Aterat Memory Share drafts
Nov. 9th, 2022 06:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ask_whydunitMemory share ideas
Waver Velvet/Lord El-Melloi II
Fate/ Zero - 19 Year Old Waver:
1 - Kayneth ridiculing Waver’s essay in front of the class - Content Warning: Public humiliation.
Class was in full swing in the lecture hall of the El-Melloi Classroom. Lord Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald was currently going over a… very basic principle that mage society adhered to. Most students were still listening carefully, some were leaned on their arms looking bored, while others uncertain about what had brought on this particular subject.
One student had a slight idea, of course. Back straight in his seat, eyes trained on his professor with interest… He had turned in an essay on this very subject just the other day, after all. Unfortunately, the young man was a bit idealistic and foolhardy by mage society standards. He didn’t quite see what was coming, but considering his disagreements with the professor in the past, perhaps he should have.
“In the world of magic, lineage determins rank. This is because the secrets of magic simply cannot be learned within a single generation. Parents must spend their lives training, and pass down the fruits of their labor to their children. This is why the oldest magical families are the most powerful.” Kayneth’s voice was strong and even as it carried through the large space, echoing lightly. “Some of you may be wondering why I am presenting such basic knowledge. Yesterday, a student turned in an essay.” The man held up a stack of papers held together by a clip. Waving it slightly and tapping the cover page. “The title is, ‘How Magic Should Be in the New Century.’ This paper objects to the theory I have just presented. It argues that a deeper understanding of spells and skillful mana control could enable someone to bridge the gap.”
As the professor falls silent, the other students seem shocked by the idea, and start to murmur amongst themselves. Some looking even hopeful or impressed by the idea, while others were rather skeptical of the concept given their upbringing. “In other words, even someone with a very limited magical lineage could become a first-class mage. I will admit, this paper taught me something.” Waver is left to glance around, it’s his paper Kayneth is waving around, and the young man can’t help but feel a small thrill of excitement. Had his paper impressed the Lord that much that he was going to share it with the class? Had he finally made his argument sound enough to be taken seriously?
“Quiet!” The professor commanded silence among his students, looking at the cover sheet of the paper again before continuing. “I’ll be clear. Every word of this paper is drivel.” The paper is slammed down unceremoniously against the desk, and Waver’s stomach lurches as shock crosses his face. “Bloodlines determine magical skill. That is an irrefutable truth. Mr. Waver Velvet…” The teen was already on his feet before the name even left Kayneth’s mouth, shock having given way to frustration with this old-minded nonsense. Still, Kayneth continued. “I find it lamentable that one of my students would harbor such delusional beliefs.”
Things proceeded as they tended to, of course. “Sir, I only wanted to raise the issue to the Mage Association because they havent addressed it-” The explanation was cut off as the Lord spoke over him. “Mr. Waver! Your family has only produced three generations of mages, correct? It seems to me that, compared to the associations long history, your family is still a crying infant. And a baby must learn to speak before he can talk back to his parents.” Laughter rings out in the air around him at the comment, most of his fellow classmates finding the ridicule hilarious. After all, if Lord El-Melloi says so, it must be true, right?
The teens face is left burning, feeling utterly embarrased as he bit back a shout of frustration at the man at the head of the class. To say more now would only make things worse, to give both Kayneth and his classmates more amunition to insult him for his foolhardy beliefs. Waver realized, yet again, that his late mother had warned him against enrolling in this school for a reason… They would never see him as belonging in this space.
2 - Iskandar asking Waver to be his retainer and commanding him to live on before his final charge at Gilgamesh - Content Warning: Realization and resignation in face of death
The sound of hoofs against pavement as Iskandar drew to a halt, back on the Fuyuki bridge as the reality marble disappeared entirely after Gilgamesh had unleased his most powerful attack upon it. They never could have guessed the archer class servant had been holding back a noble phantasm that could destroy an entire reality marble.
Waver’s heart still raced as he crouched in the saddle in front of Iskandar, glad for the man’s arms on either side keeping him from sliding off entirely. He could still hear the world crumbling around him, still see the span of emptiness that had once been beneath the great horse’s feet as they sailed through the air over the chasm that had opened up and started swallowing the sands and Iskandar’s army. The young man had known when he agreed to see the war through with Iskandar after giving up the contract’s command seals that he could still very well face death… But it hadn’t felt quite so real as it did now.
He wouldn’t have changed his mind, of course. Iskandar had seen him worthy enough to call friend, at the very least, and he couldn’t imagine returning to the MacKenzies household alone and leaving the King of Conquerors to his fate after everything they’d been through together. He was still terrified, yes, but he’d made his peace with the decision.
Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, was still standing on the other side of the bridge… Waiting calmly for the two to make their next move, holding himself confidently as though he already knew the outcome. “Rider…” Waver turned in the saddle, looking up at the giant behind him, hoping for some answer on what they were going to do now.
No answer came, after first. Silence filling the air and feeling like centuries were passing as the young man waited for the king to speak. “I just remembered.” The silence was broken, deep rumbling voice addressing him directly. “There was something I meant to ask you.”
“Huh?” Waver blinked, eyes widening for a moment. Was this really the time to be asking questions? Well, the king had the oddest timing…
But nothing had prepared him for the request that was about to come. “Waver Velvet,” His name hung in the air, sounding more weighty than it had ever seemed before. Like it meant something. “would you serve as my retainer?” Him? Waver’s eyes widened further in shock, and then… Started to fill with tears. You’re such a crybaby, Velvet. He couldn’t help but think. But how else was he to feel? A young, talentles mage of no particular noble lineage among mage society, born with a body that contained about the fewest and lowest capable magic circuits as one could, being asked to be the retainer of a king? Not just any king, one known through history as Alexander the Great. He didn’t deserve it, he wasn’t worthy to walk by the man’s side or follow his dreams.
And yet…
And yet, Iskandar’s tone was serious and the weight of the words that settled on his shoulders felt genuine.
The king waited patiently for his hanswer, a soft smile on his face.
“You…” His voice broke slightly, and he had to start again. “You are my king. I will serve you, swearing fealty to you. I want to follow where you go!” A small sob excapedd as he said far more than probably needed to be said, Iskandar would have just as easily accepted a yes knowing him… But he let the young man continue. “I want to share your dream!”
Words spent, finally fell silent long enough for the king to nod with a wider grin. “Very well.” The man reached forward and snagged the back of Waver’s sweater, lifting him rather easily with one giant arm and depositing him on the pavement next ot the horse despite the mage’s obvious confusion. “As a king, it is my duty to inspire others to dream. And as my retainer it is your duty to see my dream through, and to pass tales to future generations.”
And then Waver realized what this was. Despite the confident grin on the man’s face, Iskandar was leaving him behind. He was making a last attempt at securing the mage’s life at the end of the grail war. He would not ride alongside him to face Gilgamesh, he would be expected to stay on the sidelines and watch. “Live on, Waver. Watch to the end, and then tell the story. Tell them of your king!” His tone rose in pitch, ringing out as both encouragement and a command. “Of Iskandar’s charge!”
Casefiles Era:
4 - A 10 year old has Waver abducted so she can have a 'chat’ - Content Warning: Abduction, torture I guess (Reines has Waver hung upside down)
To be fair, Waver had sometimes wondered how he hadn’t been confronted by the El-Melloi faction when he returned to the Clock Tower and purchased his professors classroom with Melvin’s latest loan. Instead, for about three years and one change from Minerology to Modern Magecraft Theory, his life had been fairly peaceful… He was getting the hang of teaching, figuring out how to keep a poorly funded classroom afloat with it’s minimal income, and finding some confidence in his own abilities. Helping to mould the minds of the future, to introduce them to new approaches to magic that differed from the traditional was quite agreeable to the man.
So, unfortunately, he had let his guard down and only realized after a bag was shoved over his head and he was dragged off to an unknown location that he had seriously fucked up. The happless professor panicked, struggling to both losen the grip on him and figure out who the hell he’d pissed off enough for instigate this.
He absently noted the plush carpet under his feet as he was dragged through the halls of some building and tossed to the floor as a door shut behind them. At first he thought they were just shacking his ankles to keep him from running away, but then there was the whir of a crain and the jangle of metal being pulled taught… And Waver felt himself being hung upside down. “Wh-who are you people??” He grit his teeth, trying to keep his panic from showing. “Why did you suddenly abduct me!?” It was then that his vision cleared as the covering was removed. And before him sat…
A child?
No, seriously, a child.
She couldn’t have been more than 10 years old, sitting on a high legged chair to put her on eye level with him. She had blond hair and eyes that danced with amusement. “I’m a secret fan of yours, Waver Velvet.” She said, in a light tone as she leaned forward. So she knew who he was… The anxiety grew and he bit out as confident a reply as he could. “And who the hell are you?”
“I am Reines El-Melloi Archisorte.” She responded, smiling as she watched the professor dangle. “I’m the sister-by-succession of Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, your former teacher and participant in the fourth Holy Grail War. Now you understand who I am, right?” She asked with a raised brow, barely containing some amusement at his reaction.
Eyes widen and a panicked gasp escaping. Shit! This was it, the family he’d stolen from had finally decided to take their revenge on him. The family that he’d inadvertantly caused so much trouble had decided to strike after leaving him be for years! But the girl was still speaking, and his panicked thoughts were interrupted. “In terms of actual blood relationships, I’m his niece.”
“Then you brought me here for…” He began, only to be cut off (Hm… her and Kayneth shared that tendency, huh? Perhaps it was something nobles did). “Oh no! I’m not interested in revenge or anything. I just want to ask you about something I’ve been wondering about for some time.” She explained, propping her chin up on her hand. The other rose to gesture back and forth, and to Waver’s surprise the guards reached out and nudged him to swing back and forth a little more vigourously. He couldn’t even stifle a shout at the sudden, dizzying motion. WAS THIS REALLY NECESSARY?
“You participated in the Holy Grail War, the Magecraft ritual that took place in Fuyuki, the battle to win the omnipotent wish granter, did you not?”
The excessive swinging finally slowed as he responded, tone quiet. “I did.”
“My elder brother lost and died a cruel death.” She continued, leaning back in her seat. “Yes. And then I lost. My life was spared by luck, and here I am.”
She smirked lightly at that, “Whether it was luck or not aside, six months later you went back to London, borrowed tons of money to purchase the El-Melloi class my brother left behind.”
“Do you want to call me a thief who stole his mentor’s inheritance?” And, again, Waver found himself unable to say more and uncertain as the child clapped her hand with a delighted tone. “Not in the least!” She was having too much fun, really. “You’re a very popular teacher!” Which was true. In three years, Waver had already made a name for himself. Both because of his way of looking at the world and his success in the classroom. Students looked up to him, and followed his lessons with eager interest. Reines’s tone lowered and a calm settled back over her. “I just want to know something. What made you do it? I have the right to know that, don’t I?” She ended with narrowed eyes, a bite in her tone that demanded his attention and his honesty.
“It’s kind of a long story…” Waver started, but she was right. She deserved to know…
5 - Flat Escardos crashing into Waver in the hallway and bestowing ridiculous nicknames - Content warning: None, just Flat being ridiculous and getting on Waver’s last nerve
They going to be late. They were going to be so late! Why hadn’t Gray told him- No, that wasn’t her fault, he chided himself as they dashed through the cooridors of the clock tower. In his frustration with the meeting with the other Lord’s he’d insisted she wait to give him any news until he’d had a smoke break and a chance to fume over their idiocy. This was on him for getting too caught up in his anger.
As he dashes, he absently hears a familiar voice of someone possibly saying ’Wait, Flat!’ before he crashes into someone and falls gracelessly on his ass as a multitude of gems were thrown and scattered about.
“It’s our instructor’s scent…” The beast mage prodigy utters quietly with a sigh, his warning to his classmate clearly come to late as he stared around the side of the box he was carrying at the trio. Two fussing over the man sitting on the floor trying to get his bearings again. He had tried to warn Flat, but the teen never listened!
“A-are you alright, sir?” Gray asked in an urgent, quiet tone as she watched him rubbing at his head. The man is silent, though, as Flat begins to speak up rather urgently in dramatic fashion. “Please get a hold of yourself! The wound is shallow!” What was Flat on about now?? The only wound was his damn pride.
“They got me. A counter-curse.” He muttered in annoyance, rubbing at his temple. At Gray’s confused gasp, the professor realizes that she wasn’t quite following. She wasn’t a mage, after all, she couldn’t be expected to know these things. “Remember how I cursed them earlier?” The other Lord’s, the reason for his frustration and their being late.
Absently, he, and likely she, remembered the outburst. ”Mages who’ve forgotten the righteous path of the pursuit can all be cursed and rot in hell!” Was what he’d said, all because they were insisting on prioritizing petty things like politics and choosing sides. The pressure was mounting for him to announce the position of the family. To allign with one of three factions within the tower, as though it were a decision he could or should make given he was a stand in Lord in the first place!
Pushing himself to his feet, he continued. “Of course, that was meaningless mudslinging, but those monsters of the Clock Tower wont miss a chance like that, and promptly return a counter-curse.” The man brushed at the sleeve of his coat with a frown. “Dammit! I was just breaking this jacket in. Now it’s a terrible mess…” He mumbled in petty disappointment at the scuff on the sleeve.
His apprentice frowned lightly, “I’ll brush it up later.” She offered, as keen as ever to pick up tasks like this. For some reason, she acted more like a house brownie than the gravekeeper she really was. It was sweet, and admittedly Waver had come to rely on the assistance given how happless he was. “Please do.” He responded with quiet appreciation, relaxing slightly before turning to Flat and Svin. “Sorry, but I have to hurry on ahead. If you could clean up-” He started gesturing to the mess of stones Flat had spilled out of the box he’d been carrying himself before the collision. But then the Lord took a step and direclty on the pointed edge of a cut gemstone. The shout of pain as the damn thing turned his ankle was rather spectacular and unlordlike as he fell again… Immediately onto another pile of pointed edged gemstones. Bouncing to his feet he tried to ignore the pain in his foot and his back, how the hell was he going to make it to the department he was supposed to in time at this rate?
“Are you alright, Professor Absolute Territory Magician!?” Flat reacted instantly with what had to be one of the most absurd and confusing nicknames he had used thus far since taking him into the El-Melloi class. Around them, magical automatons were still peacefully collecting scattered gemstones. “I’m fine! And don’t call people by completely useless nicknames!!!” He snapped in frustration as Gray reached out to steady him as the resumed their path.
“It’s an honoric!” The student responded in his usual cheery, chipper fashion.
“That’s EVEN WORSE!” He shouted over his shoulder, feeling his stomach starting to act up. Flat was a test put on this earth for him alone, the man was sure. As they walked away, he could still hear Flat continuing quietly.
“Would he have been happier with #4 on the Clock Tower Female Students’ most Sought-After Men list?” Svin sighed, at the absurdity knowing their teacher well. “In your case, you’re not doing this intentionally which makes it all the more worse.”
Waver sighed internally at the absurdity taking place behind him, too exhausted to even get mad again. Svin was right, after all. Flat didn’t do things maliciously. He was being genuine and he really thought he was flattering people. The problem was, if Waver didn’t manage to teach him to tone it back a bit? One day it was going to piss of the wrong mage and the repercussions were going to be more than the kid could handle.
Waver Velvet/Lord El-Melloi II
Fate/ Zero - 19 Year Old Waver:
1 - Kayneth ridiculing Waver’s essay in front of the class - Content Warning: Public humiliation.
Class was in full swing in the lecture hall of the El-Melloi Classroom. Lord Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald was currently going over a… very basic principle that mage society adhered to. Most students were still listening carefully, some were leaned on their arms looking bored, while others uncertain about what had brought on this particular subject.
One student had a slight idea, of course. Back straight in his seat, eyes trained on his professor with interest… He had turned in an essay on this very subject just the other day, after all. Unfortunately, the young man was a bit idealistic and foolhardy by mage society standards. He didn’t quite see what was coming, but considering his disagreements with the professor in the past, perhaps he should have.
“In the world of magic, lineage determins rank. This is because the secrets of magic simply cannot be learned within a single generation. Parents must spend their lives training, and pass down the fruits of their labor to their children. This is why the oldest magical families are the most powerful.” Kayneth’s voice was strong and even as it carried through the large space, echoing lightly. “Some of you may be wondering why I am presenting such basic knowledge. Yesterday, a student turned in an essay.” The man held up a stack of papers held together by a clip. Waving it slightly and tapping the cover page. “The title is, ‘How Magic Should Be in the New Century.’ This paper objects to the theory I have just presented. It argues that a deeper understanding of spells and skillful mana control could enable someone to bridge the gap.”
As the professor falls silent, the other students seem shocked by the idea, and start to murmur amongst themselves. Some looking even hopeful or impressed by the idea, while others were rather skeptical of the concept given their upbringing. “In other words, even someone with a very limited magical lineage could become a first-class mage. I will admit, this paper taught me something.” Waver is left to glance around, it’s his paper Kayneth is waving around, and the young man can’t help but feel a small thrill of excitement. Had his paper impressed the Lord that much that he was going to share it with the class? Had he finally made his argument sound enough to be taken seriously?
“Quiet!” The professor commanded silence among his students, looking at the cover sheet of the paper again before continuing. “I’ll be clear. Every word of this paper is drivel.” The paper is slammed down unceremoniously against the desk, and Waver’s stomach lurches as shock crosses his face. “Bloodlines determine magical skill. That is an irrefutable truth. Mr. Waver Velvet…” The teen was already on his feet before the name even left Kayneth’s mouth, shock having given way to frustration with this old-minded nonsense. Still, Kayneth continued. “I find it lamentable that one of my students would harbor such delusional beliefs.”
Things proceeded as they tended to, of course. “Sir, I only wanted to raise the issue to the Mage Association because they havent addressed it-” The explanation was cut off as the Lord spoke over him. “Mr. Waver! Your family has only produced three generations of mages, correct? It seems to me that, compared to the associations long history, your family is still a crying infant. And a baby must learn to speak before he can talk back to his parents.” Laughter rings out in the air around him at the comment, most of his fellow classmates finding the ridicule hilarious. After all, if Lord El-Melloi says so, it must be true, right?
The teens face is left burning, feeling utterly embarrased as he bit back a shout of frustration at the man at the head of the class. To say more now would only make things worse, to give both Kayneth and his classmates more amunition to insult him for his foolhardy beliefs. Waver realized, yet again, that his late mother had warned him against enrolling in this school for a reason… They would never see him as belonging in this space.
2 - Iskandar asking Waver to be his retainer and commanding him to live on before his final charge at Gilgamesh - Content Warning: Realization and resignation in face of death
The sound of hoofs against pavement as Iskandar drew to a halt, back on the Fuyuki bridge as the reality marble disappeared entirely after Gilgamesh had unleased his most powerful attack upon it. They never could have guessed the archer class servant had been holding back a noble phantasm that could destroy an entire reality marble.
Waver’s heart still raced as he crouched in the saddle in front of Iskandar, glad for the man’s arms on either side keeping him from sliding off entirely. He could still hear the world crumbling around him, still see the span of emptiness that had once been beneath the great horse’s feet as they sailed through the air over the chasm that had opened up and started swallowing the sands and Iskandar’s army. The young man had known when he agreed to see the war through with Iskandar after giving up the contract’s command seals that he could still very well face death… But it hadn’t felt quite so real as it did now.
He wouldn’t have changed his mind, of course. Iskandar had seen him worthy enough to call friend, at the very least, and he couldn’t imagine returning to the MacKenzies household alone and leaving the King of Conquerors to his fate after everything they’d been through together. He was still terrified, yes, but he’d made his peace with the decision.
Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, was still standing on the other side of the bridge… Waiting calmly for the two to make their next move, holding himself confidently as though he already knew the outcome. “Rider…” Waver turned in the saddle, looking up at the giant behind him, hoping for some answer on what they were going to do now.
No answer came, after first. Silence filling the air and feeling like centuries were passing as the young man waited for the king to speak. “I just remembered.” The silence was broken, deep rumbling voice addressing him directly. “There was something I meant to ask you.”
“Huh?” Waver blinked, eyes widening for a moment. Was this really the time to be asking questions? Well, the king had the oddest timing…
But nothing had prepared him for the request that was about to come. “Waver Velvet,” His name hung in the air, sounding more weighty than it had ever seemed before. Like it meant something. “would you serve as my retainer?” Him? Waver’s eyes widened further in shock, and then… Started to fill with tears. You’re such a crybaby, Velvet. He couldn’t help but think. But how else was he to feel? A young, talentles mage of no particular noble lineage among mage society, born with a body that contained about the fewest and lowest capable magic circuits as one could, being asked to be the retainer of a king? Not just any king, one known through history as Alexander the Great. He didn’t deserve it, he wasn’t worthy to walk by the man’s side or follow his dreams.
And yet…
And yet, Iskandar’s tone was serious and the weight of the words that settled on his shoulders felt genuine.
The king waited patiently for his hanswer, a soft smile on his face.
“You…” His voice broke slightly, and he had to start again. “You are my king. I will serve you, swearing fealty to you. I want to follow where you go!” A small sob excapedd as he said far more than probably needed to be said, Iskandar would have just as easily accepted a yes knowing him… But he let the young man continue. “I want to share your dream!”
Words spent, finally fell silent long enough for the king to nod with a wider grin. “Very well.” The man reached forward and snagged the back of Waver’s sweater, lifting him rather easily with one giant arm and depositing him on the pavement next ot the horse despite the mage’s obvious confusion. “As a king, it is my duty to inspire others to dream. And as my retainer it is your duty to see my dream through, and to pass tales to future generations.”
And then Waver realized what this was. Despite the confident grin on the man’s face, Iskandar was leaving him behind. He was making a last attempt at securing the mage’s life at the end of the grail war. He would not ride alongside him to face Gilgamesh, he would be expected to stay on the sidelines and watch. “Live on, Waver. Watch to the end, and then tell the story. Tell them of your king!” His tone rose in pitch, ringing out as both encouragement and a command. “Of Iskandar’s charge!”
Casefiles Era:
4 - A 10 year old has Waver abducted so she can have a 'chat’ - Content Warning: Abduction, torture I guess (Reines has Waver hung upside down)
To be fair, Waver had sometimes wondered how he hadn’t been confronted by the El-Melloi faction when he returned to the Clock Tower and purchased his professors classroom with Melvin’s latest loan. Instead, for about three years and one change from Minerology to Modern Magecraft Theory, his life had been fairly peaceful… He was getting the hang of teaching, figuring out how to keep a poorly funded classroom afloat with it’s minimal income, and finding some confidence in his own abilities. Helping to mould the minds of the future, to introduce them to new approaches to magic that differed from the traditional was quite agreeable to the man.
So, unfortunately, he had let his guard down and only realized after a bag was shoved over his head and he was dragged off to an unknown location that he had seriously fucked up. The happless professor panicked, struggling to both losen the grip on him and figure out who the hell he’d pissed off enough for instigate this.
He absently noted the plush carpet under his feet as he was dragged through the halls of some building and tossed to the floor as a door shut behind them. At first he thought they were just shacking his ankles to keep him from running away, but then there was the whir of a crain and the jangle of metal being pulled taught… And Waver felt himself being hung upside down. “Wh-who are you people??” He grit his teeth, trying to keep his panic from showing. “Why did you suddenly abduct me!?” It was then that his vision cleared as the covering was removed. And before him sat…
A child?
No, seriously, a child.
She couldn’t have been more than 10 years old, sitting on a high legged chair to put her on eye level with him. She had blond hair and eyes that danced with amusement. “I’m a secret fan of yours, Waver Velvet.” She said, in a light tone as she leaned forward. So she knew who he was… The anxiety grew and he bit out as confident a reply as he could. “And who the hell are you?”
“I am Reines El-Melloi Archisorte.” She responded, smiling as she watched the professor dangle. “I’m the sister-by-succession of Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, your former teacher and participant in the fourth Holy Grail War. Now you understand who I am, right?” She asked with a raised brow, barely containing some amusement at his reaction.
Eyes widen and a panicked gasp escaping. Shit! This was it, the family he’d stolen from had finally decided to take their revenge on him. The family that he’d inadvertantly caused so much trouble had decided to strike after leaving him be for years! But the girl was still speaking, and his panicked thoughts were interrupted. “In terms of actual blood relationships, I’m his niece.”
“Then you brought me here for…” He began, only to be cut off (Hm… her and Kayneth shared that tendency, huh? Perhaps it was something nobles did). “Oh no! I’m not interested in revenge or anything. I just want to ask you about something I’ve been wondering about for some time.” She explained, propping her chin up on her hand. The other rose to gesture back and forth, and to Waver’s surprise the guards reached out and nudged him to swing back and forth a little more vigourously. He couldn’t even stifle a shout at the sudden, dizzying motion. WAS THIS REALLY NECESSARY?
“You participated in the Holy Grail War, the Magecraft ritual that took place in Fuyuki, the battle to win the omnipotent wish granter, did you not?”
The excessive swinging finally slowed as he responded, tone quiet. “I did.”
“My elder brother lost and died a cruel death.” She continued, leaning back in her seat. “Yes. And then I lost. My life was spared by luck, and here I am.”
She smirked lightly at that, “Whether it was luck or not aside, six months later you went back to London, borrowed tons of money to purchase the El-Melloi class my brother left behind.”
“Do you want to call me a thief who stole his mentor’s inheritance?” And, again, Waver found himself unable to say more and uncertain as the child clapped her hand with a delighted tone. “Not in the least!” She was having too much fun, really. “You’re a very popular teacher!” Which was true. In three years, Waver had already made a name for himself. Both because of his way of looking at the world and his success in the classroom. Students looked up to him, and followed his lessons with eager interest. Reines’s tone lowered and a calm settled back over her. “I just want to know something. What made you do it? I have the right to know that, don’t I?” She ended with narrowed eyes, a bite in her tone that demanded his attention and his honesty.
“It’s kind of a long story…” Waver started, but she was right. She deserved to know…
5 - Flat Escardos crashing into Waver in the hallway and bestowing ridiculous nicknames - Content warning: None, just Flat being ridiculous and getting on Waver’s last nerve
They going to be late. They were going to be so late! Why hadn’t Gray told him- No, that wasn’t her fault, he chided himself as they dashed through the cooridors of the clock tower. In his frustration with the meeting with the other Lord’s he’d insisted she wait to give him any news until he’d had a smoke break and a chance to fume over their idiocy. This was on him for getting too caught up in his anger.
As he dashes, he absently hears a familiar voice of someone possibly saying ’Wait, Flat!’ before he crashes into someone and falls gracelessly on his ass as a multitude of gems were thrown and scattered about.
“It’s our instructor’s scent…” The beast mage prodigy utters quietly with a sigh, his warning to his classmate clearly come to late as he stared around the side of the box he was carrying at the trio. Two fussing over the man sitting on the floor trying to get his bearings again. He had tried to warn Flat, but the teen never listened!
“A-are you alright, sir?” Gray asked in an urgent, quiet tone as she watched him rubbing at his head. The man is silent, though, as Flat begins to speak up rather urgently in dramatic fashion. “Please get a hold of yourself! The wound is shallow!” What was Flat on about now?? The only wound was his damn pride.
“They got me. A counter-curse.” He muttered in annoyance, rubbing at his temple. At Gray’s confused gasp, the professor realizes that she wasn’t quite following. She wasn’t a mage, after all, she couldn’t be expected to know these things. “Remember how I cursed them earlier?” The other Lord’s, the reason for his frustration and their being late.
Absently, he, and likely she, remembered the outburst. ”Mages who’ve forgotten the righteous path of the pursuit can all be cursed and rot in hell!” Was what he’d said, all because they were insisting on prioritizing petty things like politics and choosing sides. The pressure was mounting for him to announce the position of the family. To allign with one of three factions within the tower, as though it were a decision he could or should make given he was a stand in Lord in the first place!
Pushing himself to his feet, he continued. “Of course, that was meaningless mudslinging, but those monsters of the Clock Tower wont miss a chance like that, and promptly return a counter-curse.” The man brushed at the sleeve of his coat with a frown. “Dammit! I was just breaking this jacket in. Now it’s a terrible mess…” He mumbled in petty disappointment at the scuff on the sleeve.
His apprentice frowned lightly, “I’ll brush it up later.” She offered, as keen as ever to pick up tasks like this. For some reason, she acted more like a house brownie than the gravekeeper she really was. It was sweet, and admittedly Waver had come to rely on the assistance given how happless he was. “Please do.” He responded with quiet appreciation, relaxing slightly before turning to Flat and Svin. “Sorry, but I have to hurry on ahead. If you could clean up-” He started gesturing to the mess of stones Flat had spilled out of the box he’d been carrying himself before the collision. But then the Lord took a step and direclty on the pointed edge of a cut gemstone. The shout of pain as the damn thing turned his ankle was rather spectacular and unlordlike as he fell again… Immediately onto another pile of pointed edged gemstones. Bouncing to his feet he tried to ignore the pain in his foot and his back, how the hell was he going to make it to the department he was supposed to in time at this rate?
“Are you alright, Professor Absolute Territory Magician!?” Flat reacted instantly with what had to be one of the most absurd and confusing nicknames he had used thus far since taking him into the El-Melloi class. Around them, magical automatons were still peacefully collecting scattered gemstones. “I’m fine! And don’t call people by completely useless nicknames!!!” He snapped in frustration as Gray reached out to steady him as the resumed their path.
“It’s an honoric!” The student responded in his usual cheery, chipper fashion.
“That’s EVEN WORSE!” He shouted over his shoulder, feeling his stomach starting to act up. Flat was a test put on this earth for him alone, the man was sure. As they walked away, he could still hear Flat continuing quietly.
“Would he have been happier with #4 on the Clock Tower Female Students’ most Sought-After Men list?” Svin sighed, at the absurdity knowing their teacher well. “In your case, you’re not doing this intentionally which makes it all the more worse.”
Waver sighed internally at the absurdity taking place behind him, too exhausted to even get mad again. Svin was right, after all. Flat didn’t do things maliciously. He was being genuine and he really thought he was flattering people. The problem was, if Waver didn’t manage to teach him to tone it back a bit? One day it was going to piss of the wrong mage and the repercussions were going to be more than the kid could handle.
