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Going Gigantic!

THE HEIR

"I know what it takes to face Death and you don't have it." - Captain Cador of Karakesh.

If one were to sum up Louise de la Valliere's thoughts towards her new Familiar in a word, it would be "odd". Not the sentiment she would ever expect to feel in the seemingly ever slim chance that she had succeeded in summoning something. If one were to look back on her long history of catastrophic and rather explosive failures, they would be forgiven for assuming the ritual would have been no different from her other spells.

Nonetheless, Louise had prevailed against all odds. Her hopes had plummeted upon the bright flash and the massive boom that accompanied it, just to rise when she spotted a silhouette in the smoke, only for her and the rest of her classmates and Professor Colbert to stare in disbelief at what they saw.

A human. She had summoned a human. Not a manticore like her mother, a salamander like Zerbst or even a frog like Montmorency. A living, breathing, talking human being.

Naturally Louise had been dumbfounded and disappointed in equal measure, the latter exacerbated by the mockery and laughing of her peers behind her.

"I was expecting nothing but rubble with you Zero, but somehow this is more fitting!"

"Do you two shop at the same boutiques? You definitely have the same sizes!"

"Did you bribe her with candy? Surely commoners have better things to do than play your Familiar!"

'Short sighted fools.' Louise groused. Surely any of them would have put it together that even if she had concocted such a foolhardy plan, she would have hired someone… older.

She took a quick glance towards her Familiar as she led her through the halls of the academy. The pale slip of a girl maintained a hastened pace to keep up with Louise, her short legs requiring twice the steps to not be left behind. That wasn't even taking into account the heavy, gray and burgundy greatcoat that was several times her size draped over her small frame. Combined with her billowing head of snow white curls, she looked like a porcelain doll that had leapt from its shelf.

It would be considered adorable if not for one crucial detail, namely the sword. The one she grasped through her coat's sleeves, resting against her chest and over her shoulder. Louise wasn't much of an expert when it came to swords, she regarded the more plebeian methods of warfare below her notice much like her aristocratic peers. Even so, she had never seen one of such make. A double sided blade with a half circle crossguard and a pommel in the shape of some breed of poppy. It bore a number of scratches and marks indicating both its age and use, but despite that it was clean and sharp. From the length, Louise guessed it was a shortsword, though it was more akin to a greatsword when held in the grasp of such a small girl.

Oh and lest she forget, what was a child doing with a warblade to begin with?! Was this normal for commoners to arm their young with weapons? The girl couldn't be older than twelve years!

The fact that she was less than a foot shorter than her made Louise grind her teeth at her own lack of growth. Something Kirche had found immensely entertaining if her rolling around on the ground in a laughing fit for minutes had been any indication.

Returning to her Familiar, there was one other thing that gave Louise pause. In spite of her age or lack thereof, the girl didn't act like it. Where most children would be skipping about, babbling excitedly at stepping foot in such a prestigious school as the Tristain Academy, she simply… watched.

She was silent and controlled, not making any sounds outside the occasional question which were confusing and more mature than she'd expect. Asking about such matters as geographical location, the identity of the ruling body and the nature of the levitation spells Louise's classmates performed as they left them alone after the summoning.

It reminded Louise of her own mother in a way, a strict and ever vigilant woman of such strength and bearing worthy of the title of "The Heavy Wind." A warrior and leader of men who possessed no flaws and expected the same from those around her. She briefly pondered if this was what she was like back when she was this age.

Speaking of, she still had to think of the story she was going to have to send back to her family. Louise shivered anxiously. What in the Founder's name was she going to say? That she had fouled up her last chance to prove her worth as a mage? A Familiar was a reflection of one's element and magic potential. What did that say about her that she summoned a human child?

Summoned, keyword. The girl technically wasn't even her Familiar! Even under the crushing weight of her years of struggle she wasn't desperate enough to perform the binding ritual on a little girl! What kind of person would that make her if she linked with her against her will?

The thought of watching the Familiar runes brand themselves on such a young child had made her decision obvious, in the moment.

Her act of conscience had now put her in a no win situation. The best she could do was keep up appearances until she could find some kind of solution. Send the girl back home perhaps, wherever that could be.

'But then I'd have no Familiar at all!' Louise lamented, gripping her head as she threw it back, trying to frantically come up with any course of action.

"Miss?"

Louise jumped and spun around to see her Familiar (for appearances sake) giving her a raised brow.

"Something the matter?" She asked, the thick and unrecognizable accent holding its grip on her voice even through Professor Colbert's language spell. Louise took a breath to compose herself.

Rule of steel. Show no weakness.

"N-No, Aisling. Apologies. I am merely overcome from recent events."

Aisling looked unconvinced, though Louise found her expressions changed very rarely in the small amount of time they've spent together. "I see."

And that was the end of it. The atmosphere quickly became stifling, Louise felt like she should be saying something else. Maybe she should learn more about her Familiar? If they were going to be forced together for the foreseeable future, she may as well get to know her more. Peel away some of the layers of mystery to this sword toting youth.

But what do bizarre commoner children talk about?

"S-So um…" She cleared her throat. "That's a nice… sword?"

Aisling gave her a blank stare. "It is." She answered and promptly looked away.

And it was over already.

Louise would have groaned if she didn't know someone could be watching. Dragging her hand down her face, she looked to the sky.

'Ugh, someone please save me from this awkwardness!'

"Oh Louise~!"

She immediately grimaced at the cheerful voice.

"I had to ask, didn't I?" She muttered under her breath and turned to see her Germainian rival Kirche approach, a wry smile already on her rosy lips. Accompanying her was the ever silent Tabitha, the bespectacled girl's attention firmly planted in the book she carried and rarely seen without.

How these two were friends Louise would never know.

"What is it you want, Zerbst? Surely there's someone's beau you need to steal elsewhere?"

The taller girl's smile widened. "Don't be so prickly Zero. We cannot help our nature can we? Mine is to chase what catches my curiosity. Yours is to blast everything to pieces!"

Louise ground her teeth. Damn that moniker and damn Kirche who took every opportunity to throw her failures in her face. She just made her so furious!

"At least I don't flaunt my hindquarters like a randy peacock! And do you order your clothes to be that shameful, or did your blouse just so happen to lose another button?!" She retorted haughtily, crossing her arms and scoffing.

Kirche snickered, flipping a strand of her shining, voluminous red hair. "You Vallieres and your high standards. It's a wonder that your family line has not died out being so prudish. In anycase, I'm not here for you, Zero." She turned away from Louise and crouched down to Aisling's height. "I'm here to appraise your "Familiar". How do you do, little one? I hope little Louise here didn't color your opinion of me."

Aisling gave Kirche a once over.

"Nay. She didn't."

Louise blinked. Did… did her young Familiar just insult Kirche? She would be brimming with pride if she wasn't so bewildered.

Whether Kirche noticed the slight or not didn't seem to matter as she continued smiling and cooing. "Oh, you are so precious!" She quickly grabbed Aisling and pulled her into a tight hug. The young girl's mask finally cracked a little, her frown deepening in irritation. "I will admit dear Louise, that in your hair brained scheme to hire an orphan to masquerade as your Familiar, you at least picked a good one. She's so adorable! I just want to wrap her up and take her home with me!"

Louise scowled. "I did NOT pay her to be my Familiar! I performed the summoning ritual perfectly!"

Kirche raised a brow while Aisling wriggled in her grasp. "And yet we didn't see you perform the binding spell."

Louise paled and stuttered. "I-I did! Professor Colbert made me do it in private because he wanted, er, to make sure that everything was, um, safe and conducted properly!"

"Then where are the runes? The arm?" Kirche asked, reaching for Aisling's sleeve.

Louise's eyes widened and panic set in. "Don't you dare!"

She didn't need to do anything however. Kirche let out a small "Oof!" as Aisling elbowed the young woman's stomach, finally getting free and landing on her feet.

"Control yourself Madam, or next time I won't hold back." Aisling barked, stepped back to Louise's side.

Despite the blow to her abdomen Kirche only seemed more fascinated, standing upright. "Oho! The Familiar has some fire in her! You sure know how to pick your peon's, Zero!"

Louise snarled. "I did not-"

"However, even if you did bind this poor girl she still makes for an inadequate Familiar. Allow me to demonstrate!" She dusted herself off and snapped her fingers. "Oh Flame~!"

With a croak, Kirche's beloved Salamander stepped out from behind her. The wolf sized fire lizard plodded to her side and she smirked. "See? This is a true Familiar! A reflection of my beautiful self! Powerful, courageous and indicative of my control of my element!"

Staring at the beast, Louise couldn't help the envy that came over her. As loathed as she was to admit it, Kirche had a point. Summoning a salamander was no small feat and fit her perfectly. No one would question Kirche's legitimacy as a mage with such a creature bent to her whim.

What she wouldn't give to have it for herself. The heat of its inner fire emanating from its belly. Its coat of red scales, shimmering like rubies. Its confident stature as it shook…

Wait, what?

Flame's pupils shrunk to slits as he trembled. He let out a shaky rasp and ducked behind Kirche's legs, much to both girl's shock.

"Flame, sweetie-pie, what's wrong?" The Germainian gasped.

Louise grinned. She had no idea what had come over her rival's pet, but she wasn't going to waste such an opportunity given freely. "Ha! I see your Familiar is hardly the fearsome specimen you make him out to-EEP!" She squeaked as Aisling pulled her away by her cloak.

For a little girl, she had a surprising amount of strength!

"Aisling! Why are you-?!"

"Don't waste your breath on such pettiness, it makes you all the worse for it." Aisling said, continuing to lead her away from Kirche, who was still trying to comfort her frightened salamander.

"B-But-!"

"I share your pain. I know what it is like to be looked down upon. But you need to know to not play their game. Words are decorations and those of naysayers are pointless. It's deeds that make truth."

Louise stared at her Familiar, her anger at being denied her satisfaction at Kirche's embarrassment fading. Such maturity from someone her junior. It made her feel foolish in comparison.

Aisling was right. The more she fed Kirche's attention, the more likely she would say something she'd regret. It was exactly what her mother would tell her.

"I… I'm sorry. You're right. Thank you for stopping me."

Aisling glanced back and gave her a brief nod. "Let us crack on then."

She released Louise's cloak and they continued on their way to the dining hall.

"Aisling."

"Aye?"

"Who told you that? About words and deeds?"

The young girl's expression softened. "My Da."

"I see. He sounds like a wise man."

"Aye. He was."

"ASH-lin, not AIS-ling! It's an old family name." -Aisling

In the dining hall, the students sat down for their evening meal. Plates loaded with extravagant delicacies as befitting their station, they ate with gusto.

"Flame, darling, what's gotten into you?!" Kirche pleaded as her salamander hid under the table near her feet. While he was supposed to be outside being fed with the rest of the Familiars, he had refused to leave his master's side. She attempted to calm him down with offers of roast duck from her plate, to no avail.

In her plight, Kirche failed to notice Tabitha lower her book ever so slightly. Her eyes peering over the cover and fixating on the young Valliere and her Familiar across the hall. The white haired girl in question was slowly picking away at a meat pie, her back turned to the bespectacled mage. Her sword was propped up against the table within reach.

Despite what most assumed, Tabitha (or Charlotte to the rare few she considered trustworthy) was not the type to be unobservant. She just found solitude preferable. When one is silent, they tend to miss less. It often meant the difference between life and death, knowing when there is danger present.

Right now, Tabitha's instincts were telling her to be wary of this new arrival. Her intuition, built over many years of perilous assignments forced upon her by her treacherous uncle, was rarely wrong.

Since the very moment Tabitha first laid eyes on the new arrival, she knew something was amiss. While her peers focused on belittling Louise for her apparent failure and questioning her Familiar's odd appearance, Tabitha was looking deeper.

And from what she saw, she knew there was more to this girl than the obvious. From the practiced relaxed-ready grip she had on her sword. To the way her sharp eyes flicked this way and that, studying her surroundings and those around her.

They were mannerisms common in a warrior. She would know.

But the one thing that unsettled her the most was the reaction of the rest of the Familiars at the time of Louise's summoning. The rest of the class had been too distracted by the blast at the spell's conclusion that they failed to notice the wave of anxiety rippling through their companions.

Tabitha remembered the words her dragon Sylphid shared along their mental connection.

"The small one scares me, Big Sis. She smells like death."

Thus Tabitha was confronted with a burning question. Who was this child garbed in an oversized coat and carrying a weathered sword, to scare a young dragon?

Tabitha spared another glance to the subject in question.

The girl's head rose and she glanced over her shoulder.

Tabitha quickly dropped her eyes back to her book before she met her gaze.

Oh yes. She will be keeping a close eye on this Aisling indeed.

Aisling knew how dear the cost of defeat could be - Victory Arcana 1

It had been such a good day for Siesta of Tarbes.

It had started out simple and predictable enough. Wake before the crack of dawn, get dressed and immediately start on her morning chores. Retrieve the previous night's laundry and air them out. Clean the windows and the tables in the dining hall. Assist the kitchen staff with the breakfast preparation before joining the servers bringing said meals out to the students. Then a quick bite to eat in the brief gap of time in between that and helping retrieving the dishes to be washed. After that, she would set out on her pre-noon tasks.

It was a tough and unexciting life, but it was hers. Her parents were starting to get on in years and being the eldest of eight children, it fell on her to send money home. Thus she took to her duties with pride and determination as any loving daughter would. She knew it was unlikely any of the academy's students would notice or care for the effort she put into making sure their lives were as lavish as they always were. But the appreciation of her fellow servants and the ever greater weight of her purse was more than enough for her.

All that changed when Siesta went outside to retrieve the dry laundry from the lines. She hadn't noticed that she wasn't alone until she had yanked a sheet down, revealing a white shape with piercing blue eyes. She nearly leapt out of her skin, thinking she had been visited by a ghost before she realized it was a little girl, who immediately apologized and helped Siesta to her feet.

Thus Siesta spent the next half hour working while conversing with the most curious person. The girl, Aisling she called herself, assisted as much as she could, folding the smaller articles of clothing while Siesta took care of the larger ones too high for her to reach.

Aisling was very peculiar, but Siesta was quick to push that aside as she got to know her. Apparently she was the Familiar to the young Valliere heir, summoned just the other day which she had dismissed as mere rumor. She didn't quite understand the details or rationale behind such a tradition as the Familiar ritual being the uneducated pheasant she was, but she imagined most mages wouldn't summon a prepubescent girl if they had the choice.

But here Aisling was and Siesta was happy being wrong. While there was definitely something off in how she behaved(she wasn't nearly as childish or rambunctious as her seven brothers and sisters), the young girl was still so adorable! The amount of energy she put into her share of the work, the way her face screwed up and bunched her little freckles as she focused on her task of folding the student's shirts. It made her look mature beyond her years, ironically making her look all the more precious.

'And her hair looks like a fluffy cloud! By the Founder, she's so cute!' Siesta nearly squealed.

All of it made her want to learn more.

"Mistress Aisling?"

"Just Aisling Ma'am. I've not earned the right to be anyone's better." She answered stoically, not looking up from her job.

Siesta almost fell over at such good manners. She felt the students could learn a thing or two from this child. Not that she would dare vocalize that, even looking at a noble in the wrong way could get her fired or worse.

She giggled, reaching for the next sheet. "Very well, Aisling. Where are you from?"

"I hail from Karakesh, the cliffs of Tír an Cróga to be exact."

"Kar-a-kesh…" Siesta's tongue tripped over the unfamiliar syllables. "My apologies, but I'm afraid I've never heard of such a place."

"I didn't think you would. It's… far, far away from here." Aisling muttered, placing another skirt in the basket.

Siesta's smile fell. "You must miss your home then. Your family is surely worried for you."

"Nay. There's nothing left for me there."

Siesta stopped folding the sheet in shock. Was she a runaway then? It would certainly explain the sword laying on the grass next to its owner. She probably needed to defend herself out in the wilderness if she didn't have a home.

"I… I'm sorry Miss."

Aisling only shook her head. "Don't be. I'm on a quest of my own choosing, I need not your pity."

"O-Oh…" She stammered, not sure where to go from that. They continued in silence for a few moments. It was Aisling's mouth that opened again.

"What gives the nobles the right to rule?"

Siesta blinked. "Pardon?"

"The nobility. Why are they in power?"

Siesta almost boggled at the question. Aisling was definitely a foreigner if she didn't know something so integral to Halkengia's culture.

"W-Well I don't know all the details myself, but it is said that Brimir, the Great Founder, discovered the miracle of magic. He then used it to civilize the whole of Halkengia and bestowed his gift on the select few he chose to rule as his legacy. So the mages became the nobility and we the peasantry, those without magic, live to serve."

Aisling stopped folding and looked up, a deep scowl on her face. "You must be jesting."

"I-I'm sorry?"

"Being able to cast magic is a poor excuse for a claim to royalty! What if your Lord's are utter fools or only serve themselves?"

"W-Well the crown makes sure to govern itself…"

"So they say, but you cannot pull a leech off your own back! It's one's character that must be weighed, not if they can point a wand!"

Siesta skittishly glanced around to make sure no one was listening. She understood where the young girl was coming from. There were many days where her high spirits would falter under the verbal abuse and threats of the aristocrats, but there was only so much a lowly maid could do. But it was ingrained in every citizen that to even voice one's frustrations at the unfairness of the system could have dire consequences. It wouldn't be a stretch for someone to claim such words as insubordination at best, heresy at worst.

"Be that as it may Aisling, that's just the way things are!"

"Aye, and what a miracle it is that you've all lasted this long." Aisling grumbled, shaking her head and returning to her job.

It was silent for another few seconds before Siesta spoke again.

"Do… do you not have magic where you are from Aisling?"

"Aye, we do, but we don't lick wizard's arses like you do apparently."

"Language." Siesta chided, though she was still feeling dangerously curious. If a member of the church were to know she was entertaining such rebellious notions coming from a child, her family likely wouldn't see her again. But the notion that there could be something outside of the status quo was too tantalizing to ignore. Even if it might be the product of a young girl's imagination. "Then who are the nobles?"

Aisling sighed. "Back in Karakesh, one must prove that they are fit to rule. Noble heirs can't take the family name until they have been proven before the Scales of Justice. Military service, acts of heroism… self sacrifice… that is what makes leaders of men. A lord must be champion and protector of the people, FOR the people."

"I see. It… it sounds nice."

That was the end of the conversation, Siesta not daring to broach the topic any further out of fear of punishment. Despite their argument, she still enjoyed Aisling's company and appreciated her help in getting her chores finished almost a half hour earlier. It gave her enough time to rest her feet a little before joining the servers to deliver meals and snacks to the nobles. She even gave Aisling a small wave when she saw her seated next to her master.

Siesta resumed her work happily, her mind imagining a world akin to what her new friend described. One where she could more easily trust those above who dictated her fate.

It didn't distract her enough to miss the perfume bottle in the grass behind the Gramont heir. Her attentiveness would have been her downfall, if not for some timely intervention.

"A knight's bearing must be as powerful as her blade, squire." - Sir Regius of Karakesh

Guiche de Gramont was furious. His day had been going so splendidly. First he was enjoying the pleasant weather with his enchanting fiance Montmorency while eating sweets. He made sure to ingest with moderation as to save room for the baked goods of the delightful Katie, a first year he had wooed the night prior and promised to meet later.

His father would likely frown upon his dalliances, but who was he as a man of such refined taste to not appreciate beauty when it presented itself?

That had all gone downhill when one of the maids serving cake had tried to return the perfume bottle gifted to him by Katie that he had misplaced, right in front of his fiance no less! Fortune continued to desert him as his second paramour arrived early, making any chance of convincing Montmorency of it being a misunderstanding impossible. Leaving him with a stinging, red handprint on both cheeks and a wounded pride as onlookers laughed at his misery.

He needed an outlet and he turned his attention to the culprit behind it all.

"Your mistake has wounded the hearts of two innocent maidens! How do you plead?" He demanded with a flourish of his rose, magic sparkling over its petals. The demure servant girl quailed, falling to her knees.

"Please forgive me my lord! I-I was just trying to return the bottle to its owner!"

"And you thought that it belonged to me? Don't make me laugh, plebeian!"

"B-But I saw you drop it-" She meekly protested and he cut her off with a scoff.

"So you question my integrity then?!"

The maid's eyes widened in terror. "N-N-No! I was just-!"

"Enough!" He barked. "I will suffer your lies and excuses no more! Clearly this Academy's hiring standards are too lax if they are letting such duplicitous malcontents on the staff! Is it not so, my friends?" He asked, flourishing his arms. Many of the other students nodded and grumbled their agreement. If there was one thing Guiche knew how to do, it was play the crowd.

He took a sideways glance at the girl trembling at his feet. Such a shame to use the maid as a scapegoat. She was quite the beauty, for a commoner. But sacrifices must be made and that's what the pheasantry was for.

"Go and pack your things, girl! I expect you to be gone by sundown!"

"No! Mercy my lord, please!" Tears fell from the maid's eyes and she brought her head to the ground in supplication. "I-I need this job! M-My family will starve!"

Guiche shook his head, acting amused for the act. "Should have considered that before daring to besmirch my honor. Now you face the consequences."

"What honor?!" A shrill voice jeered. Gasps rang out over the gathered students who looked around to find the perpetrator.

Guiche sneered, anger rising at the insult.

"Who dares?! Show yourself!" He called out.

A couple seconds passed as a hush fell over the crowd. Slowly emerging from behind the forest of legs was a young girl. She gripped her sword tightly and her brow was narrowed in a thunderous expression.

She stomped into the circle, placing herself in front of the now bewildered maid and jabbed a thumb to her chest.

"I dare!

Laughter immediately filled the air. Guiche wiped a tear from his eye as he caught his breath.

"Ah, if it isn't the Zero's "great and divine" Familiar!" He said, eliciting some chuckles at the failed mage's summoning invocation. He gave her a shooing motion with his rose. "Run along now girl, the adults are busy right now."

The intruder only furrowed her brow even more. "Adults? All I see are a gaggle of silver spoon sucking, lily-livered, wand waving charlatans!" The crowd gasped again and started muttering in outrage. "And you!" She pointed at Guiche. "Hoisting your shame and stupidity on someone else like a soiled rag! All because your parents never taught you to not juggle girls like knives! Pathetic!"

Guiche nearly stumbled back in equal parts shock and indignation. Was this really happening? He couldn't believe the audacity of this girl! The worst part was some of the angry muttering around him turning to amusement at him being berated as such.

"Y-You miserable little brat!" He spat. "One so low shouldn't cast such insults! You are the false Familiar of the Zero, the worst mage to ever plague this Academy! What right does a puny, ungraceful brute of a peasant's daughter have to accuse me like this?!"

"Yeah!"

"You tell her Guiche!" A few of his friends cheered him on.

The girl merely scoffed. "You presume much about me, you gaudy fop! I may be a wee sprig, but I at least know what honor is! You have as much as a scum sucking gutter rat!"

A round of laughter and low groans came from the audience and Guiche's face reddened even brighter than by the slapping from his fiance.

"Why you little..! I'm going to the guards to have you and that maid thrown out immediately!" He yelled. He spun on his heel and held his nose high, determined to retain some dignity as he began to march away.

Only for something soft to smack him in the back of the head. More astonished gasps.

"What in the..?" Guiche turned back, rubbing where he had been hit. On the ground was a small woolen mitten.

The girl pointed at him with her sword. "I challenge you to a knight's duel, blaggard!"

The entire courtyard was astir. This was the most excitement the student body had seen in years!

The maid grabbed the little girl's shoulder. "Miss Aisling, don't! Forget about me and apologize! A commoner can't fight a mage!"

The girl didn't respond, all the while Guiche sputtered and boggled. After a moment he regained his composure and laughed.

"Ha, does anyone need more proof of how mad commoners can be? There's no way I'll fight a child!"

Said child crossed her arms and smirked.

"Aye, because you know you will lose. I've eaten lamb chops with more guts than you!"

More laughter and Guiche trembled with rage.

"Well, are you going to prove her right?"

"C'mon Guiche! Put her in her place!"

"It'll be fun!"

"Just push her around a little!" The crowd egged him on. Some of them wanted this upstart child to get her comeuppance. The rest were having fun at Guiche's expense.

His eye twitched. The smart thing to do would just be to have the guards remove the girl and have the Familar's master pay the price. But now his pride had been prodded as much as a pincushion. He would not stand for this.

He bent down and grabbed the "gauntlet" to the sound of cheers and applause.

Now he would teach this child a lesson.

Chivalry is piety. -Book of Laws: 14-15

Louise had been content allowing her Familiar a certain degree of freedom. Over the course of the previous night and this morning, Aisling had been the epitome of manners and good behavior. So confident that she could handle herself, she let the young girl go exploring while she finished her lunch.

She couldn't have imagined her lack of foresight would come back to bite her so soon and so viciously.

When a young maid came running into the dining hall and all but wailed of her Familiar's impending duel, Louise had nearly choked on her salad.

Now here she was; trying to talk the suddenly rebellious child out of throwing her life away.

"Aisling, stop! You can't fight him!" She protested, matching the girl's brisk stride through the hall leading to Vestri Court, where the duel was to take place.

"I can and will, just watch me!" Aisling shot back in no small amount of bite.

"No! Whatever war stories you've been told and waving a sword around won't prepare you for fighting a mage! A commoner has no chance!"

"Based on whose word? Your own? Or your church?"

Louise nearly passed out in shock at such blasphemy. Shaking her head, she leapt in Aisling's path and barred the way. "I won't let you do this! Guiche will hurt and humiliate you! Just apologize!"

"And let him punish an innocent because of his own folly? I think not!" Aisling shot back and tried to step past Louise who continued to impede her in turn.

"Founder's sake Aisling, it's just a maid's job! It's not worth you getting maimed!"

Aisling stopped and glared up at Louise. Her eyes stabbing into her like daggers.

"So you're just going to stand by? Watch as a young woman is sent back to her family in disgrace because that blonde fop could not suffer his own mistakes? And here I thought you had a sense of justice."

Louise grit her teeth, trying to ignore the weight in her stomach. "T-That's not what I mean! I know it's unfair and that it's all Guiche's fault, but there is nothing either of us can do about it! All that is going to happen is you getting pushed around or hurt and I'll be even more of a failure than before!"

Aisling narrowed her eyes. "I see. So you value your reputation more than justice then?"

"You don't understand, magic is everything to a mage! Summoning you was the first spell I've ever casted successfully! If something happens to you, I… my family will cast me out. Marry me away…" Louise's voice cracked and her knees fit the floor. "I'll be nothing… a Zero, just like everyone says."

Her eyes burned with tears and she wiped at her face.

"How pitiful am I..?" She mumbled, expecting her Familiar to be looking upon her in disgust.

"You've been alone for a long while, haven't you?"

She looked up to see Aisling studying her, the anger in her eyes smoldering. The girl let out a tired breath and shook her head. "My apologies. I was rash. In my anger I didn't consider how you may be punished for my actions. In your own way, you care. You just can't do much as you are, pushed into a corner like this."

Louise lifted her head, hopes rising. "T-Then you'll apologize to Guiche?"

"Nay. I still plan on showing that knave what for." Aisling shook her head, nearly making Louise cry.

"B-But he's a mage and you're-"

"Just a commoner, aye, so I've been told." She rolled her eyes. " If you truly believe magic is the measure of a man, you are no better than the rest of these children. As the Eternal Knight once said; Abide not the smallest injustice, for it sows the seeds of indifference. Guiche wronged Siesta and he must be put in his place lest corruption be left to fester. I will strike down this land's poisoned notions of honor and nobility." She vowed and stepped around Louise. She halted behind her.

"And for what it's worth, you're no Zero to me Master."

Louise turned to stare at her blearily. "How do you know?"

Aisling glanced back.

"You summoned me, aye? It's just like I said before. Deeds make truth…" She faced forward and gripped her sword. "...and I intend on showing these fools exactly what you've accomplished bringing us here."

Her piece said, the girl resumed her march and left Louise to ponder her words.

The noble blinked in confusion.

"Us?"

Sir Cador once told her that a knight's aims must be grander than combat alone. -Slayer Arcana 1

Word had spread quickly. Almost three dozen students had amassed in the Vestri Courtyard, eager to see a commoner get put in their place. For others it was simply a means of passing the time and curing their boredom until their next class. They all watched as Guiche squared off across from Aisling,

"How long you think it's going to last?"

"Not even a minute tops. No way she can swing that sword."

"You think she'll cry?"

"Zero might, heh." The onlookers whispered amongst themselves.

Louise stood off to the side, trying not to bite off her nails. Behind her was Siesta wringing her apron, paralyzed in terror. Kirche and Tabitha were also present, both watching the events preceding with interest.

"I see you didn't run off. You have bravado, I'll give you that." Guiche smirked. "That being said, I am not without mercy. I'd be willing to let this entire matter go if you surrender and apologize right now."

Aisling's scowl only deepened. "And let you get away with casting Siesta out? I think not."

Guiche huffed and shrugged. "Well, can't say I didn't try. May as well get this over and done with. Don't worry, I'll be gentle."

He flourished his rose and sent a petal fluttering to the ground. In a brief flash, a bronze valkyrie rose from the earth.

"Not going to face me yourself I see. You truly have no dignity as a warrior." Aisling sneered, making no efforts to mask her contempt.

Guiche scoffed. "You face Guiche de Gramont The Brass, commoner! Mages wage war with their magic. You cannot blame me for something you lack! Now prepare yourself!"

Louise finally spoke up. "Guiche, don't you dare hurt her! She's only a child who doesn't know what she says!"

He rolled his eyes. "Who do you take me for Zero? I'm not going to maim your brat! Just teach her a lesson in humility!" He pointed with his rose. "Valkyrie, disarm her!"

The golem brandished its spear and shield and began to slowly advance.

Many turned their gaze to Aisling, all expecting the young girl to be quivering in her boots. All were surprised to see her utterly unfazed.

She tilted her head up, studying the golem as it came to a stop and towered over her.

"Aisling! Move!" Louise cried.

The golem lifted its shield to knock its opponent over. It never got the chance.

Gripping her sword with both hands and holding it flush to her body, Aisling effortlessly sidestepped the slow swing.

"For friend and family!" She bellowed and swung, letting the weight of her weapon carry her in a spinning slash! A small shower of sparks as the blade carved a deep gash across the golem's chest, making it stumble back.

"What?! Valkyrie, defend yourself!" Guiche blurted.

The golem clumsily raised its shield to protect its body, but neither it nor its master had taken Aisling's size into account. Short as she was, it was the perfect height for her to follow up with another spinning slash to her foe's knee, shattering the joint with ease.

The valkyrie fell onto its other knee. Aisling rushed in and jumped, using her opponent's leg as a springboard to launch herself over its head, sword raised.

"Hah!" With a crack the valkyrie's helm was split in two. Its integrity compromised, the golem crumbled to pieces.

Aisling retrieved her sword from the fresh pile of rubble and brandished it towards Guiche. A small, yet confident smile was on her face and her eyes glimmering with resolve. "Do you have a strategy? Or is this all the counts for valor in this land?" She asked in a mocking tone.

The crowd was taken aback at the sudden reversal.

"What the hell?!"

"How did she do that?!"

"Is she really just a commoner?!"

Louise's eyes were wide, Aisling's words starting to sink in.

Behind her, Siesta muttered in awe. "A champion… for the people…"

Kirche watched with mounting interest. "Oh ho! Looks like Zero's little Familiar has some fight in her afterall! What fire and skill! What do you think, Tabby?"

Her companion was staring intently, her book closed and stowed away. "Strong. Young but well trained. Has a warrior code. A squire perhaps?"

At the centre of the commotion, Guiche was aghast and fuming. He'd thought he'd end this duel in an instant. Now it seemed this child was more than she appeared.

Guiche didn't care how young his opponent was anymore. He will not let his honor be tarnished any further!

"Well then let's see how you deal with THIS!" He challenged, angrily cutting the air with his rose and sending three more petals to the ground, three more valkyries springing from the ground. "Seize her!"

The constructs obeyed, rushing their quarry. Aisling steeled herself. The first golem reached her, raising its weapon for a downward strike.

Before impact she planted her sword next to her and pushed off, using her weapon to vault away as the attack hit the dirt she once stood upon. She spun and struck the valkyrie, severing its spear arm. She quickly hopped back to avoid another swipe from a different golem, on the back foot as the other two attackers beset her on all sides.

"Look out!" Louise cried and her Familiar rolled out of reach of a grab. It was one thing for her to face a single golem, but now all she can do is evade and retreat while only dealing glancing blows to the valkyries' armor. Even a fully grown knight would be at a severe disadvantage facing so many opponents.

At the same time, Aisling hardly seemed worried, only focused on the task at hand. The undamaged valkyries moved to pincer her from both sides, weapons raised. She fell onto her back with a grunt, sliding across the grass and letting the golem's crash into one another. Not letting the opportunity go to waste, she pivoted and got to her feet. Letting out a shout, she bounced up and swung at a foe's neck!

The sound of shattering pottery rang out as a valkyrie was relieved of its head, the rest of the body falling with it.

"Hahah!" She whooped, turning with intent on finishing the other. Unfortunately in her fervor, she failed to notice the one armed golem behind her. She eventually did when the flat of its shield collided against her small body with a resounding thunk! She let out a pained cry as she was sent tumbling across the field. Many of the spectators shouted in shock while the more sadistic laughed at seeing the petulant commoner getting trounced.

"Aisling!" Both Louise and Siesta screamed.

The girl groaned from where she lay on the ground. In a moment the two valkyries loomed over her followed by a third, freshly made. From across the field Guiche smirked and crossed his arms.

"Let it not be said that I'm a poor sportsman. You certainly have talent for someone so young. But just because you are a halfway competent fighter doesn't allow you to stand against me. Such hubris!" He crowed, getting some cheers from the crowd. "I am merciful however. Surrender now and I'll let you go home and cry to your mother. Sound fair?"

Louise watched her Familiar lying in the dirt, tears nearly falling from her eyes.

'Please… just stay down! I can't watch you get hurt anymore. Just please! Let this end!' She prayed quietly.

Aisling coughed and made a choking noise, propping herself onto her arms. "I got cocky, I'll give you that." She mumbled.

Then much to Louise's horror and the crowd's awe, she stabbed the ground with her sword and slowly pulled herself up. She lifted her head and wiped away some dirt on her face with her coat's oversized sleeve. All the while she affixed Guiche with another glare.

The noble couldn't help the tingle of fear that ran down his spine at the look in her eyes. Their irises seemed to glow in the sun.

"But there is something you'd best know about me…" She uttered in a low voice, her small hand tight around the hilt of her sword.

Tabitha's eyes widened, spying a faint glimmer running along the length of the blade.

Within the crowd and all across the academy, animals and Familiar's alike lifted their heads and arched their backs, fur, spine and quill standing on end.

"I may be small… rash… and weak… but I do not fear you…" Aisling continued, getting to her feet and pulling her sword from the ground. The mages shivered as a cold breeze buffeted the field, swirling around the young warrior. She raised her sword to the sky and it was engulfed in a radiant membrane of shifting teal energy!

"...FOR I AM NOT ALONE!"

A flash and the power surged, a great shockwave rocking the courtyard! The student's screamed as they were thrown back from the force. Louise yelped as she collided with Siesta, both girls toppelling over. The young mage shook at the sound of the wind, which didn't quite howl, rather it bellowed. It sounded akin to a resonant choir of dozens of deep voices, calling out in perfect unison.

"Are you alright?"

Louise almost shrieked and looked up to see Tabitha offering her a hand up. She appeared to be the only person to hold her ground, dust swirling around the outline of a wind spell.

"I-I think so." Sitting up she took in her surroundings. The rest of the students were slowly picking themselves up and all stared in awe and confusion at the dust cloud that Aisling once stood.

Guiche and his valkyries were similarly launched, the mage rubbing his ringing ears as he got up. His immaculate hair had been blown back and his robes were smudged with soil and grass blades. His heart was galloping like a mad stallion in his chest.

"W-W-What… what was…" He tripped over his tongue. Then he saw a shape in the cloud. His pupils shrank and his palms ran slick with sweat. "Uh… ah! V-Valkyries!" He pointed and his constructs charged. The leader raised their spear and swung down to strike!

A loud, hollow clang! A sword effortlessly held the spear in place. It was Aisling's blade.

Except it wasn't. It was the same shape, but it was composed of the same glowing energy from the blast.

A split second later a spiked kite shield of the same nature slammed into the valkyrie's face, sending the golem stumbling back into its peers. The shield lowered, revealing a shimmering ethereal entity clad in shining plate armor. It was a floating torso of an armored knight, a swirling tail of mist where its legs would be. A bushy mustache poked out from the recesses of the being's helm, its eyes ablaze with teal light like a furnace and feather tassel curling in the breeze.

Louise's jaw dropped. She could see Guiche as pale as a sheet through the knight as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

What was this… thing? It couldn't be a golem, it was too intangible and didn't appear to be made of any of the four elements.

What had her Familiar done?

Aisling stepped forth from the settling dust, facing towards the enemy. She pointed her sword.

"Now you face two of us! Let us show you our mettle!" She barked.

The apparition smacked the poppy shaped crest on its shield with its own blade, making it ring like a gong. The two swordsmen charged in unison!

"P-Protect me valkyries!" Guiche yelped. The golem raised their shields. It was for naught as the translucent knight crashed into their phalanx, pushing the one in the centre backwards and knocking the other two to the side! The apparition struck with its blade, slashing the golem twice across the chest and finishing it with a shield uppercut, sending the valkyries head into the air.

Meanwhile, Aisling ran in a low sprint towards the one armed valkyrie on her ally's right. "Huraaah!" She roared, ducking under the golem's shield and thrust her sword through its chest, pushing it to the ground. She wrenched it out and cleaved its head in twain with another slash.

As the golem's body crumbled, she stiffened.

"Here!" Aisling called out and instantly the knight was at her back, shield raised to block the sneak attack from the remaining valkyrie. It lifted the spear up high enough for the small girl to spin around and deliver a horizontal slash to its stomach.

It staggered and the duo didn't leave the opening go to waste as they hacked and cut away at its metal form in tandem. Unlike the valkyries before, the swordsmen timed their strikes perfectly, one going right after the other without hindering one another. Within seconds the lone valkyrie was riddled with scars and was shaking as it tried to hold itself together.

Aisling and the knight drew their swords back. "Now!" They swung together and with a great smash, the final golem was reduced to pebbles scattered across the ground!

"Impossible! What sorcery is this?!" Guiche quailed, his legs quaking and shuffling backward.

Aisling turned back to him and snarled. "Don't think I forgot about you!"

"N-No! Get away!" Guiche frantically whipped his rose up, calling forth a column of earth to crash down on his adversaries!

"This will not stop us! Da!" Aisling shouted. The knight lowered its shield for her to climb upon and hunker down.

"Now!"

With that command, the knight heaved and threw Aisling into the air. She sailed up, up and over the tidal wave of earth!

"To me!" She called out, lifting her sword to the sun. With a blink of light, the knight dissolved into a wisp of light and shot to her weapon, bathing it in power once more as Aisling dove towards her foe.

"MERRRRCY!" Guiche wailed as his doom sailed to him, sword raised high! He lost strength in his legs and fell onto his back and desperately shielded his face with his arms

He screeched when he felt something impact on top of him and near his head. A moment passed, then two and he realized he didn't feel any different. Had he been killed so quickly he hadn't felt any pain?

Shaking, he peered from between his arms and glanced to the left.

Aisling's sword was embedded in the soil right next to his head. He looked up and nearly cried when he saw the girl standing overtop of him, her shadow blocking the sun so all he could see was her luminous eyes.

"You've been bested. Do you yield?" She growled.

With all the strength he could muster that wasn't committed to preventing him from voiding his bowels, the boy quickly nodded and let his rose slip from his fingers.

Letting out a breath, Aisling stepped off her adversary and yanked her sword out. With one last grunt of exertion, she lifted it skyward in a salute. "Glory earned, an oath kept! My duty is fulfilled!"

While the young girl celebrated her victory, all of the students gawked at her, completely stupefied.

"Very strong." Tabitha muttered next to Siesta and Louise. The former fell to her knees, tears running down her face, relieved that she still had her job and hadn't been the cause of a child killing.

The latter was in a shock spell deeper than even Guiche.

Her Familiar had defeated a mage.

With the aid of some kind of warrior spirit.

And she had summoned her.

Aisling's words echoed in her mind. Deeds make truth. And the truth was that she wasn't a failure after all.

It was a concept that she had almost considered lost to her. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry in relief, so she settled on just resuming her impression of a statue.

Kirche slowly approached her from the side on unsteady feet.

"Zer-I mean, Louise…" She stammered.

Louise blinked owlishly. "...yes?"

"What in Brimir's blue balls did you summon?"

She pondered the question for a few seconds, all the while staring at her Familiar, who gave Louise a little smile as she yanked her mitten from Guiche's trembling hand.

"I…I honestly don't know myself. But… I think I'm just glad that I did."

Aisling promised to make her father proud, and Sir Cador promised to always protect his daughter. Even Cador's death could not break such promises. -Lord Protector Yath of House Aurion.

FIN