Guess who's back to your dismay.
I hope to make life horrible.
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Damien double checked he had everything he needed with the help of Siesta.
"Armour?"
"Check."
"Weapons?"
"Check again."
"Head on straight?"
"Lemme check."
He made sure his head was on right and nodded.
"Sounds like it's all there."
"Good. That should be everything." She said putting the list down.
"Thanks Siesta, good to know I have someone to help me stay organised." He said thanking her.
'I could do that. Don't need some maid for that kind of thing.' Louise thought as she checked her own stuff.
It's been some time since the monster attack and the students get a few weeks off. They can stay in the school or go off places.
Right now Louise and Damien are going off with Kirche, Tabitha, Montmorency and Guiche to a town not too far from here. Well, it's a bit of a journey, but again it's not that far.
As much as he doesn't like Guiche a whole lot, Damien is glad to have another guy in the group even if he is a simp.
They were mainly going because there's stuff to do there, but according to Kirche, Tabitha has her own reasons she won't share.... Not that she ever shares a word in the first place.
"So are we-"
Kirche was about to ask something when she was cut off by the sounds of a number of people arriving on horses.
Damien was still a bit alert from the monster attack and rested his hand on his weapon. Louise, however, recognised the man in the lead and signaled it was fine.
Damien was still ready just in case.
Soon they stopped in front of them. A man with long grey hair and a beard got off his horse and approached.
He went straight towards Louise who seemed to recognise him. Her familiar got defensive.
"What do you want with her?"
"Damien. It's fine." She reassured him and he stepped away, still ready.
He stopped in front of her. Then to everyone's surprise, not Louise, he knelt down in front of her, grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"It is so wonderful to see you again my dear Louise."
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"I don't follow." Damien said very confused now.
"I don't think any of us do." Guiche said in agreement.
"Forgive me. I am Viscount Wardes. Just Wardes is fine. I heard Louise was making her way to the city and I had to be sure she was safe."
"Uh. Ok... Wait how the fuck did you-"
"Now then. I don't believe we have met." He offered a handshake to him.
"Damien. Louise's familiar."
"Ah, so you are the familiar I heard stories about. Sounds like you have quite the talent. An odd name, but a mighty one regardless." He said shaking his hand.
"Uh, thanks? Wouldn't really go with mighty, but alright."
"Humble as well. You hit quite the lucky streak Louise." Wardes said nodding to her.
"More like raw talent." Damien said under his breath.
"Now then. Let us proceed onward." He said returning to his horse.
Damien wasn't sure why, but he just wasn't sure about this guy.
"Everything alright darling?" Kirche asked. He's gotten use to that name and that scares him.
"I dunno... How did he know where we were going?" Damien asked trying to understand that. "I don't trust that guy."
Kirche giggled.
"Aww, jealous?"
"What? Jealous of what? Of Guiche? I'm not into Mont whatever her name is." Damien told her.
"Ahh, so clueless." She said and followed the group.
He shrugged and got on his horse.
Soon they were in their way.
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"..."
"Still sad you missed your chance?" Guiche asked.
"My chance with what? Sorry, I got a bad feeling about that Wardes guy. Is it just me who thinks it's weird he knew where Louise was going? I get she knows him from a while ago, but still..."
Guiche thought about that, but it didn't seem that's weird.
"You did say your world is dangerous because of monsters and bad people. Perhaps you're just paranoid. Maybe you're stuck in that same state of mind." Guiche guessed.
"Huh... You mean like my body is here but my mind is still on Remnant?" Damien asked.
"Precisely. I'm sure this is all just your head messing with you."
"... Yeah. Yeah maybe you're right man."
Damien shook his head. He just needs to calm down and remember he isn't on Remnant right now.
Then again, that monster seemed tougher than a Grimm.
"Hey buddy."
"Oh, hey Derflinger. What's up?"
"Look. I don't know anything about this guy, but don't brush off that uneasy feelin. Gotta trust your instincts. Better to have them and not need them-"
"Than to need them and not have them. Yeah... I'll keep an eye out..."
The whole journey Damien decided to watch Wardes and the men he arrived with. He was up front with Louise who clearly had no issue with him.
He decided he would stay at the back to watch.
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They eventually were forced to stop.
They were at a cliff edge and a rock slide had occurred blocking the path.
Damien got down to go and see what could be done.
"Any clue what caused it? Or is this just a thing that happens?" He asked.
"Hard to say. This road is common for criminals, yet at the same time it is commonly used among regular folk." Wardes told him.
"Right. Well, don't waste your magic. I should be able to clear this."
He went to go do that.
Wardes would have stopped him, but was surprised a little when Damien seemed to lift the more heavier rocks with no issue. What he couldn't lift, which was one big rock, he broke into pieces.
"I must say Louise. You're familiar is quite powerful." Wardes complimented.
"I know. Surprised me too. He's just amazing." Louise seemed to watch him go to work with this dreamy look.
Wardes saw what was going on. He can't let this happen.
After a few minutes the rocks were out of the way and a path was cleared.
"Thank you Sir Damien. You have my gratitude." Wardes thanked him and walked on as did the others.
"Yeah no problem man. Careful."
He went to his horse.
"Am I still the only one who thinks this guy is suspicious?" He asked looking to the horse.
He blinked.
"Aaaaand I'm talking to a horse.... Least you're not talking back, then I'd consider myself insane..... You can't, right?" He asked the horses who just shook its head.
"No, but you can understand me. Cool."
He shook his head and caught up to the others.
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It took a while and some minor inconveniences that involved Damien having to deal with it, but they finally managed to reach their destination.
Tabitha and Kirche went to wherever Tabitha was going, Guiche took Montmorency somewhere and Damien was now sitting in a dining room of this guy's house. One of many apparently.
He was talking with Louise.
They were with this Prince guy. Least Damien thinks he's a Prince, he wasn't listening.
Damien just sat there listening, well, half listening. This was mostly just boring talk.
They were talking about things that are just mildly annoying to deal with. Things that Damien had to deal with on a daily basis like waiting in line for things.
Do nobles not usually wait in line for things?
Wardes then addressed Damien.
"Tell me Sir Damien. You're a man of the sword correct? I'm told you have impressive skills."
"Hmm? Uh, yeah. I got a bit of training under my belt." He answered.
"And how long have you been at it? Few months? Years?" Wardes asked. Why was he so interested?
"Years would be the accurate word."
"And tell me... Why did you wish to wield a sword?"
Damien thought about that.
"Well. It's not the sword I wanted to use, well, it was. I spent my whole life learning and I still am. My real wish was to be a Huntsman. Before I met Louise I was just in my second year of Beacon, but my teacher always said experience in the field is better than anything combat school can teach. And in my experience, I'm confident in saying I've earned my right to be a Huntsman." He explained.
"So you always dreamed of being a hero?"
"It's not about being a hero. A Huntsman is supposed to put everyone else before themselves. Even if it means laying your life down on the table. If I have to die to save one person, that's a pretty good way to die." He said leaning back and picking up a fork to eat.
"That's the wrong one Damien." Louise said.
He looked to her, narrowed his eyes, put the fork down, picked up the steak with his hand and started eating.
"Fuck you. I eat my own may."
Louise shook her head with an amused smile and a small laugh.
"I see. A good man you are Sir Damien."
"Can you not call me that. Just Damien is fine." He said shifting a little at the title.
"I'm a man of the sword myself. Why don't we have a dual? A simple spar between two gentlemen. How does that sound?" Wardes offered.
Damien stood up and smiled.
"You're speaking my language. Let's take this outside."
Louise sighed and shook her head.
"He's hopefully."
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Damien stood in an alleyway. It was a dead end and across from him was Wardes. Louise was leaning on the wall watching them.
"Now. Does this seem suitable for you?" Wardes asked.
Damien was looking around.
"I dunno. Bit small isn't it?.... Then again, you can't always pick the battlefield." Damien said drawing his swords. He connected them and got ready.
"Very true."
Wardes drew his sword which was a rapier. The end of it didn't seem sharp or pointy at all.
'Odd design, but I've seen weirder. And that's stance.... Reminds me of Weiss...'
"Now then. Begin!"
Wardes was the one to take charge and Damien blocked holding his sword at an angle. Wardes weapon redirected along Damien's weapon and he threw the man off.
Wardes went back in throwing a number of stab attacks at him. Damien had some issue blocking, but was learning quick.
"You are indeed impressive Sir Damien. I can't say I've met a man as talented as yourself." Wardes complimented.
"Can say the same to you." Damien replied.
Damien threw him off. He flicked his wrist making the sword spin rapidly. He was about to hit Wardes when he was hit in the chest with a rock that caught him by surprise. Wardes had made those rocks from the ground with magic. Damien didn't know he had that.
He hit the wall and fell to the ground. He was about to stand up when he saw Wardes' sword pointed at his face.
"Unfortunately, your skill lacks proper polish. You are still inexperienced compared to someone like me. Therefore, you are unfit to be her familiar and you cannot protect Louise Vallière."
For whatever reason, that hurt Damien more than the rocks to the chest that hit him like bullets. And he's been hit by plenty of them.
What was this guy talking about? He can protect her, he has. Unfortunately for Damien, a part of his brain was agreeing.
"... Fair enough." Was all Damien could think to say.
Louise was surprised hearing that.
"What? But he-"
"Now then Louise. Let us enjoy more of the day. We have other places to be."
Wardes led her off, but she kept looking back at Damien who seemed to be back in that self deprecating state of mind.
She knew by that blank look.
"Wait, but he-"
Damien didn't hear what she said as they were gone now. He stood up.
"Hmm.... He's got a point..."
Damien grabbed his weapon and made his way out of the alleyway with no intention of following them.
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"Damien! There you are!"
Louise finally found him after looking everywhere for him.
Ever since that dual she's been around Wardes more than anyone else.
When he went off to deal with something she went looking for him.
Now she finally found him at the pier close to where Wardes' ship was docked. Apparently they were to go on some trip on it.
"Why are you out here? You had me worried you know."
She moved closer to stand next to him. She winced.
That same blank look. She shouldn't have left him, she should have pulled back and went to check on him.
"Damien?"
"Hmm? Oh! Uh, hey Louise... Uh, how was your day with Wardes?" He asked.
"It was fun.... Are... Are you ok?"
"Yep."
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"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
He was answering way too quickly.
He was definitely thinking about this for a while now. Probably ever since the dual ended.
"Hey... Forget about what Wardes said. I know him, but I seriously have no idea where that came from. You're the-"
"Best Familiar Ever. Yeah, I know. Whatever you say."
He sounded mad.
"It's true! Without you me and many others would be dead at a lot of different points!" She told him trying to help him feel better.
"Uhuh. Cool."
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"Ok, what the hell is wrong with you?" She asked now annoyed.
"Nothing is wrong with me. I'm fine. Just.... having an off day. Can I not have those or should my stupid semblance counter that too?"
"Damien. What is going on?"
He let out a frustrated sigh.
"I feel.... I dunno, soulless I guess... I don't even know the right term." He squeezed the railing. "I don't feel like anyone really looks at me for me. That they just see my semblance and that's it."
Louise saw his hands turning red with heat.
"I feel like my semblance is all I'm good for, that it's just a weapon for people to use. Everything has just been about my semblance. Kirche only looks at me because of it, that Mont girl calls me the peasant boy with the useful powers, Tabitha doesn't say a fuckin word and I can't tell if that's how she is or if she just wants nothing to do with me, I'm only good with Guiche because I beat him." He looked to Louise next. "And even you. The only reason you give a shit is probably because of my semblance. If I didn't have it, I'd be worthless to you."
Louise reeled back in disgust. The idea that she would think less of him because he didn't have his semblance is just wrong.
"Excuse me! How dare you think I only care because of your powers! We might have gotten off in a bad start, but it was you're kind hearted nature that got us this close not your stupid powers!"
"Well I'm sorry for thinking that when you damn nobles are such assholes to peasants like me!"
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Louise glared at him.
She then looked away.
"Fine. Forget I even asked how you were. I don't care anymore."
She left.
"...... Great... You did it again... Fuck..."
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"Damien!"
"Huh?"
He looked up after dozing off for a few minutes.
Looking over he spots the blonde girl. Her name is hard to pronounce for him.
"What's up?" He asked.
"Louise is gone off with Wardes!"
"Ok.... And? She'll be fine, he can protect her.... Better than me apparently."
Guiche stepped up to him.
"This is no time to be depressed man! You're girl has just been taken by force!"
"Like I said she- Repeat that now."
Hearing "by force" sent red flags in his mind.
He stepped closer, looming over Guiche.
"Where?"
"She's being taken on that ship!" Kirche told him.
"So how do we get up to that?!" Damien shouted looking to the airship that is flying away.
Guiche was then knocked down by his familiar. It was a big mole-like creature.
Damien then remembered Dr. Oobleck's class. Moles have good smell.
'Idea!'
"Guiche, keep that thing here. Does anyone have anything belonging to Louise?" He asked.
Kirche held up a familiar ring.
"Well, Wardes did take this from her and dropped it. It looked similar to yours so I was worried he had killed you." She handed it to him.
"... The rings she got for us when she was under the effects of the love potion... We still kept them as a sign of our bond..." He smiled. "Louise. I fucking love you."
He turned to Guiche.
"We can use that thing to get to her. Hold this up to it and tell it to find Louise."
"Um, ok."
Guiche did exactly that.
After a few minutes of sniffing it started digging.
Before they got going, a familiar rock golem suddenly showed up with that same thief on top of it.
"I'll leave you guys to that. Got my own job to do."
Damien hopped down the hole without a second thought.
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The mole thing finally reached a surface. Damien squeezed up next to it and let out a gasp for air.
"Ohhh! Fuck! Air! God I love air!"
He climbed out and breathed.
"Ok. Ok. Focus. Louise. I'm comin girl. Hold on for me."
He got up and got moving.
Shortly after the others followed through the hole.
They all got into action to help their friend.
They made their way through the place without being seen.
"There she is..." Kirche pointed out.
They watched as she tried to get away, but some bald guy in a robe shined a ring in her face and she stopped. Damien saw those dull, empty eyes. Some sort of mind control or something.
It reminded him of the love potion thing.
She's trapped in her mind unable to do anything. And apparently this is to force her to marry Wardes and also apparently kill that Prince guy.
"... I'm going to break his arms. First that guy with the ring."
They immediately got to planning.
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The bald guy watched from outside the church as he just left after once again using the ring in Louise. He stood and watched.
Soon a girl with dark skin and red hair was walking by and knocked the two guards at the door of the church unconscious.
He raised his hand when she looked to him so he could do the same thing to her as he did to Louise.
"Ack!"
He was suddenly stopped when his hand was cut clean off and a double sided sword was rammed through his chest and into the wall behind him.
He looked to see it was Louise's familiar.
"Kindly stay there and die please."
He just watched as the familiar walked to the door of the church.
"Thank you Kirche. You make a fine distraction." He complimented her as he went by. He stopped at the door.
"Aww, honey. You're making me blush over here. Why didn't you just say you were interested?"
"Hahaha. Don't push your luck."
Damien reeled back and kicked in the door with a song ready to sing.
"Some-"
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Inside the church, Louise was trying to get control of herself again. She didn't want this. She didn't want to marry a man so much older than her. The only man she'd ever say yes to is someone like Damien.
'Damien... Please save me...'
Suddenly the door burst open.
"-body once told me hands off my macaroni. Milwalkie shot a bandit found deeeaad. He was pickin up the gun with his finger and his thumb raisin up, pointed straight, at his forehead."
Everyone was surprised by the intrusion, but more surprised at how good that song went.
'Huh. Didn't know he could sing.' Louise thought as that's all she can do.
"I see you're back. It's too late. We're already to be married. Besides, she was about to say yes. Shame you weren't fast enough to be in my place."
"What? I'm not here for her hand in marriage, I'm here to stop you from forcing her to do something she doesn't want to do. By the way Prince, Louise is under mind control."
The Prince looked to Wardes.
"She's what?"
"He's lying!"
"Alright. Lemme prove it. Hey Louise."
She turned to him, her eyes still blank.
He walked up and very lightly slapped her repeatedly.
"Wake up wake up wake up wake up wake up wa-"
Suddenly she grabbed his arms.
"I'm awake already! Stop slapping me!"
She then turned to Wardes and shouted at him.
"Fuck you Wardes I hope you-"
Everyone in the church was in shock, aside from Damien and the Prince, at the amount of profanities she was hurling at the man. Pretty sure she said a few words that not even Damien has heard of.
"Is she... Ok?" The Prince asked.
"Yeah, just let her get it out if her system."
Eventually, she stopped. She was breathing heavily.
"Hey Louise.... Ya alright?" Damien asked.
"Yeah... I'm fine... Sorry, I don't know what came over me there... Just, he caused you to go depressed for a little bit, he forced me to marry him, basically kidnapping me... And a lot has happened in the week... I think... I think I need to sit down."
"We'll do that when you're safe. Also, tell me you didn't pick that dress. Because that colour with those shoes... Yeah no."
She shook her head.
"No. Not my idea."
Wardes shrugged.
"I suppose it's violence then."
Without warning he got his sword and stabbed the Prince through the chest.
He fell to the ground.
Wardes quickly left after setting the place on fire.
"Did he forget or did I just forget to tell him?"
"Damien! Prince!"
He knelt down to see the Prince was barely alive. He had probably a minute left.
"Shit... Hold on, I'm gonna try something."
Damien put his hand on the wound and concentrated.
"What are you doing? We need to get him out of here!"
"I might be able to heal him with my Aura.... Come on..."
Louise watched in fear. If this man dies this could mean a war. Was that Wardes' plan the whole time?
However, she was surprised when she saw that same red colour of Damien's Aura flow into the Prince.
"Is it working?"
Damien didn't say anything.
Her question was instead answered by the Prince who suddenly let out a gasp.
"What? How am I.....?"
"No time. We're getting you out of here." Louise said barely recovering from her surprise. She did notice though how Damien seemed drained after that.
Thankfully he was able to re-energise himself from the fires, not by much though.
Soon they had him outside and they breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ok. That was the craziest thing I've ever done." Damien said breathing a little hard.
"I would certainly say that. You saved my life from a fatal wound. You have my thanks." The Prince told him. (Yes I'm too lazy to look up his name. Been a while since I watched this anime.)
"Yeah, yeah. Sure. No problem buddy. Just uh, lemme catch my breath. Wooo! That takes a told off of you. I was basically giving you a part of my soul... Fuck..."
Louise sat down with him.
"You're a hero today Damien. See? You can protect me just fine." She told him.
"You're a hero to both of us. I'd be dead if it weren't for you." The Prince said.
"Thanks... Sorry Louise, about earlier."
"Don't worry about it." She winked at him. "I can let it slide for now."
"Hahahaha! This girl has me on a leash I swear."
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It was the next day after the whole incident.
Damien was standing in the office for the principal in the school.
He was there with Louise.
"We have you to thank for a lot of lives potentially being saved my boy. If the Prince were to be killed, war would break out. And you saved one of my students. Thank you for that... Again."
"It's my job sir, I trained for this." Damien said with a nod. "Something tells me though that I'm not here for a "congrats on the victory royale." What's the real reason?"
"A smart one. Good." The principal then sat down. "I noticed you've been able to recognise a few things from other worlds. That man who saved my life, the Staffs of Destruction, that ancient tomb I borrowed from Count Mott. It seems you are not the first to visit from your world." He said looking at something.
He showed them a map.
"This is a map to something I have hidden. This is the only map in existence that tells where this is."
"What is it?" Damien asked now curious.
"A dragon. From another world entirely."
Before the principal spoke, Damien slammed his wallet of lien on the table and held on of them.
"Ay imma need that!" He shouted before slamming his hand in the table repeatedly.
Louise let out a sigh.
"What am I going to do with you Damien?"
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Hi.
Bye. Peace.