Negima FanFiction Discussion

[OverMaster]

Originally Posted by Kurush

You know, your crossover with SCM and his fic is starting to make me wanna contribute something. Something to do with wrongly placed gemstones or something like that.

The next chapter has smaller, self contained crossovers with the Negima Kindergarten manga, the lemon fanfic Decadent Habits, an Anya-centered fic titled Mahou Sensei Anya, the Gender Flipped fic Nerima: Magister Nelly Magi, and a still unpublished project of mine titled Learning how to Cope, with a Smile. Kind of a pilot episode for it in addition to everything else.

PM me your ideas and we'll see what can we do!

[Sin Ansem]

GHQ ep 12 is out. Just dropping that here.

And you've been pretty quiet, Kurush. I haven't seen an update to Power of the Mind for a while (though I can contribute that to updating the Chachamaru/Negi/Theo side story.)

[Kurush]

Oh, you want PotM? Fine, I got something here to satisfy your eyes.

Spoiler for Nodoka's training:

“Well, much thanks to lady Efromm, that was the least enjoyable survival lesson I've ever been on,” Ela lamented as the large group of students along with the two teachers were camping for the night in a forest some distance from Greenwood's.

“And how many times do I have to tell you that I was not expecting that pack of owlbears so close to the trolls lair?” The aforementioned Githyanki said offended to the half-drow. “Okay, examining trolls was a little much even for Master Rincewind's lesson but the owbears were not exactly part of the divinations, now were they?”

“Enough,” the old wizard told the two women to cut it out. “We all survived with only minor wounds anyway and we got away, much thanks to lady Efromm's expertise. Now take your seats so we can enjoy some decent food.”

About three years into her training, Nodoka has had an intriguing time. She made few friends in the class save Ela and a few select who shared her opinion about how life should be lived and she was popular with the teachers for her obedience during lessons and was a very bright lady. Though her enrollment had been endowed by Fashtar, the other masters at Greenwood's respected his word since he was a good teacher nonetheless and one that the students looked to in case of trouble. The only problem with him was that he was away for years so lessons with him were sought after.

For now, though, she had to settle with one of the less popular yet vital masters. Rincewind was the Master of Survival, a skill that would help wizards overcome any obstacle in their path. And he himself was a very old wizard himself which apparently spoke highly of his own power of survival if it was deemed a necessary skill. He surrounded himself with magical items, in particular those that would help him escape from horrid situations. Nodoka was one of his best students when it came to finding traps that others might have in store for an unsuspecting wizard. He just said when asked the question why it was necessary, “You sound as if you actually want to die,” in a cynical tone.

Still, he was good enough to take them on field trips and everybody liked those, except when they had to run for their lives. It was a good thing he always brought a couple of priests with them so the students could be healed or if it came to it, raised from the dead. He had that good contacts.

And for once, Efromm was with them as back-up protector. Her original position was personal tutor to Nodoka but the protection for all the students came top priority as well.

“...and that is how you make a good coner stew,” Rincewind told the students as he showed them how to cook a pair of tender coners, small furry animals that resembled rabbits in the bookworm's eyes. “Cooking is part of survival as well.”

“Master, I still don't understand why you insist that we learn some mundane things when we can use magic to fix it instead,” a male student pointed out for the old and he just glared at the young man.

“And I don't understand why you insist on thinking that waving some fingers around and chanting whilst dinner is getting cold would fix the problem.” Rincewind filled up a bowl and handed it to the young student. “Now, can someone please remind young Amati one of the first things we teach you in Greenwood's?”

“Magic is not everything,” Nodoka recited from the first lesson they had with the teachers in collective. “You need to adapt to situations that you come across all the time or you will fail. Relying on the Art will only lead to ruin.”

“Correct as always, Miyazaki,” Rincewind praised her and handed her a bowl that had coner meat in it. “The Art is there for when we need it, not when we want it. You want to be successful as a wizard, learn to stay alive too. Then you can see if the Art will save you all the time.”

Another – less successful – student scoffed at her. “Teacher's pet.”

That earned him a smack on the head from Efromm. “I take offense at her being called teacher's pet. Anyone who wishes to badmouth my charge is going to have to take on me,” she threatened them whilst bowls were being handed out. Seeing as no one was going to, she picked two quarterstaves and headed off from the campfire. “Speaking of other skills, I'll be at the oak tree when you've finished eating, Nodoka.”

Seeing as the blonde woman walked off, the bookworm slumped down with her shoulders. “Another martial training session?” Ela asked her quietly. “Nodoka, it's been three years already. Maybe you should quit.”

“I wish I could,” Nodoka replied and finished her bowl before walking away from the camp.

“Martial training?” Another female student asked Ela as they watched Nodoka take a quarterstaff from the Githyanki woman and took a stance a minor distance away.

“Supposedly, Nodoka's going to play a big part in a war for them,” The half-drow whispered to her. “She had a few incidents that nearly got her killed so they decided to put a stop to having her be unprepared for situations. That's what she told me when I asked her why she was sent to Greenwood's. Can't say I would blame them if I knew even half the whole story.”

“And it's something to consider as well,” Rincewind told them whilst taking out his pipe to smoke. “One day, you're going to learn that wizards cannot defeat everything in this world so you ought to have something else to do damage.”

“Okay, how come you could hear us whispering with all the chatter around?” Ela asked of the old man whilst Efromm and Nodoka first took it slow with exchanging blows with the staffs. “I mean, we were whispering.”

Rincewind merely chuckled at her first. “As an old man and as your master in terms of magic, I have the right to oversee your conversations. And what's the point of you not understanding something outside of what we teach you if I can't give you advice to use in the future?”

“Still spooky,” said the other female student and some of them watched the spar between the human girl and the Githyanki woman.

At first, they traded blows slowly with each other for the young girl to learn various attacks, blocks and counters one could use with a staff. A notable one was deflecting the incoming staff when it attacked and using the momentum to hit the enemy head. Efromm went in close and used her body as well to act as weight against the bookworm and put her down on the ground. After pulling her up and explaining a few things further, they commenced a real spar.

Efromm went in first, going for a high attack. Nodoka deflected it to the side and attempted a stab that was dodged. The Githyanki then came in close but Nodoka predicted it and grabbed hold of the woman's leather outfit for an attempt to throw her using the old Jujutsu moves that Boris first showed her when they first came to Tu'narath. The throw itself worked but not the full movement and Efromm slammed one palm on the ground to throw the purple haired girl off balance and then pin her on the ground.

Nodoka still had her staff and used the element of speed to deliver a blow that connected to Efromm's head that gave her a concussion, allowing the bookworm a chance to break free and reassert her stance. The blonde woman got up fast herself and grabbed hold of the staff that Nodoka before flinging it away.

And then she patted the girl's head. “Getting better, Nodoka,” she praised her before using a sneaky move to throw her down to the ground. “But still gullible.”

“And this is why I don't like these sessions, Efromm-san,” Nodoka told the blonde Githyanki as she was being helped up.

“You're not supposed to like them.” Efromm walked back to the camp and fetched her own bowl of coner stew. “You're supposed to learn from them.”

“And there's another-”

“Oh, shut up!” Ela shouted at the old man.

See if you can spot anyone making a cameo. Best I could do for you at the moment.

[Kurush]

Doubleposting bad, but I needed to get your attention.

Chapter 44 is up now.

[Sereg]

Hi, I'm new here, but seeing as though OverMaster has mentioned that he's crossing over with my fic and I now have 10 chapters of it up, I feel a bit more confident in doing some plugging. Here is Mahou Sensei Anya.

[Kurush]

Here is another shiny bead which will be in chapter 45.

Hope you'll like it.

Spoiler for Necromancy Class:

“...so we understand that whilst animating the dead and using their corpses is usually thought to be immoral,” spoke the Githyanki master in front of the auditorum filled with novices watching him and a table that held up the moving corpse of a recently hanged criminal who had volunteered his body to be delivered to the academy. “we do need to keep in mind that the art of necromancy is not evil in itself. There has been evil wizards who has researched necromancy and who has created many of the spells that we use nowadays but the school itself is a tool to be used, just like any other.

“So no, I am not your master in the art just so I can manipulate you into doing my evil bidding, novice Siregar,” said Fashtar as he had given a long sermon on whether necromancy was an evil school and he was going to show them the pleasure of it. Several of the other novices sniggered and giggled at the joke he made. He noticed one of his favorite students raising a hand and smiled. “Yes, Miyazaki?”

“In corroboration with Siregar's question, what is necromancy about, really?” Nodoka asked him.

“Now that is a good question and one you novices should always consider,” said the master to the students. “It varies from person to person. Some would see it as the means to an end, others as a simple tool just like any other, like I told you. Personally I'd see it as being about the manipulation of life force. A necromancer can use this school to control it, use it, create, destroy, restore, even move it.” To demonstrate, he brandished a knife and plunged it into his arm, then used his other arm to touch the zombie and the novices could see arcane energy emit from the zombie, transferring into Fashtar's arm. Then it collapsed, truly dead as its life force was spent. “Take heed before using that particular spell, everyone. But remember, the life force that keeps us all alive is sparse and we can barely afford to use it freely. Use the spells that control its flow with care and you'll go great distances.”

About four years after the enrollment, the bookworm and her half-drow friend has had a very good education at Greenwood's. Fashtar was not related in any way to Nodoka so it was fine that he taught her. He was also as strict with her as he was with the others, even if he had a sense of humor due to being more worldly than the other masters in the school.

A knock on the door to the room came and a senior novice who would be graduating the same year popped his head in. “Master Fashtar, there is a… “mercenary” here who came here to see you.”

“This better not be the same merc who double crossed me and is still hoping to get paid for his “services”,” Fashtar snarled and the novice left the room to allow the mercenary entrance.

“None of that, Mr Fashtar,” said the well dressed man in a closed modern coat, from the bookworm's perspective. Tall with dark red and cropped hair, the man resembled someone she had seen before but couldn't place it. He carried a weaved basket as well in his left hand. “I'm the kind of mercenary who gets the job done right when the pay is right.”

“Oh, you came.” The Githyanki beamed with a good mood to himself and shook the man's hand. “Good to see you again, Mr Osborn.”

“Glad to be here, at last,” Osborn told him and had a look around. “I'm not disturbing something important, am I?”

“No, no one was asking any specific questions and they were taking notes anyway. Right?” he asked them and the novices scrambled into scribbling down what their master had told them.

“Good to see such good pupils in your magic, Mr Fashtar,” Osborn complimented them. “Some of them remind me of some young man I could name. Good kid. Same goes for these children.” Then he noticed one of them at the top sneaking in a little nap during the lesson. “And there are those who remind me of some other boy I could mention.” Before the master of the room could do anything to remedy that, Osborn threw something small and fast that stuck itself next to the novice's head. It was a shuriken. He woke up and started scribbling down notes about the lesson.

“Nice,” was the compliment he received from the master.

“I do my best. Now, let's get down to business, shall we?” Osborn asked him and the novices stopped in their scribbling to view the two.

“Business?” Several of them asked.

“Mind if I give them a bonus lesson, Mr Fashtar?” Osborn asked and then addressed the audience. “I'm sure you'll understand that sometimes... “wizards” tend to have several contacts with various kinds of people to aid them in their respective chosen line of work.”

“Such as yourself, Mr Osborn?” One of them asked him.

“Indeed,” answered the “mercenary”. “I'm not normally a mercenary, I actually specialize in supplying them. But since Master Fashtar found out a little thing about me, he asked me to take care of things personally since average mercs would, and I quote; “screw things up with such delicate matters at hand”.”

“And what of you, Mr Osborn? Did you accomplish it?” Fashtar asked.

“I found Mr Menz and I engaged him in my own sense,” said Osborn. “He had the item as you requested and I retrieved it.” He retrieved a long case to house something long from his coat to hand over to the Githyanki.

“There was a snag, I take it,” stated Fashtar as he cleared the table of the dead zombie to put the case there.

“Mr Menz thought that if he couldn't have it,” Osborn told him whilst the case was opened to reveal a heap of splintered wood, shattered blue gemstones and shrapnel of quality metal. “Then no one would have it. I did the best I could.”

“No apology?”

“I never apologize,” said Osborn. “I did, however, bring a little bonus which I think would please you.” He presented the woven basket to the Gith. “Hope you'll like it.”

Fashtar took a look inside the basket and then closed it immediately. “Why thank you, Mr Osborn. Unnecessary, but I'm pleased to see that Menz was willing to present another gift to me.” Several of the students shuddered as they realized exactly what it was that was in the basket. Even more so when their master had the basket along with its contents incinerated. “I do believe that earned you your bonus.”

“Figured it'd make you happy,” said Osborn. “What do you have?”

“Err, excuse us,” Ela, sitting next to Nodoka called up to the two grown up men. “Should this be something you ought to do outside of class? It's getting in the way of our studies.”

“Oh. I'll take it after class then,” Osborn replied and headed for the door before stopping briefly. “Oh, incidentally, I was asked by someone else on the way to deliver something.” He picked out a letter with a strange seal on it. “A small flying red creature asked me to deliver this to a Ms Miyazaki, a novice in this school.”

“Eh? For me?” Nodoka blurted out accidentally and Osborn noticed her before tossing it over to her. Ela caught it for her. Then Osborn left the room.

Fashtar groaned first before saying, “Miyazaki. You may be one of this year's top students and an excellent wizard in your own right and way... but you might to keep an eye on your mouth when it comes to matters regarding yourself.” To that, several novices (mainly those who had a dislike for her) laughed. “Now, as Belmere requested, let's wrap up today's lesson.”

123454321

About thirty minutes later, Osborn entered an empty auditorium classroom, with the Githyanki sitting by his desk with a briefcase. “I like students who put their studies ahead of distractions,” he stated blatantly to the Gith.

“Belmere is a good pupil and quite rare for her kind,” said Fashtar. “Being half-drow is one thing but being a woman and able to use arcane magic is something else. And we both know what “something else” is.”

Osborn smiled. “So let's get down to business. What is the little bonus you promised me?”

Fashtar opened the briefcase to reveal a lot of well organized cash, all in American dollars and procured a small USB flash drive. “Payment's as normal, but the bonus is what you'd really like, Mr O. It's much like your own experiments with the polymer armor your good doctor created but on a completely different area of focus.”

“What is it?”

“It focuses on the human body itself. Using specific transmutation magic that I made myself and enhanced to activate on mind control or be permanent depending on settings as well as implant operations, you could build an army of super-soldiers with all thew combat imprints they'll ever need on tactics, strategy and weapons, using grown people as test subjects,” said Fashtar whilst Osborn inspected the flash drive because of its simple outlook.

“Nothing on armor and such?” The businessman asked.

“You'll have to make those yourself. I may be generous but not that generous,” retaliated the Gith. “Say what you want about me, but I always pay my bills on time.”

Osborn tossed the flash drive up in the air a few times. “Same goes for me. Thing is, of course, that I would prefer to be the sole supplier of weapons.” He went for the door. “Oh, I have to ask. What's so special with that Miyazaki girl?”

“Miyazaki?” Fashtar raised his one good eyebrow at the curiosity. “Hmm, how do I put this? It's always so difficult to put it so that people would understand...” he muttered to himself whilst pacing his steps back and forward with Osborn watching him. “She's.... ooh, how do I put it...”

Then he simply stopped pacing and turned his eye patch to Osborn. “She's the key to my current Plan. That's why I sent you to fetch the Staff. Now I simply will have to rebuild it. It'll take time, but it will be in time for the main event of the Plan.”

“So I was just a hired thug to you this time,” Osborn said as he realized what was going on. “I like the way you think.”

Fashtar faced him fully this time. “Indeed. Sorry for giving you such a low role.”

“Don't apologize,” said Osborn slowly. “I never do.”

Spoiler for Notes:

- I have decided for Nodoka's chosen school to D. It was a personal choice and a tactical one much thanks to my father who has played D&D since First Edition came out. I respect what everyone voted on. Besides, D got the highest amount of votes, anyway.

- I think I decided to bring in Marvel characters in light of Overmaster's involvement of DC characters. It's quite amazing how he could bring them in with such ease. It's possible I'm merely trying to increase my own popularity using the same method he's using. Even if they're cameos in my case. So far, I've only decided to use Spider-man villains.

- Keep in mind the Plan.

[Sereg]

Oh. I suppose that I better mention that Chapter 11 of Mahou Sensei Anya is up. It probably won't be too long before 12 is up as well when we'll have the blackout with Anya versus Eva.

[Sereg]

Sorry about having to doublepost, but Chapter 13 of Mahou Sensei Anya is up. This coincides with the crossover chapter of Unequally Rational and Emotional (Which is also up now).

[Kurush]

Uh... I'll proably be hunted down for this so I'll be taking a leave of absence from Skype since a friend of mine Will not like this chapter. So... *clears throat, sprays mint into mouth for fine breath smell*

Are you READY?

[Merctrin]

I really need to find the time to reread PotM... my memory's gone loopy and I couldn't really appreciate the chapter.

Update for me.

Prequel | Prologue | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 11 | Day 12 | Day -17 | Day 14 | Day 18 | Day 22 | Day 23 | Day 29 | Day 33 | Day 36

Spoiler for Day 37:

“Good morning Set-chan!”


It said much about Tsukuyomi’s mood that she was able to watch the Konoe heir fling her arms around Setsuna’s without more than a twinge of murderous desire. Konoka, bright and chipper, was smiling up at Setsuna without a care in the world, stealing the place next to her former bodyguard that Tsukuyomi had managed to secure for herself once upon a time—


Yet Tsukuyomi couldn’t manage to rearrange the smile on her face to properly express her disdain for Setsuna’s former charge. Instead, even as her Senpai stuttered out an uncertain greeting, Tsukuyomi felt her grin widen.


It might have had something to do with the delightful flush of Setsuna’s pale skin; maybe it was the way Setsuna had to visibly stop herself from pulling away from Konoka out of shock (something she hadn’t done with Tsukuyomi in quite some time).


Or maybe it was the way Setsuna’s eyes darted over to Tsukuyomi uncomfortably the instant before she said anything to Konoka.


Her Senpai had far from forgotten yesterday.


Tsukuyomi was in a very, very good mood.


“What has you so cheery?”


Not that anyone but her would appreciate that.


Reluctantly, Tsukuyomi dragged her attention away from Setsuna and turned to eye the princess she was no longer obligated to annoy.


That hardly restricted her from having fun though.


“Why would you be interested in knowing?”


“Because anything that makes you happy can’t possibly be good for us,” Asuna said darkly. She cast a protective look over at her friends before returning to glare unpleasantly at Tsukuyomi. “What did you do?”


“I didn’t rape her, if that’s what you’re still worried about.”


If Tsukuyomi had thought about it for any length of time, she would have realized that perhaps bringing that up wasn’t the best idea. Not that it wasn’t accurate enough, and of course the mere mention of it would bother the princess, but the thought of doing anything sexual with Setsuna made her feel entirely too excited in too many ways for her to keep from sounding giddy.


And amused, since she was still keeping her secret about how much more than rape she wanted from her Senpai.


Given the princess’ sensitivity to the topic, giddiness and amusement were precisely the wrong emotions to display.


Asuna came to an abrupt halt and caught Tsukuyomi’s arm.


Tsukuyomi forced herself to stay still in a way not unlike Setsuna’s reaction to her Ojou-sama. She was not fond of anyone’s touch but Setsuna’s after all, and so soon after having her sensation of power returned to her, being close to someone she wouldn’t mind killing at all was a horrible temptation. She could feel the strong pulse of the princess’ blood, steady and quick from anger, and she knew that Setsuna’s eyes weren’t watching her right now—


But she was unarmed. And it was no longer in her best interests to antagonize the princess to the point of extreme violence.


It wasn’t.


She would have to see if the next concession she won from Setsuna could be a weapon. Then she could appreciate moments like this properly.


Regretfully, the princess let go almost insultingly fast, though she didn’t stop glaring. Tsukuyomi gazed back serenely for several seconds, keeping an eye on the way Asuna’s hand kept fidgeting. To think that would have been a very good sign only yesterday.


The princess looked over at Setsuna and Konoka for a moment, and her hand and glare relaxed. “If you didn’t do anything, why aren’t you clinging to Setsuna-san the way you do every other morning?”


“I didn’t say I didn’t do anything, I said I didn’t rape her. There’s a significant difference, Princess.”


A muscle in Asuna’s jaw twitched. “What did you do?”


And just like that whatever joy she had lost at not being able to engage the princess properly reappeared with interest. Tsukuyomi laughed out loud and turned away from the easily enraged girl with a broad grin on her face.


“Well,” she said, cheerily ignoring the flash of sense that suggested she keep silent, “since you’re so eager to know… we kissed.”


Not for a contract, not part of getting caught up in a fight; not for any reason beyond Tsukuyomi finding Setsuna impossibly alluring and wanting to kiss her. So she had. And it had taken their other roommate interrupting for her Senpai to pull away.


Yesterday had been an excellent day.


“No, you didn’t.”


Tsukuyomi looked over her shoulder at the princess. The girl’s face was oddly blank.


“We certainly did.”


Asuna shook her head. “There’s no way Setsuna-san would—”


Before the princess could finish uttering that very untrue statement, Konoka’s voice sounded out loudly. “Asuna! We’re going to be late!”


The princess barely glanced at her friend, more interested in glaring at Tsukuyomi. But, since for the first time in a while Tsukuyomi wasn’t trying to get on the princess’ last nerve, she decided to be good and walk over to Setsuna’s side. After all, she’d been rewarded for good behavior before. Why not again?

------

Never before had Setsuna had so much trouble concentrating during class. Between Tsukuyomi’s staring, Asuna’s staring (which she didn’t understand), and her own jumbled thoughts, she didn’t catch a single word of Negi’s lecture.


She felt a pang of longing for her partner. Konoka understood things like this. Konoka always knew exactly how to handle emotional conflicts—and she could do it without losing her composure. It was practically second nature to her.


Setsuna was terribly inadequate in an emotional arena. She was a swordswoman, not an expert in human relationships. Even forming friendships and enjoying them was a relatively new concept. Relationships involving a—deeper connection… She wasn’t comfortable with them, and certainly wasn’t familiar with them. She had Asuna and Negi’s friendship, and Konoka’s—partnership. That was enough, and it was unproductive and distracting to think of wanting more.


Setsuna found herself horribly distracted.


Tsukuyomi wanted more. With her.


No, that wasn’t quite right. Or at least, that wasn’t the problem. Setsuna wasn’t blind. Tsukuyomi had always wanted more. Only now… now it wasn’t something that could be explained by Tsukuyomi’s unique people skills and bloodlust.


Tsukuyomi was in love with her.


That—Setsuna didn’t have any idea how she was supposed to respond to that. It was bad enough that Tsukuyomi had kissed her, but that was—barely—manageable. Awkward and embarrassing on a level Setsuna wasn’t the least bit prepared for, but not anything that couldn’t be handled. Maybe. If she didn’t think about it too hard.


Love was something else entirely. And after yesterday, Setsuna didn’t think she could reasonably say that Tsukuyomi felt something less than that anymore. She’d wondered before, but the way Tsukuyomi looked at her just before—


There… wasn’t really any way to argue with that.


Setsuna watched Tsukuyomi out of the corner of her eye. The girl had stopped pretending to pay attention to Negi within the first minute of class, preferring to focus all of her attention on Setsuna.


…She wouldn’t stop smiling.


Kissing Setsuna had made her that happy.


Setsuna shoved the thought violently to the back of her head. She didn’t know that for sure. Tsukuyomi had plenty of reasons to be happy. Her seal had finally been changed, resolving her warmth issues for the most part; she’d managed to annoy Asuna again, and…


And she’d kissed the girl she loved.


It would be easier to say that wasn’t the main reason she was happy if—if—


If Setsuna didn’t know what that felt like.


The pencil Setsuna was supposed to be using to take notes slipped from her fingers.


Suddenly, it was very hard to breathe. A dizzying amount of blood was flowing to her head.


She wasn’t thinking straight. Everything with Tsukuyomi was just messing with her head, and she wasn’t thinking properly at all, because if she were, there was no way she would ever admit to—she was Konoka’s bodyguard—partner—not—


She was Konoka’s partner and that was it. Yes, maybe their pactio kiss had meant the world but—


“Senpai?”


A hand brushed against Setsuna’s shoulder. She jerked her head to look at Tsukuyomi. The girl’s smile had lost some of its brightness, and her hand twitched uncertainly in the air between them for a second before she disregarded caution and lowered it to Setsuna’s wrist. She shivered a little, cheeks flushed, and Setsuna felt the tingling in her face worsen in response.


“You’re looking stressed. Something on your mind?”


Setsuna shook her now throbbing head. She wanted to stop thinking. She wanted to go back to when she hadn’t cared enough about Tsukuyomi’s feelings to let them completely dismantle her life. And above all, she wanted to erase the past few minutes from her memory because there were some things that she just shouldn’t think.


“That’s very hard to believe, Senpai.” Tsukuyomi’s fingers began to stroke skin left unprotected by Setsuna’s shirt. “You haven’t been your usual attentive self since—”


“I’m fine, Tsukuyomi,” Setsuna snapped. She ripped her arm away from Tsukuyomi and picked her pencil back up. Her hands were shaking.


Surprisingly, Tsukuyomi fell silent without complaint.


Setsuna almost wished the other girl would keep pushing. At least then something would feel normal.

------

Apparently, one of the unspoken conditions of having her seal changed was that Tsukuyomi was no longer allowed to spend lunch alone. So instead of spending a very boring hour trying to remove the locks hiding away her roommates’ toys, Tsukuyomi had the privilege of spending a very boring hour in complete silence with her second favorite person in the school.


After nearly an hour of watching Mana play with her guns, Tsukuyomi was starting to think her exchange with the princess was going to be her only conversation of the day.


Even through her persistent joy she could recognize that as an incredibly depressing thought.


“You really aren’t going to say anything about it?”


Mana didn’t look up from reassembling an oversized rifle. “I have little interest in your relationship with Setsuna. As long as the two of you aren’t planning on killing each other, it doesn’t concern me. Besides,” she said dryly, “it seems that you’re determined to ignore whatever advice I offer you.”


“But I’m not asking for advice,” Tsukuyomi pointed out. “I just want to know why you don’t seem the least bit curious about why Setsuna and I were kissing.”


“I assumed it was because you’re in love with her and caught her off guard.” Mana smirked. “I have to admit, I never pegged you for such a romantic. One kiss and you can’t resist bragging to everyone willing to speak to you?”


Tsukuyomi grinned. “It was a very nice kiss.”


“I’m sure. But you might have wanted to avoid telling Kagurazaka about it.”


“You have good hearing.”


“Good eyes; she wouldn’t stop glaring at the two of you during class.”


“Really?” Staring at Setsuna and worrying at how quickly her Senpai’s face could go from red to white had occupied most of her time.


She was still very slightly concerned about what had prompted Setsuna’s violent reaction. Whatever it was, it was very unlikely that it had nothing to do with her, and the few things that could shock Setsuna that badly were most likely not things Tsukuyomi wanted her thinking. It was fine if she was just mortified over the kiss, but a dramatic revelation probably wouldn’t lead to anything good.


“She’s more interested in your relationship than Setsuna is.”


Tsukuyomi tried to pout, but her smile refused to go away. “Aw, that’s cruel, Onee-san.”


“I was only hired to watch you. Being nice isn’t part of that arrangement.”


Tsukuyomi propped herself up on Setsuna’s pillow to watch Mana more easily, but she didn’t get up. It was strange, but even after only a night of separation, she’d really missed her spot in her Senpai’s nest. “Setsuna-senpai cares quite a bit.” She wouldn’t have changed the seal if she didn’t. And of course, that she’d kissed back at all instead of pulling back in disgust meant… a lot. “It’s just not the same way.”


Mana’s response to that was limited to a slight smile. She reached back into the box she’d taken out from under the bed and pulled out a small stack of paper. Tsukuyomi sat up straighter to get a better look. Charms.


She’d grabbed some yesterday too. If she was out already…


Well then. So there was some fun to be had in Mahora that didn’t have anything to do with her Senpai.


“If the demon infestation is too much for you, I could always help,” Tsukuyomi said casually. “You’d have to give me a weapon, but—?”


Mana laughed and pocketed the charms before grinning wryly at Tsukuyomi. “Setsuna might have decided to loosen your leash a bit, but there isn’t a single person in this entire school willing to trust you with a weapon.”


“You certainly know a lot about it for someone who’s not interested.”


“The headmaster is concerned,” Mana said lightly, “and as I’m currently in his employ, he chose to share those concerns with me. And in general it’s a good idea to keep an eye on people who were trying to kill your comrades not so long ago—and won’t hesitate to do it again.”


“I won’t kill Setsuna-senpai.”


The words (sounding uncomfortably defensive and sharp) came out before Tsukuyomi could think to stop them, leaving her roommate looking almost surprised. Tsukuyomi whipped her head around and fixed her gaze on the window. For her part, she was feeling a little…


Embarrassed?


Wasn’t that a shame.


It was the type of emotion someone like her should probably feel when confessing that there was someone she wouldn’t kill, and it was certainly preferable to the sheer revulsion the thought of a dead Setsuna tended to inspire, but really, a quibbling little emotion like that wasn’t to her tastes at all.


An awkward silence fell.


After a few disturbingly quiet moments, Mana broke it. “That still leaves a considerable number of my classmates you wouldn’t mind killing. No weapons.”


Tsukuyomi sighed loudly. “You really aren’t any fun.”

------

By the time night fell in Evangeline’s resort, Setsuna was almost beginning to regret her decision to take a more active role in Negi’s training instead of devoting her attention to avoiding Konoka. Her body ached abominably, and she was having more trouble than she’d previously thought possible making her way from the bath to a bed.


But for a few blissful hours, her mind had been clear and focused as it hadn’t been in far too long.


It was too bad that feeling couldn’t last.


Battered and exhausted, all of the thoughts she’d distracted herself from were rushing back. She leaned heavily against a wall and stared at the floor.


What was she going to do?


“Looks like you pushed yourself a little too hard.”


Rescued once again from her thoughts, Setsuna sprung to her feet properly—her body straining with the effort—only to blink in confusion when she found Asuna standing in front of her. She relaxed back into the wall and smiled halfheartedly at her friend. “Maybe. It’s been a while since I’ve exhausted myself like this.”


“Probably since your fight with Four-Eyes, right?”


Setsuna tensed. “I—yes, that sounds about right.”


Asuna crossed her arms and avoided eye contact. She opened and closed her mouth several times. Setsuna waited nervously for her to say something. Suddenly having company instead of being alone with her thoughts wasn’t so pleasant. She breathed in shakily. “Asuna-san?”


“She said something weird earlier.”


“O-oh.”


Oh no.


Tsukuyomi wouldn’t have told Asuna—


Only… yes, yes she definitely would, and she’d certainly had the time, and that would explain why Asuna was paying so much attention to them during class—


She was going to kill Tsukuyomi. Of all the people she could have told, she just had to tell Asuna.


Letting the odds of Asuna telling Konoka rush through her mind, Setsuna was painfully aware of her face going bright red. This was significantly worse than suffering through her own private thoughts about—what happened. At least then she wouldn’t have to feel the disapproval coming off her friend in waves.


“Setsuna-san… you didn’t.”


“I didn’t do anything,” Setsuna protested weakly.


“You kissed her?” Asuna hissed.


“No!” Setsuna disregarded the stray thought that she really had no idea how she’d reacted to the kiss because it had driven all conscious thought from her mind. She had had enough of thinking things she shouldn’t. She started babbling, far too tired and flustered to keep the words from coming out. “She kissed me, and I didn’t really know what to do since no one’s ever kissed me outside of a pactio, and then Tatsumiya came in and—and I have no idea what to do because I don’t know how to deal with anything like this—”


“What’s there to deal with?” Asuna interrupted irritably. “Tell her to back off or you’ll stop letting her outside. Better yet, get Kaede to room with her.”


Setsuna clicked her mouth shut and turned her attention back to the floor. It took a humiliating amount of effort to resist telling Asuna that Tsukuyomi was staying with her regardless of anything else. Tsukuyomi wouldn’t react well to someone else guarding her, and…


She didn’t want to be separated from Tsukuyomi.


What was wrong with her lately?


“Kaede’s already rooming with the Narutaki twins.”


Asuna huffed angrily. “So you’re just going to let her assault you without doing anything about it?”


“She didn’t—” Setsuna started to object, but she cut herself short. As far as Asuna was concerned, Tsukuyomi had assaulted her. She only knew Tsukuyomi as an enemy. She didn’t know how Tsukuyomi felt, and even if it was explained to her, she probably wouldn’t believe it. Or think it mattered.


She didn’t care about Tsukuyomi.


Weariness that went beyond Setsuna’s aching body flooded her being. She swallowed around the lump in her throat and focused on addressing Asuna instead of the strange squirmy feeling in her stomach.


“It wasn’t really—an assault. She just… caught me off guard.”


Asuna groaned. “You and Negi—”


“Asuna? Set-chan? What are you two doing out here?”


The significant amount of blood that had migrated to Setsuna’s head throughout the conversation drained with alarming speed. Very slowly, she looked up, praying that her eyes would prove her ears wrong.


They didn’t.


Konoka was standing a meter away, a look of benign curiosity on her face.


Setsuna pushed herself off the wall with what little strength remained in her body and tried to look like she had no reason to feel panicked at the mere sight of her partner. Something—possibly the flash of concern in Konoka’s eyes—told her she didn’t do a very good job. Asuna’s suddenly rigid posture wasn’t comforting either; if Konoka hadn’t known something was going on before…


On the bright side, Setsuna thought frantically, maybe Asuna’s reaction meant she had no interest in telling Konoka about the kiss after all. She couldn’t think of a single reason why Asuna would be willing to keep it from their best friend, but she could only welcome the possibility. She stared numbly at her partner, who returned the gaze with growing confusion.


After several seconds of uncomfortable silence, Asuna rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. “Uh—I just came out to check on Setsuna-san.”


Forcing herself to do something other than staring blankly at Konoka, Setsuna nodded shallowly. “I-I overdid it a little.”


The concern she’d seen in Konoka’s eyes flared, and the girl took out her pactio card in what had to be record time. “Are you okay? I can heal you again if I missed something earlier.”


Setsuna shook her head vigorously, feeling a touch of heat coming back to her cheeks. “I’m fine, Ojou-sama. Just a little tired.”


Konoka looked at her dubiously and glanced at Asuna, who was trying hard to look innocent. “If you’re sure,” she said slowly. “But then why were you two arguing? Asuna only gets that annoyed when she’s worried about something.”


Guilt burned in Setsuna’s stomach at the genuine, compassionate worry in Konoka’s voice, and she found herself looking back at the increasingly familiar floor while Asuna tried to explain their encounter without using the phrase, “the psychopath kissed Setsuna-san.”


She was going to kill Tsukuyomi for this.

------

Tsukuyomi eyed her Senpai curiously.


Setsuna had come back from her lunch break looking uncharacteristically tired. She’d thanked Mana for her service in a strangely clipped fashion, promising to pay her as soon as possible, and then practically stomped out of their room, leaving Tsukuyomi to trail behind her.


Less strangely, she’d barely said a word to Tsukuyomi.


The very interesting sparks of irritation (and the more standard embarrassment) in Setsuna’s eyes when she looked at her spoke volumes though. Of what, Tsukuyomi hadn’t the slightest idea, but it was definitely interesting.


After several minutes of quietly marching to their next class, Tsukuyomi’s curiosity got the better of her.


“Did something happen?”


Setsuna came to an immediate stop. Tsukuyomi continued walking until she was a short distance ahead and could easily see the emotions playing out in her Senpai’s eyes. The embarrassment that was keeping her silent seemed to be at war with her frustration.


Oh yes, something had definitely happened, and it meant another interruption of Setsuna’s attempted silent treatment.


“Did you have to tell Asuna-san?”


Tsukuyomi smiled brightly as her mind put two and two together. Not only was Setsuna talking again, she was even willing to come close to discussing the joyful events of yesterday. If Tsukuyomi wasn’t careful, she might end up thanking the princess.


She was having a wonderful day.


“Of course, Senpai! It wouldn’t have been right to lie to her after she asked so directly.” Tsukuyomi peered a little more closely at Setsuna. Her Senpai had closed her eyes and her grip on Yūnagi might have been worrisome under other circumstances. “But I suppose if you wanted it to be just between us…”

------

Setsuna had every intention of snapping at Tsukuyomi for that remark—the teasing lilt in her voice implied something that Setsuna was in no way comfortable with—but when she opened her eyes, her voice died in her throat.


There was something—strange about Tsukuyomi. Something about her smile seemed different. It wasn’t the look Setsuna had come to have a very rational fear of, but at the same time… there was just something different about her.


There was a warmth in her eyes that Setsuna knew she’d never seen before. It made her mouth feel dry. For a surreal moment, she felt as dizzyingly numb as she had when Tsukuyomi kissed her.


“Setsuna-senpai?”


Rudely awakened from the haze she’d somehow fallen into, air—had she forgotten to breathe?—swooped back into her lungs and Setsuna found herself looking at the same Tsukuyomi she saw every day.


She tried to make her mouth work, but it just wouldn’t.


“Are you alright?”


Setsuna walked stiffly past Tsukuyomi, mumbling something about getting to class. Her heart was beating abnormally fast, and she still felt a bit dizzy, but as long as she avoided looking at her roommate nothing felt too bizarre.


She took a shaky breath as they headed down the stairs.


What was that?

Spoiler for Notes:

This chapter wins for most rewrites. I was starting to think it was never going to end...

Updates should be going back to normal once more (whatever that is) unless something horrible happens to me. Which isn't entirely out of the question.

Thanks for reading.

[Kurush]

Perhaps this will appease people for the moment.

Spoiler for Gradutation:

The final year students were gathering together in the great auditorium hall where theater plays had been displayed for the students and teachers, showing histories that happened, the tales of the various companions of the masters when they were in their adventuring days and personal exploration. They had found Fashtar's the most exciting at times since he was the one away the most among them and always had a tale of his own past adventures. Nodoka's personal favorite of the gith (even though he was the one who abducted her) was “The Ride through the Astral Sea with the Dwarves.” It was a comedy.

Now though, it was empty and everybody were expecting something to happen. With so much chatter, several suggestions came up as a play would be shown to them, most likely the “Blackstaff's Exploits as a Traveler” or the ever popular “Demon Stone”, or maybe a band of professional musicians playing a song.

“What do you think?” Ela asked Nodoka, as they sat next to each other on the second row.

“I don't know,” the bookworm's answer was. “I definitely don't see anything to suggest a play or such so we probably won't have any of that.”

“Always so observative,” said the half-drow girl. “But that's what I'd expect seeing in a diviner.”

True, Nodoka's chosen school was Divination with Evocation barred for her. In a sense, she didn't need to learn that school since she had studied the evocations of her homeworld. Many looked down on her for choosing Divination instead of something like Abjuration or Illusion, though few others followed the same path. The Grandmaster herself was one, too.

Finally, the lights dimmed and everybody quieted down. Small whispers were heard but nothing too loud. Music started with a flute and then a drum, resulting in a theme they haven't heard before whilst a light emerged on the stage. It was a whirling color-shifting light that flew around and tried to swallow itself as the students watched. When it did, a flash appeared and revealed an overview of the lands they lived in and a strong voice was heard.

When the Earth was young,
And the air was sweet
and the mountains kissed the sky

In the far beyond, with its many paths
Man and deities lived side by side

As the voice sang that, visions of mortal races walking alongside glowing perfect beings to indicate they were deities revealed themselves to the students, showing a clear friendship between them.

The pretty wisdom does not come without learning
And revision not only with our eyes
We can think that we see
Truly see all around us
But when we look,
Do we see with open minds?

The course took a more swift turn and the students were all captivated by the spectacle as they suddenly found themselves aboard a great ship with several small glowing orbs floating amongst them and the ship was steering itself on a rough river, yet none was thrown about as they knew it was an illusion for them.

Great Spirits of all who lived before
Take our hands and lead us
Fill our hearts and souls with all you know

As the song continued, one of the orbs approached Nodoka and took the form of someone she knew from her real home. Her mother, who hugged her and in a mental voice told the bookworm, “Take heart in the words you hear now.”

The key to understanding
Is to see through others' eyes
Find a way to help us
See from all sides
Truly see from all sides

Then the other students disappeared from her, and Nodoka found herself standing in front of a large brutal looking beast, a Grey Render which she once saw a depiction of in a book she read in the library. It was huge despite what she had imagined it to be in real life. It was also very menacing to her.

Teach our children to look deeper than the surface
See the world through another's eyes

Hearing that, her belief in good fortune and that everything would turn out well made her walk forward to try and pet the Render on its head. Much to her surprise, it lowered its head to let her. She allowed herself a smile and then the Render turned to mist.

For to be blind me on yourself
Is to look but not see it
Knowing much is not enough to the wise

The mist revealed her schoolmates again and they found themselves on an ice covered lake where massive beasts swam beneath the ice and large animals also walked on the ice through and around the students.

To see the wonder in all we've been given
In a world that's not always as it seems
On the path that we choose
Turn every corner
Follow up, for another begins

They now saw a large open plain that showed them many free animals gathering alongside the druids and rangers who respected the great strengths and weaknesses of the beasts. The students witnessed as a druid planted his staff down the earth and when she retracted it, a most magnificent tree grew up instantly and its fruit matured fast enough to eat.

Great Spirits of all who lived before
Take our hands and lead us
Fill our hearts and souls with all you know
The key to understanding
is to see through others' eyes
Find a way to help us
See through all sides
Truly see from all sides

Everything went black again and the graduates found themselves back in the auditorium again with a select few of them having an item in their hands. Ela found herself wielding a staff and Nodoka held a chest in her hands. A voice told her to open it and she felt nearly overjoyed when she found that it was all her old gear that she thought lost at the mountain among the Illithids; her artifact card, the Comptina Daemonia, her ring foci and her telekinetic combat knife. Her sword was not there as that Kas-far creature had used it as the focus of his new mobile body.

On the stage, circles of power emanated in a circle of themselves. The same voice came to her head and Ela probably heard it too, and so did the rest of the students who had a specific item. They all moved to the stage and stepped on to a circle of power each. Some circles would glow if a student stepped on to them and some would not. Those who didn't get a glowing circle tried to switch places with each other until they got one that did. Eventually, they all stood in a circle with Ela standing in the middle surrounded by them.

Nodoka felt like adding a little something as the other items began to glow softly whilst the Art around them swirled them. As she didn't have an item that glowed, she added her artifact instead by muttering “Adeat,” and as it appeared, the singing voice came again.

Great Spirits of all who lived before
Take our hands and lead us
Fill our hearts and souls with all you know
The key to understanding
is to see through others' eyes
Find a way to help us
See through all sides
Truly see from all sides

See from all Sides!

The music died away at last and so did the swirl of magic weave to reveal a line of the masters who taught them all, with the Grandmaster standing about two paces ahead of the line. Fashtar, Rincewind and many others saw them with prideful eyes. And the Grandmaster looked at them with deep pearls of wisdom.

“Today...” she started, “I see no novices in here in front of me.” She walked alongside each of them as she spoke, “I see students of the Art that have succeeded well in their pursuit of achieving power, whether it be through personal,” she put a shoulder on Amati, who had gone the path of the evoker. “influential...” she walked up to Brocca Bedlam, an enchanter who went in the same class as Nodoka and Ela. “...or knowledge.” She put her hand on Nodoka this time and had a look at her book. “Tell me about this thing later, okay?” She whispered in the bookworm's ear before walking back to the line of the masters. “But even though you have mastered this school of troubles,” she joked and several sniggered. “You are not masters of the Art just yet. I said I see no novices. Instead, I see apprentices.

“You shall be assigned to a mentor from now on and they will decide when you have fully finished your training. To help you find one, Masters Rincewind, Fashtar and Iscon has contacted many wizards for each of you, several of them used to study here.” She waved hand over the masters. “Now, the masters will award those who have exceeded all who strove to become the finest students of this year.”

Iscon, master of Transmutation stepped forward first and read aloud from a piece of paper. “Best transmuter, Alhou Veilfinder.” The mentioned student on the circle stepped forward as applause came for him. He received a golden badge that looked like a silhouetted figure that had different limbs and wings.

Then Kyndy, master of Conjuration stepped forward. “Best conjurer, Jeriel Siregar.” Siregar came forward and received a badge that displayed a summoning circle they had used for the past seven years. Again applause came.

Rhian, master of Abjuration came forth and announced her best student. “Best abjurer, Signi Amberreaper.” Signi stepped and received her badge that displayed a shield. They applauded for her as well whilst she returned to her circle of power.

Drake Flair, master of Divination stepped forward with a badge that resembled a crystal ball in the palm of a hand. “Best diviner, Nodoka Miyazaki.” The applause came to the bookworm as she stepped and accepted the badge and then walked back to her circle. Ela gave her a thumps up.

Montige Rivergale, master of Enchantment walked forth and announced his best student. “Best enchanter, Brocca Bedlam.” Brocca stepped forward and took his badge that showed a head that portrayed some form of mental magic. Rivergale must have had difficulty to settle on a design that would fit for an enchanter. As Brocca walked back to his circle, he spared a small wave to Nodoka. She figured out a while back that he had a crush on her, even though she couldn't return it. They were of different status altogether in the eyes of the academy. She'd have to have a talk with him about it. Plus, he was only nine they started the year together so she felt a bit guilty over him being together with her.

Liona, the actual master of Necromancy stepped forward with a badge that resembled a skull. “Best necromancer, Neissa Ravenclaw.” Neissa stepped forward and accepted the badge with pride and walked back as the applause continued. There was a distinct pattern; only those students who stood in the circles were being anointed the best students. Nodoka figured out Ela's position as she was standing in the middle.

Cheeli Noblewolf, master of Evocation stepped forth with a square badge that had lightning, fire, ice and sonic and announced her pupil. “Best evoker, Furor Amati.” Amati stepped forward and took his badge. He spared a sneer at Nodoka. The two of them had never gotten along very well in their time at the school but he hadn't tried anything serious against her.

This time two masters, Rincewind and Rhysole Rainqueen in her native elven tongue stepped forward. “Best illusionist, Jasmine Mist.” Jasmine accepted her badge with joy and gave a wave to Nodoka as well. She was an “on/off” friend to them and had showed both her and Ela a few illusion tricks. Rincewind merely handed each of the award winners (so far) a specific item to signify their excellence within their chosen school. Nodoka, for example received a small amulet, and Jasmine was given a cloak of invisibility.

Fashtar eventually stepped forth and he announced the best universal student, since that was his area. “Best universal mage, Elacia Belmere.” The applause went high this time and the half-drow gladly took her badge, an eight pointed star that symbolized all the eight schools together. Then she received a staff from Rincewind and went back to her circle.

“Congratulations to you, all,” called the Grandmaster and raised three platforms, much like an athletic sports event when the three greatest winners were being annointed. “And now, we introduce a new event. From his travels, master Fashtar came across a specific contest in which they award the three best in order. This time, we intend to do the same. Master Fashtar, if you would like the honors of appointing the three best students we've had this year.”

She stepped back and allowed the gith to take her place. “Before I start, I'd like to make it known that it was the Grandmaster who appointed these students to be the best after reviewing their grades, behavior and outlook on the life here.” He brought out a scroll and read aloud from it, “The third best student... with an average grade of 91.36%... Jeriel Siregar.” the applause went up for him as he walked up and accepted his medallion made out of bronze. After Fashtar made him stand on the lowest platform, he continued. “Second best student... with an average grade of 94.12%... Elacia Belmere.” This time, the students rose up to applaud the girl as she felt overjoyed and was awarded a silver medallion and placed herself on the second platform, only slightly higher than Siregar's. “And the final student, the finest of this year... with an average grade of 98.74%... Nodoka Miyazaki.”

The applause roared to violent life as the bookworm took in that information. She was standing there for a few seconds until Jasmine gave her a push to get going. Accepting her gold medallion, she placed herself on the top platform, getting a handshake from Siregar and a knuckle scratch on the head from Ela.

123454321

Outside on the school grounds, the students were all seeing their families who had gathered outside to congratulate them for the efforts they made. Some, however, were disappointed in that they were not appointed best student in at least one subject. Ela and Nodoka were seeing the former's father Fyodor together, a big strong man who had aged well into his fifties already. It made the bookworm wonder just how old her friend was in comparison to her.

“Top students, both of you?” he asked and they smiled. “Well, it doesn't matter to me whom got up the highest. I'm sure that your father would be proud of you as well, little Honya, was it?”

“It's just a nickname, sir,” said Nodoka in her defense. “But I would prefer if Ela had won the title instead of me, though.”

DONK!

“Ow!” Exclaimed the bookworm as her friend hit her on the head with a very crude handchop.

“Do not belittle yourself, Nodoka.” The half-drow girl turned on her and looked at the purple haired girl in the eye. “You don't get anywhere without ambition for yourself. It's great to be humble but when you need power to protect others as you “preached” in school all these years, then where is the ambition to gain that power?”

“Must you hit me to make that point, Ela?” she asked the girl.

“Apparently, I needed to,” replied Ela before they saw a familiar face sitting on a bench not far from them. Fashtar had packed for another long journey, so he probably would not return to Greenwood's Academy for some time. He was also surrounded by a variety of people, one a short drow with a great hat, another a large man with a nasty looking scar on his face, probably from the Northern realms, the third they spotted was a dwarf and so on and so forth. “Hey, where's he going this time?”

“I don't know,” said Nodoka. “Um, Mr. Fyodor, is it okay that we go see someone? It seems urgent.”

“It is fine,” beamed Fyodor. “You need to get to know your mentors, anyway. I'll see you once your training is complete, Ela.” The two girls smiled and walked.

“Love you, Dad,” called Ela. “Do you think it's okay to leave it at that?”

“He understands. And he's right, we need these mentors,” Nodoka replied as they walked on. “Though... I really need to ask.”

“Hm?”

“How old are you, really?”

“Oh, about 38, now.” That answer made Nodoka freeze up for a brief moment and stop walking. Ela stopped as well to explain, “Drow are elves too, you know. Elves mature slower than humans and live up to nine centuries. As a half-elf, I'll be lucky to see two-hundred and forty years myself. Though there have been major exceptions.”

“Yes, yes,” Nodoka said and continued walking while recalling the great Elminster who lived up to being twelve-hundred years old and was alive to this day, despite being a human. “I know.”

“Know what?” They both heard as they realized they had walked up to Fashtar.

“Oh, nothing too important, Master Fashtar,” said Ela in reply.

“Stop it, I'm no longer your master. Out here and since you've graduated, it's simply Fashtar.” The gith rose up. “Girls, I'd like you to meet my current accomplices; Thorgar the Giantson,” he referred to the tall human who grunted and nodded at them. “Jarlaxle, my scout, second-in-command, dealer and crowd-charmer when he feels like it...”

“Pleasure to meet you, ladies,” The bald drow tipped his hat to them and they saw he had a simple black eye patch over his left eye. “I hope you liked that song I sang for the graduation.”

Fashtar raised an eyebrow at him and introduced the rest of the group, Gorim the dwarf, Huelun the female ranger and the gnome mechanic nicknamed “Nailbrain”. “And to confirm it, Jarlaxle was the singer of that song. My pick.”

“Was it?” Ela asked him and then Nodoka facepalmed.

“Oh, now I remember that one. It's from my home, a song that tells a story about a young boy who chose a different path to become a man.” She was of course, referring to the Disney movie “Brother Bear” that had come out the month before the nightmares came to her. “But it was different from when I heard it.”

Fashtar smiled as she realized its origin. “The one you heard in the auditorium was the original song. You simply heard its other version. But the one we chose had a meaning to it. Like it said, “the key to understanding is to see through others' eyes” is a lesson that you should take to yourselves. Don't judge with your own eyes, but learn from your surroundings and the people that live there before making a judgment. That is how one could live the way of a wizard, being open-minded but at the same time – being on the side with the facts.” To that, he received his own little applause from the group.

“Now, I understand that you two need to get yourselves a mentor, each.” As they nodded to him, he went over to a pair of cages. “First of all though, I have a few things for you.” He opened the first cage before adding, “This one is for Belmere. I hope you'll like this familiar.” he gave Ela a black and white housecat with feathered wings. And the half-drow girl nearly squealed on the spot.

“What is this thing? It's so cute,” she asked.

“A tressym,” answered Fashtar. “Magical beasts with high intelligence, enough to speak common language.” The tressym merely stroked its face against Ela's and purred. “Seems he likes you. Sadly, though, I could only get one but I got something else that could go a long way as a familiar for wizards.” He opened the other cage and picked out an animal that resembled a badger which at the same time wasn't a badger, and handed it over to Nodoka.

“Is this a badger?” she asked as she inspected the furry thing.

“Honey Badger to be precise,” answered the gith. “You're well familiar with animals of your own home so I figured this little fellow could help protect you alongside your friends. And don't you doubt his abilities.”

Nodoka stroked his head for a moment before remembering something about honey badgers. “How did you-”

“Don't ask,” Thorgar told her whilst shuddering. “Please.” And the bookworm's common sense made her realize what those scars were left by.

“Don't worry, he's tame now. And yours.” Fashtar went to get something out of his book bag as well for them. “Here. A good wizard always has a decent spellbook,” he told them whilst handing them each a book covered with dragon scales and paged with actual paper. Most of the books they read in school had animal skin. “I put them together myself.”

“Let me guess,” Ela said, idly browsing through the pages to view the spells he had put in. “Figured we need them?”

“Always have something prepared,” he replied silently. “And speaking of mentors, I did find one for you, Belmere.” He produced a scroll and handed it to her. “She's a well established wizard in Silverymoon. I've already sent letters to inform them that you're coming and she accepted you before that. Good luck, Elacia.” He said that whilst putting a hand on the girl.

She gave him a big hug before saying, “Best. Master. Ever.” Then she let go and turned to her best friend. “ I guess we won't be seeing each other again for some time. Does this mean goodbye?”

Nodoka only shook her head. “Friends never say goodbye.”

“See you later, then?” Ela asked and reached out with her hand. Honya took it.

“I'll find you once my training is complete.” With those words in heart, Ela wondered off to find some way to get to Silverymoon with her tressym familiar, leaving Nodoka alone with the gith and his mercs. “So... what am I going to do now?” She asked Fashtar. “I was gonna get a field training for seven years, wasn't I?”

“That's true...” Fashtar said with his one good eye closed. “I do need to head out somewhere private before we can set off to find your mentor, though.” He walked up to the wall and climbed it. “I sent letters to scores of wizards who could take you in as an apprentice, a week before the graduation.”

A week was plenty of time to reply to a letter for those wizards no doubt, Nodoka thought. It seemed odd that no one would take her in. “Did anybody reply in that time?”

He didn't bother looking at her but the tone in which he replied didn't suggest it was the kind of answer she was hoping for. “Just one.” And then he teleported away from there.

There was a small extra bit down after that, but I decided not to add it here.

Spoiler for Notes:

- I chose Divination as Nodoka's chosen as that is basically the school best suited for her. It got 7 seven votes and it was the highest together with Illusion. I can see why they wanted her to have that. But ultimately, it had to do with that her artifact can be classified as a Divination item.

- In addition, giving her a Honey Badger as a familiar might have been a bit too much, maybe. In any event, Heebie as he's gonna be called, will be dangerous.

- I thought I would give Fashtar some more companions then just Jarlaxle. Just a little extra material to consider.

Thoughts are appreciated.

[Sereg]

Chapter 14 of Mahou Sensei Anya is up. This is the beggining of the Kyoto arc. Also, I've made some changes to chapter 1 (mostly style related). Finally, Shadow Crystal Mage gave Mahou Sensei Anya a TVTropes page . It's still a bit sparce, so I'd appreciate people looking at it and adding tropes.

[OverMaster]

Snippet.

Spoiler for Chapter 330 semi-spoilers::

Chapter 330.

"... and Nii and Sextum and Quartum and Quintum, and Septendecim, and—" the towering Lifemaker continued with obvious pride.

"This never was in my contract," Nodoka droned.

"I... I think I'm bleeding inside..." Mei clutched her stomach.

"— and Hao and Naraku, and Aizen..."

"Since when were you under the impression I wasn't a part of Cosmo Entelecheia?" Aizen asked.

"— and The Joker and Lex Luthor and Doctor Doom..."

"Another day, another cameo in an Over Master snippet..." the Clown Prince sighed.

Asuna snorted, rolled on her side, and found herself a more comfortable sleeping position.

"— and Doctor Drakken, and The Claw, and Jasmine..."

"Seriously, guys..." Mei whimpered from the floor. "Konoka-san? I could use your help here..."

"— and Black Manta, and Boris and Natasha, and Team Rocket..."

"Team Rocket, " Yue deadpanned.

The Lifemaker shrugged. "We needed someone to bring us coffee."

"HEY!" Jessie yelled.

"You forgot the Anti-Monitor, boss," Secondum pointed at the towering figure on the back of the group.

Said towering figure fumed. "It's always the same thing!"

"I apologize," the Lifemaker said. "Well, I think that covers everyone. We may start our climactic battle royale now. How much time are we left with? Five minutes, right?"

Chisame looked at her wristwatch. "Those five minutes ended two hours ago."

Then Chigusa walked in and slammed a shovel on the Lifemaker's head. "IGNORE ME FOR MEMBERSHIP, WILL YOU?-! TEAM ROCKET! YOU ACCEPTED GODDAMN TEAM ROCKET, BUT LEFT ME OUT!!!"

Cosmo Entelecheia stared on as she began pummeling him to a bloody cloaked pulp.

"All according to my plan," Aizen smirked.

"... I thought I was the defacto leader in his absence!" Dynamis protested.

Joker clapped. "Okay, someone bring us a few boxes, a lot of paper, a few Floridians and lots of deadly weaponry! We'll have to settle this through voting!"

Mei still twitched. "I think... I'm seeing God..."

"My head hurts," an oblivious Takane grumbled.

[Kurush]

Chapter 46 is up.

Spoiler for Notes:

- For those who don't know, a Tressym does make a familiar for wizards and sorcerers and no, Honya would not receive one as that would be called favoritism for her in my case. It was "probably" bad enough that I made her valedictorian of the school.

- Finally, the identity of Mr B is revealed. I have been toying with his hidden identity for months until I reached this chapter. And it is Gromph Baenre.

- On a final note, it should be, well, noted that Negima itself runs on the philosopher Rousseau. Here though, it should be noted that Rousseau is wrong. Gee, there must be something wrong with me, here.

That's all for now.

[Merctrin]

The graduation scene reminds me of the ending of the Baka Rangers arc in the manga. Probably just because of grades being announced, but it's still enough to make the scene feel really... fluffy. Possibly more so than intended. Nostalgia bonus I guess.

...I still really need to get working on rereading this...

[Kurush]

Originally Posted by Merctrin

...I still really need to get working on rereading this...

Then you'z bettah get goin' on readin', otherwise I'll be sending my boyz in ta stomp ya! They'z getting quite itchy for a gud stomping.

Hear that, boyz?

*The sound of a "Waaagh!" in the far distance....*

[Merctrin]

*eyes boyz* Perhaps it is time I made more of an effort. Though I have to say, there's a ton of material to go through. It's an impressive piece of work.

Tsukuyomi drabbles from me. First one takes place after 293 (same chapter the line in parentheses comes from), and the second is directly before 329. Credit for the first one's title goes to my friend SoFrost.

Spoiler for Temptation:

I do hope Fate-han appreciates what I do for him. It's not every day that I have the opportunity to do battle with a child as precious as dear Negi-kun. The boy has grown magnificently, and into such a tempting little mage. I wanted to play with him—to rip that vibrant power away and feel his body strain to resist as I tore him to shreds—

(How utterly delicious he must be.)

But Negi-kun belongs to Fate-han. He's Fate-han's first, even. I can't overlook something like that. It would be like letting someone else take my Senpai.

.

.

I was so close.

So close to having a taste. It wouldn't have taken more than a few steps. Fate-han could've still had his fun as long as Negi-kun was left mostly whole. A limb or two wouldn't matter so much; the boy is certainly resourceful enough to get around something like that.

Resourceful. Powerful.

And yet still so naively innocent.

I can see why Fate-han is so enchanted. The boy is very charming.

I hope they enjoy themselves together.

Spoiler for Possession:

I think I win.

But it's hardly over—our time together wouldn't end so abruptly, Senpai.

Those tools dear Negi-kun supplied you with didn't help at all this time, did they? But I'm happy you decided to use them again. Forcing your own weapons to bite into your flesh and hold you so that I can make you scream out again and again and again—

Oh… Senpai… Can you even begin to understand the joy your sweet, pure screams give me? Can you? After waiting for so many months to have you properly, you are finally, finally at my mercy. No one will interfere; no one will hear. Your screams are reserved only for me.

I don't think I want them to ever stop.

I won't let them stop.

I want to break you: To seize you from the heights of your pride and power and drive you into the depths of despair. And then—then I will take every last bit of you for my own.

You are completely and utterly mine, Setsuna-senpai.

Thanks for reading.

[Kurush]

Something for the eyes so far.

Spoiler for Negi's return:

It feels quite odd, waking up alone in an empty room with no one but yourself in it when you've grown accustomed to having others in there with you. He of all people should know that. Negi got up and stretched his limbs after a long journey home after the event of Marbella.

Finding out the aftermath was a devastating blow but he had been convinced that people do die in war and combat. Over two thousand people missing, at least 500 confirmed dead so far. Still, there was a scent of sweetness in the bitterness. 1500 robotic units had been captured and were being sent to labs across most of the modern world for study and dismemberment for analysis. And the main threat was gone. He wasn't expecting Sukh'an to come to Mahora to try and kill him there. Most likely, he would have to kill her then if she tried.

But that was thinking for another time. First off, he'd better get some-

“Thought we'd drop in with breakfast, Sensei,” called Chisame with a tray in hand, followed by Ayaka and Misa for once. “You okay?”

“Sort of,” he answered at first, “It wasn't as I expected my first vacation in months to be, but it turned out fine.”

“Fine?” Chisame put the tray down on the table. “You went head to head against an evil alien bent on destroying a city and killing possibly millions whilst trying to get at you.”

“I know,” he told them. “I saw three good honest guys get killed by her in person, not counting the soldiers there.” He sighed and took a seat on the couch. “I'm not liking this. Going into battle is not something one likes, but waiting on the edge of one we can't escape is even worse.”

Ayaka took a seat next to him and put her arm around her shoulder. “Negi-sensei, we know. I know I was glad to survive encountering her, myself. Me, I would have recruited dozens of mercenaries to protect you and the city. But I suppose that would not have been enough.”

“Nowhere near enough, I'm afraid,” he told her. Misa sat herself on his other side while Chisame had a seat opposite of him. He was getting nervous about the proximity after what happened in Marbella.

“Well, that aside...” Misa started at first. “How did it go between you and Theo-sama?”

“Me and her?” Negi managed to get out of that position and took a few paces, finding himself quite unable to sit still. “It went rather well. We bonded after the big battle but nothing serious.”

“Did you, uhm...” She started and then gestured with her hands regarding something informal.

“What? No, no, we didn't,” said Negi quickly. “Why would we want to do that with the huge age difference between us?”

“Just checking, just checking,” the cheerleader said and left it at that.

“So what now?” Chisame asked him. “You've been on your vacation, sort of,” she added after a moment. “You saved a city and you had a relatively good time. What now?”

“I am likely to return to teaching for today,” he first told them. “As long as I stay away from certain sights – which means you can close your legs, Kakizaki-san,” to that, she closed them, cursing herself mentally for trying to vie for him there. “...and keep a cool head, I should be fine for today. But tomorrow, I need to take Alicia-san out on a thank-you-date for some help she gave me before I went to Marbella.”

“You WHAT?” All three girls asked him. And then Rachel popped her head into the apartment, her flat chest being topless at that.

“You gonna take Alicia-chan out on a thank-you-date, Negi-chan?”

He closed his eyes and groaned. “Please tell me Aristodemus-san doesn't have cameras installed everywhere.”

“Now, that is complete nonsense,” she told the young man with a good tone. “They're mine. He just tends to borrow them, every now and then.”

Negi's face paled. “Even in the bathroom?”

Rachel averted her eyes. “Well, I can only really comment on that that you have a very cute butt.”

Spoiler for Notes:

- Yes! Finally, Negi makes a return to the main story. It's been ages and I need to get things right by focusing on him for a while. Finally he gets to do something else than just training.

- Anyone care to participate in the madness of the thank-you-date? Trust me, when we get there, it will be awesome. And crazy. And filled with some unwanted interrupters. Gah, I'm giving away spoilers! Bad Kurush. Bad! Bad!

[Sereg]

Glad that you haven't left, OverMaster. Chapter 15 of Mahou Sensei Anya is up. Now with (badly drawn) pactio cards! This is day two of the class trip.

[Sereg]

Sorry about the double post, but Chapter 16 of Mahou Sensei Anya is up. Kotaro 's first meeting with Anya.

EDIT: Thought that I should mention that my latest chapter of the collaboration fic, Out of Control is up.