Like a King

By Icura

Chapter 2

~o~

"The Headmaster will see you now." Ms. Longueville held the door open as she ushered Louise into the office. Seeing the girl's nervousness, she shot her a reassuring smile. "You'll be fine. I'll be waiting outside with the maid and your familiar."

Louise nervously stepped into the office, hearing the door click shut behind her. The room was stacked with bookshelves and regal in appearance. The curtains were closed—which didn't matter as it was already dark by this time—but the room was brightly lit by a glamorous chandelier. Headmaster Osmond was sitting at his desk, watching her with a gentle expression that belied his eagle-like eyes. By his side was Professor Colbert, waiting patiently. She gulped as she walked up to the desk. The Headmaster's hands were clasped in front of him as if in deep contemplation, but he separated his fingers at her approach.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Ms. Valliere. It took longer than expected to finish up," Osmond said cheerfully, trying to alleviate the tension and stress that the girl was obviously under. Truthfully, he had been questioning witnesses, but she didn't need to know that. "I hope that Miss…Miss…"

"Ms. Siesta," Colbert helpfully interjected.

"Ah, yes, Ms. Siesta." Osmond shot Colbert a thankful glance before returning his attention to the young student. "I hope that she has seen to your needs."

"She has." Louise fidgeted. The maid had brought them their meals while she was forced to wait in her dorm room, separated from Gilgamesh. A few teachers had been standing guard in the hallway of the dormitory so she had been stuck with nothing to do except anxiously wait for them to summon her.

"Good, good." Osmond nodded. "Ms. Siesta will be your personal maid for the duration of your suspension. You will not be allowed to leave your room except to take a bath."

"Suspension?" Louise's mouth was wide open in surprise. "But it wasn't my fault!"

"Lower your voice, Ms. Valliere." Osmond gave her a stern look, causing the young girl to shrink back. "The fault of the familiar is the fault of the master. You're aware of that policy, are you not?"

Louise forced her emotions down, swallowing it like a bitter pill. This wasn't going like she thought it would—should have. She thought she would be able to express her side of what happened, but their judgment had already been decided beforehand; she was only here to receive it.

"Yes, Headmaster," she said dejectedly.

"Everyone's safety is my number one priority," Osmond said. "I hope you understand why I have to take such measures."

Louise nodded her head. As much as she didn't like being suspended, there were worse things—like if her mother found out. She shivered at the thought.

"Good." Osmond relaxed his gaze. "Did your familiar come with you?"

"He's waiting outside." Louise had only seen her familiar when she arrived outside the office, and even then, no words had been exchanged between the two. She wasn't sure how to feel about that, but part of her was relieved that he didn't say anything; she wasn't sure how to even approach him after what happened.

"Tell Ms. Longueville to please send him in on your way out. You may leave now." Osmond gave her a sympathetic smile. "It's been a long day. Try and get some rest. Ms. Siesta will attend to you. I will have Ms. Longueville lead your familiar back to your dorm room after we have a talk with him."

"Thank you, Headmaster." Louise turned around to leave. Walking over to the door, she placed her hand on the knob.

"It's my sincere hope that you will learn to control your familiar during this time," Osmond said. "If another incident occurs, I'm afraid we will have to take more drastic measures."

Louise paused, her hand gripping the door knob tightly. After a few moments, she turned the door knob and left the room without another word.

Colbert shot Osmond a worried glance. "Are you sure this is wise?"

"We have a responsibility as teachers, Professor." Old Osmond breathed in deeply. "Is it ready?"

Colbert nodded. "The trap is set. If any spell is used in this room, it will explode."

The Headmaster grimly nodded. It was a necessary precaution, especially when dealing with an individual as dangerous as their next guest.

It wasn't long before Gilgamesh walked into the room in a relaxed stride. His clothes, having been ruined by the incident at the Cafeteria, had been changed into a completely different set. While plainer than his previous, it had a strange style to it that the Headmaster and Professor had never seen before. It was a white dress shirt overlaid by a thin black jacket with white stripes and black dress pants. The top two buttons of the shirt were unbuttoned, making him appear more messily casual than he would otherwise. It had a somewhat hyper-sexual feel to it that seemed oriented to attracting women.

In other words, it greatly irritated Osmond and Colbert, both of whom had less than spectacular results with women. However, both were experienced enough to hide their feelings, an inevitable result from being teachers.

Gilgamesh smirked as he noticed the two's gazes. He had bought these clothes during the interval between the Holy Grail Wars. It had appealed to his younger mentality—one caused by the potion of youth— and had allowed him to blend in with the populace of Fuyuki quite nicely. Had he kept his original age, he would have found this attire distasteful, but perhaps it was sentimentality for his bygone innocence that made him keep it.

The golden king walked a few steps into the room before he stopped, his gaze turning to his right side.

Colbert and Osmond exchanged glances. Wasn't he staring at where the trap spell was? Just when they were beginning to get nervous, Gilgamesh simply scoffed and returned his gaze to the other two occupants. He strode forward confidently, stopping only when he reached the Headmaster's desk.

"Thank you for coming. I'm Headmaster Osmond, and this is Professor Colbert." Osmond pointed to the balding man besides him. "Could you please introduce yourself?"

"Hmph." Gilgamesh supposed he could give all his titles, but it would mean nothing to the inhabitants of this world. Why waste breath on something they would never understand? There was only one title that they needed to know. "I'm the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh."

"King of Heroes?" Osmond's brows furrowed slightly. "Could you elaborate on that?"

"Hoh?" A grin appeared on Gilgamesh's lips as he crossed his arms. Perhaps, he had been too hasty on judgment. How could he fault ignorance when it's from people in a different world? A legend was not a legend if it wasn't passed down, even if it had to come from his own lips. "I suppose I can enlighten you plebeians. Listen closely and understand my greatness."

Despite the insults, Osmond nodded and began stroking his beard. He seemed accommodating enough in how easily he accepted his request. Maybe there was nothing to worry about.

"I'm the strongest and most powerful of all heroes and kings to ever walk the world."

Osmond froze mid-stroke.

"I've beaten a beastman with my bare hands, slaughtered a mountain god, rend apart the Divine Bull of the Heavens, and traveled to the ends of the world. My leadership alone allowed my armies to massacre any opposition, even outnumbered fifty to one. While kings strive futilely and desperately in war and peace, I have ruled the prosperous kingdom of Uruk with ease and remained undefeated during my reign."

Osmond and Colbert exchanged incredulous glances.

"People far and wide bearing tribute has sought audience with me, to bathe in my presence, but only the most alluring of women could join my harem. Except for beautiful boys. Those were a rare delicacy that only last for a few years.

"I used to lay them along my throne room and simply roll over them, coming to a halt at the women who would entertain me for the night only when I become too dizzy. I've bedded newly married virgin wives on their wedding night—to take what was mine by right—but Enkidu made me stop. Ah, I miss him so."

Colbert's eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. Osmond was in a similar state.

"I'd made a legacy that far outlasted even fairy tales. My epic was retold throughout the ages and inspired heroes to their greatest height, but none have ever matched my legend."

Gilgamesh spread out his arms dramatically.

"What hero—what king—could claim to have done greater feats than mine? Who could possibly defeat the King of—"

Oh wait, there was one. His Saber. However, this was neither the time nor the place. Cutting off that train of thought, Gilgamesh hastily continued.

"Nearly all heroes in history have died from battle, treachery, accidents, or illness. For one such as I, these simple circumstance could never kill me. I've slaughtered armies simply by being on the battlefield, ripped apart traitors and conniving plots alike, walked through deadly trials unhindered, and tasted no sickness or malady. I died instead from old age and boredom."

Colbert's mouth was agape and his glasses slid down his nose. By this time, Osmond had lost any sense of pretense and was openly gawking at the blond man.

"Do you not see the heroics that no man but the greatest of them all could do? Do you not hear the trumpets and groveling of mankind to my Golden Rule? Do you not feel sandwiched by the power and sovereignty of my majestic presence? Understand my greatness and prostrate your lives before me."

The Headmaster and the Professor glanced at each other for a moment, their faces in various states of shock, confusion, and disbelief. Finally, they turned back to the smug familiar.

"So…you're dead…" Colbert concluded.

"No." Gilgamesh's smile fell off his lips and he crossed his arms in annoyance. Did they not understand his stateliness even after his grand speech?

"But you just said you died."

Gilgamesh scoffed. "Does it look like I'm dead?"

"No…"

"Then don't ask foolish questions, mongrel!"

Colbert pursed his lips and frowned. However, a thought came to his mind. He turned his head to Osmond. "Wait, wasn't there a pause when he was talking about being undefeated?"

Osmond looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding his head. "I believe there was."

Gilgamesh narrowed his eyes.

"None of you are worthy enough to even know the name of Saber."

"I'm not sure how a sword has anything to do with this—"

"She is not simply a sword, worm. Saber is the greatest blade, the King of Knights. She is the greatest possession that cannot be obtained," Gilgamesh interrupted in a tone that left no room for dissent. "Perhaps you thought your own insignificant lives were greater than that of Saber's. If so, let your delusion of grandeur be put to rest. Your trivial existence cannot match her splendor in the slightest."

Silence reigned throughout the room. Osmond and Colbert slowly glanced at each other, both not quite sure what to make of those statements—not even sure if it was about a sword anymore. Finally, Osmond broke the silence by clapping his hands twice.

"Right…" Osmond settled his hands down on the desk. "Let's move on to more important matters, shall we? I've never heard of a mage using the type of magic that people said you used. What kind of mage are you?"

"Fool. I'm no magus."

"But you cast spells."

"Casting? Don't be absurd. I command; I do not chant gibberish." Seeing Osmond and Colbert's questioning looks, Gilgamesh sighed in exasperation and pointed at Colbert. "Did you not see a small part of the glorious treasury of the king? Is your feeble memory that decrepit? You should know by sight that those treasures could only be possessed by one greater than their magnificence. Burn into your minds the presence of a king."

"But royalty are also mages."

"Hoh?" Gilgamesh stared at the two in amusement. "That's completely senseless. What kind of pathetic kingdom has magi as kings?"

Silence enveloped the room once again. Seeing the completely serious expressions on Osmond and Colbert's faces, Gilgamesh slowly began chuckling before bursting out into full-blown laughter.

"Oookay." Osmond rubbed his temple in frustration as he watched the familiar continue to laugh himself senseless. Despite the reason for the meeting, they were getting a lot more questions than answers. "I think we're done here."

~o~

Louise opened the door to her dorm room and entered. This had been a long day. It was night time so the only illuminating light was from the two moons that shone through the window. With a snap of her fingers, the lamp flickered to life and lit up the dark room. She almost closed the door behind when she remembered the maid's presence.

"Oh right, you're supposed to be my personal maid from now on."

"Until the end of your suspension," Siesta added as she entered the room and quietly closed the door. She took a curious glance around the room. She usually worked in the kitchen or on laundry duties so she wasn't part of the staff that cleaned the dormitories. As such, she had never really gotten a close look at the rooms before.

It was fairly large, enough that it could house a good sized family, and it was connected to a smaller restroom that contained a toilet, a sink, and probably a few buckets of water. The room itself was lightly decorated, sporting plain white walls and the normal wooden flooring. There was a table and a couple of chairs, along with the dresser and a make-up complete with mirror, fairly standard furniture that came with the room. The queen-sized bed had a canopy with silk drapes and was probably ridiculously soft.

"How long will you be staying?" Louise asked, holding out her arms.

"Until you're asleep, Miss." Siesta walked up to Louise and began unbuttoning the black robe off the noble.

Louise nodded and waited for the maid to finish. After a few long moments, she was starting to get impatient.

"What's taking so long?"

"I'm sorry, Miss," Siesta said as she continued to work on the robe. "But if you could stop shaking for a few seconds, I can take it off."

"I'm not shaking."

Siesta bit back her response. While she wanted to refute that statement, it wouldn't be good for her to anger a noble, no matter how wrong they were. Many of them were petty enough to hold a grudge. She simply continued her efforts in silence. However, Louise noticed the look on her face.

"I told you, I'm not—" Louise blinked. Her vision was wavering. Shaking her head slightly, she tried to swallow down the feeling rising in the center of her chest.

"Are you alright, Miss?" Siesta finally unbuttoned the robe, but she noticed that her charge was sweating and looking pale.

"I-I'm fine." Louise brushed off the concern. "I just need to use the restroom. Stay here."

Holding in the strange feeling, Louise stalked over to the connecting restroom. Once inside, she shut and tried to lock the door, but her trembling hands were making that task difficult.

"Come on," Louise said through gritted teeth. It seemed like forever before the lock finally made a click, signifying her success. Without the dignity that she displayed earlier, she rushed over to the sink and bent over.

"Urrrgh!"

Vomit began filling the sink. Puke and bile spilled from her lips, her body convoluting at each mouthful that rebelled. She didn't know how long it lasted, and she didn't particularly care to know. Only after it finally ended did she start coughing, spitting out the last bits of gastric juices. The taste was burning her throat. Cold sweat ran down her forehead as she stared down at the mess she made. Dull red streaks ran across the bits and chunks.

Blood. There was blood mixed in with the vomit. Her vision started blurring again.

She was trembling, shaking so much that it was making her feel even more nauseous. She grabbed the edges of the sink to steady herself, but it did little to relieve her shivering. Her fingers tightened as she felt another wave rose up in her. However, with tremendous effort, she choked it down. Her lungs burned as she breathed in rapid, shallow gasps, coughing every once in a while.

Louse looked up at the mirror.

Her eyes were blood-shot and tears were running freely down her cheeks. She hadn't even noticed that she was crying, but now that she did, her face scrunched. She covered her mouth with her hands, holding it tightly there. She squeezed her weeping eyes shut even as saliva and leftover vomit leaked between her fingers.

She was afraid that if she let go, she would scream.

That face that stared back reminded her of everything. With the adrenaline gone and the excitement done, events of the day came rushing back. The fear, the anxiety, the horror, the despair, the hope, the hatred, and the sadness all came back at once. The worries that plagued her before meeting her familiar in the clinic, the life-threatening situation at the cafeteria, and the talks with the teachers—all of it flew back at her like arrows, each piercing her deeply.

How did she even manage to get through it all? The strength that she had was like an illusion now, as if someone else was controlling her and she was merely watching. The brave and proud noble that she knew that she could never become.

She was a failure. How could she think otherwise?

Without any hands to support her, she slid down to knees, her sobbing muffled by her wet fingers. She couldn't let anyone see her, neither noble nor commoner. She hoped beyond hope that nobody could hear her; she wouldn't be able to face them.

She wouldn't be able to answer even if they knocked.

~o~

"All students are nobles so they are expected to learn how to behave appropriately."

Ms. Longueville tried to keep her displeasure from reaching her face, but it was a hard task as any. She had been told by the Headmaster to explain the rules to the familiar while she led him to the Valliere girl's dorm room. However, there was something about the blond man that ticked her off to no ends. It wasn't something that he said or did, as he had been silent for the entire trip. She didn't quite know what it was, but honestly, she didn't care to know. All she wanted to do now was to get this over with.

Gilgamesh was walking alongside the secretary, but he paid no attention to the woman. Instead, he was focusing his attention on her surroundings, taking in the entrance hall of the female dormitory that they had just entered. This didn't mean that he wasn't listening; rather, he discarded most of what she said as useless the moment he heard them.

"Familiars are considered an extension of their masters so any unbecoming conduct by familiars will reflect badly on their masters." Ms. Longueville was not stupid nor was she unobservant. She had noticed that her temporary charge wasn't paying attention at all to her words, but that didn't matter to her; she had done her job so no one could complain about that.

Gilgamesh yawned as they walked up the stairs and reached a hallway with dorm rooms lined up on both sides.

"You will be living in the female dorms with Ms. Valliere, but since you're male, sexual misconduct will not be tolerated." Ms. Longueville strained to keep a smile on her face. That yawn seriously pissed her off, but it finally allowed her figured out what aspect about the man was irritating her.

He was an arrogant snob, the type that she usually stole from just to see their humiliation. There were many nobles that she plundered, but none so satisfying as those with this kind of personality. So—in spite of the fact that he was just a mere familiar—she hated him from the moment they met. But even she knew that it was better not to get involved with this mystery man. She wasn't curious enough to stick her hand in a bladed pot.

"This is Ms. Valliere's dorm room. Do you have any questions?" Ms. Longueville stifled the hatred from her eyes as they stopped in front of the dorm's door. She had heard all about what happened in the cafeteria and the wound he received, but the familiar was walking around as if he wasn't hurt at all. Not even one movement had been made by the familiar to avoid applying pressure to his abdomen during the entire walk.

"None that I would ask a thief," Gilgamesh said nonchalantly.

"Ex-excuse me?"

"Permission granted. You're excused." Gilgamesh opened the door and walked into the dorm.

"Wait!" Her call was unheeded as the door slammed shut, leaving Ms. Longueville in a state of shock and confusion.

Thief? What? How? Part of her wanted to knock on the door right away and demand why he called her that, but that might just portray her guilt. The familiar had only been here for a day and in her presence for only less than fifteen minutes, so it should have been impossible for him to figure her out. Was it just a joke? She brushed a hand through her hair in frustration.

That Valliere girl and the maid were probably there so she couldn't just barge in and use force either, though she was sorely tempted to. She knew that the familiar bested Professor Colbert, but that man was just a teacher, not a fighter. If push came to shove, she believed that she would be able to come out on top as the victor.

Ms. Longueville adjusted her glasses. There was probably no reason to worry. It was unlikely that he had any evidence so she was safe—for now. It was best to keep an eye out and find out more about the familiar. There was a huge payoff, and she wasn't willing to risk it carelessly. In her line of business, it paid to be extra cautious.

~o~

Louise stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked normal with her face washed and her hair combed through. What worried her were her eyes since they were bloodshot from the crying, but since it was late at night, she could just use the excuse that it was just eye strain from staying awake too long.

All of the evidence of the vomit in the sink had been washed away, and she gargled enough water to get rid of the smell from her mouth. She just hoped that the maid wasn't observant enough to notice anything off.

That stupid familiar. This was all his fault.

If he had been cooperative from the beginning, all of this wouldn't have happened.

Well, there was a good side to everything. Gilgamesh finally accepted her as his master, and now, everyone knew that he was powerful. So much more powerful than the dumb-looking salamander that Kirche had. She couldn't wait to throw that in her face.

Oh wait.

The reflection that stared back at her was now much somber. How could she had forgotten?

Louise sighed. As much as she hated to admit it, she owed that Zerbst. A lot. She heard earlier from Professor Colbert how the Germanian went and told him what was happening in the cafeteria. If it wasn't for her, Louise wouldn't be alive right now. Even she couldn't be so ungrateful to someone who saved her life.

Her honor as a Valliere demanded that she not only thank the girl but also repay the debt to her. Kirche was probably going to lord this over her, and there was nothing she could do about it. Her big sister, Eleonore, would probably lock her up in the Valliere tower if she found out about this—and she didn't even want to think what would happen if her mother found out. She shivered at the thought.

"Snap out of it, Louise." She slapped her hands onto her cheeks. "You're a Valliere. Act like one."

Louise breathed in deeply. It was now or never. Doing one last breath check by cupping her hands in front of her mouth and blowing into it so she could smell it, she nodded in satisfaction. Good, the smell was mostly gone. She unlocked and opened the door. Walking out into the main room, her face nearly fell at the sight before her. Or rather, the person in front of her.

"Y-y-y-y-y-you." Louise held back her dismay and steeled her resolve. "H-how long have you been here?"

"Hmm? A few minutes," Gilgamesh said with a smirk. He stood in front of the Louise and the restroom door with his arms crossed while Siesta stood a small distance away, looking nervously between the two. He sniffed the air, his face wrinkling up at a slight putrid smell. "Take a shower."

"I already took one earlier," Louise said indignantly as she had taken one after the cafeteria incident, but inwardly, she was glad that her familiar wasn't here earlier. She didn't want to risk Gilgamesh finding out that she was crying. Still, did he smell the vomit on her? She'd thought she gotten rid of most of that.

"Take another one." Seeing that Louise was going to protest, Gilgamesh said, "This isn't a choice; this is the decision of the king. I will not be forced to slumber through even a waft of this putrid odor."

Louise glared at him, but instead of arguing, she stomped past him and pulled out a set of sleeping clothes and a towel. She was too tired to argue, and she didn't trust herself to not blow up her room in the process. She would just have to deal with him in the morning. Gilgamesh had accepted being her familiar, so she just needed to make sure he understood his position, right?

"Maid," Louise said to call over Siesta, but the servant girl was already by her side. Siesta took the clothing and towel into her arms. "Do I smell?"

Siesta blinked, but leaned forward and sniffed the air.

"No, Miss." There was nothing, though she wouldn't have said anything even if there was a smell. As a commoner, even under the employ of the school, she wouldn't be able to get off easily if she angered a noble.

Louise didn't say anything else and simply walked out of the dorm room with the maid in tow.

Gilgamesh watched them until the door closed, leaving him completely alone. Only then did he walk over to the queen-sized bed and fell back on it. The bed was not as soft or comfortable as the beds that he was used to, but at the moment, he didn't care.

He clutched at his wound, allowing a low moan to escape him. It was only now when no eyes were upon him that he could show his pain. It was the pride and curse of the king to always be forced to show only his regal form. Only in rare circumstances would he allow such debasement be seen.

He was no stranger to bloodshed and massacre, to depravity and atrocities. Courage wouldn't have been enough to stay his hand. However, she had impressed upon him a majesty only seen in heroes in that fleeting moment. A boon for such an accomplishment was only natural.

Heroes were to be respected in their own right. One did not need to be a king or nobility to be a hero; had not Enkidu, his only friend, impressed upon this notion? If heroic qualities came simply from birthright, then Enkidu—who was born from mere dirt as a homunculus—would have been lower than even the most common dregs of humanity. Yet, he was the only one who he would call a true equal, barring Saber. Enkidu had taught him much.

And perhaps, that was what saved him.

Gilgamesh was no fool. Had he continued the fight, there was a chance that he would have died. Not from his injury; that stomach wound, while dangerous, wasn't an immediate issue. What would have been the death of him would be his prana supply.

Magic worked by using two sources, internal and external. The activation of a spell would first require energy from a magus's own body, but afterwards, the spell would rely on the external energies from the environment around them to pay the upkeep cost and maintain the spell's existence. The Gates of Babylon was no mere caster's spell, but it relied on the same concept.

He only needed to open the Gates before he could use his entire collection at his leisure—an efficiency of the highest degree. However, instead of taking from the environment, the Gates of Babylon had continued to drain prana from his personal reserves. That was unacceptable. Not only did it limit the length of time that he would be able to use his treasury, but it posed a deadly weakness to his otherwise impregnable superiority.

Did energy not exist in the environment? Or perhaps…

…this world was rejecting him?

He supposed that was possible. His origin was entirely foreign to this planet, and if it was anything like Gaia—his home world—he would expect those troublesome Counter Guardians to be making their presence known to him soon. That made this prana problem even more imperative.

Until he finds out what exactly were the problem and the solution, he would not be able to fight a prolonged battle. He had never considered such a thing to be possible so he had never attempted to find out how long his prana supply would last under these conditions. It could be as long as a full day or even as short as a few hours.

Pain struck at his abdomen again. It seemed he couldn't simply ignore the pesky wound.

In his hand, he summoned forth a glass potion container—shaped similarly to a test tube—with red liquid inside with cork plugged into the opening. He eyed the liquid with distaste, swirling it as he brought it up to eye level. He'd mostly kept this potion and its ilk for mostly his collection, but the situation necessitated its use. The potion had potent regenerative properties that would heal his wound at a much faster rate. Unfortunately, it would erase the scar left by Saber as well. That was something that he had wanted to avoid, but his recent wound irritated him far too much now for him to simply wait for it to naturally heal.

Popping off the cork, he downed the concoction, grimacing at the taste. He careless tossed the empty bottle to the side, letting it shatter on the floor besides the bed. It was gruesome to his refined palates, but hopefully, it wasn't expired. He had no clue if the components inside the potion could degrade with time, but he supposed that he would find soon enough anyways.

Ugh. He had forgotten how horrid the taste was. Right now, beneath the bandages, he could feel new flesh forming, and a most annoying itchiness that felt like hundreds of insects crawling over his abdomen.

Gritting back the urge to scratch, he summoned a golden, jewel-encrusted goblet and a particularly tasteful wine bottle. He poured some into the goblet and drunk it down with one gulp to rid himself of the taste of the red potion. It was a potent enough wine that it started to create a small haze in his mind.

This was good; it would allow him to sleep on this subpar bed and through the itchiness easier. He would deal with the issues tomorrow. Right now, all he wanted was some sleep. His clothes vanished back into the vault, leaving him completely nude. He scooted under the blanket and made himself comfortable, but there was something missing.

"Oh, that's right."

From his vault appeared one of the few treasures of modern society that he had acquired into his collection during the downtime between the Holy Grail Wars. It was a cylindrical-shaped pillow that was as tall as he was with a picture of Saber along its length. It was called a dakimakura by the Japanese in Fuyuki, but he preferred to call it by what it was: a hug pillow.

It had taken him a lot of time to find an artist that could draw a satisfactory portrait of Saber from his description alone, but plenty had came forward to try to claim the large reward. His younger age at the time had made the purchase an impulse buy, but the pillow had grown on him. Indeed, it was a masterpiece. There were even modest bumps on the large pillow where the breasts were to make it feel even more real.

Hugging the pillow, Gilgamesh squeezed the picture onto his body. He wanted to be as close to his Saber as possible. Within moments, he was asleep.

~o~

Louise relaxed in the steaming, perfumed water. She leaned back against the wall of the bathtub, letting the tension and stress flow out of her body. It was a Roman-style bathhouse with marble tiles and a large bath in the middle, fed a continuing stream of water originating from the mouth of a dragon statue. The sheer size alone could let a couple of classes full of female students to bathe at the same time, but as it was this late at night, there was only just her.

Oh, and the maid.

Siesta stood some distance behind the noble on the slippery tiles, still wearing her full maid uniform while holding a towel on one arm. Sweat dripped copiously down her hairline as she endured the heat. It was like a sauna. Her throat was dry, it was hard to breathe, and she was practically on the verge of tears, but it should be over soon—or at least, that's what she kept telling herself.

How many minutes had they been in here? Ten? Twenty? Thirty? It certainly felt like thirty minutes.

"Miss, are you done yet?" Siesta asked, trying to keep the whining out of her voice. "Your skin will become wrinkly if you soak in the water too long."

No reply came.

"Miss?" Siesta slowly walked towards where Louise was bathing. As the smaller girl's back was to her, she couldn't see if Louise heard her. She tapped the strawberry blonde haired girl on the shoulder.

Louise's head sank below the water.

"Miss!"

~o~

Gilgamesh groggily opened his eyes. Something was prickling his right hand. He slowly raised his hand and stared at the glowing seal.

Go help your master. Unconscious.

Immediately categorizing the matter as insignificant, he rewrapped his hand around the Saber pillow and promptly fell asleep again.

The runes glowed even brighter, but the only response from the king was light snoring.

~o~

"Uuuu." Siesta moaned as she slowly marched through the hallway of the girl dormitory, carrying the sleeping Louise on her back. The noble was now dressed in her underwear and a translucent pink chemise, a set of clothing that would be embarrassing if there were anybody awake. She needed to get a pay raise for this. Not only did she save the girl from drowning, she even dried her off and dressed her—and that wasn't even mentioning the fact that she was now carrying her to her dorm. Siesta was tired; she had been awake far longer than she was used to, and she wasn't made for physical work like this. She never thought she would see the day when she would miss her regular, boring duties.

Trudging up to the door, she tested the door knob. Good, it was unlocked. Pushing it open, she blinked in surprise. There was a lit lamp that illuminated the room, but Gilgamesh was sound asleep in the bed. She thought Gilgamesh was supposed to be a mage so why didn't he turn off the lights?

Wait, wait, wait. If Gilgamesh was in the bed, where was she supposed to put Louise? She turned her head to look at the sleeping girl, the shorter girl's head perch on her shoulder.

Well, they're master and familiar, right? It should be fine.

Siesta moved over to the bed and deposited her charge on it to the blond man's left. She tugged the blanket a little to free it up a bit, eliciting an incomprehensible mumble from the sleeping familiar, and held up part of it to wrap it over Louise.

"Eek!" Siesta quickly dropped the blanket over Louise, her face beet red. Gilgamesh was completely naked under there. She had seen a glimpse of the man naked twice in one day. She felt a little faint and fanned her blushing face with her hand.

"I seen men naked before; I shouldn't be this embarrassed." Siesta slapped her palms onto her cheek to calm herself down. She had in fact seen men naked before—even if it was just papa and her brothers.

However, there was something else that bugged her. The blond man was holding onto some kind of large cylinder thing with some kind of picture of it. She didn't really get a chance to have a good look, since her eyes had been occupied by something more…gender specific. Her hand reached forward to check again, but she quickly stopped it with her other hand.

"No, bad Siesta. Bad," she quietly chided. As much as she wanted to reason it as satisfying her curiosity, she knew it was just to see him his smooth, sculpted—

She dropped to her knees and clapped her hands together in a prayer, banishing the thoughts from her mind.

"May the Great Founder Brimir forgive me."

Nodding a little in satisfaction at the small redemption, she rose to her feet and heard a crinkling sound. She raised her foot and saw small, crushed shards of broken glass under her shoe. There was a mess of glass and scatterings of a red liquid that seemed suspiciously like wine.

Siesta sighed. Maybe this was the Founder's punishment. It would take a little to clean, and by the time she would reach the servants' barrack, it would be even later, maybe even morning. Putting aside divine punishment, she wasn't one to leave work undone in any case—especially when it could get her in trouble in the morning.

Siesta blinked the sleep out of her eyes as she rolled up her sleeves. The sooner she was done, the faster she could get to sleep.

~o~

Old Osmond clamped his hands together and rested his elbows on the mahogany desk. In the office that was only illuminated by a single lamp and the twin moons that shone through the window, he sat and contemplated. The problem at hand was troubling to say the least.

He hadn't seen the fight for himself, but the mess that Louise's familiar caused was embedded into the minds of many spectators. There was no limit to the amount of people that could retell the story from their own perspective so it was easy enough to get enough eye-witness accounts, but it gave way to bundles of questions. Even meeting with the blond familiar didn't dispel the mystery that surrounded him.

What facts he did know painted a strange picture. Gilgamesh's strength in shoving over a table that was long enough to hold a hundred students was something that should have been impossible, especially considering how many plates of food were stacked on it; the magic that he displayed when he shot out that weapon didn't conform to any normal human magic; and the durability to withstand a wound that would kill almost anyone made him an enigma.

He sighed. It was at times like these that he distinctly felt his age.

"If you were here, Ms. Longueville, I could just melt my worries away." Osmand's hands groped the air as he fantasized about the soft yet firm bottom of his secretary. It was almost as if she was right in front of him.

"Oh, Ms. Longueville, you shouldn't!"

"Um, Headmaster, is this a bad time?"

Osmond froze mid-grope and slowly raised his head. Standing in the doorway was Professor Colbert.

"Ah, Professor, come in, come in." Osmond lowered his hands and acted as if nothing had happened. "I thought you went to get some rest."

"I couldn't sleep." Colbert entered the room and closed the door behind him. He walked up to Ms. Longueville's desk and pulled the chair behind it, dragging it over to the front of the Headmaster's desk. He sat down and leaned back on it; it was more comfortable than the guest chairs.

"Understandable." Osmond nodded his head. "We have quite the mystery on our hands."

They both knew that was an understatement, but neither of them wanted to voice that fact.

"Well, let's start the first 'What is Gilgamesh' meeting." Osmond clapped his hands together, rubbing them in anticipation. "You said it yourself; he wasn't a normal mage, since he doesn't use a wand."

"Yes." Colbert nodded and tapped his chin. "Maybe he uses ancient magic like the elves. Can you imagine? A human using that ancient magic!"

"No, that's not it. You saw it for yourself." At Colbert's questioning look, Osmond wagged a finger. "In none of the testimonies did Gilgamesh ever chant. Even ancient magic requires spell chanting. Besides, you heard what he said about the subject."

"That's true." Colbert thought back to the incident. Never once did he see or hear the familiar chant a spell before something happened. Still, that didn't preclude ancient magic. "But we can't trust his words. He could have pre-chanted his spells to cast it instantly, but I'm not sure if this works for ancient magic."

"There's not much known about ancient magic, but it is a plausible possibility. There is a chance he has Elven ancestry, even though he doesn't have the deformities of the species such as the pointed ears." Osmond closed his eyes and stroked his white beard. He was an old man and had his fair share of experiences, especially those of war. One of the things that he had joined in on when he was younger was a crusade to reclaim the holy land from the elves. Needless to say, that had been an absolute disaster, and that had been the only time that he had ever seen an elf in action. That experience burned itself into his mind, but even then, he still only knew little about ancient magic.

Seeing that there was not much more that they could gain from this topic, Colbert changed the subject.

"What do you think of his story, Headmaster?"

"Hm?" Osmond popped open one eye.

"The one that he told us about his 'kingship'."

"I'm not an expert on reading people, Professor," Osmond said as he opened his other eye. "From your…experiences, do you think that he was lying?"

Colbert paused. He noticed the slight pause of hesitation just before the word was said, but that wasn't unusual. The Headmaster knew how much his memories of his past weighed on his mind; the actions that he took voluntary so that the kingdom would be safe from all threats—both real and perceived. Even today, the guilt was still ever present and ever haunting.

"I'm not sure," Colbert said, remembering back to the meeting. No matter how much he wanted to forget, he couldn't bury his skills. They were something that were ingrained into him—making them as natural as breathing—so of course, he had instinctively taken notice of Gilgamesh. Yet, he still saw nothing. "I couldn't read him."

Headmaster Osmond pressed his hands together—as if to pray—and touched his lips to his fingertips. His thoughts and expression were unreadable, but his eyes flashed through a series of emotions. Finally, he settled his tired gaze on Colbert.

"Professor, what's your opinion on the matter?"

"He's mentally unstable." The balding teacher sighed and rubbed the bald spot on top of his head. "We might have to take more serious measures before things get out of hand."

"Euthanasia?" Osmond asked. It was rare, but sometimes, animals would be summoned that refuse to form a contract with their summoner. Those animals were usually released, or if they became hostile, they were euthanized. However, he'd never heard of a case where a familiar attacks its master after making a contract; it was something that was deemed impossible. Until now.

"Murder," Colbert corrected.

"Ah, my mistake." Osmond nodded. "Still, that doesn't change matters. He poses a grave danger to Ms. Valliere and the academy students."

There were many children of influential nobles in the academy. If even single of them were seriously injured, it could lead to complications for the academy. In that event, the public outcry from their families might force him to step down as Headmaster. It wasn't something that he wanted to do, but it was his responsibility; the consequences of his decisions shouldn't fall on anyone else's shoulders in any case.

"I'm not sure if it's possible to beat him by ourselves," Colbert said. "Should we inform the palace for help?"

"No." Osmond shook his head. "If the palace finds out, there's no telling what they would do. It's best to leave things alone for now."

"But Headmaster, leaving the situation like this is reckless!"

"So is a hasty decision, Professor Colbert. Let me ask you a question." Osmond turned to stare Colbert in the eyes. "Do you believe in your students?"

"Well…" Colbert looked flustered. "…yes."

"Then believe in Ms. Valliere." Seeing that Colbert was about to protest, Osmond raised his hand to stop him. "I'm well aware of Ms. Valliere's reputation, but remember that you're a teacher. Believe in your student's ability."

Colbert looked conflict.

"Colbert," Osmond softly said. "I believe that Ms. Valliere will find a way to control her familiar. Do you believe in me?"

At that statement, Colbert deflated. It pained him immensely that all he could do for now was simply wait and see. However, he trusted Osmond to make the right judgment so he decided not to argue.

"Headmaster, I'll defer to your wisdom—wait, what're you doing?"

Osmond had placed a crystal ball on the table and chanted a small spell with his wand.

"You'll have to forgive me, Professor, but I'm under too much stress now," Osmond said with a gleeful expression on his face. On the surface of the ball, Ms. Longueville—dressed in a camisole—could be seen sleeping in a compromising position with her blankets splayed out. "This is a quite relaxing."

Colbert seriously doubted that from the Headmaster's heavy breathing, but he wasn't going to refute him. That would just open too many doors that he would prefer stayed shut.

"Isn't this illegal?"

"Oh hush. Let an old man have his fun. Oh, look at that!"

One of the camisole's strap had slipped off Ms. Longueville's shoulder. Blood rushed to Colbert's face. He needed to get out of here.

"I'm feeling sleepy, Headmaster. I think I'm going to head back to my room now."

~o~

A/N: During the interview with Gilgamesh, at the point that he says, "I suppose I can enlighten you plebeians," insert this fic below for lulz.

http : / / nrvnqsr . us . to / showthread . php / 586-Like-a-King-oneshot

(This link is written by ItsaRandomUsername, not me!) (Take out the spaces in the link)

Sorry for taking so long, but I'm now done with reading all available ZnT novels.