Soren blinked.

"Negi, you don't need me to help you with 5 students. 30 I can understand, but considering my knowledge of English is practically non-existent, my presence would only be a burden there."

"B-But...you're supposed to be my aide!" Negi seemed desperate.

"And you're supposed to learn how to be a teacher. You won't learn that with me hovering over your shoulder. Discover where the holes in their knowledge are, help them understand what they are missing, and work with them on that." Soren held back a sigh.

"Ah...? Oh! I see now! I'll give them practice tests!" Negi beamed happily, thinking of a way to help his students. "And then I'll learn what they need help with!"

Soren nodded. "Much better. Now go, they need your help." Negi turned and walked towards his catch-up class.

"Sound advice." A voice came from behind him.

"Shizuna." Soren turned to face the woman.

"My my, should you address me so familiarly?" She smiled, not quite a smirk.

"These...honorifics...you all insist on are rather pointless in my opinion. A name is all that's required to address a person, no matter their station or relationship status." Soren replied neutrally.

Shizuka looked away. "I see...do you like helping Negi-kun?"

"Yes. In a way, helping him makes me feel important."

"Oh? Would you care to elaborate?" Shizuka seemed to have shaken off Soren's previous comment.

"Not particularly. Either way, I need to discover what Evangeline has planned for me. Good day." Soren turned and walked away.

"...He really is a strange one..."

.

Soren kept his eyes trained for whatever Evangeline would no doubt have planned, but instead got treated to the sight of her in darker clothing as she was walking out of the house. At this point in the afternoon, it struck him as strange, but instead of following her, he decided to speak up now.

"Well, this is certainly interesting. Where might you be going at this hour?" Soren asked her before she could disappear from sight.

Her reaction was worth it, too. "W-Wha...? ! ? I-It's none of your business!" Her face flushed, thought it was difficult to tell whether this was anger or embarrassment.

"Perhaps not, but following you is now far more appealing than getting some rest. Care for a stroll?" If Soren was one to smirk, he would most certainly be doing so now.

Chachamaru now also exited the house, seemingly calm. "Master, what do you wish me to do?"

"Him following us is not an option." Evangeline pulled a few small potions out, to which Soren blinked.

"...Understood." Chachamaru stood in front of Eva, settling into a combat stance.

Soren felt more conscious of the hidden weight in his sleeve. He'd expected an eventual confrontation with the vampire, but not with his other housemate.

(FLASHBACK)

The survivors of the group exited the base of the Tower of Guidance with heavy hearts. Of the 12 that went in, only 5 survived. Ike, Sothe, Kurthnaga, Volke, and Soren. He'd suspected everyone would like to be left alone, but was surprised when Sothe of all people approached him.

"Soren, I...Thank you, for..." Sothe tried to hold back tears. 4 years he'd searched for Micaiah, and when he'd finally found her, he only had a few months before she was cruelly snatched away, although far more permanently than last time.

"I understand, Sothe...But I failed." Soren looked away. He didn't need to see this man break down again.

"...Here." Sothe held out the golden knife he'd been using, looking at the ground. Peshkatz. Soren looked at it, taken off-guard. "Whenever I see it, all I'll be able to think of is how I failed her. You tried to help..."

"Sothe, even if I tried, she still died. I can't accept a reward for failure." Soren attempted to push his hand away, but instead felt a searing glare from the grieving man.

"Just take it, damn it!" Sothe could barely see straight, through the tears and rage. Soren took an involuntary step back, knowing that Sothe was already unstable when it came to Micaiah. Her death, when right in front of him as he was powerless to stop it...

"...Alright, Sothe." Soren took the knife from his hand.

Sothe was panting, but recollected himself enough to speak three more words. "Make her proud."

Soren stared down at the offered knife. "I will. She was an inspiration to us all."

Sothe fell to his knees as the emotions became too much to bear again, and Soren sighed heavily, silently cursing his lack of power. If only I were stronger...I'll get there, Micaiah. I won't be powerless to stop a tragedy I see coming any longer. He turned to Ike, and walked up beside him, determination set in his features.

(FLASHBACK END)

Soren felt the power of his magic flowing though his forehead and eyes, preparing for the coming conflict. He wouldn't inflict fatal damage, as his control was now too great to do so accidentally.

Eva saw this as a hostile move, and threw two vials it him, which crashed together creating a spiked wall of ice that surged towards the sage...but merely grew around him without even marking his clothes. While obscured, Soren waved his right hand to make a show of how easy it was to brush off her attack, however Chachamaru had taken full advantage of his distraction with a powerful right punch aimed at his head. Soren reacted instantly, catching her fist in her left hand, however his strength was inferior to the android.

SNAP

"Tchrr..." Soren ground out as quiet as a whisper as his wrist broke, ducking under her still-moving fist while spinning, stretching his left leg out for a roundhouse kick to her midriff, which connected solidly and sent her towards a tree. Glaring at Eva, his composure nearly broken by the unexpected power in the mage's partner, Soren proved just how powerful he could be. "Aer, eo! (Air, travel!)" A broad wave of strong winds rushed towards Eva, tinged with green energy as his forehead blazed angrily. Chachamaru righted herself in midair and kicked off the tree to save her master, grabbing her cloak with one hand and plunged the other into the earth to anchor herself.

Soren regained his calm, rolling his left ankle experimentally under his robes, hidden from sight. Sprained...physical combat with Chachamaru is unwise, she is a well-made golem. Any magic capable of injuring her, and I'm not aware of the threshold, much less what's safe to use on her, would more than likely cause lasting damage to Evangeline...

"Master...he used no activation key for that spell." Chachamaru informed Eva, in case it had slipped her notice. "Also, I believe I have broken his wrist."

Eva shook her head to dispel the shock of the magic that nearly blew her away. "Well, it looks like you're at a disadvantage, Nasir-kun." Eva sneered, now confident in her victory. "Do you have anything to say? I might let you off easy if you surrender."

Soren closed his eyes. "...Chachamaru. Where is your memory and awareness located?"

Chachamaru removed her hand from the ground. "My head. Why do you ask?"

He reopens his eyes slowly. "I may have to incapacitate you. I would like to avoid damaging either."

Chachamaru blinks in surprise, along with Evangeline. "You still think you can win?" Eva asks incredulously.

In response, Soren shifts his damaged left side forward, keeping his weight on his right. "Evangeline, you are simply not on my level." Chachamaru does not wish for this conflict, and will try for a peaceful solution if it is presented. In order for Evangeline to stand down, she must be removed from the battle. Therefore, I must goad Chachamaru into attacking me. Soren narrows his eyes slightly, which the other two return by settling into combat-ready stances. Yune, give me strength. Evangeline throws another two potions at Soren, which he leaps between towards the pair. Chachamaru mirrors his action, throwing another right punch but towards his core. Soren's hand disappears within his robe as his right arm comes up, matching the alignment of the android's punch so that her arm goes into his robe as well.

A high pitched screeching sound follows, and Soren is pulled along by Chachamaru's momentum. Said android backs away from the downed sage, wide-eyed and with an uncontrollably spasming right arm wreathed in blue flames. "E-Error...?"

"Cha-Chachamaru!" Eva exclaims with horror.

"I warned you." Soren painfully regains his feet, but doesn't let this show through on his face.

"What have you done to her! ? !" The small vampire yells at him.

"Perhaps your first objective should be to diagnose the issue. I'll not help, because your actions forced me to do that." Soren walks past her to the house, intending to begin treating his own injuries.

"Why...you...!" Eva rounds on him, prepared to strangle him if that's all she can do.

Soren glances over his shoulder, his only visible eye glowing red in warning. "It's not fatal. Treat her." And with that, Soren leaves her behind.

.

.

Whew, Soren's first time being caught off-guard. Tensions have risen drastically between the tenants, and yet Evangeline was soundly beaten again. But Soren is not happy with the outcome either, if you couldn't tell.

I think that's the last flashback, too. If anyone wants more, review or pm. I can't say I expect requests of that kind, though.

Now, onto another issue, I'm opening a poll on my page. I've recently played through Fate/stay night, and the idea of Soren having a reality marble intrigues me. He's had hundreds of years alone, so I don't think it would be far-fetched. That said, I can only think of two occasions I would use it in this fic. The vote will remain open for quite some time, so have a think, and research if you need to. I already have the aria and ability down, so don't worry about that.

That's all for now.

Senge.