Show of hands, who thought this story was dead?
I've been stuck for stupid reasons, suffering depression for others, and with my laptop suddenly being uncooperative and forcing me back the desktop unit that barely has enough RAM in it to load Windows, let alone run Chrome without crashing (don't even ask about what Firefox causes it to do), I'm now unstuck.
Took a year, but better late than never.
Besides, I haven't gotten to the cool, horrific parts yet. Can't stop writing this tale without that coming to light.
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Zero Interface
Chapter 13
Lost, Found, Lost Again
æChose the wrong side again,Æ Fouquet thought glumly to herself as she awoke inside a prison cell. La RochelleÆs detention center was practically no different from Genoa, TristainÆs maximum security prison û wooden spoons, wooden tables, wooden floors, wooden bars, all of it magically enhanced to prevent prisoners from escaping, either through magical or mundane means. Not that she could use magic or alchemy without her wand, anyway. She sighed contemptuously as she slid herself off the bed cot, looking out through the bars that isolated her from the rest of the world.
She didnÆt know what happened after that commoner took off. After some hours of no word from him, the three Academy students felt it prudent to place her in the care of the cityÆs guards and look for him. Fouquet idly wondered if the commoner died at the hands of the masked man.
Part of her hoped not û after all, the son of a bitch did try to kill her right alongside the commoner and the Academy students. Besides, she didnÆt even know who he was, so why should she give a fig what happened to him? Traitorous bastardà
ôGRHA~~~GH!ö
The heavy, booming sound close by startled Fouquet. æWhat was that noise?Æ she thought, drawing herself up. Since her former partner tried to eliminate her once, it wasnÆt out of the question he or Reconquista would try again. Not that she really knew anything about them, other than seeking to bring about a new order in the land of Halkeginia, but she wasnÆt one to think she could persuade people coming after her life with words. However, how would she fight back without magic?
ôOh, wow, what a nice, long nap!ö a voice cried out in the mostly desolate prison. It was coming from the same place as where the bizarre sound came from. ôI ha~aavenNNYA~~RGH rested like that in a while!ö
Fouquet hesitantly relaxed a little. Was that a yawn? It sounded more like a wild animal.
ôHey, guys! WhereÆs the bathroom! I gotta go, you know?ö
Now he was being noisy. ôWhere do you think you are, an inn?ö she grumbled to herself.
ôHey, guys! WhenÆs breakfast?ö
ôQuiet down there!ö someone shouted from another direction. Fouquet pressed herself to her cellÆs bars, trying to catch glimpses of whom she assumed to be guards. If there was a way to get out of here before Reconquista caught wind of her continuing survival, sheÆd have to seize the moment quickly.
ôHey! I really gotta go!ö
=SNAPSNAPSNAPSNAPSNAP=
ôàuh, oops.ö
æOops?Æ Fouquet thought to herself as the scene suddenly devolved into pandemonium. Cries of the guards for reinforcements, while a bulky man charged for the guards, shouting ôGangway! Coming through!ö Blasts of magic streaked past her cell, mixed in with screams and thick meaty sounds. One guard came flying down the hall and skidded to a halt in front of her. From the looks of him, he was out cold.
Luckily for her, he had a small set of keys attached to his waist held onto a large metal hoop. Now, all she had to do was obtain them. She smiled û after so many setbacks, Brimir blessed luck was on her side now.
---
Freed from her subterranean confines, Fouquet knew she had to escape La Rochelle, and quickly. It wouldnÆt be an easy task, she mused as she traveled up the stairs to the ground floor, picking her way through unconscious bodies. Primary concern required her to be carrying a wand. Sadly, the guard she sniped her cell keys from was just a commoner; trying to locate the wand or wands that had fired magic earlier seemed to be fruitless. While her main plan was to secure magical means for herself, she felt it unwise to dally in the dungeon for too long. That meant she had to be very careful and steal her way past any guards not in on stopping the--
ôHey! IÆm kinda lost here, maÆam. Can you tell me how to get to Tokyo?ö
Fouquet blinked as she found herself almost ran over by a bulky man in dusty, dark brown travelerÆs clothing, a red bandanna tied around his head, keeping his unkempt mop of shaggy brown hair out of his face. His thumbs hitched under the straps of an old leathery pack strapped to his back. His face was dirty, dark stubble mixed in with grime. The commoner grinned at her, flashing a set of teeth that were more akin to fangs.
Fouquet frowned up as she tried to process the word. ôToe-key-yo? Never heard of it.ö
The manÆs shoulders slumped, dejected. ôOh, wow, why doesnÆt anyone know how to get to Tokyo from here? IÆm missing out on my nephewÆs birthday hereàö
The earth mage felt a slight touch of pity for the commoner. Which reminded her, she really needed to send some more funding to her own family, and since the last job got her bound in this messà
ôThere he is!ö
ôEscapee!ö
Shit! More guards had popped down the opposite end of the hallway. A quick look around her told her that she was caught in the worst location imaginable û the only way forward was through the guards. Behind her was the holding cells she had just exited.
Damn it! No good! She sighed inwardly; so much for BrimirÆs luckà
ôHey guys, can you stop jumping at me? IÆm really grateful you guys put me up for the night and all butùô
A pair of guards advanced in on the commoner, pikes leading their way. ôBack into your cells!ö one of them barked sharply.
In the distance, Fouquet could make out more armed guards coming. And a noble, judging from his regal attire. She groaned inwardly; so much for escaping.
Another losing side she chose. Such is her life.
ôHey,ö the commoner shouted excitedly at the approaching noble. ôYouÆre the guy I saw last night! You said something, pointed a stick at me, and wow! What a great nap I took! HowÆd you do that?ö
ôHe probably used Sleep magic on you,ö Fouquet supplied, resigning herself to be hauled back to her cell.
=GUHURRRRRGLE=
The common blinked, his face reddening in embarrassment. ôOh, wow, excuse me, IÆm really hungry.ö He turned to Fouquet, ôHey, Miss, you know some place to eat at?ö
The earth mage looked at him incredulously. ôàyes, yes I do. If we get out of here, IÆll even treat you to as much as you like.ö
ôReally?ö He suddenly regarded her as though she had become a holy saint before his eyes. ôAs much as I like?ö
She smirked. ôOh, sure, all you can eat. ItÆs just too bad weùô
The commoner suddenly turned around to the stone wall behind her and punched. It shattered under his fist like glass, collapsing into dust and pebbles. Morning light swept in through the gaping fissure, shining on him and her.
She blinked, shock overriding any voluntary muscle control.
ôWhat are we waiting for?ö the commoner grinned, his feral expression striking a resemblance to a demon. He took her hand when she didnÆt move. ôLetÆs go eat!ö
æWho or what the hell was this guy?Æ the thoughts came, even as Fouquet got her legs to work on running for freedom and away from those that would bind her here again.
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Guess who this OC is related to, and you might be able to name him. I do have a name in mind, but I think it's kind of weak to his theme. Or too punny. Or too lame. Something
