56Chapter 5
The early morning brings a fresh start to all the students of the academy, giving them hope that there will be interesting things that are yet to come. And tomorrow is the Familiar Exhibition, a showcase of the familiars summoned by all the second year students and to witness their performance. The princess of Tristain, Princess Henrielta De Tristain, will be attending the performance. It really is a big event and it made the academy even busier than before. With all the staffs preparing the academy for the princess's arrival today and the exhibition tomorrow, while the Headmaster made sure that everything was sent fit for a princess.
While his assistant was summarizing all the details about the event, Chuchu, his familiar mouse, was almost in range to peek what was forbidden to any perverted men. Luckily for Longueville, the assistant, she almost 'accidently' step on the mouse. While the perverted Osmond and Chuchu were disappointed of not seeing 'it', they were greeted by her 'barely' hidden anger. And so the morning was filled with the routine screaming of an old man who was not out of his young ambition of women's hidden views.
Moving on…
"Yes, familiar. You have to come up with an act by the time I come back from class. I still don't know what you are capable of and you seemed to be very experienced with many things, the decision is yours but I will be a judge of whatever act that you will be putting up." Louise stated while getting ready for class, and when I say 'getting ready', it means Allen helping her getting ready.
"As you wish, Master." The ever so polite Allen answered, already getting the hang of her personality. In his view of things, all he has to do was obey Louise's wishes and he will save his ears from any complains of any minor issues. "But how amazing must it be to impress the princess?"
With all the fidgeting made by Louise, Allen knew that it must be something going on between the two. Of course, Neah shot that thought down as he just reminded Allen that someone like Louise couldn't be friends with a princess, hell, she couldn't even make a decent conversation with Allen without her calling him 'familiar' instead of his name. Allen really had a lot of work cut of for him.
"Something that will win the Exhibition for sure. But be sure to meet me in the Academy Entrance later in the evening. Her Highness will be arriving and I don't want to miss it for the world." Somehow in her tone, Allen and Neah picked up something that they rarely heard from her, a feeling of longing to see a long lost friend. Neah nearly choked in his own laughter about this, Louise? Longing for a friend? She could hardly make a friend with anyone in this academy. Sure Louise and Kirche just 'might' be friends, but it was more like 'rival that came to a truce' kind of thing whenever they were around Allen. Not that Neah was happy about it.
'Speaking of friends, I bet that Siesta will be waiting to see your performance. I, too, can't wait to see what you will plan for the exhibition.' His uncle, Neah, said with full of admiration in his nephew. As if hearing the thoughts of the 14th Noah, Timcanpy was flapping its wings in anticipation.
'Stop it, uncle! You're making me nervous. I haven't been performing for a long time now, I may be a bit rusty in some area. Plus, I'm not sure that any of my old tricks will impress the audience. They are magic users, after all…' Allen thought for a while of a good trick, but none seems to be fitting for an audience of students and a princess.
"Familiar! Stop daydreaming and help me with my cloak!" Louise nagged as Allen had apparently stop helping her midway. Well, he was going to have half a day to think of an act and another half to practice after greeting the arriving princess. That will be enough to come up with something. Right?
'Why doesn't anything work in my favor?' Allen had spent the next 2 hours thinking while walking around the grassy field. So far anything that he thought was either too mysterious to be a simply act or too powerful to be ignored. He was just looking for something that will not cause too much suspicion and also make the act worthy for a princess.
Just as he was laying down on the grass and ask Neah for suggestions, Siesta just so happens to pass by. She was so mesmerized by the way Allen shines under the Sun's light that it made him look like an angel. With his white hair and pale skin, anyone could have mistaken him for one. But Siesta knew that not everything was as it seems. From yesterday's experience, something in those golden eyes of his tells her a much more ancient forces were at work and somehow she had accidently stumble upon it. If not for Allen's arrival, she wouldn't be here at the moment to thank him and the other him, according to what he had said yesterday.
"Thinking about what happened yesterday, little girl?" The sudden deep voice snapped she out of her thinking. She looked where Allen was a moment ago and meeting her sight was the ashen skinned Allen with wavy hair and golden eyes, except this time he wasn't wearing any Noble clothing. His eyes were filled with amusement with a small hints of boredom, unlike the cold malice that were present in Mott's mansion. She was still troubled about this new person being Allen's uncle.
"Y-yes." Siesta answered rather fearfully, as if she was commanded by a superior being that has more power than any other nobles that she had met. "If I may, Walker sir. But how was it possible for you to live inside of Allen's mind? I couldn't think of any magic spells that allows anyone to transfer their mind into another person's."
Neah was amused with her answer, but he could tolerate that. This human knows her place, good. He likes those kinds. "Just 'Neah' is fine, little girl. I feel like an old man when someone calls me that." And Neah could hear Allen snorting in the back of his mind at the implication.
'You are an old man, uncle.'
'Now that is just mean, Allen. And I am not as old as you think I am.'
'Really? Because being over 35 plus years before your Awakening sounds old to me.'
'Let's not let the numbers get the better of us. I may be older than you but I still have the energy of a young cheerful teen!'
'Gee, I don't know which sentence of yours sounds weird, the part where you claimed yourself as a cheerful teen or that you make yourself sounded immature.'
Siesta was confused when she noticed that Neah had no longer look at her and she notice his face making different expression, it was funny to see the childish smirk and fake innocence on the human familiar's face. For a moment, she had forgotten about the cold and cruel Neah from last night. Then a thought occurred to her, the Familiar Exhibition. Now she understands why Allen was here, he was going to practice for the exhibition. Knowing Louise, she must have left all the responsibility on him.
"So, Neah. What are you or Allen going to perform tomorrow? I bet that it's going to be amazing." Siesta said, with clear curiosity. She was then met with stormy silver eyes, looking at her confusedly before blushing and look away. She thought for a while before she realized it: he hasn't come up with anything yet.
She giggled, Allen can be shy sometimes and it was cute. Thinking of a way to lessen his torture, she asked him to come walk around the ward to see what other students were practicing, maybe it will give him an idea.
"Oh, um…" Allen honestly doesn't know what to say, that idea sounded nice but he was nervous for an entirely different matter. With Timcanpy gone to who-knows-where, he was afraid of getting lost again and being late to meet up with Louise does not sound appealing at all. Neah face-palmed with his nephew's well known sense of directions, it was so bad that sometimes Neah thinks that Allen could get lost even with a help from a map. Noticing his troubled face, Siesta giggled at his nervousness and decided to have a walk with him. Allen's first thought on Siesta's eagerness to help was this: Yep, so much like Lenalee.
And so the field were filled with second year students training with their familiars to do tricks, some of them seemed impressive while others weren't very good. Except for Tabitha, she was just reading a book while laying on a wall. While walking, Siesta explains about the importance of having Lady Henrietta visiting the academy. Everyone loves her and respected highly of her since the king had passed away, and so everyone would try their hardest to impress the princess. Of course in midway, Kirche had ordered Flame to 'almost' breath fire at Guiche and his familiar, Verdandi. And so Allen concluded that some people had other goals in mind for the exhibition.
"So Allen, have you thought of what to perform?" Allen turned away from the other students and saw Siesta's curious face, for some reasons she looked a lot like Lenalee like that. And with Lenalee, he couldn't say anything disappointing to her. He would always try to find ways to cheer her up, with the 14th Melody whenever they were in the White Ark to get away from the others to have some privacy. Wait, that's it!
"I just might have, Siesta. Thanks a lot. You're a lifesaver." Allen stated with much enthusiasm with a kind smile on his face. Siesta blushed after hearing that statement. She then quickly told him that she had other chores to do and so much work to be done before tomorrow. Before she left, she held onto Allen's hands and Allen looked at her in surprise.
"Allen, I-I do hope that you will have a great time during the exhibition." With that, she left quickly with her face the color of a tomato. Allen was confused with her sudden shyness while Neah just shook his head in dismay.
'Allen, Allen, Allen. How could you be so clueless with women? You were practically raised by the legendary flirter of all times.'
'Huh? What do you mean, uncle? What does Master have to do with this?'
'…never mind.'
With a plan in mind for the exhibition, Allen ran back to where he hopes will lead him to the Academy Entrance to meet up with Louise. Luckily for him, he has an hour to find the actual direction before the princess actually arrive. What he doesn't know was that he was running further away from where he was supposed to go. Oh how directionally challenged he was.
"Let me get this straight: you practically used almost 2 hours thinking only to come up empty and then wasted about half an hour walking around the academy to clear your head up and then wasted another hour on finding your way here and coincidently came up with an act that you have 'refused' to show me?" If Louise's nagging wasn't enough to sent Neah to irritation, her fuming might just do the job.
"Well, it is…kind of hard with all the displays from the other students…" Allen carefully answered, cautiously not adding the word 'diligently' training their familiars. "Also, it will surprise the judges more just this act remains a secret, even to you too. I promise you, Master. You will not be disappointed." And also, I don't think you will approve it even if I did show it too you. He thought secretly.
'I have no doubt about it.'
"The princess of the Kingdom of Tristain, Her Royal Highness, Lady Henrietta has arrived!" A loud voice ranged throughout the entrance and in came horses pulling carriages with guards riding horses besides them. What caught Allen's eye was that a pink carriage with unicorns pulling must be the princess's. A maid opened the door of the carriage and first out came what must be the princess's personal maid and then the princess herself. She looked so young with her purple hair and soft kind eyes. Everyone were amazed with the princess's beauty that even Guiche complimented her beauty. Kirche doesn't seemed that impressed, but Allen saw a small hint of jealousy in her eyes when she sees the princess. Tabitha was still the same, reading a really think book while ignoring everything happening around her.
'She is kind of cute in that outfit, so slim and small. Still developing there but other than that, she's right for the taking ~.'
Neah sounded cheery about the princess of Tristain, he even commented that she is cute! Allen was left speechless after hearing his uncle's comment, he was just too shock to even bother to pull Timcanpy (who flew in after hearing all the commotion and bit onto Allen's fingers to snap him out of his stupor) away from his hurting fingers.
'Huh!?' That was all Allen could say at the moment. With so many cheering and shouting in the place, his reaction was not noticed by much. Except for Louise who was just by his side.
"Silence, familiar. And know your place, you're only a familiar." She said without looking up at him. Allen glanced down and saw a small smile on her face, thinking that there was definitely something going on between the two. Still, Allen and Neah thought hard on different scenarios on how the two met but came up empty. How was it that Louise was able to meet up with the princess as the princess's royal guards were always by her side, especially that serious looking women that had been glaring at him for some reason.
'Maybe she's just admiring how the princess is getting all the attention, after all, she doesn't get much from here. That female knight is almost like Kanda in a sense.'
'Kanda, huh. Yep, she almost got his scowl alright. I just hope that I don't meet the Lavi in this world, I don't think I could keep up with his teasing.'
"What is the matter, Agnes? Is something wrong?" Lady Henrietta asked sweetly, wondering what got her protector in such a tense state.
"Nothing, Your Highness." Agnes Chevalier de Milan, Captain of the musketeers, answered politely while still looking at a strange man hidden in dark hoods and loose clothing that it was hard to make out the man's face. Other than that the man wears white gloves in such a hot weather seems weird, there was a winged and golden golem latching its razor teeth on his fingers. She suspected him to be a mage but his clothing doesn't match the other students' and he was standing rather close to a short student with pink hair. Agnes decided to keep a close eye on this one, he may bring trouble to the safety of the princess.
After the greetings and preparation for the princess, night came quickly as the day went by. The night was cold as the the two moons rise, making everyone just as excited for the next day. With the all the guards scheduled to guard the school and the storage's door was reinforced so that not even a triangle mage can knock it down, everyone felt safe within the school grounds. Except for one. Or two, perhaps three.
'Allen, are you sure you're going to the right way to the gate? You have been wondering in this hallway for 30 minutes now, and that itself is a sign of you getting lost.'
'Oh, come on. I can find it on my own. I just can't make one outside and risk discover by both the royal and school guards, I'm suspicious as it is by the way that knight was looking at me.'
'So you decided to check if that storeroom was used, transfer it to another location and after that you will practice your 'act' in the Ark. Doesn't sound too shady to me.'
Allen rolled his eyes, still trying to find the right way as Timcanpy flutter around his head lazily. After rounding a corner, he saw a suspicious figure heading towards his direction in a distance. With all the experience of dealing with suspicious people, Allen jumps in and confronted the suspect.
"Who are you and what are you doing here so late at night?" Allen asked with voice of steel, he doesn't take this kind of strangers very likely. The suspect was fidgeting within the hood until in a very timid voice spoke out.
"Uh, I just want to meet a person named Louise de La Valliere. I'm a friend."
Allen took another second to think about it, as the voice sounded like a girl's and unlike any he had heard so far in the academy. So it means that this person was likely not from the academy but also not a threat to Louise as she doesn't hold any aura of ill thoughts. Neah was very curious about the girl's identity but asking it might give her a wrong idea. Timcanpy flew to the stranger's face, then after flashing a mouthful of fangs he flew and landed on her head. Taking Tim's approval as a safe sign, Allen gave a sigh and let down his battle stand.
"Come on, I'll take you to her room. I'm going there anyway. Tim, could you lead me there?"
'Finally asking for help ~?'
'Oh quit your trap.' Accidently slipping into his British accent.
'Going British on your own uncle? You know better to do that, my nephew.'
The stranger went along, even though she was confused with the expression of the white haired man's face as he followed the strange and small flying golden golem. As they walk, the atmosphere was awkward to both of them. Neither knew what to say to the other, and the silent was killing them both.
"So, um…" Allen decided to try his luck on making a decent conversation before arriving to his master's room, "how did you and Louise became friends?"
"Well, we were childhood friends. We used to play a lot together and keep each other's secret. She is like my best friend." The stranger said with a small smile on her face.
Allen did a double check, did he and Neah heard that right? Best friend? Childhood friend? Keeping secrets? Were they talking about the same Louise here?
"Are you sure that is the same Louise that is attending this very academy? And not another Louise who just so happens to have the same name?" Allen asked just to make sure of some things. "The same one with pink hair and a bit short for her age?"
The stranger looked at him weirdly before nodding. Allen decided to leave it at that, who knows how many surprises he'll find after getting back to the room.
"So how did you know Louise, sir?" The stranger asked innocently at him. Allen thought for a while, the news of him being a familiar to a mage that couldn't cast a single spell successfully will not be a secret for long. And it won't affect anyone since they still don't really know his full powers. So it seemed safe to tell the truth.
"I'm actually her familiar. I just got summoned by her recently. So it came to me as a surprise that she would have a friend that I didn't know about." Keeping a good impression of Louise as her familiar, Allen ignored his uncle's added comments on that statement.
"You're her familiar? That is rather unusual, but I am glad that she has someone else to look after her now." Her answer raised an eyebrow from Allen, something tells him that there was more to it than what was stated in that sentence. "I haven't been able to talk to her in a long time now, I wonder how is she fairing here in the academy."
"Well, quite fine. But do you know why she can't cast a single spell?" It now seems fine to just know more about Louise from this stranger, at least he won't get scolded for being curious.
"Well, I don't really know and it really upsets her family. But that was also the time that I couldn't get to see her anymore because of all that was happening in the cas-I mean home." And now that just seems suspicious to him, Neah wasn't very worry about that though so it makes it even stranger. But he doesn't have to dwell in that thought for long as they just arrived to Louise's door.
Knocking the door and hearing Louise's commanding tone of 'come in', Allen opened the door only for the strange to rush in and hug Louise tightly! Louise was shocked while Allen stood there dumb folded. In his mind, Neah too was shocked. Because when the stranger rushes in, her hood fell off and they saw the purple hair that only belong to one person: Lady Henrietta!
The princess was actually in the room, hugging the daylight of of Louise! As Neah tries to make any sense of this, Allen closes the door quietly after coming in. Taking the only two chairs by the small coffee table, he offered them to his master and the princess of Tristain.
"Louise! How have I missed you so dearly!" The princess cried happily while still hugging the stunned Louise. However, the mage was feeling something entirely different. After being released, she quickly bowed down and greeted the royal princess in a more formal manner that Allen had so far seen done by her.
"Oh, stop with all the formality. We have been friends since we were little girls, haven't we?" Still, Louise would still use formality with her friend, thanking her for those kind words and gratitude.
'Well, what do you know. They are indeed friends…'
'Yeah, pretty hard to believe it but it is the truth. Hm, now that I think about it…'
Allen waited until both of the girls calm down and have sat on the chairs that he had prepared for them. They talked for a while until it came to the part as to why the princess wanted to some to watch the Familiar Exhibition on her own, it was so that she could meet Louise face to face.
"So that was why you wanted me to win the exhibition so badly, you wanted to impress you friend." Allen exclaimed rather politely. But of course, with Louise, being polite doesn't spare him from Louise's anger.
"How dare you stand there like an idiot instead of bowing before the princess! You unrespect full mutt!" And it was comical to see Louise trying to make Allen bow down as she wasn't as high as she though she was. Lady Henrietta said that it was fine and wanted Allen to just be at ease with her, she was a really kind girl in Allen's book.
"Please forgive him for his rude behavior, he is so stubborn and doesn't follow orders well." Louise said, still trying to pull Allen's head down as Allen dodge her hands. The princess then complimented Allen for his stubbornness of standing up against Court Mott out of the blue. It got them tensed as this could tied Allen to murder and him being her familiar, she could be punished as well.
"I wanted to meet the one who had put a stop to Mott's suspicious scheme. He had been doing many indecent things to the commoners and collecting strange materials from an unknown collaborator, but that still doesn't get him in trouble and it worries me that something might happen to the all the people of Tristain if Court Mott continues his doing." Lady Henrietta began, "But it also saddens me that he was killed and his body turned to ashes, all the witnesses stated that it was a young noble with a pentagram scar and familiar runes on the left side of his face and white hair with crosses on the forehead that did it. But I don't think that I would find him here looking rather different from their description. And it came to me as a surprise that he is your familiar too, Louise."
Neah was sighing in Allen's mind, he thought of ways to silent the princess of all this new finding and how to erase all the evidences that might lead the palace to them. Allen told Neah that they can't just do that to Louise's friend. Allen thought of ways to confuse the princess that it wasn't even him. Looking at Louise, he knew that Louise still doesn't believe that he simply forgotten all of that.
"Don't worry, there won't be any punishment for that as no one seems to know who was the noble with crosses on their forehead. I personally don't think that you kill him just to get those materials, Allen. There was another witness that stated that all you did was defeat Mott the Wave in a duel to save a maid, that is very noble of you. Although, I do want to know who the real culprit was that did kill him." Lady Henrietta said, calming them down and ease their worries.
"Why aren't you reporting me? For most they would just do it regardless of what the circumstances were, why not you?" Allen asked, feeling that there may be a reason for that. And Neah too began to suspect something was in the princess's mind. Louise just stay out of this as she was confused with the sudden hostility of her familiar.
The princess calmed her senses down, she began to feel the sense bloodlust from the familiar. One wrong word could get her in serious pain, that was what her instincts were telling her. Before she started talking about Mott's case, Allen had been so far kind and polite. But after that, his whole personality changes. His stormy silver eyes changes to molten gold for a second and then there was his creepy smile. Faint crosses appear on his forehead as he stared at the princess, waiting for her answer.
"I don't just accuse of people until I know that full story behind them. I may not know you well, but I do know that you aren't the kind of people that would kill mindlessly." That was her honest answer. Allen stood there for a moment, before bowing down at the princess fully.
"You make a great queen one day, Lady Henrietta. I rarely meet people that think like you, but I am glad that I can make an acquaintance with you, Your Highness." Allen said politely, flashing his warm smile that instantly warms up her cheeks. In his mind however, he decided to play the princess's game. There was already the suspicion of wanting him to uncover more of this strange materials that were Dark Matter. They were not as pure as the ones made by the Noah Clan but close, and so it is likely for any mortals to start another Holy War with these.
"At ease, noble familiar. This is the duty of a royal and nobles to protect those who could not use magic. It did cost a stir in the palace when I told them that further investigations behind Mott's contact were needed but it saves us the trouble to just randomly punish people who had crosses in the kingdom." Said the princess as she went explaining that she would always help Louise whenever she was caught in a bind, as a princess, she has to keep her word. Louise was touched by her words, stating that how she could repay her.
"Oh, Louise. I think that you have summoned a splendid familiar."
"On the contrary, summoning this crude and awful creature is the biggest mistake of my life!"
'Oh she did NOT just say that!'
'Uncle, please don't ruin the moment more than what Louise just did.'
Later that night when the princess had to go back to her room, she thanked Louise for the evening of having someone to talk to. She was glad to have her best friend back after so long. Just before she leaves for the night, she looked at Allen with admiration, Allen thought of what to say to the princess but she beat him to it.
"Mister Familiar. Promise that you would do your best tomorrow."
'So she is wishing you luck. That could count something, Allen. Luck from a princess, you know what I mean?' If Neah does have a body, Allen could see his eyebrows making those suggestive gestures.
"Well, I do have 'the stage' set up just for you. I can assure you, princess. You will look forward to it." Allen said seducible, earning some red cheeks from the princess. Of course it did not go unnoticed by Louise when she suddenly whipped out a whip and began to chase Allen around the room with it, trying to hit him as hard as she could. Allen being Allen, dodged them all by being flexible and fast.
Lady Henrietta was amused by how they interact. Commenting that freedom is the best treasure after all. That statement was heard by both Allen and Louise, making she confused by it while Allen totally agree the princess. Freedom, it had been a long time since he had his.
Next morning came and the Familiar Exhibition had started, the presentation of this year's familiars of the second years had been quite eventful and all of the students were amazed by Tabitha's familiar, an Infant Wind Dragon named Sylphid. The last one was Louise's turn and it made she nervous. She doesn't know where Allen had gone and Professor Colbert had just announced that her to come on stage.
That familiar! Oh, he is so going to get it when I get my hands on him! Louise thought as went on stage, embarrassed that she had to be the only one on stage with the whole academy looking at her without her familiar. And he said that he had 'the stage' set up for the princess. As expected, everyone looked at her strangely. Wondering where did her familiar went, they had expected that he would suddenly jumps out of nowhere. Yeah right. Good for nothing familiar.
"Um, Louise. Where is your familiar?" Colbert asked silently, not to ask it out loud to save some of Louise's dignity.
"Well, my familiar is n-"
"WAIT!" Allen's voice suddenly reached her, stopping her from completing what she was about to say and further complicating the audience. What was towing behind Allen was questionable as it was huge and covered in a thick black cloth. The Princess's musketeers were suspecting something dangerous was inside of it and they circled around Allen and his mysterious object.
"Who are you and what is that things?" As the captain of the musketeers, it is her duty to inspect everything that will concern the princess's safety. Now the whole staffs and audience were looking at them, wondering what the commotion was. Louise was sweating by then, not only did her familiar caught everyone's attention but now if the royal guards were to suspect Allen of anything, it could cost her some trouble.
"I'm Allen Walker, Louise Francoise's familiar. I know that this seems very suspicious but it is for my act, I have spent the entire night working on it and it is very much appreciated if you and your friends do not destroy it. It will ruin my act." Allen answered politely, not very intimated by the guards' hostile stare. Timcanpy was just resting on top of his head, not bothering to help ease the tension.
Agnes and her fellow musketeers were not convinced entirely, they asked around and was confirmed that Allen was indeed Louise's familiar. The questioning took about 15 minutes before Allen was allowed to place the thing onto stage. Just as Agnes was about to inspect the thing under the cloth, Allen stops her.
"Please, miss. This would ruin the surprise that I have planed for everyone. It will be reveal soon so please go back to your seat so that I could start." Allen politely said while ignoring the woman's angry stare.
'So like that she-male.'
'Not as much in the stubbornness department.'
'But I'm surprised that you are going to do this, it has been a while doing it outside the Ark. What changed?'
'I don't know, but…I got inspired to do it again yesterday. And…I…I want to feel what is was like to play around people again. I miss that, ever since…' As Allen thought about it, the last time was when he and Lenalee were alone in the Ark. She was leaning against him, talking about all the good things that would cheer him up whenever they feel as if the Order were breathing down on their necks. She always knew how to cheer him up, that was her affect on him. Allen missed that. He missed Lenalee and all his other friends.
'Allen…play it. Play it to your heart's content.'
Everyone were anxious about what would be reveal underneath the cloth. Allen calmly walks to a side and pulls it off, revealing a beautifully made white piano. The audience were in lost for words, they have never seen such grand piano before. Even the musketeers were surprised, and so was the princess. It was so beautiful as if its very existence was made for perfection.
"Before I start, I would like to say a few things." Allen started, bringing a stunned Louise by his side before guiding her to sit on the bench. "I have been working on this a whole night with all my heart and soul. For the Melody, also known as The Musician's Score, it was composed by a dear brother of my adopted father. I learned it from my adopted father, Mana, when I was still traveling with him. He was very dear to me, and so is this Melody. I used to play it with all my friends and today I would like to share it to all of you, and I hope that you would come to appreciate those you cherish because…" Allen takes a deep breath before continuing, "…you don't know when they are going to disappear from your life."
They don't know why but his speech brought tears to most of the females there. Even some boys shed some tears after hearing this. Backstage, Jean Colbert was trying to keep broken heart together. It was sad to hear this coming from someone so young, the speech itself had its hidden meaning. As he noticed, Allen used passed tense when describing about his life.
Among the staffs, Siesta was wiping her tears which were flowing down freely with a handkerchief. She would have never thought to hear how sad Allen's speech was, she may not know about his past but she will try to bring happiness back to those grey eyes of his.
As the audience quite down, Allen sat beside Louise. Taking few deep breaths, he began to play. The sound of the piano rang through the stage, softly reaching the ears of all those who listens. It was soft and sweet, reminding them of the warmth that they all had felt one point of their lives. After a few notes, Allen began to sing. His voice so soft, like an angel. Matching with the rhythm and the beat of the Melody, he sang for them. For the ones he had missed so much.
So the little infant fell into a deep sleep.
Among the grey ashes in the flames shining...First one, then two ...
Surfaces numerous of your faces
A thousand dreams trickle back to the earth
On the night when the silver eyes were trembling, the shining you, who was born
Across millions of years, the prayers have already returned back to the earth
I will still continue to pray
Please bestow upon this child your love
Upon our joined hands, leave a gentle kiss.
Everyone were captivated by his singing, the song reminded them so much about the warmth that they shared with their love ones. If one were to pay close attention towards Allen's scar, it had changed into another kind of pattern and his eye was a whole different color. Allen continued, he continues to sing with all the emotion that he had kept in his heart for nearly a century.
So the little infant fell into a deep sleep.
Among the grey ashes in the flames shining...First one, then two ...
Surfaces numerous of your faces
A thousand dreams trickle back to the earth
On the night when the silver eyes were trembling, the shining you, who was born
Across millions of years, the prayers have already returned back to the earth
I will still continue to pray
Please bestow upon this child your love
Upon our joined hands, leave a gentle kiss.
Nearing the end, almost everyone was crying. They have never heard a piece so emotional as this. Allen played it so beautifully and so angelic. A perfect and innocent being, playing from the high heavens for them. It was so majestic.
I will still continue to pray
Please bestow upon this child your love
Upon our joined hands, leave a gentle kiss.
By the end of his performance, everyone rose up and cheered for him. They were moved by him so much that many female students demanded that the familiar Allen has won the exhibition. The judges were tabulating the results and 3 final contestants were able to reach to the finals. They were Tabitha and Sylphid, Kirche and Flame and finally, Louise and Allen.
If anyone was paying attention at the back, they might hear Guiche grumbling about how he and Verdandi were not selected to the finals.
'Now that's my nephew! I am so proud of you!' Neah claimed happily as he wiped his tears of joy, imaginably. He wasn't the only one feeling proud, as Allen noted from how Louise was standing beside him. Standing with her head held high, she must be thinking how great it feels to be able to face the others like this. Allen sweat-dropped. Just few days ago, she wasn't nearly a tad proud of having a human familiar.
"At long last, the judges have decided!" Everyone paid close attention to the stage where the finalists and the princess were standing. They wanted to know who won as they waited patiently for the announcement. "And now, the winner for this year's Familiar Exhibition is…" Everyone waited, holding their breaths for the final result.
CRASH!
Of course, something just had to happen. Something huge and loud had just crashed at the side of the academy's vault tower. It was humanoid shaped and made entirely with earth. It punched the side of the tower with strength enough to break an entire castle but not enough to scratch one that was enchanted with seals. On top of it was a person but not just anyone, it was Fouquet the Sculptor!
The academy was in a panic, the guards and musketeers quickly surrounded the princess ad students to protect them. Many of them were led to safer grounds. Old Osmond and Jean Colbert ran to stop the thief from stealing anything from the vault.
In the mist of all the panic, Allen felt a similar but smaller amount of Dark Matter at the same direction as the intruder. Knowing that this may lead him to the source, he jumps down from the stage and ran towards the it with Timcanpy flying close behind.
'Just our luck, huh. Once we got involved, things started to get interesting.' Neah chuckled, finding this amusing. Of all the places that trouble finds them, it always had to be somewhere so close to them.
'Yeah, it is getting interesting but if this person has it then what is the connection between the two? They can't just be random people, or everyone that they can get their hands on.'
'We'll get the answer once we're done with this guy!'
They got there in time to see the thief on top of the humanoid commanding it to keep hitting until it breaks. Allen was about to stop them when suddenly he remembers something very important.
'Wait! What about Derflinger? We left him back at the room!'
Back in Louise's room…
'Why was I always forgotten by that boy?' Derf thought to himself as he hears the noise outside. Thinking to himself that what will Allen do if he has to use his real powers, well, they will cross that bridge once they got to it.
Outside…
'No one's around and that guy's not an Akuma. It'll be easy and quick for you to get your answer.'
Well, he can't argue with that. Not seeing Headmaster Osmond or Professor Colbert anywhere, Allen quickly jumps in and was running vertically towards the thief from the humanoid's foot up.
"Impossible! Golem!" The voice coming from the thief sounded like a women's. The Golem then shook its foot, trying to throw Allen off but he was too fast for that little trick. Allen managed to ran up until he was on top of the head too, facing the thief.
"We can do this the easy way where you can stop destroying the tower and tell me where you got that necklace from…" Allen pointed to the said purple glowing item around the women's neck, "…or we could do this the hard way."
The thief was surprised, no one had managed to figure something was wrong with the gem she had been asked to wear for a while and now this white-haired human teen familiar wanted to know who her collaborator was. This one seemed interesting, especially seeing how his familiar runes were glowing. Just before she could think of a reply, Louise came running towards them and shouting spells to stop her.
"Let my familiar go or I will use Fire Ball on you and your Golem!" Louise shouted as she pointed her wand at the thief. Allen was shocked that Louise would risk her life knowing that she won't be able to cast any spell successfully. Neah just cursed for the stupidity of Louise Francoise. Allen shouted for Louise to run but she won't budge.
Louise mumbled a few words and then pointed her wand and shouted Fire Ball, nothing came out, expectedly. Just before anyone could say anything else, the wall of the tower exploded and crumpled, creating a small hole just for the thief to enter! The thief was astonished by this discovery but didn't stay long to command her Golem to step on Louise. Knowing the familiar will go and save his master, no one will be standing her way of getting what she came here for.
The Golem lifted its foot and positioning it above Louise, Allen shouted for her to run but she was frozen onto the spot by fear. She shook as she doesn't know what else to do as the foot was brought down!
The thief came out with a large case, jumping back on top of the Golem, she commanded it to leave and escape the place. Just when the Golem was able to move, white tendrils shot out and wrapped themselves around the limbs of the Golem! Once the smoke clears, a figure in white with a Masquerade-style mask. Wrapping among the living white cloth was Louise, unharmed and surprised. The white tendrils were pulled and the limbs were severed into smaller pieces of dirt.
The thief jumps off of her Golem, thinking of a way to escape with the case. The white being had released Louise and was now walking calming towards her with its pure black and slender left arm. It was more of a claw than an arm, sharp fingers that could cut you with the slightest touch. Headmaster Osmond and Professor Colbert just arrived with a few guards and musketeers to arrest the thief.
"Surrender now, Fouquet. You are outnumbered!" A guard shouted as they moved in to arrest her. Just when things looked really bad for her, she held the purple gem close to her mouth and whispered something to it. It faintly glows and then something shot out of it to the sky! When it dimmed, Allen could not believe what he was seeing: a Level 1 Akuma! But it was the same with the ones he had fought for so long as it was not well made and looks like it was rather put together than built. The soul seemed attached rather than chained to the Akuma. Allen doesn't know why but somehow knew that something wasn't right.
"What…what is that thing?" Professor Colbert asked shakily. He had never seen such a monstrosity before. While Fouquet escaped with the case, the guards were left to fend off the monster. I looked at them with its dead eyes and ready its cannons. Allen saw this and knew what would happen if he doesn't act now.
With his Innocence already activated, Allen jumps in front of it and slashed it with his Innocence. It exploded, freeing the soul trapped within it. However, when it exploded he had expected Akuma blood and not human blood spilling out. A human body merged with Akuma parts, it was gruesome to see this but now Allen knew why this felt different from the ones he fought, it was partially human. It disgusted him to know that someone in this world would do such a thing.
Noticing that everyone was still staring at him, Allen knew that he could no longer keep this a secret any longer. He deactivated his Innocence and saw the shock look on everyone's face.
"Familiar, you have some explanation to do." Louise fumed when Allen walks back to her. Allen smiled sheepishly, promising that he would once things settles down.
Things settled fairly well as the headmaster and other staffs of the academy search through the vault and found that the thief had stolen the 'Staff of Destruction'. Students were asked to gather around and stayed where they are until they were told otherwise. Louise and Allen were standing by a wall away from the other students, with Timcanpy on top of Allen's white hair and flashing its rows of sharp teeth to any passing students, they got some privacy.
"It's called Innocence, it merged within the back of my left hand and transformed my entire arm into black. It gets its energy from my body so that is the reason why I have to eat a lot or I'll be weak in battle. As you could see how unusual it looks, I don't use it often." Allen thinks that this explanation was enough to cover up all the others as it will not concern his master. Louise was okay with this, already deeming that her familiar isn't an ordinary human.
"At any case, that was a huge Golem. No doubt about it, she is a triangle class mage." Louise stated, really thinking deep about it. Allen and Neah were paying attention to that, they were thinking the same thing, was Mott a triangle class mage too? Was that the connection? Too much possibility and such a short time. And then there was that Akuma. If it was partially human, that would mean that the soul belongs to the living and it would also mean that whoever made the Akuma would need live subjects to do that. They will have to hurry if they want to prevent another Holy War.
"Thank goodness, I'm so glad that you are safe." The princess ran to where Louise and Allen were, unintentionally stopping Allen's train of thought. Her guards and musketeers were trailing behind her and so was Agnes. Agnes looked at Allen suspiciously before focusing back to the princess.
"Oh, Your Highness." Louise bowed down, apologizing about how she could not stop the thief and that it was her fault that the academy treasure was stolen. Allen felt responsible for it too as he too bowed down with his master. But Lady Henrietta stated that there was nothing Louise could do to stop Fouquet and that it wasn't her fault. Before either could say anything else, the princess was told that she has to return to the palace to give a full report of the incident. She bid farewell to Louise, hugging her and told her to stay safe before boarding her carriage and rode back to the palace. Just before she did, the princess asked Allen as Louise familiar to protect Louise as best as he could. He nodded, promised to do as he was told.
By late evening as the carriages were pulled, everyone from the academy watched as the princess of Tristain leaves to return to the palace. Louise seemed most worried and Allen wonder why.
"I just hope that they don't hold the princess responsible for this." So that was why she was so worried. But to hold the princess responsible for something that the thief caused sounded unfair. "I've been hearing bad rumors about what's going on in the palace, though it does me no good to worry about it." It was strange to see the same Louise feeling sad about a friend, it really changes the way Allen had thought about Louise. And then there was the other thing about the palace, what were the rumors? Were there any relations to the purple crystals similar to Dark Matter? If there was any lead, the palace seems like a good place as any. Allen and Neah will have to be patient until they could get any leads. Right now, they have the thief to deal with.
"Hey, Master? Why didn't you run to safety when I told you to? You could have gotten hurt." Allen wanted to know what Louise really was thinking, he was too far at that time to use his Familiar Rune to know what Louise was thinking then.
"You really are an idiot. A mage who forsaken her familiar is no mage at all." Allen watches her as his cursed eye scanned her for any lies and found none. She was completely honest to him. Allen smiles at her honestly, even thought she was the naïve one she was wise in some aspect. Neah might agree with him if he wasn't stunned by Louise rare moments of her true self.