Void Duelist

Chapter 3

After her recovery, Louise was called to meet with the Headmaster to discuss the situation concerning her Familiar.

"Headmaster, Lady Louise is here as you requested," Longueville announced their presence before entering the office.

"Welcome, young Valliere. Come, take a seat. We have much to discuss," Osmond gestured to the seat across his desk. "If you would please excuse us, Miss Longueville."

"Of course, Headmaster. I will escort Count Mott to your office in the meantime," she replied and took her leave.

"Now then, Louise de la Valliere. Let's talk about your Familiar," Osmond started. "As far as Familiars go, even for golems, yours is unique among them. Perhaps even among fellow Dollmakers, rare as they are. Can you briefly explain what it can do?"

"I haven't gotten my Familiar to reveal all its secrets yet. From what I have learnt about it in the short period of time since the Summoning Ritual, I can safely assume my Familiar is an ancient relic meant to assist mages in the art of Dueling alongside one's own Familiar during a time period when Duels were not yet forbidden. I have reason to believe that there were several of these relics before they were all lost to time."

"I have read the reports concerning your Duels with Gramont and Zerbst. Your Familiar is able to display to you the types of creatures it can summon to your side in the form of cards."

"That's right. When the relic is activated, the wearer's Willpower is used to keep it active. This is just a recent discovery, but it also seems to disallow any other spells to be used other than those that have been recorded into the relic."

"Hmm... Professor Colbert did mention magical swords falling from the sky in his report. I assume that is one of those recorded spells?"

"Yes. I had attempted to cast a Fireball during the Duel but my Willpower would not respond to my command. Instead, it all went towards the relic."

"A fascinating Familiar indeed. A Dollmaker golem as an ancient relic, perhaps one of many, focused on the practice of Dueling while disallowing other spells to be cast while it is active. And according to another professor, you had managed to make it talk?"

"Yes. The relic is able to respond to certain words and phrases when addressed by its designated name. And, forgive my heretical words, but it seems to have recorded knowledge of the Void element before it was declared lost."

"Truly?" Osmond was not surprised at all since he had already read the report of the teacher in charge, not to mention Colbert's urgent note that the runes engraved on the relic was the legendary Gandalfr.

"I have my doubts, but!" Louise's mood rose in happiness. "It allowed me to at last utilize some basic spells! I won't be called by that infuriating title of 'the Zero' anymore!"

"A small step forward it may be, but congratulations are still in order," Osmond nodded his head in praise. "Keep up your good work."

"Yes, Headmaster!"

"You may leave now, Miss Valliere."

"Yes, please excuse me!"

***Break Line***

"Welcome back, Lady Louise," a familiar maid bowed in greeting when Louise returned to her room.