sander093
Well-known member
Revelations
“...for a total of fifty four confirmed weapons in Tristain alone, alongside multiple confirmations from Albion, Gallia, Romalia and Germainia. We have another one hundred and three unconfirmed reports here in Tristain. Of those confirmed reports we have all but three being the golem like version instead of the human like version, which includes the two in the palace.” Agnes stood behind Henrietta as the report was delivered to the Princess. “All display at least some similar abilities......”
Agnes was thankful that Herald and KOS-MOS weren't here at the moment, both of them working together to keep watch of Montferat's residence. While she still had doubts about their ability to keep hidden while doing so, her own vision of the two of them when they pulled that stunt and to get them out of her hair for a bit, she had them sent off and hoped they did well. Or at least didn't compromise the investigation.
“.....setting up a study group......” An investigation that had as of now turned up the fact that the amount being collected was far less than the amount being reported and turned in. Also being turned up was several other tax collectors over collecting... A troubling pattern for sure, and one that would have to be investigated. Though given how much coin was being syphoned out of the pockets of the populace, there was a need for haste before there was no populace left.
“.... and we have yet to here an official determination from the pope.” A fact that left her current situation in a questionable state.
“Thank you for the report.” Henrietta accepted the written version of the report. “Dismissed.” With a nod and a quick salute it's just her and Henrietta in the room.
“Not much we didn't know already. Just confirmation mostly, off what we knew or suspected. The numbers of confirmed and potential weapons running around though.” Just the two that were hers were more than enough already.
“Agreed. Though given the events in Londminium perhaps they are not all bad. The city still flies loyalist colours.”
“For now, the report does state it was still a near thing. Reconquista still has far more reinforcements to call upon than the loyalists do, though the morale blow of not taking Londminium and the losses incurred in the attempt will have some questioning their devotion. For the time being there is little we can do.” Not that they really had much to offer at this point with the way things had been allowed to atrophy during the regency.
“Which means the outcome will be the same, Reconquista control of the isle with an eye to add Tristain to their new empire.” Henrietta leaned back. “So my marriage to the emperor won't change, and to ensure that I will need one thing retrieved from Albion....” Yes it wouldn't do anything good for the Germanian Emperor to learn of the Princesses interactions with Prince of Wales.
“So the question is who to send. It has to be someone you trust, someone who can be discrete, and someone who can get in and out quickly. And given the way the war is going, someone who will be chosen soon.”
“I have a few candidates. And by the time we return from the Familiar Exhibition, I will have chosen my emissary.”
“I'm still uneasy about leaving the investigation, even for a short time. While I trust my subordinates there is a good chance that this will require decisive action at a moments notice, something I will have to be on hand for.”
“You will just have to trust them then, I take it your standing orders are ready.”
“Yes. Going to have to just focus on intelligence gathering over actions until we return. I just hope we don't miss out on an opportunity to pry this all open while we're gone.”
“So do I, Agnes, so do I.”
...............................................
“..Sheba...” The elderly Gormotti woman cooed from her position on the bed beside her, frail arms holding her close.
“Yes......”
“..Can you fetch... me the... letter. I want... to read... it one... last time.” Slowly untangling herself she got up out of their shared bed, and made her way over the desk, her hips swaying to an appreciative hum as she did so.
Retrieving the letter, a treatise on a new trade route between Gormott and Mor-Ardain, to alleviate the latter's food issue while supplying the former with finished goods. She brought it back along with a reading lens, ........ eyes weren't what they used to be. “Here ........”
“A thank you.” ...... took both the letter and the lens and began reading over the letter while she settled back into the bed beside ........ “Hmmmm, hopefully----” ..... never finished as she began to clutch at her chest with pained gasps.
“........!!” She tried to step in to help, but within moments ...... lay still and motes of blue lights began to form around her hands and then............
............“...make it my familiar.” Sight, sound, feeling, and conscious returned to her, a young woman with a head of long pink hair stood before her.
“We are Sheba.”.............
The sound of a fist loudly knocking on wood ended her dream and drew Louise out of her slumber. Groggy eyes looked lazily around the room, eventually settling on Sheba who was looking at her while facing the door to her dorm. Her cannon held ready, another set of soft knocks coming from the door.
It took her a moment for the situation to sink in. “Sheba, wutt.... What are doing!?” Her familiar just looked to the door where another set of knocks echoed off of it. “Put that away we're in the academy, no one's going to hurt us here.” She reached out and grabbed Sheba's cannon and gently pushed it down.
“It could be anyone outside the door, and who would dare disturb a pair of maidens at this hour. Save for those with nefarious intentions.”
“They wouldn't have bothered knocking if their intentions were evil.” Getting it she made her way over to the door, wondering just who would be knocking at this hour. Taking one last look over her shoulder at Sheba she grabbed the handle and opened the door.
Only to have the stranger at her door knock on her forehead instead of the door. Letting out a quick squeak and stepping back while rubbing her forehead she missed the apology from the stranger, and how Sheba came up behind her cannon at the ready.
“Oww..” She looked up the person who had come to her door, their features obscured by the cloak they wore, but they couldn't be that much taller than she was. “Who?...” She then spotted the other three who were standing behind the first figure, all similarly attired.
The first figure pulled back the top of their cloak revealing a head of purple hair and a familiar face. “It's been some time my dearest Louise.”
Louise immediately got down on one Knee. “Princess!?”
“You don't need to stand on ceremony with me old friend.” The princess reaches down her hand, however Louise remains kneeling. “Louise, please get up.”
Averting her Gaze Louise slowly began to rise. “I'm not..... not dressed for such an occasion.”
“We do believe the Princess if unconcerned about your appearance given the time she came to visit.” Sheba had come up alongside her, the cannon her weapon had been holding leaning beside her desk. Sheba then turned to the Princess. “We are Sheba, weapon of Louise Valliere.” The princess eyes registered surprise for a moment before it was gone.
“Princess Henrietta de Tristain. Louise you needn't worry about your appearance right now, after all we don't have much of an audience.”
“No I will go change.” However before she could Sheba grabbed her by the arm.
“We do not believe that will be necessary. After all what you are wearing now is perfect for a midnight rendezvous. We will be leaving you and your Princess to have your privacy, after all we expect that the two of you have much to catch up upon.” Sheba let go of her arm and headed towards the door to the room passing by the princess on the way.
..............
Louise's weapon Sheba let go of her friend's arm, a glint in her eye as she moved by. “We shall let the two of you have this night alone, but next time we will be joining in.” A quick whisper as the weapon moved pass her and through the entrance to the dorm room, closing the door as she passed.
Turning to Louise, who was still avoiding her gaze. Perhaps arriving in the middle of the night wasn't the best idea, well she did have a place to start.. “So, I had heard you had completed the springtime familiar summoning ceremony, and you summoned Sheba?”
Covering herself over the nightdress, not truly necessary. “Yes... well I summoned a blue stone that..”
“..turned into Sheba.”
Louise blinked at her interruption. “Yes.....” Any attempt of her mind to try and link the summoning ceremony and the cores appearing was squashed when she remembered that they had been tracking down Herald and KOS-MOS's cores before the ceremony. “But she calls herself my weapon, and not my familiar, but I did the binding and everything, Professor Colbert even confirmed the branding....”
“I see....”
“But what are you doing here? The familiar exhibition isn't for another day.”
“Would it be out of place to say I came to see you. It has been some time since we last met in person.” Though she was interested in her friend's familiar, they had never gotten any reports about Sheba when looking into the appearance of weapons around the country. “And you did summon a familiar, if an unconventional one.”
“Yes... I've manged to perform a few cantrips, all of them of water.”
“So you are of water then.” Given her parents Henrietta would have thought she would be of earth or wind, or perhaps fire given her perchance for explosions. “Perhaps I shall lend you some of my books on the subject, or even arrange to have us to study together again.” And wouldn't that be nostalgic.
“I... that would be wonderful.... But I must admit that it has been mostly Sheba helping me. She has been most helpful in using her own powers to guide me. Providing me with advice.... providing a near limitless supply of water for me to work with. Her advice has also proven to be.. useful.”
“That is good to hear, a familiar is supposed to help and support their master.”
“Yes.... and what of you. How are things at court, we only get rumours weeks after they happen.” Henreitta was unsurprised that the conversation had taken such a turn.
“Well I'm getting married.” Louise's eyed lit up. “It's the soon to be crowned Germanian emperor, as a way to secure an alliance to shield us against Reconquista. So it will be happening in the next few months, though certain matters have to be resolved first.”
“My condolences. So what of Tristain?”
“Most likely broken up into provinces, not something I can likely refuse indefinitely, so it may perhaps be prudent to warn your father. The Zerbst's are no doubt going to looking to expand their territory into Valliere lands.” Louise gave a nod. There was a loud knock from the door. “Well it seems we may be out of time.”
The two of them went over to the door and opened it. Agnes was there looking back at her, the hood of the cloak her Musketeer Captain had been wearing was down, an exasperated look on her face. Turning to the other three occupants of the hallway it was easy to see why.
Louise's familiar was currently being held between KOS-MOS and Herald, KOS-MOS held her left arm and seemed unconcerned with what the familiar's hand was doing. Herald meanwhile was holding the right arm and doing her best to avoid being groped by the right hand.
Louise upon exiting the room behind her took in the situation and grew beet red. “SHEBA!! Just what are you doing!!”
“We were just introducing ourselves while you had your rendezvous with the princess.” Sheba gave a mischievous smile to her master. “But alas it appears as though the two of you were interrupted, and from appearances before anything important happened too.”
“Sheba!” Louise went over and grabbed her familiar by the arm and began dragging them back to their room. “I apologize for my familiar's behaviour, she will be disciplined.” After pushing Sheba through, though not before the familiar gave her a wink, Louise shut the door to the room leaving her with Anges and her two weapons.
“So....”
“I'd rather not speak of it....”
...............................................
The crowd cheered as Malicorne had his owl return to his hand after his familiar had gone through some rather impressive aerial acrobatics. Her fellow student took a bow and walked off the stage, which meant it was now her turn to go up on stage and present her familiar.
As Louise got up from her seat, she dearly wished she had any idea where Sheba had run off to, all that she had been able to get out of the weapon was that she was off preparing something. Nervously she got up onto the small stage that had been erected for the exhibition, well aware of all the eyes following her and noting her current lack of familiar. Once on stage she turned to face the crowd, and the sea of quizzical faces questioning as to where her familiar was.
Before she could start stammering out excuses several small explosions rang out above the crowd, showering them in a thin mist of water. From above boomed Sheba's voice. “Did we keep you waiting.” Her familiar was standing on a film of water allowing her to float above the crowd.
Sheba then took a step forwards, water flowing forwards and forming another platform slightly in front and below the first platform. And then Sheba continued, each step forwards taking her down, it was as though she was walking down a set of stairs, her twin strands of hair shaking back and forth with each step. After what seemed like a minute Sheba reached the stage, perfectly done as the last step made it perfectly to the stage putting Sheba directly in front of her.
Sheba got down on one knee and grabbed her hand. “Our Master.” Sheba then planted a kiss on the back of her hand. Louise felt her cheeks heat up.
.......................................................
She didn't end up winning, that honour had gone to Tabitha and Sylphid who had done a flying routine mixed with magic casting. Though apparently Sheba's stunt, she meant show had made the short list of possible winners, something she supposed would have to suffice. Sheba was next to her sipping from some tea, her opinions on the outcome of the exhibition impossible to guage.
Then a familiar man came up to her. “Ah, my little Louise.” A navy blue tricorne on his head with a matching coat.
“Viscount Wardes!” She ran up to the man, stopping to courtesy just in front of him. “It's been too long.”
“So it has.” Sheba had moved over to float in her tub behind her. “And who would this be?” Wardes gestured towards Sheba.
“We are Sheba.” Sheba answered before she could. “What business do you have with our master.”
“Sheba!” She quickly chastised her familiar. “My apologies for the behaviour of my familiar. This is Sheba, she is my familiar that I summoned during the springtime familiar summoning ritual.”
Wardes looked thoughtful for a moment. “I see, certainly an... unusual familiar.”
“Yes.” She turned towards Sheba. “This is my fiance, Viscount Wardes. He is the man that I am to be wed to.” Sheba merely frowned in response. Truly Louise had hoped introducing her familiar to her fiance would go better, hopefully the meeting with her family would go better.
“So you have moved onto second form then?”
“Yes. I am of water, as you could tell from the nature of my familiar.” Sheba was still seated in her watery tub. Though Wardes frowned when she mentioned that she was of water. “I have made progress on several elementari and have begun to practice my dots.” Best to leave out that those still exploded upon use even if they did work.
“A long way from your usual explosions. But I would have thought one of the other elements, Earth from your father... Wind from your mother or even fire from... your.... explosions.”
“Perhaps that was why I had so much difficulty, I was only focusing on those I wasn't attuned to.” The frown doesn't leave Wardes face but he doesn't press any further. “Though I'm still behind where I should be, now that I know what my element is catching up and surpassing my classmates will be simple.” Or at she hoped it would, reality would probably not prove so accommodating, Kirch and Tabitha both came to mind the two of them were already well ahead of the rest of the class.
“That's good. So you will be continuing your education here.”
She opens her mouth to respond but another voice cuts in. “Of course she will be.” A tall blonde haired man in expensive but simple suit walked up to the three of them.
“Father!?” She runs over and gives her father a quick curtsey. “I didn't know that you would be attending.”
“Well it was a very late decision, but I wished to see this familiar you had spoken about in your letters.” She still hadn't expected him to come. “So this is her. I must admit, the our letters don't quite do her justice....” Sheba hummed at the praise. “So you are of water then. Peculiar, one would think that you would take after your mother or your sisters...... But alas you are of water, and learning quite well according to your letters...”
As her father trailed off she wondered what he was implying, then she remembered that she hadn't yet demonstrated anything other than explosions to him. “Sheba, some water please.” With a wink to her Sheba conjured some water into a ball before sending it in a slow arc towards her.
Drawing her wand she cast. “Arise.” The ball of water stopped in its path, she let it hang there for a moment before bringing it to the tip of her wand. Then swiping her wand around she turned the ball into a stream, which followed her wand as she made several more flourishes with it. Eventually she had returned the water to a ball while facing her Fiance and father.
“Well done Louise.” The two of them had their wands out, mostly likely using detect magic, her father congratulating her on her casting. Wardes meanwhile looked thoughtful. “I do hope you continue improving, I'm sure your mother will be proud as well.” She beamed back at her father, missing the dark crease that crossed her fiances face.
“...for a total of fifty four confirmed weapons in Tristain alone, alongside multiple confirmations from Albion, Gallia, Romalia and Germainia. We have another one hundred and three unconfirmed reports here in Tristain. Of those confirmed reports we have all but three being the golem like version instead of the human like version, which includes the two in the palace.” Agnes stood behind Henrietta as the report was delivered to the Princess. “All display at least some similar abilities......”
Agnes was thankful that Herald and KOS-MOS weren't here at the moment, both of them working together to keep watch of Montferat's residence. While she still had doubts about their ability to keep hidden while doing so, her own vision of the two of them when they pulled that stunt and to get them out of her hair for a bit, she had them sent off and hoped they did well. Or at least didn't compromise the investigation.
“.....setting up a study group......” An investigation that had as of now turned up the fact that the amount being collected was far less than the amount being reported and turned in. Also being turned up was several other tax collectors over collecting... A troubling pattern for sure, and one that would have to be investigated. Though given how much coin was being syphoned out of the pockets of the populace, there was a need for haste before there was no populace left.
“.... and we have yet to here an official determination from the pope.” A fact that left her current situation in a questionable state.
“Thank you for the report.” Henrietta accepted the written version of the report. “Dismissed.” With a nod and a quick salute it's just her and Henrietta in the room.
“Not much we didn't know already. Just confirmation mostly, off what we knew or suspected. The numbers of confirmed and potential weapons running around though.” Just the two that were hers were more than enough already.
“Agreed. Though given the events in Londminium perhaps they are not all bad. The city still flies loyalist colours.”
“For now, the report does state it was still a near thing. Reconquista still has far more reinforcements to call upon than the loyalists do, though the morale blow of not taking Londminium and the losses incurred in the attempt will have some questioning their devotion. For the time being there is little we can do.” Not that they really had much to offer at this point with the way things had been allowed to atrophy during the regency.
“Which means the outcome will be the same, Reconquista control of the isle with an eye to add Tristain to their new empire.” Henrietta leaned back. “So my marriage to the emperor won't change, and to ensure that I will need one thing retrieved from Albion....” Yes it wouldn't do anything good for the Germanian Emperor to learn of the Princesses interactions with Prince of Wales.
“So the question is who to send. It has to be someone you trust, someone who can be discrete, and someone who can get in and out quickly. And given the way the war is going, someone who will be chosen soon.”
“I have a few candidates. And by the time we return from the Familiar Exhibition, I will have chosen my emissary.”
“I'm still uneasy about leaving the investigation, even for a short time. While I trust my subordinates there is a good chance that this will require decisive action at a moments notice, something I will have to be on hand for.”
“You will just have to trust them then, I take it your standing orders are ready.”
“Yes. Going to have to just focus on intelligence gathering over actions until we return. I just hope we don't miss out on an opportunity to pry this all open while we're gone.”
“So do I, Agnes, so do I.”
...............................................
“..Sheba...” The elderly Gormotti woman cooed from her position on the bed beside her, frail arms holding her close.
“Yes......”
“..Can you fetch... me the... letter. I want... to read... it one... last time.” Slowly untangling herself she got up out of their shared bed, and made her way over the desk, her hips swaying to an appreciative hum as she did so.
Retrieving the letter, a treatise on a new trade route between Gormott and Mor-Ardain, to alleviate the latter's food issue while supplying the former with finished goods. She brought it back along with a reading lens, ........ eyes weren't what they used to be. “Here ........”
“A thank you.” ...... took both the letter and the lens and began reading over the letter while she settled back into the bed beside ........ “Hmmmm, hopefully----” ..... never finished as she began to clutch at her chest with pained gasps.
“........!!” She tried to step in to help, but within moments ...... lay still and motes of blue lights began to form around her hands and then............
............“...make it my familiar.” Sight, sound, feeling, and conscious returned to her, a young woman with a head of long pink hair stood before her.
“We are Sheba.”.............
The sound of a fist loudly knocking on wood ended her dream and drew Louise out of her slumber. Groggy eyes looked lazily around the room, eventually settling on Sheba who was looking at her while facing the door to her dorm. Her cannon held ready, another set of soft knocks coming from the door.
It took her a moment for the situation to sink in. “Sheba, wutt.... What are doing!?” Her familiar just looked to the door where another set of knocks echoed off of it. “Put that away we're in the academy, no one's going to hurt us here.” She reached out and grabbed Sheba's cannon and gently pushed it down.
“It could be anyone outside the door, and who would dare disturb a pair of maidens at this hour. Save for those with nefarious intentions.”
“They wouldn't have bothered knocking if their intentions were evil.” Getting it she made her way over to the door, wondering just who would be knocking at this hour. Taking one last look over her shoulder at Sheba she grabbed the handle and opened the door.
Only to have the stranger at her door knock on her forehead instead of the door. Letting out a quick squeak and stepping back while rubbing her forehead she missed the apology from the stranger, and how Sheba came up behind her cannon at the ready.
“Oww..” She looked up the person who had come to her door, their features obscured by the cloak they wore, but they couldn't be that much taller than she was. “Who?...” She then spotted the other three who were standing behind the first figure, all similarly attired.
The first figure pulled back the top of their cloak revealing a head of purple hair and a familiar face. “It's been some time my dearest Louise.”
Louise immediately got down on one Knee. “Princess!?”
“You don't need to stand on ceremony with me old friend.” The princess reaches down her hand, however Louise remains kneeling. “Louise, please get up.”
Averting her Gaze Louise slowly began to rise. “I'm not..... not dressed for such an occasion.”
“We do believe the Princess if unconcerned about your appearance given the time she came to visit.” Sheba had come up alongside her, the cannon her weapon had been holding leaning beside her desk. Sheba then turned to the Princess. “We are Sheba, weapon of Louise Valliere.” The princess eyes registered surprise for a moment before it was gone.
“Princess Henrietta de Tristain. Louise you needn't worry about your appearance right now, after all we don't have much of an audience.”
“No I will go change.” However before she could Sheba grabbed her by the arm.
“We do not believe that will be necessary. After all what you are wearing now is perfect for a midnight rendezvous. We will be leaving you and your Princess to have your privacy, after all we expect that the two of you have much to catch up upon.” Sheba let go of her arm and headed towards the door to the room passing by the princess on the way.
..............
Louise's weapon Sheba let go of her friend's arm, a glint in her eye as she moved by. “We shall let the two of you have this night alone, but next time we will be joining in.” A quick whisper as the weapon moved pass her and through the entrance to the dorm room, closing the door as she passed.
Turning to Louise, who was still avoiding her gaze. Perhaps arriving in the middle of the night wasn't the best idea, well she did have a place to start.. “So, I had heard you had completed the springtime familiar summoning ceremony, and you summoned Sheba?”
Covering herself over the nightdress, not truly necessary. “Yes... well I summoned a blue stone that..”
“..turned into Sheba.”
Louise blinked at her interruption. “Yes.....” Any attempt of her mind to try and link the summoning ceremony and the cores appearing was squashed when she remembered that they had been tracking down Herald and KOS-MOS's cores before the ceremony. “But she calls herself my weapon, and not my familiar, but I did the binding and everything, Professor Colbert even confirmed the branding....”
“I see....”
“But what are you doing here? The familiar exhibition isn't for another day.”
“Would it be out of place to say I came to see you. It has been some time since we last met in person.” Though she was interested in her friend's familiar, they had never gotten any reports about Sheba when looking into the appearance of weapons around the country. “And you did summon a familiar, if an unconventional one.”
“Yes... I've manged to perform a few cantrips, all of them of water.”
“So you are of water then.” Given her parents Henrietta would have thought she would be of earth or wind, or perhaps fire given her perchance for explosions. “Perhaps I shall lend you some of my books on the subject, or even arrange to have us to study together again.” And wouldn't that be nostalgic.
“I... that would be wonderful.... But I must admit that it has been mostly Sheba helping me. She has been most helpful in using her own powers to guide me. Providing me with advice.... providing a near limitless supply of water for me to work with. Her advice has also proven to be.. useful.”
“That is good to hear, a familiar is supposed to help and support their master.”
“Yes.... and what of you. How are things at court, we only get rumours weeks after they happen.” Henreitta was unsurprised that the conversation had taken such a turn.
“Well I'm getting married.” Louise's eyed lit up. “It's the soon to be crowned Germanian emperor, as a way to secure an alliance to shield us against Reconquista. So it will be happening in the next few months, though certain matters have to be resolved first.”
“My condolences. So what of Tristain?”
“Most likely broken up into provinces, not something I can likely refuse indefinitely, so it may perhaps be prudent to warn your father. The Zerbst's are no doubt going to looking to expand their territory into Valliere lands.” Louise gave a nod. There was a loud knock from the door. “Well it seems we may be out of time.”
The two of them went over to the door and opened it. Agnes was there looking back at her, the hood of the cloak her Musketeer Captain had been wearing was down, an exasperated look on her face. Turning to the other three occupants of the hallway it was easy to see why.
Louise's familiar was currently being held between KOS-MOS and Herald, KOS-MOS held her left arm and seemed unconcerned with what the familiar's hand was doing. Herald meanwhile was holding the right arm and doing her best to avoid being groped by the right hand.
Louise upon exiting the room behind her took in the situation and grew beet red. “SHEBA!! Just what are you doing!!”
“We were just introducing ourselves while you had your rendezvous with the princess.” Sheba gave a mischievous smile to her master. “But alas it appears as though the two of you were interrupted, and from appearances before anything important happened too.”
“Sheba!” Louise went over and grabbed her familiar by the arm and began dragging them back to their room. “I apologize for my familiar's behaviour, she will be disciplined.” After pushing Sheba through, though not before the familiar gave her a wink, Louise shut the door to the room leaving her with Anges and her two weapons.
“So....”
“I'd rather not speak of it....”
...............................................
The crowd cheered as Malicorne had his owl return to his hand after his familiar had gone through some rather impressive aerial acrobatics. Her fellow student took a bow and walked off the stage, which meant it was now her turn to go up on stage and present her familiar.
As Louise got up from her seat, she dearly wished she had any idea where Sheba had run off to, all that she had been able to get out of the weapon was that she was off preparing something. Nervously she got up onto the small stage that had been erected for the exhibition, well aware of all the eyes following her and noting her current lack of familiar. Once on stage she turned to face the crowd, and the sea of quizzical faces questioning as to where her familiar was.
Before she could start stammering out excuses several small explosions rang out above the crowd, showering them in a thin mist of water. From above boomed Sheba's voice. “Did we keep you waiting.” Her familiar was standing on a film of water allowing her to float above the crowd.
Sheba then took a step forwards, water flowing forwards and forming another platform slightly in front and below the first platform. And then Sheba continued, each step forwards taking her down, it was as though she was walking down a set of stairs, her twin strands of hair shaking back and forth with each step. After what seemed like a minute Sheba reached the stage, perfectly done as the last step made it perfectly to the stage putting Sheba directly in front of her.
Sheba got down on one knee and grabbed her hand. “Our Master.” Sheba then planted a kiss on the back of her hand. Louise felt her cheeks heat up.
.......................................................
She didn't end up winning, that honour had gone to Tabitha and Sylphid who had done a flying routine mixed with magic casting. Though apparently Sheba's stunt, she meant show had made the short list of possible winners, something she supposed would have to suffice. Sheba was next to her sipping from some tea, her opinions on the outcome of the exhibition impossible to guage.
Then a familiar man came up to her. “Ah, my little Louise.” A navy blue tricorne on his head with a matching coat.
“Viscount Wardes!” She ran up to the man, stopping to courtesy just in front of him. “It's been too long.”
“So it has.” Sheba had moved over to float in her tub behind her. “And who would this be?” Wardes gestured towards Sheba.
“We are Sheba.” Sheba answered before she could. “What business do you have with our master.”
“Sheba!” She quickly chastised her familiar. “My apologies for the behaviour of my familiar. This is Sheba, she is my familiar that I summoned during the springtime familiar summoning ritual.”
Wardes looked thoughtful for a moment. “I see, certainly an... unusual familiar.”
“Yes.” She turned towards Sheba. “This is my fiance, Viscount Wardes. He is the man that I am to be wed to.” Sheba merely frowned in response. Truly Louise had hoped introducing her familiar to her fiance would go better, hopefully the meeting with her family would go better.
“So you have moved onto second form then?”
“Yes. I am of water, as you could tell from the nature of my familiar.” Sheba was still seated in her watery tub. Though Wardes frowned when she mentioned that she was of water. “I have made progress on several elementari and have begun to practice my dots.” Best to leave out that those still exploded upon use even if they did work.
“A long way from your usual explosions. But I would have thought one of the other elements, Earth from your father... Wind from your mother or even fire from... your.... explosions.”
“Perhaps that was why I had so much difficulty, I was only focusing on those I wasn't attuned to.” The frown doesn't leave Wardes face but he doesn't press any further. “Though I'm still behind where I should be, now that I know what my element is catching up and surpassing my classmates will be simple.” Or at she hoped it would, reality would probably not prove so accommodating, Kirch and Tabitha both came to mind the two of them were already well ahead of the rest of the class.
“That's good. So you will be continuing your education here.”
She opens her mouth to respond but another voice cuts in. “Of course she will be.” A tall blonde haired man in expensive but simple suit walked up to the three of them.
“Father!?” She runs over and gives her father a quick curtsey. “I didn't know that you would be attending.”
“Well it was a very late decision, but I wished to see this familiar you had spoken about in your letters.” She still hadn't expected him to come. “So this is her. I must admit, the our letters don't quite do her justice....” Sheba hummed at the praise. “So you are of water then. Peculiar, one would think that you would take after your mother or your sisters...... But alas you are of water, and learning quite well according to your letters...”
As her father trailed off she wondered what he was implying, then she remembered that she hadn't yet demonstrated anything other than explosions to him. “Sheba, some water please.” With a wink to her Sheba conjured some water into a ball before sending it in a slow arc towards her.
Drawing her wand she cast. “Arise.” The ball of water stopped in its path, she let it hang there for a moment before bringing it to the tip of her wand. Then swiping her wand around she turned the ball into a stream, which followed her wand as she made several more flourishes with it. Eventually she had returned the water to a ball while facing her Fiance and father.
“Well done Louise.” The two of them had their wands out, mostly likely using detect magic, her father congratulating her on her casting. Wardes meanwhile looked thoughtful. “I do hope you continue improving, I'm sure your mother will be proud as well.” She beamed back at her father, missing the dark crease that crossed her fiances face.