A Lesson For Louise 12

[center][font=Impact]Chapter 12:  Meetings

<<<Rei>>>[/font][/center]

Rei couldn’t feel anything other than pride for how Louise had grown and blossomed in the other world. She could scarcely recognize her as that beaten down waif from months ago, but she couldn’t deny that her realizing that she didn’t really owe the society that largely scorned her (in her perspective, anyway) did more harm than good. And while she couldn’t deny seeing her being so confident made her proud, seeing her forego subtly entirely didn’t please her entirely.

Louise tried her best not to get big headed with the magic she was learning, an especially important thing to keep in mind with Fundamentalism, but it was obvious that despite her realizations some part of her yearned for acceptance among her own people. She probably didn’t even realize it, that desire being hidden behind her confidence and her not really caring.

Still, other than needing a gentle chiding, she realized her mistake quickly enough, and though Rei felt reasonably confident that the Church wouldn’t deem her a heretic automatically, it was the religious zealots they had to worry about.

“I was, um… on another world?” Louise started, confidence flagging some as she tried to explain herself, “Not the spirit world! Just, a different world? It only had one moon and it had a lot of races and species that we don’t have here. Like orcs and gnomes and dwarves…” She coughed, “And I learned magic there?”

Rei couldn’t deny though, she did find it amusing to watch Louise struggle to explain to the Headmaster.

“Maybe I should step in?” She wondered, Obsidia certainly wasn’t… if anything she was enjoying everything.

“And what’s this about Spirits then?” The headmaster asked with a raised brow, “It sounds like elf magic to me…”

“It’s not! I think,” Louise said with a frown, “I learned it from an orc first, those are big green men and women with tusks like a boar. They’re tribal, the ones I met anyway, and are not elves.”

“Hmm, and your companions?” He asked looking at Rei and Obsidia, “One is the ‘monster’ that stole you away… but I’m fairly sure I’m looking at an elf…” It was to his credit that he wasn’t reacting poorly at the sight.

Obsidia blinked before pouting and saying, “And I thought my disguise was good…” Her ears and skin shifted to their natural shade, the dark elf shivering in pleasure-pain as it happened.

“Flesh crafting is a very rare art, but it has tells if you know what to look for,” The Headmaster said simply, “But I confess this isn’t the art I’m familiar with, despite the parallels,” He added.

“Rei is a fox spirit,” Louise said, simplifying matters somewhat. Not that Rei blamed her for that. “And Obsidia is a Dark Elf, they’re, uh, different from our elves I think? Same name and looks, but really different culture. Assuming the history books are accurate, anyway.”

“Oh hun, you have absolutely no idea,” Obsidia purred, “Most elves are the ‘live and let live’ sort, even the snooty High elves are like that. Dark elves we’re more… aggressive, passionate even. There’s a reason no one at the academy trusts me, and that’s because I’m a Dark elf and well… I’m sure I don’t have to explain it further.”

“And the other elves I met didn’t try to eat me!” Louise announced, “Obsidia did a bit, but in a… I’m going to stop talking now.” Her blush was atomic.

The headmaster just hummed at that before looking at Louise for a moment before bowing his head, “Just like your mother,” He said with a chuckled getting a odd look from Louise, though Rei understood what he meant, “Vallière, I do believe I and the teaching staff have failed you. The fact it took being kidnapped to another world for you to become this confidante woman speaks very poorly about us all…” He added with a sigh.

“She’s aligned to Void, you realize?” Rei said as she pushed the headmaster’s familiar away with her foot, “And you are very perverted, aren’t you? At least you don’t do it to the students…”

“I realized,” The Headmaster said, “Though getting anything related to the Void is like pulling teeth seeing as they’re considered religious relics. And while I may perv on my staff, I do have my standards. I'll have you know, young lady!” He added with a faint chortle.

“You have a relic related to it in this school, don’t you?” She asked, “But it’s not something dear Louise can use. Besides… the church would get upset. Oh, and I’m a few thousand years your senior, junior.”

The Headmaster just nodded, letting a very wary sigh escape from his lips.

“Um… you aren’t upset?” Louise asked curiously, “I thought I’d be… getting threatened with being thrown in a dungeon by now.”

“Maybe from religious zealots, perhaps. But no, I’m not upset,” The Headmaster said, “If anything, I’m disappointed that it took all this happening for you to come into your own.”

“... can I walk around the castle threatening to curse people?” Obsidia asked, “It would be funny and delicious for me…”

“I’d prefer you didn’t, unless they start it first,” The Headmaster said, “And nothing lethal, they’re just students after all. If anything this could serve as a wake up call to some of them.”

Obsidia looked painfully disappointed. “Fine, but only because I care about Louise.”

That got a chuckle from the Headmaster as he gave Louise an amused look, “So much like your mother,” He repeated, “I wonder if she’d be proud that one of her daughters took after her in that regard?” He mused with a faint smile.

“... I’m still dragging Kirche into something,” Obsidia stated, “As punishment.”

“Just keep in mind that she and Louise have lessons tomorrow,” The Headmaster snorted, “Assuming you even need them anymore.” He added looking at Louise.

Louise just gaped and blushed horribly at his words, making the older man snort, “I’m not ignorant or oblivious, Ms. Vallière,” He said dryly, “I’m well aware of Zerbst’s… appetites.”

Rei giggled, “I don’t think Louise was prepared to have this conversation with you.” She quipped with a smile.

Obsidia’s hand waved, “Mine is greater than hers. And everyone else’s! On the planet. Combined.”

“... Just go…” The Headmaster said with a chuckle as he shook his head in amusement.

Obsidia cackled before pausing halfway to the door, “... Do you want me to look human or like a lamia outside of private situations with people that can be trusted?”

“Lamia, but if you trust them? Surprise them,” The Headmaster said with a chuckle, “Besides I won’t deny, you are rather fetching that way. Exotic rarity and all that.”

She bowed as she disguised herself once more, moaning sexually and making Louise shift in her seat in arousal. “Dear Louise, do tell me… which room is yours?~” She purred, tongue flicking at the air suggestively, “I’ll be getting her ready there…”

Louise mumbled the answer, blush only intensifying, before Obsidia thanked her and slithered out of the room; no doubt searching for the poor woman.

“... I find myself inexplicably jealous of Zerbst and that frightens me…” The Headmaster deadpanned.

“That just means you have more sense than Louse,” Rei quipped, making Louise pout.

The Headmaster nodded before re-locking the door. “Now, about you being a spirit… did you have to kidnap her so blatantly?”

“... It amused me, so yes,” Rei said without an ounce of shame, “Take into consideration that I can sense emotion, and that Louise dear here was a churning cauldron of desperation, rage, and anxiety. Frankly it was only a matter of time before she blew up the entire school, consequences be damned.”

“I see,” He replied, “Consorting with spirits is usually considered heretical,” He warned, voice careful and low, “Brimir banned it for a reason.”

Rei just snorted at that, “Did he, did he really? Or did the Church after he died decide it?” She sniped.

“I don’t know, can you ask him?” He asked, sounding genuinely unsure, “The texts say that he locked away the spirit world for our safety.”

“... I probably could…” Rei said, “Louise talked to my mother and she told her that Brimir was proud of her.”

“That would put you in a rather privileged position,” He replied with a frown, “Only the pope is supposed to be able to do that. Of course, it would be impossible to tell if you’ve simply made an illusion, a lie, to trick us.”

“Ah, the oldest argument,” Rei said with a roll of her eyes, “Truly, that is why I keep my interactions with religious people limited. The more dogmatic and zealous, the more stubborn and thickheaded.”

“Can you blame us in this case?” The Headmaster asked, eyebrow raised, “You have the motive to lie about it, after all.”

“That sounds more like a ‘them’ problem to me,” Rei said with a shrug, “If they try to harm Louise for my existence, they are not going to be around for very long.”

The Headmaster didn’t have a response to that, just simply nodding his head. With a hum, Rei decided now was a good time for Louse and herself to leave, so she gently tugged the befuddled pinkette behind her (and unlocked the door with a wave of her hand) as they exited together, leaving the Headmaster to his thoughts.

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