annoying chatter and just let her sleep for five more minutes. Was that really too much to ask for?
"Fife mor minuts." Louise managed to mumble out but Link just kept on talking. Finally unable to take anymore she threw her pillow at him and hoped that wiped the smile off his face, which she just knew he had. At the very least it caused him to stop talking. After the explosion, Louise had gone to the school healer to get her arm fixed and the following couple days had been spent cleaning the room she had damaged, with out magic.
Not to mention the thousand word letters of apology she had to write for the two students who had lost their familiars thanks to the more carnivorous familiars that had taken advantage of the situation. The two students would be performing their summoning for a new familiar next week but it would be kept private and Louise was discouraged from attending. Like she'd even want to go.
Link had been invaluable during the clean up, his strength helped a lot in cleaning and putting the desks in their proper place after wards. Louise had expected him to make some comment to her about it all, about how she was such a failure, a real zero, or how he was doing most of the real work but Link had remained silent and just spent all his energy on the work in front of him.
The silent familiar's thoughts on the matter plagued Louise till it had become to much to bear and she confronted him on the matter this morning.
"Why don't you say anything?"
"About? I thought my current conversation about getting in to a fight was something." Link asked.
"Be serious. I mean about the giant mess I caused and that you cleaned up. Doesn't it bother you?"
Link shrugged, "Is it always that big of an explosion?"
Louise frowned, "No, usually its perfectly harmless."
"Is that why Malicorne was cowering before you'd even made it down to the teacher?"
"Shut up! That waste of space is just remembering my first attempt at the levitation spell."
Link laughed, "So how far did you launch him?"
"About fifteen feet in to some bushes, as well as the rest of the class, and maybe some of the field, and why am I telling you this?"
"People like telling me their problems, I tend to solve them. Granted yours is outside the normal stuff I handle. Anyway I'll see what I can do to help you with this but at the very least you'll prove useful in a fight. Can you always hit what your aiming at?"
"I've never really aimed at things far away, most beginning spells deal with objects right next to a person. It typically takes years of training to accurately manifest elements further away." Louise stomach growled at her and brought the conversation to a halt.
Link stepped outside as she dressed and the two of them traveled to Alviss Hall. Where, after helping Louise take her seat, Link went outside to eat with the other familiars.
--------------------------------------------
Link found that eating with the other familiars didn't lend to the most thrilling conversations, mostly because if any of them could talk they weren't doing it to him. They were also very protective of the food the kitchens sent to the stables that housed most of the familiars and getting to close could end with Link losing a few fingers.
Still his presence had proved frightening to the regular servants assigned this duty and as luck would have it, the maid he'd met his first night volunteered to bring him food. Link was grateful because he'd have only gone so long before having to admit defeat and going back to being Louise's public declaration that she could do magic.
The black haired maid approached him with a silver platter holding a large bowl of some sort of stew. The meal tended to be leftover's from the servant's table but it was hardy food and generally tasty. Siesta sat down next to Link as he enjoyed his meal. "You know, you don't have to sit here with me, I could bring the bowl back to the kitchen."
"It's alright, I don't mind. I've heard all these stories about elves that its an honor to be near you, Sir Link."
"It would be interesting to meet one of these elves everyone talks about. I wonder how I compare?" Link whispered.
"Sir Link?"
"Don't mind me, Siesta, I just have a lot of things on my mind, how about we return this bowl together."
Siesta jumped to her feet and the two of them were walking through the hall where a couple students were harassing the pretty boy Link saw during his first night in this land.
"Who you going out with now? Is she pretty?"
"How far have you gotten with her? huh, come on man, don't hold out on us."
The boy gave the two disdainful looks, "How can a gentleman speak to such crass boys? Truly your words are as filthy as your thoughts and I will not speak so freely of the tender hearts that trust themselves to me. I will only tell you that I do not see any woman greater then the other. A rose is but a flower among the leaves till its been picked."
"You hear that, he's not just seeing one girl."
"Guiche, you sly dog, I knew you had it in you. If things go badly you be sure to send them our way won't you. I can be very consoling."
Link knew what it was like when you had multiple girls in your life wanting you around and them not wanting those other girls around. He hoped the kid figured it out though Siesta looked a little outraged by the noble's behavior. As Guiche walked past them a bottle fell out his pocket and landed by his feet, curious Link picked up the blue glass bottle as the boy kept on walking. "Excuse me, I believe you dropped this."
That's weird, Guiche was ignoring Link. He held it up in plain view, "Is this your bottle? I think it fell out of your pocket."
Guiche stopped and the two boys he had been talking to earlier were laughing quite hard. "No way, that's one of Montemercy's perfumes. One of the girls is her, oh she is going to be so mad to hear there's another woman that she'll just run to my arms."
Guiche glared at them till they settled down, "You are mistaken, I do not know how this elf gained that bottle but it has nothing to do with me. Perhaps he is a thief."
"Oh, now you know he's lying, he's not speaking all poetic like."
Guiche probably would have figured his way out of this if he'd had a little more time to think, Link thought, but then the other woman showed up.
"Is this true, Guiche?"
"Katie, my love this is all a big misunderstanding! Please, won't you believe in me?"
Katie slapped Guiche and the boy held a hand to his face and bent over. "I hope you drop dead!"
Katie stormed off and before Guiche could fully regain his senses, another girl with blond hair in curls stormed up like a diminutive storm cloud and, grabbing a nearby pitcher, dumped the contents over the boy's head. "Montemercy, please I just traveled with her through the forests of La Rochelle..."
"If I catch you around another girl, I'll drown you like the detestable rat you are. Honestly, dating a first year what were you thinking? I have half a mind to..." Letting out a yell of frustration, Montemercy marched over to Link and ripped the bottle from his fingers and left as quickly as she had arrived.
Link was quite frankly stunned by the whole series of events. He had just trying to be helpful, and the whole thing backfires and messes up a guy's love life.
"I'm sorry, didn't mean for that to happen." That probably wasn't going to cut it.
"Silence! Such an act is nigh unforgivable and I will have recompense on the field of honor in an hours time or your Mistress will pay for thine blunder, You have my oath on the matter!"
"Siesta, could you please translate that for me?"
Siesta looked mortified to be dragged in to the conversation, "He wants to fight a duel with you in an hour. He says that if you refuse then Ms. Vallière will be punished because she is responsible for your behavior, Sir Link."
Link nodded, "I was hoping that was it. Then I accept."
"I'll await you on the Vestri Court." Guiche left, probably to prepare for the impending fight which Link would also have liked to do but anything useful was unlikely to be given to him by Colbert. Link got the feeling that he disliked the man about as much as Link was disliked in return.
Link wondered who he could ask about the location of Vestri Court, since Siesta seemed to have run off. Before he could ask some of the other nearby students about that, Siesta was running back leading Louise to him.
"Familiar, is it true that you challenged Guiche to a duel?" Louise yelled at Link.
"No, not at all, just due to an unusual combination of events, which might be considered my fault if you were the type of person to jump to conclusions, Guiche challenged me."
"And you accepted, stupid familiar, you're not supposed to act with out my permission? What if I didn't want you to knock of that stupid smirk off his stupid face for stupidly thinking he's some gift to women."
Link stood still at that, "Do you want me to abandon the duel?"
"Of course not! I want you to kick his skinny behind from here to the edge of the world. At the very least give him a black eye."
"Glad to see you care so much about my safety."
Louise looked quite perplexed by that. "What can he possibly do to you? You're an elf."
------------------------------------------------------------
An hour later on the Vestris Court, Link found out that the duel wasn't going to be a private matter as it looked like half the school had shown up to witness the event. Near the entrances were several of the teachers looking very discouraged by the size of the crowd but none of them stopped Link from entering the field. If anything they seemed to be waiting for something else to happen.
Judging by the mood of the crowd, most of the students were firmly on Guiche's side, calling out his name in support with one person even trying to organize a cheer. Except for a small group of girls that were calling for veangence on the womanizer.
Link was able to hear people talking as he made his way through the crowd to the center of the field.
"Guiche has some major stones, challenging an elf to a duel."
"I hear Louise's familiar isn't even an elf, just some commoner she's paying to dress up as one."
"Look at him, he doesn't even have a weapon on him, maybe he's going to show off some elven magic."
"Destroy the enemy of women!"
Link found it all a little silly but then they were all just kids. None of them looked like they'd seen a real fight. This was all just the day's entertainment after all.
"I see you have taken responsibility for the errors you committed in revealing my feelings to the gentle hearts of maidens."
"Said I was sorry."
"Nay, your words are not enough, I am Guiche the Bronze and you will know the depths of humiliation. En garde."
Looks like there was going to be no way to turn this around. "Very well. Let's settle this."
Guiche raised the rose in his hands and waved it in front of him, petals fluttering to the ground before transforming in to three five foot tall golems, resembling a woman in armor and unarmed like Link, the four combatants moved quickly to close the distance. Link took a boxer's stance, one foot in front of the other, fist's raised with his right leading.
Used to multiple targets, Link stayed mobile, moving from side to side and not allowing them to surround him. Knowing he was going to regret this, Link punched the metal golem in front of him in the head but the blow had no discernible affect, on the golem. On Link it felt like he might have fractured something.
Link retreated backwards as the golem reached forward to try and grab the arm and he managed to escape the danger when the second golem came from the side and decked him in the ribs. Link coughed and dropped to a knee, the third golem going in for an overhead strike to Link's back and drove him flat to the ground.
Instead of pressing the advantage, the golems pulled back to protect Guiche, who seemed concerned with how well he was doing. "What's the matter familiar? Why do you not use your magic to protect yourself? Surely the tales are not so over exaggerated? You must tell me what is going on here."
"Link! Quit playing around and kick his ass!" That sounded a lot like Louise.
"I thought about that, but that would hardly be fair so I'm going to take you out with my bare hands."
"There is no point in holding back, I would always wonder how I measure up. You can't be a pacifist since you were eager enough to accept my challenge. If you are not going to fight me then I suggest you yield."
"This is a matter of honor between men over the virtue of women. I will not yield." Or the of a boy getting in over his head and taking it out on the most available target at the time. Either way, Link was enjoying himself for the first time since he got here. No way was he calling an end to it.
Link sprinted towards Guiche, hoping to get a lucky strike in against the real opponent instead of these silly puppets. Link rolled underneath the arm of the first golem and coming up to his feet, kept his head lowered as the second golem's arm passed by the missed blow giving Link a nice breeze even as his sweat beaded on his brow. Now to the third golem, Link got in close before side stepping the third, his arm swinging wide from his momentum brought his elbow crashed in to the head of his opponent. Knocking the construct off balance it fell to the ground and tripped up the second golem.
Guiche's eyes had grown large by the display of unarmed prowess and waving his rose, a fourth golem bearing a sword appeared and lunged towards him. This one was quicker then the first three had been but Link was able to dodge the strike, dropping to his knees. Hoping to disarm his enemy and gain the upper hand, Link fell backward, his feet rising up to strike the arm but the sword didn't drop in to his waiting hand but turned out to be be welded in the golem's hand. "Oh that just has to be cheating."
Taking advantage of his disbelief, the sword swung down and Link rolled back and found himself in the presence of the unarmed golems. They tried to grab at him but Link evaded them by sliding in between two even as the sword wielding golem entered the fray as well. It's blade cutting in to the body of one of the other golems and getting wedged.
Link avoided the two other golems and rammed his shoulder in to the golem in front of him, knocking it back. Letting out a yell, Link broke free and was running straight at Guiche. Guiche waved his rose and with a flash of light it turned in to a sword. While plain, it looked serviceable and light enough that he could hold it with one hand.
Guiche lifted the blade up high and went to drive the point of it through Link's head only for Link's reflexes to kick in. Link side stepped, drawing his left hand back and swinging it forward with all his strength to hit Guiche in the side of the face. Guiche dropped like a sack of flour.
This was also the hand that Link had hurt earlier and now it was really hurting. Link shook his fist and looked behind him to see the golems, now all four were wielding swords and were ten feet away.
Link looked back down to the young man and their eyes met. There was determination in his eyes, if Guiche pushed this he might be able to win, but there was no fear in Link's eyes. Cradling his jaw, Guiche gave a drawn out sigh, "I yield."
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Fri, 21 Jan 2011 06:46)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.