Sigil's Throne was as impressive as it was empty. The walls, floor and ceiling of the chamber were made of solidified nothingness formed from the power of a god-killer. The Lady of Pain, Ruler of Sigil, the Bladed Queen. I know her as both my maker and my Master.

The moment I was aware of where I was I looked down. To look upon the Lady was to invite death or worse, her displeasure. Those who earned my Lady's anger would suffer until their soul had been snuffed out.

When she spoke her voice was a sweet ambrosia to my ears, the soft cooing tones promising an endless abyss of torment and misery that I could not run away from. "Do you know why I summoned you?" she asked calmly, the manner of speech reminding me of the center of a hurricane.

I swallowed what little saliva had gathered on my drying tongue. "I-I do not my Lady." I admitted with fear and shame. Thoughts of horrible fates crossed my mind as I kept my eyes submissively focused on the floor. "I pray I have done nothing to earn my Lady's ire?" I asked, not bothering to hope. I knew full well that if I had angered the Lady of Pain that the best I could hope for was to be abandoned in the labyrinth.

The Lady laughed, the sound making the chamber around us shudder and sigh with relief. I still dared not hope. The Lady's laugh had been heard moments before the fall of kingdoms long forgotten in the sands of time. "You have not failed me yet my jester." she replied, her form still out of my unworthy gaze. "Your tales and songs still amuse me."

Foolishly, I felt a twinge of relief at her words.

"I have decided on a new game to stay my boredom." She announced. I felt dread creep into my heart. The ruler of Sigil would never be amused by a simple game. Whatever fate was about to afflict me was going to be a long and terrible burden, I was sure. "I have heard of a mortal deed in many planes, a hobby they call it. They remake the worlds with their thoughts and words. I have made many worlds in my time, but I have never remade a world as they have."

These ideas were new to me. I had gathered thousands of stories in my service to ease my Lady's boredom, yet I had never seen need to recreate them, only to use better choice in words to make it more acceptable to her taste. If all she wanted me to do was remake stories and tales already told that would be an easy matter. I mistakenly let the feeling of relief blossom.

The master of the planes must have sensed my growing elation. With a voice that gave no hint of her impending cruelty she asked me a question. "Do you know the most common way the mortals change these tales, my jester?"

I cursed my ignorance. My time traveling the realms of existence was spent observing the events of the worlds, not learning of the cultures past their relevance to my tales. I closed my eyes like the damned before the executioner, "I do not know my Lady. Please enlighten me." I replied in a manner not unlike groveling.

I did not have to look upon her image to know that she was smiling wickedly at me. "They add a new character to the story. One whom will add chaos to the established tale." I felt fear and despair bite into my soul as she spoke, knowing the words before they ever past her enchanted lips. "I wonder what havoc you could cause to amuse me."

No one denied the Lady of Pain. If she suggested you jump, you jumped and repeated the action till death and begged the unmerciful gods it was enough to meet her desires. I bowed lower, "If that is what my Lady desires I will perform as she likes." I said, like I had a choice.

The chill upon my immortal soul remained as my dread persisted. "Too True." She remarked dryly. "I have just the place for you, my dutiful servant. I will grant your service to a mortal whom has amused me and earned my favor. You will change her story to entertain me, and follow her in her quest until I recall you to my service."

"Your will be done my Lady." I replied.

Instantly, I felt the floor beneath my feet vanish as I fell from one world to the next. I could feel the eternally watching eyes of my master follow me as my form traveled across the planes to where ever she banished me this time.
~The Bards Journal. Book thirty-three, entry seven.

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Unknowing of the adjustment to her destiny, a young mage followed the blueprint of her story as the unwilling puppet to a god that has long moved on to other worlds. Today was the day of the Springtime Familiar summoning. Tristran Magic Academy's most famous ceremony. For days prior the heiress of the noble Valliere family had been bragging that she would summon the best familiar in the entire class. Now that she was standing before her classmates, teachers, and the assorted staff of the school all of that confidence was blown away by the breeze.

When her name was finally called, she trembled from nervousness as she drew a simple wand from a pocket. Her magic was just barely controlled by her will as she chanted her spell in front of dozens of witnesses expecting her to fail. "My divine, beautiful, all-powerful familiar!Across the worlds I, Louise Francoise Le Blanc de La Valliere, in the name of the five great Pentagonal Powers, following my destiny, summon you before me!"

The magic flowed perfectly, against all expectation, the arcane force unknowingly guided by forces beyond mortal comprehension. The spell called out the maiden's magic, allowing it to pour from her wand like a master had been the caster. The energy reformed into the shape of a rectangle.

Those watching the ritual take place were confused. For an average mage the spell normally directly took the form of the creature. More advanced summons would step through a door in the shape of an oval, not a rectangle. Already the people in attendance were making snide remarks. Many students had become used to Louise's constant failures, and thus had no qualms mocking her.

The growing chatter calmed when a well dressed leg stepped across the threshold. An adult figure entered the world from the glowing doorway, standing above six feet in height dressed in the clothes of a noble scholar. As pair of silver rapier's were strapped to his hips. The humanoid figure's short dirty blond hair was tied in a short braid. His green eyes looked over the assembly with mild curiosity. "My Lady certainly has a cruel sense of amusement." he stated with a sigh.

Louise blanched. Already her classmates had begun mocking her as they always did. "She summoned a commoner!" one proclaimed, "That's Louise the Zero for you!" another jeered. It was enough of a disappointment to make her cry.

The summoned 'commoner' only raised a dainty eyebrow at the display. "Intelligent little half wits aren't you?" he remarked with a sneer.

More than one took offense at the rather bold remark. Louise herself was staring at her summoned familiar. "Who are you?" she asked intently, studying his face.

The summoned being gave a short but humble bow. "I am Haydren Maximillion, Bard of Sigil, and Jester for the Lady of Pain." he stated with the well mannered elegance of a long lived noble. "If you would be so kind, who are you?"

Being the daughter of a noble family herself, Louise answered on reflex, "I am Louise La Valliere, third daughter of my house and mage in training."

Haydren smiled charmingly, "A mage you say? How... impressive." he remarked.

The newly dubbed Haydren took a moment to look at his surroundings. A crowd of children wearing black cloaks and uniforms surrounded him on a grassy field, in the distance, past another large plain of grass, stood a large castle built from strong stone and mortar. "A middle age style castle if I am not mistaken?" he thought aloud. "Looks... peaceful..." he drawled.

One boy watching couldn't hold his tongue and already wanted to act on his wounded pride. He had tried to summon an earth dragon, not an earth mole. "Louise, what were you thinking calling a commoner with 'summon servant'?" he asked mockingly.

Haydren turned to his summoner, "Can I safely assume that by calling me 'commoner' this whelp means to insult me?" he asked her, obviously ignoring the boy in question.

Louise nodded, "It's not used as an insult, except to nobles."

"I see." Haydren walked over to the loudmouth, "Tell me your name boy." he demanded.

The boy made a show of drawing a rose from beneath his cloak and, despite Haydren being taller, looked down on the man asking a question of him. "I'm Guiche de Gramont, commoner." he replied scathingly.

Guiche felt the pain of his ass hitting the ground before he felt the sting of a blow to his cheek.

"Egotistical trash like you would learn to not insult their betters." Haydren warned, "Next time I will do more than sting your cheek and your ego." With those parting words, Haydren returned to Louise's side as the watching crowd began muttering a mixture of confusion and stunned surprise.

"Is there anything else needed for your summoning or was calling me here enough?" he asked politely.

Louise blushed, lowering her head and mumbling.

Haydren leaned forward, aiming an ear her way. "Apologies, I didn't catch that?"

"I need to finish the ceremony." she stammered, face aflame from her embarrassment.

"Well then, lets finish it." Haydren suggested.

Louise drew her wand a second time, waving it in a precise pattern. "My name is Louise Francoise Le Blanc de La Valliere. Pentagon of the Five Elemental Powers; bless this humble being and make him my familiar." she chanted, before tapping Haydren on the forehead with the wand.

At once Haydren felt a tainted touch of the Lady of Pain's magic mixed in with the girl's. "Oh I should have known better." He mentally lamented, as he felt the magic of Sigil's master reinforce the spell, "My Lady would never be so lax as to let me wander about unchained."

The compulsions hidden within the familiar binding was too strong for the summoned Haydren to resist, as much as he tried it was in vain as long as his true master willed it. Against his will he leaned forward as Louise moved to kiss him. As there lips touched Haydren felt self loathing at his own weakness saturate his soul as the reinforced familiar magic bound him to Louise, burning a runic mark into the back of his right hand like arcane cattle.

Haydren looked at the mark on his hand, his innate abilities allowing him to read the magic of the mark."Gandalfr?" he muttered, "Oh now that is embarrassingly ironic."

Louise's head snapped up, only having heard the tail end of the remark. "Embarrassing? I should be the one embarrassed, summoning a commoner instead of a proper familiar!" She turned to an older man, dressed in more immaculate robes, "Mr. Colbert, surely I can try again for a proper familiar?"

The teacher frowned at her. "You should have thought of that before you fulfilled the contract." he scolded his student, "Be happy. You failed casting summon servant three times prior, but you succeeded with contract servant on your first try."

"It's only because he is a commoner!" a student called out. "If he was a powerful magical beast, there is no way Louise the Zero would be able to make the contract!"

"Is there another one of you who needs a cuff to the cheek before they learn some manners?" Haydren rebuked, hand raised. Louise smiled at her familiar, glad someone was sticking up for her. "The next one of you fools to insult me will not suffer such a kind fate, I assure you." he promised. Louise's smiled faded as she realized that he wasn't really defending her.

A girl with attractive curly hair and cute freckles stepped forward. "How much did she pay you to perform this little show?" she questioned rudely, "There is no possible way that Louise the Zero summoned a familiar, even one of your low status."

"Mr. Colbert!" Louise whined to her teacher, "Montmorency The Flood just insulted me!"

Montmorency glared at her classmate with barely disguised contempt, "Who are you calling 'The Flood'? I'm Montmorency the Fragrance!"

"I heard that you used to wet the bed like a flood, didn't you?" Louise accused, "'The Flood' suits you better!"

"I hadn't expected better manners from Louise the Zero." Montmorency snapped back

"Children behave!" The teacher, Colbert interrupted, "Nobles ought to show each other the proper respect."

Haydren felt the runes on the back of his hand heat up from the mixture of divine and mortal magics. He scowled as he stared at the glowing marks. "No doubt about it, my Lady is corrupting this mark to suit her pleasure."

The teacher's eyes narrowed at the burning marks. "Those are some unusual runes." he idly remarked, curious.

"Tell me about it." Haydren replied, still displeased that his new-found freedom of sorts came with a collar. He could feel some magic laying in wait to boost his own natural powers, but to Haydren it was little more than a drop in the ocean.

Colbert gathered the attention of the now familiar equipped students. "It's time to return to class everyone!" he announced, "Gather your familiars and return to your classroom." Colbert rose into air and began floating to the castle, many students rising beside him in the air.

More than one student lingered slightly to taunt Louise.

"Louise, you better walk back!"

"She shouldn't try to fly. She can't even manage levitation."

"A commoner is perfect as your familiar!" the students jeered as they flew away, leaving Louise the Zero and her familiar.

"I can't believe that you stuck Guiche the Bronze! Where did a commoner like you learn to act like that in front of a noble!" Louise groaned, "When we get back to the castle you are going to have to apologize to him."

In contrast to his polite behavior from before, Haydren snorted as he tried not to laugh. "Silly girl, I would sooner kill the little worm than to tilt my head even an inch to him."

Louise was stunned for only a moment before the statement made her upset. "Where do you come from that they would allow a commoner to say such a rude thing!"

Haydren rolled his eyes at the young mage, "Child if you knew where I came from you would never dare speak to me in such a manner." He smirked at her, "I do so love that you assume because of my form that I am some sort of commoner."

Louise glared, "So what are you then? Some sort of Noble from another land?"

"Far better."

"That isn't an answer! And you still have yet to tell me where your from." Louise glared at Haydren's amused smirk. "I order you to tell me where you are from!" she commanded.

Dread dug into Haydren's heart as he felt the runes burn and his master's magic become active. "I am from the City of Doors, Sigil." he unintentionally blurted out. "Bhaalspawn shit." He swore in his head, "She added an obedience curse to the familiar magic."

Louise smiled at him, not realizing the real reason he answered. "That wasn't so hard was it?" she asked, "So what is Sigil?"

Haydren's lips pressed together, before he answered. "It's a city in the middle of everything and in the middle of nowhere. You can't properly describe it. You can't get there without having been before and you can't leave without having left before."

"No such city exists." Louise stated, "It sounds more like a secret prison than a city anyway."

Haydren couldn't help the small laugh that escaped his lips. "Some think that it is, not that many would be foolish enough to say that aloud."

Louise frowned at him, "So tell me, what are you? Why does being called a commoner annoy you so much."

Haydren openly frowned from his sense of increasing annoyance. "I grew up as a commoner and worked my way up into the ranks of Nobility." he stated calmly, and somewhat coldly.

"You can't work your way up to being a noble!" Louise insisted, "Your either born with the gift of magic or not."

"Where I come from everyone can use magic. It is those with wealth or power who are of noble blood in Sigil."

"Everyone can use magic?" Louise asked amazed.

"Of course." he scoffed, "Are you telling me it isn't so in this place?"

"No. Only nobles are born with the power to use magic!" she exclaimed.

"So nobles are nobles because they are born with a particular talent?" Haydren questioned, "I'm not sure if that is more racist or elitist. I suppose that because you're looking at a particular talent rather than race that means your just snobs."

"Who are you calling snobs! That is just rude!" Louise scolded, furious.

"Be quiet little one." Haydren chastised, "I'm deciding whether I will decimate your so called nobles for being bigots."

Louise had enough of her familiar's commentary, "You may be a noble where you came from but here you will show some respect!" she demanded.

The familiar just looked amused, "Why?"

The question flummoxed Louise, "What do you mean why? If you go against the nobles they will punish you severely!"

"And how, prey tell, would they do that?" Haydren asked, humoring her.

"With their magic of course!"

"So I have nothing to fear by disobeying weak nobles such as yourself correct?" He asked.

"I am not weak!" Louise insisted, "I am an excellent mage!"

"Hit me with your strongest spell then." Haydren challenged, "Prove to me how strong you are. Who knows, I may even submit myself to your authority."

Louise fire extinguished at the challenge. "I-I'm not going to harm my familiar to prove a point!"

Haydren looked down at her like a child that soiled itself. "Little girl if you want any of my respect you had better grow a spine and show me what you are made of. I have no interest in being the familiar of a spineless coward."

The fire erupted in her eyes as she whipped out her wand, "Fireball!" she called out with a fury.

What erupted forth was no mere fireball. Rather, a blast of pure arcane magic that decimated the very particles of air between them. From the vacuum of void that erupted from the wand an explosion of power and fire expanded, the force of which could have blown apart a castle wall if it had been given a little more fuel.

Haydren watched from ground zero, untouched by the blast or it's side effects. The type of magic Louise displayed intrigued him. "Void based magic? That is a rare talent." he thought, "No wonder she has the Lady's favor."

Louise was panting, having exhausted a large chunk of her willpower and energy in one furious blast. "Had enough?" she asked tauntingly.

Haydren brushed a small bit of dirt that had landed on his sleeve. Louise paled as she realized her blast had no effect. Her mental confusion only became worse as her familiar smiled at her. "I suppose that would be considered impressive by some. I guess for now I should follow your lead." Haydren stated with a shrug.

Louise felt a migraine growing. "Let's just get back to the castle." she suggested. "We're already going to be late enough as it is from just walking."

Haydren looked at his newest master with curiosity. "Why in Sigil's name would we walk?" he asked.

"Because neither of us can fly." Louise lamented.

Haydren held in a laugh, "Little one, you may not be able, but I can do that and more."

"I will believe that when I see it." she snapped.

"You have a room in the castle correct?" he asked patiently.

"Yes, what does that have to do with getting to class?" she asked impatiently.

"Humor me." Haydren requested. "Just focus on your bedroom."

Louise rolled her eyes but did as requested. "Fine, I'm thinking of my bedroom. Now what?"

Haydren stepped to her side, wrapping an arm around Louise's slender waist and causing a blush to develop on her face. "Now this." he said simply.

Louise closed her eyes from the sudden contact, and when they were opened again she found herself in her bedroom in the castle. Words failed her as she looked around in amazement. "What? How? When did we-?"

Haydren smirked at her confusion, "In order: A greater teleport spell, magic, and just now."

Louise glared at her conjured companion. "I've never heard of such a spell! That wasn't like any magic I've ever seen."

Haydren's grin lessened somewhat. "Oh joy." he muttered rolling his eyes, "Not only is your culture primitive, but so is your magic."

Between the anger, embarrassment and confusion, it was to nobody's surprise that Louise could only manage a flustered comeback. "Well... Your ugly!" she snapped.

"Halt your envenomed tongue my mistress," Haydren fake-begged, "your sharp words have cut deep into the heart of this lowly bard."

Louise huffed, scowling. "You can be really rude, you know that."

"You summoned me." Haydren pointed out.

"I regret summoning you." Louise countered.

"So mean to me!" Haydren protested, "What have I ever done to you?"

"You embarrassed me, slapped Guiche the Bronze, and you didn't tell me you could do magic!" she yelled.

"You never asked."

Louise was gritting her teeth, "Would you have told me if I asked?" she growled out.

Haydren shrugged. "Maybe." he admitted.

"Are you always going to be this difficult?" Louise questioned, her anger near seething.

"Perhaps." The familiar shrugged again with impudence, "You started all of this by summoning and kissing me."

"You should feel honored for me to kiss you!" Louise snapped in anger, "That was my first kiss!"

"You do know that you could have kissed me anywhere? You didn't have to kiss my lips for the spell to work."

"And how do you know that?" she asked bitingly.

"All of your classmates had minor monsters or elemental animals as partners. I doubt many of them had a mouth to properly kiss."

Louise's eyes widened and the flush of shame returned. "Y-you mean we didn't have to-? I never had to-?" she stammered, "T-that means..." she groaned, consumed by misery.

"Yep, you just kissed a stranger in front of your class." Haydren smiled as he lay back on Louise's bed, arms crossed in a relaxed pose behind his head. "Tongues are going to waggle by tomorrow."

Louise grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it.

"I think your late for class as well." Haydren added.

The stress got to her. Louise screamed into the pillow. "Maybe if I smother him to death I can summon a new familiar?"

As Louise departed for the remainder of her classes Haydren left shortly afterward, intent on investigating the land he found himself occupying. The view he had spotted from Louise's windows drew his attention, the plant life surrounding the area was intriguing. "Evergreen forests? Guess this world is before any industrial movement..."

Haydren smiled, and began humming a merry tune as he began to wander the halls. "While the master is away, the pets will play..." he thought with growing amusement.

Unexpectedly he returned to the room an hour later bored to tears. "There is nothing to do here!" He lamented, "Their magic is just developing, the culture is crap, There are no books to read in this castle apart from their pathetic knowledge of magic and science! I have nothing to do apart from immature acts of rebellion!"
There was no doubt in Haydren's mind any longer. "The Lady of Pain definitely sent me here as punishment."

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As word had spread around the school Louise's embarrassment and shame grew. Some people in the past have argued that children are the cruelest sort of people, and at this point in her life Louise was inclined to agree.

The barely concealed mutterings and harsh taunts of her classmates greeted the Valliere heiress the moment she crossed the threshold of the classroom. It was almost enough to make Louise wish she had not left Haydren behind in her room. Without him present Louise had no proof that her familiar was not the talent-less commoner they claimed him to be.

As the day continued the rumors, exaggerations and outright lies about what had already spread across the school. It was one thing to be considered a talent less mage, it was another to say that her familiar bond was a hoax.

It took a godly effort to hold back her growing tears by the time dinner arrived. "Haydren might be a rude man and uncultured, but he is my familiar." she thought sadly as she picked at her food. Without the protection of a teacher around the students openly mocked her loud enough to ensure that they were heard. It was little surprise that her thoughts turned darker. "Bastards. If I had more skill they wouldn't dare say such things. If only I could do more than make explosions I would show them all!"

Night had arrived by the time Louise had returned to her room, a loaf of bread held in hand for her familiar. "Stupid classmates. Stupid Familiar. Stupid lack of power." she thought bitterly.

"I'm back." Louise announced to the room as she entered. Then she blinked and rubbed her eyes believing that she was hallucinating.

Haydren was standing in front of a large table covered in elogant and delicious looking foods. A heavy aroma of tantalizing scents was heavy in the room. Despite having already eaten Louise felt her stomach gnaw at her and demand a tribute of the delicacies in front of her.

"What is all of this?" she asked with disbelief tinging her voice, "Where did you get all of this?"

Haydren took a bow, "I made it myself." he replied cheekily, "While you were out I realized that I had been somewhat of a horse's ass about having been summoned to your service and thus thought a delightful dinner would be the best way to make amends." He held up a piece of golden brown turkey, dripping with flavor and gravy. "Just try a bite." he insisted.

With her stomach driving her body Louise took the bite. "What is this?" she wondered, chewing slowly to savor the flavor, "It's so rich! It feels like it's melting in my mouth! I taste beef and chicken at once? How does that work?" Louise swallowed the savory piece of heaven,"You made that? What is it?" she asked Haydren, desperate to know.

The foreign noble smiled at his newest master, "That is my oven roasted, rotisserie seasoned, stuffed turkey. It's served with a herb blended beef gravy."

Louise swallowed thickly, resisting the urge to rush to the table and stuff her cheeks with it. "How did you come up with such glorious food."

Haydren smiled oddly, "I've had a long time to practice. My magic helps." he said dryly.

Louise gave her familiar a questioning look, trying not to stare at the other dishes littering the table. "Your magic helped? How?" she questioned.

Haydren held out a large plate already loaded with silverware for dining. "Why don't you fill a plate and enjoy while I explain."

"Thank you." Louise gratefully took the plate spearing a Turkey breast and stuffing in a heartbeat. Louise was already eating with a pleased smile before Haydren began his explanation.

"We've already discussed that our magic is different, yes? Well one of the many spells I know is how to create a dish using magic." Haydren gestured around the bedroom, "I'm surprised you didn't ask how I made this without the aid of a kitchen." Haydren tapped his head, "As long as I know how a dish is made and how it is supposed to look and taste I can make it with magic. It's called the Heroes' feast spell."

"Heroes' feast? Why would you call it that?" Louise asked around a mouth full of mashed potatoes.

"If the display at the summoning ceremony is any sign, your classmates are rather rough and rude with you correct?"

Louise frowned but nodded.

"And as you attended your afternoon classes," he continued, "you've felt tired and worn out by their comments and harsh words yes?" he asked.

Louise nodded again.

"Tell me how you feel now?"

Louise swallowed the symphony of flavors coating her tongue. She thought hard about it. "I feel...better?" she pondered aloud, "Not like I'm happy, but more like I feel physically better."

Haydren nodded, a sly grin on his face. "That is the magic of the Heroes' feast. It can't help emotional woes, but the magic of the meal heals all physical ailments. Any who consume food made by the spell feel more life in their bodies and their spirits rise a bit as well. I assumed you could use a boost after the day you no doubt had."

Louise lowered her fork. "Why?"

Haydren rolled his eyes. "Like I told you, I realize I had been a bit of an ass earlier and wanted to apologize. Due to forces outside both of our control I am now your familiar, and as much as the idea of serving you vexes me I have had worse masters in the past." he looked at her sharply, "Do not think you can take advantage of my servitude however. Keep in mind if you try to force me into an... irritating position I will retaliate."

Louise glared at her familiar, "You're being rude again." she pointed out.

Haydren rolled his eyes. "I will try to explain this to you in words you would understand." he thought for a moment, "How would you feel having to serve a powerless, money-less commoner? One who disrespects you and uses you for to grasp at power they would never attain themselves."

"I would hate it. I would run away the first chance I get." Louise stated with certainty.

"To me you are that commoner." Haydren explained, "Only I do not have the option to flee. As I said, until I have met certain requirements I am bound to your side."

"How did that happen?" Louise asked, as she sampled some more of the food.

"I strongly suspect I displeased the master of Sigil." He stated, sighing as his shoulders sagged.

"Sigil, that's your home right?"

"Indeed it is. A more wonderful and terrifying sight you will never see."

"What could you have done that would involve you being sent to a foreign land?" Louise asked. It was one thing to have a noble of sorts, another to have a criminal for a familiar.

Haydren shrugged. "I have no clue how the Lady's mind works. She has condemned many to her labyrinth for speaking ill of her, and at the same time elevated many to positions of power for the same offense."

"She sounds quite mad." Louise remarked.

"Your lucky we're at least several planes of existence away from Sigil or I have no doubt the lady would try to kill you for that comment." Haydren replied.

Louise ignored the possible death threat for a more interesting piece of information, "Planes of existence?"

"I forgot your people's magic is rather undeveloped." He rubbed his forehead, "I really don't want to explain the metaphysics of multiple realities and worlds to you it would take an impossible amount of time. To sum it up there are countless worlds out there and all of them are connection to Sigil in some way. Each world differs from the next in some way or another. Some major or minor. It could be a minor difference like you wearing a different color shirt to something huge like your country never being founded."

"That sounds like a storyteller's fantasy." Louise said frowning, "What god would allow such madness?"

"Makers actually."

"Makers?"

"Each world has a maker, who brings the world into existence just by thinking of them. When that maker creates that world, everything in it is created by the will of the maker. However, most times a maker is not aware of their creation and a god is created as a watcher of the world and guides it to the will of the creator."

Louise face was an exemplar of fury, "That is blasphemy!" she exclaimed in the outrage only the devout possess.

"Blasphemy? How so?" Haydren asked.

"There can be no power greater than God!" Louise protested, "That's just the way it is. God gave nobles the gift of magic after all!"

Haydren took a seat "According to whom? What proof do you have that what you say is true?"

"It's what the history books tell us!" Louise explained lamely, "Everyone knows the stories of the founder Brimir!"

"So you have only what people told you?" Haydren frowned, "I'm sorry. That's just not proof."

"Well you have no proof of your story." Louise accused

"Half true." Haydren admitted. "It depends on what you would accept as proof."

Louise glared at the man who was threatening her faith. "You say that your from another world. Show me something that I can't find in this world."

"Jumping across worlds would no doubt ruin her unprepared mind." Haydren wondered for a moment."Do your people have enchanted weapons?" he asked.

Louise nodded, "We have spells to repair swords, make them sharper and stronger if that is what you mean." she replied.

Haydren shook his head, "No, no, no. Do your people know how to infuse spells into their weapons or can use weapons to cast spells?" he asked.

It was Louise's turn to shake her head, "We have sword shaped wands, but other than those I've never heard of such a thing. You're saying your have something like that?"

Haydren nodded, drawing the rapier strapped to his left hip. "This blade is an artifact from Sigil called 'Wrath's Burning Fury' it has an unusual way of working. You might want to stand back just in case I screw up." he warned her.

Louise stepped back as Haydren ran his tongue along the blade. The thin metal was covered in a thin blue flame.

"That's amazing!" Louise proclaimed, excited. "I've never seen a weapon make its own flame!"

"It's not actually making its own flame." Haydren explained, glad that the girl was so easily distracted. "I feed my magic to it from the handle and the spit works as a medium."

Louise looked at the blade and its then flickering flame. "So it only makes this little fire?" she asked.

"Nope, the stronger magic and the stronger fluid I use makes a stronger flame." he added.

"Stronger fluid?" she asked.

"Spit is good but takes a lot of magic to charge, blood is best." Haydren explained cheerfully,"Any fluid that is involved with life works. I even got it to work with tree sap once or twice."

Louise looked at the second rapier still in its sheath, "So what does your other sword do?" she asked, curious.

"Do you know what acid is?" he asked.

"I think so..." Louise said, unsure, "It's a type of burning water right?"

"Your half right. Acid is a liquid that melts whatever it touches. If the acid is strong enough it melts iron, rock or even flesh into puddles of goo."

Louise put the clues together. "Your sword makes acid? And makes stronger acid with more magic right?"

"Correct. This sword is called 'Envy's Bitter Bite', I use it against anything covered in a thick hide or armor."

Louise looked at the swords with wonder, and a slight hint of disappointment. "I guess this means you are right. My god is a sham."

Haydren rolled his eyes. "I never said that. You assumed that was what I meant."

"Yes you did!" Louise argued.

"No I didn't" he countered, "I just told you that gods have a power that are higher than them."

"That is the same thing!" She snapped stubbornly.

"No it isn't. Trust me I know from experience how gods are made. I have seen the birth and death of many of them in Sigil." Haydren calmly stared her in the eyes, "Do you know how gods are made?" he asked.

"No?"

"Faith, thought and belief." Haydren stated. "A god must be thought up and then mortals must have faith and belief in them."

"That cannot be true." Louise protested, "That sounds more like how to make a child's bedtime story."

Haydren laughed, amused by the comparison. "That is a good way to describe it, but it is the truth of things. A maker gives birth to a god, and when the tale spreads around the god will gain power from their worshipers. A god no-one believes in is powerless, a god worshiped by all is omnipotent."

The revelations that her familiar was stating as fact was too much information for the already stressed mind of Louise. "How do you know so much about all of this?" she asked.

"I served at the whim of Sigil's master for more years than I cared to remember. I have seen the rise and fall of several deities, including the execution of one at the Lady's own hand." Haydren shuddered, "I do not know what my Lady is, but she has stuck down gods at the height of their power long before I was bound to her service."

"I take back what I said earlier. Your old master doesn't sound mad. She sounds terrifying."

Haydren flashed a melancholy grin, "Both descriptions are quite apt."

"Is she why you cannot leave?" Louise asked.

Haydren nodded, an upset frown marking his face. "She is. My lady is either punishing me or giving me a vacation of sorts. I cannot tell. I only know that she told me I must aid you in a quest and serve you until she recalls me."

"Me?" Louise questioned, "I'm not that special."

"I don't understand it either. However, according to my Lady you have done something to earn her favor. Something about you has gained either her interest or respect."

"I really doubt that." Louise muttered.

"Tell me about yourself then." Haydren requested,gesturing at the table still covered in delicious treats. "There is still plenty of food to eat. We can wine, dine and get to know each other better." he suggested.

Louise blushed, "I-I have a fiance!" she stated, mistaking her familiar's intentions.

"And he is a lucky man." Haydren complemented amused. "Don't worry Louise, I have no intention of seducing you. I don't believe in mixing business and pleasure."

"O-oh." Louise stammered, embarrassed. "W-well it's not like someone like you could seduce me!"

"Oh really?" Haydren leaned forward at the challenge, gazing deeply into her eyes. Louise flushed at the attention, but her will stood firm. Then as their eyes remained locked Haydren's tongue peeked out to run across his lips and Louise's eyes were locked onto the action.

Her thoughts betrayed her, "I kissed those lips." her traitorous mind reminded her.

Haydren smiled as if he knew what she was thinking. Slowly he took her hand in his own, laying a delicate kiss on the back of it. Louise's mind focused everything it could on the sensation of his lips on her skin. A pleasant shiver ran down the length of her spine. Inevitably her flush bloomed into a mortified shade of red as she realized the truth, " Oh no... I want to kiss him again."

Louise turned her head to the side in a futile attempt to hide her reaction. Haydren laughed at the sign of her loss and his victory. "Don't worry Louise." He assured her, "I've been at this game longer than you have been alive."

Haydren's declaration of skill didn't help Louise's hammering heart and the embarrassment she felt. "Oh Birmir help me, I was lusting for my familiar." Louise loaded her plate a second time, using the food as a distraction from her chaos creating familiar.

Much to Louise's displeasure, Haydren did not let the silence persist for long. "So why are so familiars such an important matter?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"There are many reasons mages want a familiar." Louise explained more grateful for the change of subject than she was willing to admit. "First of all there is the prestige granted from summoning a strong familiar. Normally a stronger familiar means that the mage will possess powerful magic."

"You make it sound like the only reason to have a decent familiar is to brag about it." Louise's familiar commented. "If it's any consolation to you, I think your probably the strongest mage in the school apart from me."

"That's not all!" Louise snapped, flustered. "Familiars can grant their master an enhancement in vision and hearing."

Haydren's eyebrow raised a small measure. "How so?"

"Whatever the familiar can see or hear, the master can as well."

Haydren smirked, the action unsettled Louise. "You haven't tried that part yet have you?"

"N-no. Why?"

Haydren pointedly stared out the window, his eyes staring at the treeline that was nearly a mile away. "Just try it." He insisted.

Louise activated the magical link, slightly disoriented by the sensation of two fields of vision at once. As she adjusted to it she realized her vision must be mistaken as she looked at the sight of Guiche the Bronze with a girl from the first year classes at his side. What amazed Louise was that the pair she was spying on was standing right beside the trees!
Louise stumbled out of her seat, "What magic is this?" she cried out, canceling the link.

Haydren was grinning like a fool, "I suppose you could call it divine. A certain talent of mine is to extend my senses for miles. If I wanted I could hear all over this castle and beyond."

"What else can you do?" Louise asked suspicious, "This is the third time he has surprised me with his odd magic!" she thought with annoyance. "I can't believe my own familiar is better at magic than me!"

Haydren only smiled at her in that infuriating way of his, "It would be a shorter list to explain what I cannot do." he said succinctly.

Louise was less than impressed with his answer. "Fine. Don't answer me. Just tell me if you want to spring any more surprises on me." Louise turned away, rubbing at her irritated eyes.

If anything Haydren's playful grin became even bigger, having traveled the various worlds many times prior, there was always one way that he loved amusing himself. "Louise, I want to spring another surprise on you." he said, and she could hear the humor in his voice.

"What is it?" she asked impatiently, turning to face her familiar.

And the pair of golden wings extending from his back.