By the time she lifted her wand, she had mostly awakened though and thoughts of what the day might bring were beginning to cause the first stirrings of anxiety within her heart.
No matter her inner feelings though, she would present the proper face that her noble lineage and station demanded of her. Though she might privately admit that she was a bit lacking in the "maintain calm dignity" portion of that image.
Taking a final deep breath, Louise opened the door and strode out to what she was sure would be a fateful day.
Kirche was ready to cut loose with what was sure to be a painful comment. Tabitha was reading a book. Guiche flirting with Montmorency.
Pretty much the normal situation. Minor changes in the ingredients from day to day but the same flavor.
"Congratulations everyone to making it to the Second Year of your studies. I am Mrs Chevareuse, and I have been appointed to the Tristein Institute of Magic for the year."
A new face among the teaching staff. Maybe she would actually know what she was doing?
"My element is Earth, and I am also known as Chevareuse the Red Moon," continued the teacher, wearing a hat that Louise noted was all the fashion - about five years ago. Was it making a comeback? "I will be teaching you Earth-based magic for the course of the year. Now, everyone, what are the four major elements of magic?"
Guiche handled the question, gesturing broadly with his rose/wand. He rattled off the four elements and seemed to flirt with the middle-aged teacher in the process. Shameless. Must be nice to have that much self-confidence though.
"Earth is an important element," mentioned Mrs Chevareuse. "It is involved in the revitalization of all things."
Louise turned her full attention to the notes as the teacher demonstrated a basic alchemic spell - changing dull black stones to gleaming brass.
"Now to demonstrate it. You. You there."
Louise had a sinking feeling without looking up just who she was pointing at.
Yes. Her. Joy.
There were protests from the class, of course. Familiarity with what happened when she cast a spell. But maybe this time the teacher would actually be able to tell what she was doing wrong. It would turn out to be a minor thing, something off about her stance perhaps. Then on to dominating the class as its most powerful spellcaster!
"Louise de la Valliere," said Louise when questioned, standing up.
One of the students was objecting. Well, she'd show them! She'd show them all!
"'Dangerous'?" asked the teacher. "How can alchemy be dangerous?"
"I'll do it!" demanded Louise.
She got in front of the class and raised her wand.
"No! Louise! Don't!" tried Kirche. "Sit down and I won't tease you for at least the rest of the day!"
"Quiet! You're ruining my concentration!" responded Louise, she made the incantation, pictured brass in her mind, and gestured.
"Another year off to a start without any problems," declared the Headmaster.
"Yes, there's nothing better," agreed the secretary.
"As the Institute's principal, I can wish for nothing more," said the principal. He idly noted that she'd bespelled her clothes with a level 2 warding against manipulations. Oh, and she had an anti-prank ward at her desk. Well, there were ways around that.
He tried to take a relaxing puff of smoke from his pipe. She countered with a remote-manipulation spell and reminded him that she was keeping an eye on his health.
Well, deny him one pleasure and he'd have to go for a different one didn't he? Wasn't that how the game was played?
The usual byplay took place. He touched her buttocks, she admonished him, he acted senile and therefore blameless, she scolded him to stop it.
He used his familiar to check out her panties. Her reaction was priceless, so he ratcheted it up slightly by commenting on the color.
It didn't take long for the usual result to play out. Outraged woman kicking him repeatedly in the posterior. Admittedly, it was an old game but you had to get what enjoyment you could out of things at his age.
"Well, at least the third-years get practice with their repair charms and medical studies," said Osmon.
"She blew up a classroom and put a teacher in the infirmary," commented his secretary.
"Could have been worse, you weren't here for the Great Spaghetti Disaster last year," said Osmon.
"I heard it involved noodles," said the secretary, noting that two nearby teachers had turned pale and made aversion signs at the headmaster's words. Osmon himself closed his eyes and looked unusually solemn.
"A Noodle Incident that none speak of, the memories are still too fresh, I fear it may scar the minds of some for the rest of their lives," said the headmaster.
"She'll be finished with detention soon, then what?" asked Miss Longueville.
"No further punishment," said Osmon. "Word of this will get around as a reminder to other teachers. Do not call upon Miss Valliere for labs or classroom demonstrations. No, best not to call upon her at all."
"Just you watch, I'll call up a familiar so divine, beautiful, and powerful, that it'll beat anything any of you are able to conjure up!"
Kirche had to give her points for confidence. She had that if nothing else. "What do you think, Tabitha?"
"I don't know," responded Tabitha. It could be that Louise was horrible at every other kind of magic but excelled at summoning. It wasn't unheard of for noble families to have that sort of thing. It might actually be Louise's best hope. Otherwise, for a high-profile family to have someone who couldn't spellcast - the individual would be hidden away out of the public eye.
"Today is the day of the Springtime Summoning Ritual, your first test since becoming second year students! This sacred rite confirms your magical ability, displays your elemental affinity, and provides a lifelong companion." Colbert looked out over the students as he continued speaking.
Louise looked as if she weren't paying all that much attention, but of course - she was.
Kirche got a very impressive-looking salamander. Guiche got a mole. Montmorency summoned a frog. Larren got a dachsund, what element THAT was supposed to indicate was unclear. Tabitha was the most impressive with a dragon.
Most had fairly normal animals. Danielle with her rabbit, Pierre with a parrot, Isabelle with a snake, and so on. Louise thought about it and decided that probably meant they didn't excel at any particular element over the others.
"All that boasting, so you have to summon something more impressive than this little guy," said Kirche, rubbing the salamander's head.
"Hmph," said Louise aloud, "of course!"
"My servant that exists somewhere," said Louise. She paused. She'd planned on saying "in this universe" but thought it didn't quite sound right now. Best to hurry, Kirche was looking amused at the pause. "My divine, beautiful, and powerful familiar! I wish and assert from the bottom of my heart - answer my guidance!" She gestured and there was a large explosion.
As the smoke cleared, revealed was:
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(Posted Tue, 01 Jul 2014 17:01)
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