A Lesson For Louise 6

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[center][font=Impact]Chapter 6:  Hall of Mages

<<<Louise>>>[/font][/center]

Waking up sprawled on her back, with her mischievous… teacher missing was unpleasant but it gave the pinkette some time to think. Something she desperately needed, last night had been… something. Having read her fair share of romance novels she knew about what to expect, but reading about it and experiencing it were two very different things. And the fact that her very feminine familiar… took her virginity and the fact she had a…

Louise blushed as she stared up at the ceiling of their room, one thing was for certain… no matter if they parted ways or stayed together? The marriage between her and Wardes wasn’t happening. She wasn’t sure if last night’s events were just that eye opening (which they were) or if it was just being away from all the stress and anxiety, but looking back at all her interactions with Wardes, without the lens of an ashamed and somewhat smitten young lady there had always been… a coldness there.

Wardes was nothing but courteous, kind, and even charming… but looking back on it now, Louise realized there was always something sort of… covetous in how he’d look at her. Like she was something valuable, which is ridiculous seeing as she was just Louise the Zero then. Incompetent with Elemental magic… What about her was worth coveting?

It pained her to admit but… Louise wasn’t a great beauty. She was cute, but she was no ethereal beauty. Perhaps her family lands, but even then she didn’t see it as she wasn’t the heir. Besides she was being married off, so whatever inheritance she had would be limited.

So, what could it be? The only thing she could imagine was that she had an affinity for the Void, but that’s patently ridiculous! Why would Brimir bless her with an affinity with His magic? She’s just hopeless Louise the Zero… 

She shook her head to banish those self-deprecating thoughts, she wasn’t a Zero anymore! She was Steelheart now, and she can use magic! She could summon spirits and sick illusionary hounds on her sassy familiar!

“Still… might as well get up before Rei does anything…” Though a part of her hoped when she got back they resumed what happened last night.

But the spirit was willing and the flesh was feeble and mortal.

Getting up slowly, wincing in surprise that she wasn’t sore, but she figured Rei used some healing magic on her, Louise started to walk around to collect her clothes, which… were spread around the room. Honestly, she didn’t recall undressing and just… throwing clothes around like that.

“But then again, Rei’s kisses were very…” She just blushed brighter and wondered if her mother had ever been kissed so good it just made her… ignore everything else…

She came across a note as she got dressed. “I’m going to be out and about, gathering food and funds for you to use as you wish. I suggest you explore the city a touch, perhaps visiting the Hall of Mages? There are long histories within that you may find interesting. Regards, your lovely and most perfect familiar -Rei.”

It was written perfectly, because of course it was, but it did mean she was out on her own for a while… though when Rei would get back… it was best not to contemplate that.

Louise did not feel confident in her ability to read the spirit’s mind.

On the other hand, if she didn’t do as suggested it wouldn’t speed things up at all and… Rei would probably be disappointed in her and that… would feel really bad. Really, really bad. As dangerous as it was to just wander around in a city she didn’t know full of hostile people… she had magic now, she could protect herself.

Besides, she doubted that Rei had actually left her alone. That would be irresponsible and unsafe! Even if her reaction would be funny from the fox’s point of view- “Oh god, she has just left me alone.”

Unexpected fear welled up inside her, but she clamped down on it. “No, no, I am a Vallière! I don’t fear walking in a city!” Her foot stamped down.

She still felt unease about dealing with… what did Roc call them? ‘Snooty’, if she wasn’t mistaken, but she wasn’t eager to deal with elves with a superiority complex… and the irony wasn’t lost on her either.

Though, to be fair, she had a superiority-inferiority complex, since arriving in this world that superiority had been taking quite a beating. And the inferiority part was a work in progress, hard to overcome years of inadequacy just in a few days. Still, she shook her head and went over to a mirror to at least put her hair in order.

Though she was basically a commoner in these lands, it didn’t excuse her to just walk around with bedhead everywhere!

Granted, whatever magic Rei had worked on her had left it very easy to get herself situated. It was like she’d gotten the best possible hairdressers fussing over her and just left her to do the maintenance. No knots, no frayed ends, perfect curls…

“I don’t even think Kirche’s hair looked as good…” Though the thought of having one-up on the big titted cow certainly put a smile on her face, also the knowledge that Kirche probably never experienced anything similar to what she had with her familiar.

Though… could she really be considered a familiar at that point? Considering the vast difference in power dynamics between them… honestly, she was on the lesser end. As much as  it grated her pride to think it.

“Okay, enough of this… I should just get dressed and go exploring. Maybe check this Mage place…” Though she thanked Rei, Brimir, and even Inari that she had a map otherwise she’d wind up hopelessly lost.

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“... Even with a clearly enchanted map I’m still lost…”

It wasn’t her fault, and she would maintain that to her grave, but it did happen. She’d taken a turn that, on the map, seemed to be a faster route. Then it went underground and the map became very not useful anymore.

She’d practically walked into a maze and by the time she’d realized that she’d long forgotten where the entrance was. Occasionally she’d see a few people in the distance of a hall, the walls being lit from inside made it easy to see, but they’d always turned and left before she got to them.

“Brimir-damn magic city…” Louise grumbled as she stopped, not out of exhaustion, thankfully, as the trek to this city had done a world of good for her physical health.

Grumbling once again she looked at the map, glaring at it in hopes that would make it make sense.

“Lost, stranger?” A voice spoke up from right next to her ear. It was low, almost a whisper even, and almost like she’d imagined a ghost would sound like.

Louise didn’t jump and she most certainly didn’t yelp, and if anyone said she did they were liars and charlatans! Turning towards the voice she didn’t see anyone, and instead of returning to glaring at her obviously broken map she just looked around.

She spotted a man on the other side of her, his pointed ears and height clearly marking him as an elf, wearing very nice clothing. “I’ve been lost down here before,” He noted, “But now I know this place inside and out. Where are you heading?” He sounded almost exactly like the voice she’d heard, but louder and less… ghosty.

“Uh…” What did Rei call it again? “The Hall of Mages.” Louise eventually said.

“Oh, you’ve gone well outside your way to end up here,” He replied with a snort, “You’re in the mausoleums. There aren’t too many buried here, but as you go deeper…” The man shrugged. “We’ll see the gravestone as we go. Come on, I’ll walk you to the closest exit.”

Seeing no other real option, and deciding he seemed friendly enough, she moved to follow him. “What’s your name?” She asked, “I’m Louise, um… thanks for helping me.” It wasn’t the most dignified she’d ever been, but it was close enough!

“Not important, not important,” He replied with a chuckle, “I see you’re training to be a wizard? The wand looks about right for one, elementalist, I assume?” At her look he clarified. “It feels attuned to elemental magic. Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Arcane; useful stuff, if a touch basic. I always preferred Fundamentalism; commanding the world itself to bend to your will. I had a bit of a knack for it.” He chuckled as though he’d told a joke, but she didn’t get it.

“Truthfully, I’m not… really good with Elemental magic,” Louise admitted with a wince, “But I learned some Shamanism from an Orc.”

“Ah, that bunch always called me an… what was it… ‘an arrogant good for nothing schemer playing god,’” He grinned again, “I think they liked me, don’t you? But really, you should try that school, I think you’ll like it. If not, try Arcane as an element, you’re aligned closest to it, I think.”

Louise giggled faintly at that, “That does some like an Orc. And I’ll inevitably look into it,” She said, “Thank you for the suggestions.”

“Have a hard teacher?” He asked, “Or a new one?”

“A… mischievous one…” Louise said with a snort, “Though, Roc was particularly demanding. Not hard but very direct.”

“Orcs always are,” He agreed as they passed what must have been a grave. “I knew him,” He noted, “A fine soldier, though no great mage. Died some years ago, must have been… three or four hundred now.” His head shook, “Died from falling off a tower while drunk, but I think that was just him deciding to end things on his terms before time did its job. Stubborn cunt.”

Louise honestly wondered if she’d ever get used to talking to long-lived beings, though she knew better than to apologize for his loss. It’d be nothing more than an empty platitude, and she could make a reasonable assumption that the elf had heard them all countless times.

But she did recall something her mother once shared with her. “We don’t often get a choice on what day we die, but when you’re given one it’s a gift.” She said absentmindedly, “It’s something my mother told me years ago.”

“Indeed, though… I take issue with the idea. I’ve always viewed that type of thing as a curse,” A sad smile graced his face, “No one should have to choose to die. We’re here,” He said, gesturing to an exit, lined in gold, “Just take a right from here and you’ll be at the Hall.”

Louise nodded, she even agreed, even if she didn’t understand it much. Perhaps Rei might help her… or just further confuse her.

“Thank you,” Louise said with a grateful nod but before she continued she had to ask, “Why do you linger here?” Why she phrased it like that she… wasn’t entirely certain.

“Old friends, old memories…” He replied,  “Helping foolish children who got lost in tunnels that are too deep and confusing?” His grin was wide and fox-like.

Louise opened her mouth to retort but stopped herself and instead gritted out, “Fair enough.”

“You aren’t of marriage age yet, of course you’re a child,” He noted, “Unless you’ve taken a life already, but you don’t seem the type. Get going, learn something for me, mm?”

She just grumbled, “I’m just short…”

But she nodded and started to walk, ignoring how he’d tipped his overly elaborate hat towards her, absentmindedly wondering what about the elf felt so strange. It was hard to really put it to words but the elf just… felt like he shouldn’t have been there?

After shaking her head once more, she followed the elf’s directions and found herself walking up some stairs.

There were a lot of stairs, but it seemed everyone was taking them and… the noise of the city was gone. She’d started ignoring it before she’d ended up in the mausoleums, and inside it was naturally silent, but… it was a reverential silence.

Like inside a church.

Inside, she saw a great room illuminated from above; stained glass sending light cascading downwards and covering the ground in a rainbow. Along the walls were grand paintings, names written above and below.

One of the walls was covered in someone she found rather familiar, his hat was even the same.

“Nalashat Kandra, Founder of Fundamentalism. Taken from us too soon, 0023-0452,” It announced.

Louise just stared at the picture, “That… no that…” She often found herself confronted with things that challenged her views of magic and her place in the world (especially since Rei’d practically abducted her) but this… she had no words.

Part of her wanted to dismiss it, but at the same time she couldn’t really. Since coming here she’d learned the basics of Shamanism and communicating with spirits, and even talked with a god! So… it honestly might have been…

“Excuse me,” She whispered to an elf next to her, “What year is it?”

“Ah, by our calendar?” He asked, “It is the year 4637 after the city’s founding.” He smiled at her, “If I were to rename the Hall, I think History would be a better name for its contents. First time here?”

“That’s… yes,” Louise said, “I took a wrong turn and wound up lost in the mausoleum…” She wasn’t sure if she should mention the elf.

He snorted. “That happens sometimes. The weird thing is that no one has died down there, they always seem to find the way out.”

“A… elf showed me the way out…” Louise said her, eyes fixated on the picture, “I never got his name…”

“Some people are just like that,” The man replied, “As you get older you just start to like your privacy a little more than you did before. Want a tour of the Hall? I used to work here and I know all the best spots.”

Louise nodded. “Yeah, that’d be nice,” She said, “I’m actually rather curious about Fundamentalism.”

He gave another laugh. “Would you believe I actually teach at the Academy? Not Fundamentalism, but Necromancy. Good friends with the guy that does though, weird bloke.”

“Necromancy?” Louise asked curiously, “Is it similar to Shamanism?”

“A little bit,” He replied, “Druidism focuses on the natural world and its spirits, Necromancy is about manipulating the spirits of the dead and, well, corpses. It’s rather dark stuff, and very dangerous, but rewarding.”

“My, that sounds rather macabre,” Louise admitted, “And would get the Inquisition on me faster than I could say heresy.”

“It can be, but it can also be very… kind,” He said with a soft smile, “My students have solved murders, kept men just on the edge of death before medical help could arrive to finish saving them, even used the corpses of animals to help a city in the midst of a drought.”

Well, when used like that Louise could understand why such a dark magic wasn’t wholly condemned. Pity she doubted she could trust many nobles with it back home.

“We tend to focus on animal bodies, but in war…” He shrugged, “It is as much about bringing forth Death as it is about controlling the Dead and Dying.”

A whisper reached through her ears, “Rest to the Restless, Motion to the Motionless.” Louise just glanced around, where did that even come from?

“Of course, if you don’t think it’s for you then I won’t force you to take my classes,” He continued with a grin, “Even if I’d be a bit disappointed. I don’t get too many students, so it’s always nice to get more. And yes, this is me pulling on your heartstrings, is it working?”

While the magic disturbed her she couldn’t help but find it intriguing, plus well… she’d always been something of a scholar in her opinion. Granted it was mostly due to her frantic attempts to prove not to be useless, but she did find to actually enjoy learning.

“I’m certainly curious,” Louise said, “I’m not sure if it’s something I would widely use, but well… I’ve always enjoyed learning new things.” 

He nodded before pulling her in a different direction. “Watch this,” He whispered, “Every hour the ceiling changes to a pattern that suits one of the school founders. In thirty seconds, you’ll see something that suits the Elementalist Founder.”

She watched, curiosity burning in her chest, before… rainbows shifted into a shower of reds and golds, the hall looking like it had caught fire for a moment before blue, ice-like, light descended down the walls to color the top. In between, violent green and swirling white danced.

It all went still after what felt like only a minute as a deep, deep purple spread along the center.

In moments it swept and filled the entire building and, as it passed over her, she felt something stirring inside her, warming her until the light stopped. It was back to its rainbow form.

“I can figure what most of the colors symbolize, but what does the purple signify?” Louise asked curiously.

“Ah, that’s Arcane,” He replied, “The fifth element. It’s a weird one, tends to focus on direct manipulation of magical currents instead of anything else.”

Louise felt like her stomach was tied in knots. “Arcane… does it have any other names? Just curious…” She really hoped not.

“You’d have to ask Janice for that,” He replied, “She’s the Elementalist professor for beginners.”

Louise nodded, “Well… this is beautiful. I’ve never seen magic like this…” She said, deciding to focus on the enchantment.

Anything other than the possibility that Arcane… and Void might be one and the same. She wasn’t sure how she’d handle that. Would she deny it, freak out, or just… get angry at everyone that wrote her off as a Zero.

Zero talent, Zero skill, Zero hope.

“Are you ok, miss?” The necromancer asked, “You look troubled.”

“Just… some baggage is all,” Louise said, “I… well before my teacher found me I was in an academy. And… I was called Louise the Zero, and mocked for my inability to use magic.”

“Ah, yes, Janice was much the same. Perhaps not to the same degree, but she didn’t enjoy her early schooling,” He noted with a smile, “Now she’s one of the scariest bitches I know, and if that isn’t inspiring I don’t know what is. Fire aligned, to my recollection, but she uses all of them expertly.”

Louise gave a snort-giggle at that crude language, “When my teacher brought me here, she claims by accident but I’m not sure I believe her, we wound up trespassing in Orc territory. Somehow I winded up learning from them,” She said as a smile came to her lips, “Did a Spirit quest and wound up punching my former Headmaster in the mouth, Roc said I was Steelheart and not a Zero.”

The elf laughed again, “Really? In the mouth? Must have been deserved then! Speaking of spirits, I don’t think that one likes me much.” He nodded towards… Rei, of course it was her, she was glaring at him softly. “Probably the Necromancy thing.”

“Rei, be nice.” Louise said, “Besides, didn't you encourage me to broaden my mind?”

“Ah, is this your teacher?” He asked with a blink, “She is very powerful. She said only good things about you, I promise.”

“Yes, a powerful pain in my backside,” Louise said dryly, “But I have. Taking me from that stressful environment was the best thing she could’ve done for me.”

“I did advise you too…” Rei acknowledged, “But there are rules you’ll need to follow when you start learning from him. And ways to properly cleanse yourself, the dead are unclean physically and spiritually and so caution must be taken before you do anything with them.”

The elf just nodded his head. “She’s right,” He said, “When dealing with the spirits of the dead you should never let your guard down. Even if the spirits were related to you in life.”

“And you should always clean yourself and your tools afterwards,” Rei continued, “In running water, I’ll teach you the proper rites later.”

“But the number one thing any aspiring Necromancer should remember is that the Dead are jealous of the Living. They want what they once had,” The elf said, “If you’re not careful you could easily find yourself trapped in your own body while a spirit takes over. Also a Necromancer should regularly cleanse themselves, after all there’s a reason there are so many terrifying Necromancer’s throughout history.”

Rei’s eyes softened as he spoke, slightly. “Of course, the honored dead are much more pure. If their bodies were properly handled, and their souls were put to rest, they can become Kami themselves.” She smiled wide. “Brimir had such a thing happen to him, to my knowledge, so you are familiar with the idea, Louise.”

That brought her up short, the idea that Brimir was made into a god was… disorientating, but Rei seemed to recognize that and turned to speak with the professor about… something. Enrolling her into the school, maybe?

Louise wasn’t in the right frame of mind to actually listen, instead she focused on finding herself a seat before she fell over.

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