Knight of Mahora Academy

Period 21: Fate's Playthings

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Welcome back everyone. I hope you enjoyed your break."

"We missed you Negi-sensei/kun/bōzu!"

Class 3-A exploded in an uproar of cheers and roars of joy. Most of the students looked ready to burst into a rave before Negi quickly waved his hands and tried to quell their energy, "Now now, w-we were only on break for a week. There's no reason to be so jumpy."

"Come on, Negi-kun, show a bit more energy!" Makie exclaimed from her seat with a beaming smile, "We're all back together again!"

"Mmm, it feels good to come back after a recharge!" Yuna exclaimed as many of the other students voiced their agreement.

Several students in the classroom look unamused at their joy and exuberance, not leaving for a runaway beach vacation at Ayaka's private island and instead opted to stay at Mahora to relax. Evangeline rolled her eyes at their cheering as Chisame irritably tapped her foot, "Why do you all feel the need to make a scene just as we're coming back? Just suffer in the mundanity of school like normal teens."

"Hey, Naruto-sensei, what happened to your desk?" One of the girls pointed out that their blond teacher's aide no longer had a desk to sit at on his side of the room. Several girls looked disappointed that their special gift to the older assistant wasn't around anymore, "Did you stop liking it while we were gone?"

"No, I loved it." Naruto shook his head with a laugh, "But Nitta-sensei came around, realized it was his desk that had gone missing, and demanded it be returned to him as soon as possible."

"Do we need to go take it back from him in secret?"

Naruto shook his head, "Please don't. He's getting wise to your ways and while it didn't take long to get that desk back up there, it would be a pain in the ass to do it again."

"You moved that thing all by yourself?! That took like ten of us an hour to get down! How?!"

"I'm smart like that."

"Wow, things really changed while we were gone. Speaking of changes…"

Most of the students turned around and looked at the odd scenario happening in front of their smartest student. Chao had a devious smile on her face and her hands were raised in preparation to pounce, fingers unnaturally squirming and threateningly pointing out to the terrified target. The seven-tailed fox snarled and stood defensively against her atop her desk. Kyūbi warily watched her every movement and twitch in case she pounced.

He was treating her like a natural predator he was trying to escape.

Which seemed odd considering he was the one sitting at her desk waiting for her to arrive so anxiously before.

Chao made her move, feinting with one hand as the other hooked around from the side and hit his weak spot. The demon fox yipped and toppled over, accidentally exposing his belly and allowing Chao the chance to work her magic.

The room was filled with the Kyūbi's frantic yipping as Chao cackled victoriously. And despite his struggling movements, the sounds he was making made it very clear that he was enjoying every moment of it.

"K-Kyūbi-chan," Konoka whimpered with teary eyes as she stood out of her chair with her hands to her chest, "Don't you want to come back to me? So I can pet you the entire class period while Negi-kun does his lecture." The fox seemed to revel in the treatment before the Konoe exclaimed like a forlorn lover, "Chao-San, how could you just take him like that?!"

"I can't help it." The girl with the permanent blush marks answered, "He makes his own choices, and he came to get loved by me. We can put him in the middle of the room and see who he moves to but..." Chao pulled her hands away and looked down at the comatose fox on her desk, "Gotta be honest, he might be out of it for awhile."

"Come on Chao-San!"

"That's not fair, Lingshen!"

"You can't covet the class mascot like that! All we've got are Kyūbi-chan and Negi-kun!"

"Yeah! Share him equally!"

The class started to devolve into madness as arguments started to arise about who should get to play with the fox during class. Naruto sat in his chair by the corner and watched the scene before him with a sense of surreal disbelief.

The scourge and demon that had rained evil on the world he originally came from...

Now being fawned over by a group of school girls treating him like the class pet.

Oh how the times did change.

"E-Everyone," Negi muttered, "W-We"re still in class. C-Can you please get back to your seats, p-please?"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"We lost a lot of time in class because everyone was arguing about whether they should get to play with Kyūbi-San or not. I didn't think he'd be so popular."

"I can leave him in the dorm room if he's causing too much trouble. Seriously, just say the word and he's gone."

"That seems cruel."

"Negi, man up and tell me to abandon the fox."

The short Mage hung his head and grumbled to himself about how he didn't want to be forced with a problem like that. Naruto just rolled his eyes as he and his friend made their way to the outskirts of Mahora with Eva's cabin in mind.

Classes had ended for the day, and Eva made her way over once everyone had started making their way out. She made sure to whisper her instructions to meet her at her cabin so that no one would overhear and react badly. Eva had also advised him against dragging along any of his 'posse' or - to his red-faced horror - 'harem' with him.

Naruto decided she didn't make the rules for him and decided to follow anyway. He knew what this visit entailed, and he wanted to be there to help with the shock of Negi seeing his new training area.

But he wasn't going to say anything. The shock would be just too good.

"Is Kyūbi-San going to be okay in the position you left him in?"

Naruto shrugged, hiding his evil snicker and grin, "Konoka looked heartbroken by the lack of attention, so some personal time with that little jerk will hopefully make up for it." The whiskered Mage's expression changed as they spotted the wooden cabin in the forest their resident immortal vampire chose as her home. Naruto didn't hesitate as he swung the door open, "Come on Negi."

The younger boy panicked, "S-Shouldn't we wait for her permission before walking in? I can't imagine Master would enjoy the idea of us walking around her estate with her or Chachamaru-San here to guide us."

"Well we could wait but it might take a while." Naruto headed for the basement, "And if Eva has to wait the entire time limit and we don't show up, she might just try and kill us."

"W-What?" Negi was distracted as he passed through the room of unnatural looking dolls, "I don't understand-"

"Shh, it's gonna ruin the fun." The door opened up and as Naruto walked in, Negi stopped in the doorway to look at the odd display sitting in the middle of the room. As Negi looked at the figure in the bowl, Naruto pointed to the side, "Stand there. You're going in first."

"W-Why?"

"Because you're gonna nerd and geek out immediately and I don't wanna have to deal with that the whole time." The older blond waved his little friend goodbye as Negi's glowed brightly and disappeared from his spot.

...

"I should probably go to Chao-Bao-Zi after this." He mused to himself, "Not letting Chao get me with that spicy stuff again. But damn, that was some good noddles."

After a few seconds passed, Naruto stepped up to the platform and disappeared as well. He found himself reappearing inside Eva's personal resort. As well as-

"-did you achieve it by folding space over itself again and again! When did you find the time to move this! Is it a separate location, or is it really just miniaturized into that display outside! Oh, oh, how did you make the time dilation-"

"ENOUGH!" Evangeline barked, a thunderous blast exploding with her yell that made Negi silence himself and quiver in fear. The vampire ran a hand over her face and sighed into her palm, "Boya, you've been standing here for thirty minutes listing question after question at me in rapid fire! I haven't gotten a word in edgewise! I invited you here! You should at least listen to your host, let alone your master!"

"Y-Yes Master." Negi apologized, suddenly far more pensive and sorrowful than he was a moment ago during his questioning high.

Eva stood there with a scowl on her face before she sensed Naruto and looked his way as he approached. She rolled her eyes, "Boya, what did I say about bringing your harem with you?"

"H-Huh?"

"Look, one of your little hussies followed you in." She casually waved him off, "Sorry young lady but we don't have any money or shots for your venereal diseases. Please go away."

"Good to see you too bitch." Naruto groused as he looked down at Negi, "So what do you think?"

"This is a wonderful idea!" Negi exclaimed while walking around the top of the spire and looking out over the vast space Eva's training resort offered them, "This place will provide the optimal training space so that even if we used larger spells, none of the environment or people will be effective! And with the time difference between this place and outside, I'll be able to do all of Master's training without having to sacrifice any time during my school schedule. This is fantastic!"

"Don't get too excited, Boya." Evangeline warned, "A differential in time might sound intriguing but for someone who is not familiar with it, it can be quite jarring. You'll spend a whole day training to the fullest extent with me, only to find that barely any time had passed at all. I suggest you start preparing yourself for the change so you won't be too badly affected by it."

"O-Of course, Master!"

...

Naruto and Eva shared a quick look before they sighed, "Negi, we can see you about to burst from excitement. Try to be a little more pensive about it."

"I can't help it!" The boy grinned, "I'm finally going to start my magic studies to a greater degree with Master! How can I not be happy!"

"Well, it is quite the honor to be working with me. I'm quite the treat." Naruto feigned gagging as the vampire talked herself up. She retaliated by punching him in the hip and sending him sprawling across the ground violently. Negi gasped but Eva stepped forward, "But of course we haven't settled matters yet. There's still the issue of my payment."

"P-Payment? B-But I thought my sparring match with Chachamaru-San was the mark of acceptance for your apprenticeship."

"I agreed to train you yes, but the use of my resort and its time-bending properties..." Eva licked her lips, "That's going to have to cost you. A pint."

"A-A pint?"

"Of blood." She pointed at his arm, "Your blood." The redhead paled in horror, "Don't worry, it won't be like the last time I aimed for your plasma. I won't take enough to kill you and break out of this godforsaken spell. Just a donation's worth at most."

"Oh, o-okay. I guess that's fair." He looked down at his arm, "Should we do it after training-"

"Sorry Boya, first payment comes upfront."

"W-Wait, I'm not ready!"

"Get ready."

"NOOOOOO!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Naruto yawned as he laid back on a chair settled on the resort's beach with a nice cold drink in hand. Kyūbi had also taken the moment to enjoy the calm and serenity of this opportunity, actually resting in his lap as whatever counted as the sun bared down on them with warm rays. Naruto smacked his lips and stretched out his arms, "I can see why people like going to the beach so much. We definitely missed out heading to the island with the others."

"It's not so bad." Kyūbi said as he continued to rest his eyes and tails, "At least here we have some privacy. If we had joined the rest of those humans on their little field trip we'd never stop being pestered."

"I thought you liked being coddled."

"I was being manhandled-"

"Foxhandled."

"-by all those clueless girls. If they have skills like the Princess Girl, Robot Girl, or Chao Lingshen, then I'd be willing to give them my time. Otherwise, leave me be and let me rest."

...

Naruto looked down, "Did you just use Chao's name? You don't use anyone's name. Ever! What did that girl do to you?"

"I don't know alright! It still freaks me out that she could get that kind of reaction out of me! It terrifies me to my very core!"

"If it scares you that much, don't wait for her at her desk or actually walk up to her like you're begging for it!"

"Love me for my strengths, not my flaws."

"I don't love you; in any way, shape, form, or capacity."

"And I can't stand you either." Kyūbi grumbled before lying back down in his lap. Naruto seemed to frown for a moment before accepting that was pretty much the end of their discussion, "Just shut up and enjoy the warm weather."

"MASTER NOOOO!"

"TAKE IT BOYA!"

An explosion of ice and darkness happened off the top of the tower before quickly dispelling. But not before leaving a flurry of snowflakes and ice to rain down on them, "Or the unseasonable weather changes more like it."

"The Little Red Moron isn't going to make it much longer at this rate." The fox stuck out his tongue and let one of the flakes drop down on it before he swallowed. The orange fox settled down more comfortably, "You wanna give him a few pointers from your scrap with her? I'm sure it'll really help him out."

"I know you're mocking me, but I fought and held my own against the Dark Evangel for several hours. That's an achievement I'll hold with pride for the rest of my life." Naruto reached back down for his drink before noticing that someone was stood by very closely. One of Eva's green-haired maids who was probably Chachamaru's predecessor stood quietly by their side, watching them and waiting for any orders to follow. Once Naruto realized what he said he put a finger to his lips, "Please don't tell her I said that."

"I will not, unless Master inquires of me what you were talking about."

"Well that's no help at all."

Kyūbi smacked his lips before extending his tongue again, "That bitch might be the wannabe evil incarnate, but she makes some damn good tasty snow."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

It was another day(hour) spent in the resort, and this time he didn't just have to lounge around wasting time. Don't misunderstand, he reveled the time away from the stresses of working at the school and enjoyed the experience of relaxing at the beach, but he didn't want to spend all his time doing nothing.

So he got the saving grace of helping Negi practice with some of his combat skills and practical fighting applications. Since Negi had picked the path of becoming a Magical Swordsman, a Mage who utilized combat skills and physical enhancements to join his comrades and followers in battle, more battle experience was a necessity. He wasn't surprised by Negi's choice, even though the young Mage would probably prove more adept in the Traditional Caster position, where more magical ability and greater spells were utilized while his partners protected him. But the reasons he had chosen the more battle-oriented style was because he didn't want to leave his friends to do everything, and because Nagi was one as well.

And if Nagi did it, Negi did it too.

Although he wasn't much better in that regard now that he thought about it. Nagi, Rakan, and pretty much everyone from Ala Rubra that was a Mage chose the Magic Swordsman style. He didn't even get the choice of being a Mage or Swordsman when he started learning magic. Rakan and Nagi just showed their predatory smiles – smiles that still to this day lurk in the darkest recesses of his mind as the sources of his fear – and forced him to train and fight in a way that matched them. In fairness he probably would have chosen that fighting style anyway, but he still would have liked the opportunity to make the choice.

Negi was slow to start with the Magic Swordsman fighting style, struggling to move and dodge Evangeline's attacks during their spars while attempting to properly cast his spells. He had spent most of his life learning magic by standing in place and reciting spells in order to cast them. To so suddenly have to involve movement, fighting, and dodging into that process was proving rather difficult.

But thankfully Naruto was around to give him some pointers, and taking in the advice from Asuna and Setsuna, he started off slow and made sure not to overwhelm the younger boy right from the start like he was.

He told Negi to practice reciting his chants while actively moving and doing other tasks. The young Welshman had started off that training by walking around the entire resort, reciting to himself all the spells and incantations he knew while making his way over every square foot of the magical resort.

After that he had upgraded to speed walking. Then jogging. Then running. He had a little more difficulty listing off the spells while he ran, but with some more effort he started to get the hang of it. Kid wasn't a prodigy for nothing. Negi had even started to incorporate his reciting into his daily life. The little Mage would start listing off spells while he brushed his teeth, ate breakfast, trained in kenpo, and during his breaks at school. He hadn't even noticed he was doing it based off his reaction when people asked what he was muttering.

Of course all these changes and time away weren't going unnoticed. Everyone in class had started looking worried because Negi's daily behavior had started to change, with his mumbling and attention being focused elsewhere. Also the poor kid looked more drained than usual, both physically and mentally. From his long nights of preparing for school, training so very often, getting accustomed to spending one day in the span of an hour, and of course Eva's 'payments'.

Little vampire looked completely guilt free when the topic of Negi's well-being was brought up. And looked even more confused when he looked her way, as if she were innocent and being wrongfully blamed.

She was coy, that little she-devil. She knew how to play the game.

He was going to have to lobby for Negi to get an afternoon off and get some rest. Although he knew if he even brought it up he'd be bombarded with denials and complaints. Evangeline would come up with a counterpoint to every single topic he tried to bring up. And if she didn't she'd just have to stick with it being her training session and Negi's wish for her to help him, and that Naruto shouldn't even be allowed to say anything because he was just a guest helping out when he could.

Of course the bigger problem would be getting Negi to actually consider taking a break. The kid was stubborn and bullheaded when it came to things he wanted to do. He wanted to train and get stronger and better more than anything, and he'd argue that he has more than enough time to rest and recuperate between when he's inside the resort and when he's outside. That kid refused to look at himself objectively and realize that what he was doing would probably hurt him before he knew it.

When he talked with Kyūbi about this the fox snorted and muttered something about glass houses.

Now that the training had ended for the day, Eva was taking her bloody reward. After they were done Naruto would try his best to-

He paused.

He felt a presence making its way just one floor down.

Were they trying to sneak in and attack? If they were trying to be stealthy then it wasn't a good effort. But if they had broken into the cabin and made their way into the resort then they were here for something.

Eva? Had someone come to try their luck against the Dark Evangel?

While these theories ran through his head, he made his way down the stairs to intercept the interlopers. He finally arrived on the floor below and caught sight of the intruders-

"Asuna," Konoka whispered and motioned her friend over, "I think I heard something over here. Secchan says she feels two people up ahead."

"Is it Negi?"

"We have to go to."

He watched the twin-tailed girl follow her friend before Yue and Nodoka followed after them as well. The blond's expression was one of embarrassment and quiet disappointment. He coughed into his hand to try and dispel the tension he had thinking there was actually a legitimate threat coming to attack them. Instead he quietly followed after them to see what kind of trouble they'd cause.

He made sure to keep a few meters of distance from them, and spotted the full team that had come to visit. It was Asuna, Konoka, Setsuna, Ku Fei, Kazumi, Nodoka, and Yue that had found their way inside. He had heard that Negi had slowly started to integrate Nodoka and Yue into the magical business after what had happened in Kyoto. Nodoka because she still had a Pactio, and Yue as well because her natural curiosity was just too much to quell.

And Ku Fei was here because...well, apparently she came around to the knowledge of magic by herself, or by association with Mana and Kaede. She sorta just took the revelation that magic existed in stride and if she tried to tell people then they'd have to try and understand through her broken speech patterns.

This keeping magic a secret thing really wasn't working out.

"M-Master, please. I-I don't think I can do this anymore."

"Goodness Boya, you're looking a little drained. Have you really been losing that much fluid?"

"Well you take some out of me every other day."

"After you should have been getting enough hydration. You've been drinking and keeping up your fluid intake, right?"

"Y-Yes ma'am."

"I know you're lying. Well, I guess this is a cautionary tale."

"Y-You're still going to take more?!"

"Well it's my treat. Not my fault you can't handle it. Now brace yourself, here I come."

"A-Ah~."

Dear god, he knew what they were actually talking about and even he could understand how that could be misconstrued. So of course the girls were thinking about all the awful things it could possibly be and blushing from embarrassment. In fact they were so distracted that he walked up to them without any effort to hide and they still didn't notice. He should probably clear things up so this could be settled properly.

Or, with a devious smile on his face-

"God I hope they didn't forget to bring the condoms."

"EEP!"

The girls panicked and jumped out in a fright, clamoring over each other and flailing over or jumping out of their hiding place in surprise. They looked back and saw the grinning face of the whiskered blond snickering at their response.

"Dammit Whiskers!" Asuna stomped her foot with a beet red face, "Don't scare us like that! A-And don't go saying weird, suggestive things either!"

"Oh don't even try to play the innocent card. All your faces were red as fire and your thoughts were running all over the place you filthy degenerates!" The girls blushed a little deeper before Naruto turned to his ponytailed Ministra, "And Setsuna, I blatantly walked up behind all of you there at the end and you didn't even notice. Them I can get but you? For shame."

Setsuna's face grew even redder, a mix of both embarrassment and shame. She ducked her head and whispered, "I-I'm sorry."

"Don't put that on Setsuna-San! It was hard for any of us to focus with what we were hearing!" Asuna exclaimed, "And what the hell is Eva-chan doing to the brat! Hey, he's just a-"

Asuna rounded the corner to find the tired face of Negi and the unamused eyes of Eva. Half her face was hidden behind Negi's arm as she drank her payment of blood from his vein. She lifted her head up, showing the little red marks on her fang before staring silently at the heterochomic girl, "You know I usually kill intruders, right?"

"What the fuck is making all that racket?!" Chachamaru came over with Kyūbi huddled in her arms as the fox snarled, "You know some of us are trying to enjoy their day off, right?!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"This is amazing!" Kazumi said as she started taking pictures of the resort, it's landscape, and all the green-haired maids that were walking around keeping the place intact. The aspiring reporter was almost salivating from sheer joy at being able to witness such an impossible, mystical location with her very own eyes, "I know I'm dealing with magic but I never knew how astounding it can be! Negi-kun's antics kinda made me think magic could only be used for perverted situations or fighting. But an entire beach resort inside of a tiny globe with Urashima folklore mechanics? Now that is real magic!"

"And you won't be writing any kind of story or article about my cozy little abode for your own profit, will you Kazumi Asakura?" The pink-haired reporter flinched and laughed nervously as she looked back at the impatient vampire. Evangeline was lounging back in a couch, being waited on by one of her maids with a drink in hand as she frowned, "Because I'm not going to be any part of your desperate grab for attention and professional credibility."

"Aww, c'mon Eva-chan, don't be like that." The sneaky girl tried to appeal to the stubborn immortal who ignored her and turned up her nose, "I'm thinking about writing a story some time in the future about Negi-kun and his adventures. I'm sure people would be interested in reading about a magical place like this."

"Did you not hear me about not using my property for your financial benefit?"

"And when I tell his story, I don't mind talking up his amazing teacher~." Kazumi slyly smiled as Eva's expression remained cold but the barest sign of interest piqued on her face, "The lovely, gorgeous, sensual, sexual, busty teacher feared and respected by every Mage and Magician from every corner of the world. Who garnered the attention and affection of everyone she met, even her student and even their father. But she couldn't be bothered with either of them...because they just weren't worth her effort."

...

Eva sipped from her flute, "You have a silver tongue, Kazumi Asakura. But be careful, because you might just one day lose it." She flinched but the vampire sighed, "But not today."

"YES! THANKS FOR THE PERMISSION, EVA-CHAN!"

"Where did you get the idea that I passed off on your little delusion?"

"Eva-chan!" The vampire gave a dreary sigh and made a show of bodily turning around to look up at a frowning Asuna. The orange-haired girl stood with her foot tapping impatiently as Evangeline rolled her eyes, "You wanna tell me what exactly you've been making Negi do in this place?"

"Let's see..." Eva put down her glass and looked up in thought, "Magical theory. Practical magical application. Magic systems and how best to utilize them in battle. A good few hours for Boya to practice his fighting techniques. And then we round it out with a spar between Boya and myself, Chachamaru, and Chachazero so he can see what it's like fighting more than one person at a time. And…I think that about covers it. Does that answer your question, Asuna Kagurazaka?"

"All of that! In an hour?!"

"In an hour equal to a day. More than enough time for him to do everything and get the required rest before going back outside and getting more rest. We took his schedule into mind when coming up with this training plan. I know I can't monopolize his time, even though everything else he could be dealing with is pointless and empty drivel. I might be a monster but I'm hardly a tyrant."

Some of those listening to the conversation hesitated to say anything. Naruto looked ready to refute the point but Konoka quickly waved her hands and covered his mouth before he could cause any trouble.

"Well congratulations on the time management but I'm not talking about his schedule!" Asuna pointed back at the boy in question, "Negi's just a kid! This is way too much stuff to be piling on his plate all at once! He's gonna wear himself out!"

"He asked for it."

"I-It's true, Asuna-San!" Negi nodded rapidly, "I did ask Master for this training regimen!"

"I know you did Negi, and I'm sure you're happy with this plan. But I know you, and given enough time and do this long enough and you'll be exhausting yourself. Ah!" She held up her finger before he could open his mouth, "Don't even try to deny it. You were going to push yourself in order to make up for some ability you're lacking in. And with Eva-chan, that's a seriously dangerous limit to be pushing. Didn't you promise me that you'd treat me like a real partner now? I said you could rely on me and the others to help you through everything remember? Well just coming over here to train by yourself until you're rung ragged feels like you totally ignored everything we talked about."

"I-I'm not ignoring what we talked about Asuna-San, I swear." The little redhead answered softly as his expression lowered, "But this wasn't about me trying to take on everything by myself. This was about me taking the necessary steps to be stronger and more capable. So I can fight alongside you and the others if something like the Kyoto trip ever happened again. I don't want something like Konoka-San being taken again, or Setsuna-San pushing herself to make up for my lack of experience, or Nii-San having to get hurt just to make up for my incapabilities. I don't want to leave you or anyone else out of things...but I don't want to be useless either." Negi tightened his fists and looked up at her, "I want to be able to help, and if pushing myself like this is the only way I can do that, then I'm alright with it."

Asuna blinked and looked conflicted as she considered what he said. She looked back and saw Negi's words had clearly resonated with them as much as her. Her mismatched eyes met blue for a moment before Naruto nodded and stepped over before kneeling down to face Negi directly, "We understand you want to get stronger so what happens in Kyoto doesn't happen again Negi. I wanna say something like that was just a fluke...but that's like tempting fate. Accidents and situations like that happen more often than we expect, so being prepared for them is good."

"Nii-San."

"Asuna isn't saying you shouldn't keep training. If it's what you want, then it's what you want. But she - and most of us - are worried that you won't be pacing yourself. You want to reach the same level as Nagi was, and that's an admirable goal, but it isn't one you're going to reach anytime soon. You've got a long road ahead of you, but you won't get there any faster working yourself to the bone." Naruto smiled and patted his own chest, "Take it from someone who tried to race to catch up as quickly as possible, it makes you tired and achy real fast."

Negi looked at Naruto's expression as the whiskered blond smiled but still looked genuine with his words. The young Welshman looked down in thought before nodding, "Okay, I'll try not to work myself so hard in my training sessions."

"Just so it's clear, whether or not I lighten his workload is my choice." Several dirty looks were sent Evangeline's way as she continued to lounge without a care in the world, "Instead of coddling the child, why not encourage him to develop his skills in other ways? Perhaps work on his physical conditioning so training and giving some blood doesn't wipe him out."

"Eva, he's human. I know you haven't exactly experienced it in a very long time, but giving a pint of blood leaves most people wiped out."

The vampire scoffed and shook her head, "You're all children." She sighed, "But since I know you'll continue to bitch at me for however long you're in here, and considering you're stuck here for the better part of 24 hours, I will allow the Boya to have an off day. So go enjoy yourselves. Just don't bother me."

"Yay!" Konoka led the cheer with the other girls, "Let's go check out Eva-chan's place for ourselves!"

"Don't break anything!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

"Hey, do you think we can learn to do magic?" Negi and Naruto looked up at Konoka as the Kyoto princess was excited to bring up the topic, "I mean you guys learned magic when you were younger, but can you only learn it when you're younger?"

"Oh no, you can start learning magic at any age." Negi stood up from his seat after he finished re-wrapping his staff, "Some people learn it when they're still children so they have more time to develop their skills and affinities, but every human is capable of learning magic given the right time and effort."

"So what brought this on?" Naruto asked as he looked at Konoka and the other girls who looked just as interested to hear about magic, "I'm guessing you girls have been thinking about this before?"

"Of course!" Kazumi yelled with fervor in her voice, "It's one thing to find out that magic actually exists in the world, but then to find out you could use it too! Do you have any idea how much we used to imagine throwing around magic elements or casting spells when we were kids? Because it was a lot!"

"Every kid dream it-Aru!"

"They do?" Negi blinked in surprise before looking at Naruto. The whiskered blond shrugged, just as confused to hear that as he was, "I had no idea."

"Of course you didn't! You have no idea how good you had it!" Konoka whined, "We want to use magic too!"

"N-Negi-sensei, w-we'd like to learn magic as well." Nodoka nervously stated as her face had a hue of pink on her cheeks and her eyes barely appeared through her bangs. Even so the usually timid young bookworm was excited at the prospect of learning magic and fulfilling a childhood fantasy of hers, "I-I've always wanted to know what it would be like to use magic."

"As have I." Yue spoke up beside her best friend. The inquisitive short girl looked down at Negi's staff with curiosity, "However I'm not interested in learning magic for the sake of fulfilling a dream or fantasy of being one of those magical girls from an anime-"

"Moon Prism Power-Aru!"

"Instead I am intrigued to learn more about the culture and methods used by Mages' and their world. What is their core philosophies? Their methodologies? What history does this magical society that's been separated from ours have that warrants such secrecy?" Yue's eyes twinkled, "Please tell us more about it, Negi-sensei."

Naruto looked at the short girl in shock, "I still can't fathom it. How? How are you doing so bad in class when you're this bright?"

"I told you – there's nothing I hate more in this world than studying." Yue bravely announced, "If I fail then so be it. As long as I get to study life and its processes, then I'll be happy."

"You don't want to study, but you want to learn? I'm...I'm confused."

"Just accept it and start explaining to me more about the magical world. I already know a little about these Pactio cards and...and how they are created." She muttered with a faint blush. Nodoka, Setsuna, and Asuna shared in the embarrassment with their faces becoming a bright color red while Konoka just giggled with a slightly flushed face. Yue shyly looked aside, "I...I'll admit, that realization was certainly one I wasn't suspecting from an ancient magical culture like this one."

"You wanna learn a little more about how to make Pactios, Yuecchi?!" The short purple-haired girl jumped in surprise at the enthusiasm Chamo showed as he jumped up on a table and grinned at the short girl, "Well let me tell you the basics! I make a circle in the ground with magic and it makes the card - no big deal. But to actually make the 'magic' happen, then you gotta kiss the other person you're trying to contract with. And not just a little peck on the cheek or the forehead – Konoka-oneechan and And-San proved those just ain't enough! Naw, I'm talkin' full lip, mouth-to-mouth, tongue optional kissin'! Gotta make it hot and heady for the best results! And the longer you do it, the better the results! And only after the longest, most hottest make out imaginable-"

"STOP!" Asuna's hand swung down and squashed the ermine down flat under her palm. She picked him back up and squeezed the talking animal tightly with a furious blush on her face, "What is wrong with you?! Can you just stop being a pervert for one minute and quit trying to pimp Negi out like this?!"

"B-But Ane-San, I don't understand. I mean almost half the girls here have already kissed Aniki - and you were the first!"

"Out! Of! Necessity!" She yelled while shaking the ermine, "You think I'd willingly kiss that snot-nosed brat if Eva-chan hadn't been going full blown-out bitch mode?! As if!"

"But it was a crisis, Ane-San, and we acted accordingly! And the Pactio totally helped save the day! There might be a side benefit of some cash and my Aniki becoming more and more of an amazing guy with notches of manhood on his belt, but it's also totally for the benefit of all of us!"

"You are not convincing in the slightest!" The bell-wearing girl's anger continued to flare until she felt a tug on her vest. She looked back to see Yue trying to get her attention, "Yue-chan?"

"Sorry Asuna-San, but can I see your card for a moment?" Her fellow Baka-Ranger quickly complied and handed over her card. The short girl turned to her best friend, "Nodoka?" She timidly nodded and handed over her Pactio card as well. Yue examined them closely, "Besides the words and the drawings of them on the front, these cards are remarkably the same. I thought there would be some kind of difference to them."

"Like what?" Negi asked.

"Well you and Asuna-San are very close, and Nodoka loves you, so I thought there'd be at least some difference in these cards to signify your relationships with them." Asuna and Nodoka blanked in shock as Negi just blushed, "But unfortunately it seems they are currently at the same level of standing for you, Negi-sensei. That's a bit of a disappointment considering all the work Nodoka put in."

"Astute observation, Yuecchi!" Chamo was revived by the interest in the conversation and slipped out of Asuna's grip. He scurried up Yue's leg and popped up on her shoulder, "The truth is that a Pactio can be affected by the two participants' feelings, affection, and trust levels between them. The stronger the connection, the more the affect will show in the card. Not physically, like a different looking card, but in what kind of artifact will appear for the Minister."

"Really?" Konoka pulled out her own card, "So you get something different depending on your relationship? Does that mean if Secchan had a Pactio with Negi-kun or if I had one with Naruto-kun, we might get something different?"

"Like I said Konoka-oneechan, it depends on your closeness! The closer you are, the better the result!"

"Huh?" Konoka looked back at her childhood friend before tilting her head, "Hey Secchan, have you even tried out your Pactio yet? I haven't seen you do anything with it."

"Oh, I suppose I haven't." Setsuna pulled out her card as well and examined it over, looking at the picture of her with her blade and a strange, long white scarf wrapped around her neck, "I still haven't used it since..." She blushed as she remembered how she came about getting this card.

"Interested." She flinched and looked up as Naruto appeared at her side with a smile. He nodded to her card, "Say the word Adeat and summon it to see for yourself."

"A-Alright then." She nodded, "Adeat."

The card shined with a brilliant light before fading away just as quickly. When it did it left a white scarf long enough to be wrapped around her neck multiple times until part of her face was hidden away. She blinked and pulled it down to free her mouth, "It really is a scarf?"

"Aww~, Secchan, it looks so cute on you!" Konoka fawned, "It's white just like your wings!"

"Very nice."

"Wish I had something good like that-Aru!"

Setsuna flushed from the attention as Naruto leaned in closer and looked at her new garment. Her face heated up at his proximity but she kept her voice, "W-What are you thinking?"

"Do you feel any different? Does your body feel lighter or sturdier?" The blond stepped back and looked her over with a curious gaze, "Usually an artifact makes sure you get a weapon or some kind of boost to your abilities when you use it. So do you feel anything."

"N-No, not really." She tugged at the scarf around her neck once more, hoping to cause some kind of reaction or response from her new artifact but getting nothing of the sort. She shook her head, "Is it possible that it is only a cosmetic change? Chamo-San said its abilities depend on the participants' ado-r-relationship!" She quickly corrected herself, "So if that's the case-"

"Heads up!"

Konoka flinched as she saw a bottle come flying her way. Setsuna's instincts kicked in and she went to grab her sword.

Only to pause as the scarf around her neck extended out and caught the bottle several meters before it even got close to Konoka. Everyone stared at it in surprise as the bright white garment acted like a living limb and curled around the bottle carefully. It slowly lowered the wine bottle down to the ground and placed it gently on its base before snapping back into place and forming around Setsuna's neck again. The side-ponytailed girl blinked in shock before looking down at her scarf.

"There, you got your answer." Evangeline mumbled before ordering her maid to bring the bottle back, "Now stop making so much noise and get out of here!"

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Several black and red knives flew through the air, sailing straight to pierce her body. The scarf around her neck shot out like a whip and caught the knives before they could get any closer. The white garment then whipped down and planted the knives in the sand where they faded into light and returned to their card. Naruto watched the knives from his Pactio return before smiling, "I think we've got it down. That thing can react pretty damn fast. Now for this next part try to make it move instead of letting it."

"H-How do I do that?"

"Try to guide it manually. It's been acting on your reflexes so far, so see if you can make it act on your will instead." Naruto summoned another knife from his Pactio and let it hang loosely between his fingers. He smirked, "Ready?"

Setsuna raised her hand, the end of her scarf lying limply in her palm. She looked up and nodded firmly. Naruto swung up and lobbed the knife through the air. Setsuna immediately threw out her hand and caused her scarf to shoot forward. The silk garment came upon the knife but instead of delicately wrapping around it like before it knocked into the blade and sent it careening off into the water. It pulled back and Setsuna watched it settle around her neck again, "It didn't seem to work that time."

"Really, Setsuna-San?" Asuna asked, standing off to the side after she had decided she wanted to watch them train instead of attempting to use magic like the others. She tilted her head, "Didn't you make it hit the knife just like before?"

"I wanted to grab it like the ones Naruto-sensei threw my way." The swordswoman explained, "But it just knocked them away instead of wrapping around them. So it looks like I can control it, but it isn't as precise as when it's acting automatically on defense."

"Well you only just started using it, so you'll probably need a little time to get used to it completely." Naruto stepped up with a smile as he watched her scarf carefully shift around her neck to make her comfortable, "That you know you can make it act on command shows you already have some amazing control over your artifact. So just give it some time. Everything needs practice to master, even Pactios."

"Really?" Asuna pulled out her card next and frowned at it, "So what exactly can I practice with my Pactio? Because I'm not sure there's much else I can do with a paper fan."

"Well maybe you can try to figure out how to make it a sword?" He saw the shocked, blank look on her face before he sighed, "The sword on your card isn't just a feature on the card. You can definitely summon that thing. Did you really think that fan was the only weapon you'd get out of your card?"

"Considering all I've been able to use so far is a fan then yes! I thought this was like some weird, cruel joke made by magic or Mages or whatever! Adeat!" Her fan appeared in her hands and she started waving it around in anger, "AHHH! I want my sword! Do you have any idea how much easier it would have been fighting those demons if I had a sword instead of a fan!"

"I bet it would have been easier to fight those demons if you had a pair of panties on as well."

Asuna quickly rounded on him with a snarl as she pointed her fan threateningly at him. When he only stared at her in silence, she puffed out her cheeks and lowered her weapon, "Can you help me train with this thing? I really think it'd help me fight better with Negi if I could use this thing better."

"Well like I said, all you need is practice." Naruto smiled and motioned around them, "This place does give you an entire day out of a single hour outside, so if you really want some training then you should come here more often. Although if you do then don't expect a fun time at the beach."

Both girls looked at him incredulously, noting how he was wearing a short-sleeved hoodie and some swim trunks as well. They shared a quick look before staring at the whiskered blond in judgmental silence.

He sweated, "Okay so dress for the heat and sand and sea, but it'll still be some hard training."

"Abeat." Setsuna sent her artifact back into its card before nodding, "Thank you for offering us training, Sensei. I look forward to being able to utilize my artifact more readily in future battles."

"My pleasure." Naruto chuckled at his Ministra's expectations. He then looked over at Asuna and saw the bell-wearing girl was still looking him over, "What is it?"

"Just...I still can't believe you have so many..." She motioned over his body but hesitated to actually speak about his scars. There were very few times Naruto wore clothes that show off much skin, opting for long-sleeved clothing and hoodies or his suits while working in the school. But now with his limbs and body being better shown off, the clear markings and different skin tone over his form were more easily noticed. Asuna's eyes softened with worry, "You've been through a lot of fights, haven't you?"

"Yeah," He shrugged, "When you fight as much as I have, this is kind of to be expected." The ease he had at the topic of his scars left a tinge of sadness in the girls' expressions. He noticed their looks and gave a small smile, "If you're worried about me then you don't have to. I survived these things and I can survive a lot worse."

"Y-Yeah, I believe you Whiskers, it's just I can't believe there are so many. You've done a lot for a kid our age."

"I wanted to try and do my part to help, and I like to think each one of these shows I did. Except for this one," He pointed down towards a faint line along his shin, "This was me picking a fight over my weight class and losing my leg."

"YOU LOST YOUR LEG?!"

"Yeah but in the Magic World it isn't nearly as big a deal when you lose a limb. If you still have it you can get it reattached, and even if you don't they can make a new one from your DNA."

"BUT YOU STILL LOST YOUR LEG! DID THAT NOT FREAK YOU OUT AT ALL?!"

"A little. But from my point of few I was fighting a dragon, passed out, then woke up with a scar on my leg. And that was it." His nonchalant manner of bringing it up caused Asuna's shock to spread in deeper across her face. He sighed and nodded his head, "Okay, I guess I can get why this would be unsettling."

"You think?!" The bell-wearing rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed in exhaustion. She then blinked and looked at Naruto firmly, "Is that kind of stuff going to happen to Negi too? Is he gonna fight battles like that and get hurt too?"

"If he's looking for Nagi and following his path, then he's absolutely going to get hurt." Her breath hitched, "Sorry Asuna, but I can't lie about that."

"Ugh, that stupid kid." The older girl grumbled under her breath and shook her head. After a moment she took a sharp breath before nodding with a stern expression, "Okay, that settles it. I guess I gotta stick with the brat for a little bit to make sure he doesn't get hurt like that."

"What?"

"Are you serious, Asuna-San?"

"Yeah, I mean if he's gonna get himself into those types of fights, he should have someone watching his back and making sure things don't get out of hand. So I'll stick with him and watch out for Negi." Asuna frowned, "For a start anyway. If he doesn't start to wise up and learn to pace himself then I'm gonna give him a serious whooping."

Naruto and Setsuna looked at Asuna in surprise before they blinked. They looked to each other and broke into a quick fit of laughter that caused Asuna to blush with embarrassment. After a moment the whiskered blond shook his head and smiled, "Negi couldn't ask for a more diligent partner."

"Yeah, damn straight. And don't you forget that Whiskers." She tried to hide how red her face was after her declaration before pointing back to the resort just off the beach, "Let's head back to the others and see if we can make some dinner."

The three made their way back over in time to see Konoka wave a practice wand around and recite her spell, "Practe Bigi Nar, Ardescat!" The kind girl pouted in annoyance before waving her wand around in frustration, "Ahhhh, it's not working! Negi-kun, I think my wand is broken!"

"I-It's not broken, Konoka-San, but you can't expect results to occur on the first day of practice." Negi turned back to watch Nodoka and Yue continue to practice their magic incantations as well, "Now remember that magic is accepting the energy from the world around you and channeling it through your body and out of your wand. And from the top of that wand that energy becomes a heat that sparks a fire-"

"Do it already! Hurry up! I wanna see something happen!"

"M-Master, don't pressure them! You weren't even interested in watching them train earlier!"

"Yeah well they're in my resort so I have to see what they can do! And so far I'm not impressed!"

"Oh god, Eva-chan is scary when she's sloshed."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Naruto stirred awake when he heard the sound of faint footsteps against the marble groundwork. He groaned and tried to ignore the noise so he could fall back asleep, but realized that since he was having thoughts that it was too late. His eyes peeled open despite his greatest wishes, "Ughhhhhhh...what's that noise?"

"The other humans." Kyūbi growled in annoyance as he tried to dig his face into the bed, "They started saying something about the Little Red Moron's past and snuck off."

"Negi?"

"Probably. Don't give a shit. Shut up and sleep."

...

"Ugh." Naruto pulled off his sheets and slipped out of bed, "We should go see what they're doing."

"Noooooooooooooooooo."

"You're coming with me."

"Fuck ooooooffffffffffffffff."

He picked the demon fox up by his tails and dragged him along as he started muttering curses and death threats. The tired blond closed his eyes and stretched out his senses to find the group of students. He found a group of life signs gathered together in a group, near a small rush of magic.

He finally found his group of friends huddled together behind a small wall just by a flight of stairs. He came closer and heard them whisper and speak in hushed tones to each other. Even Eva was grouped up with them, having extreme interest in whatever it was they were looking out. Just over the wall he could see Negi and Asuna crouched beside each other, a magic circle under their feet that glowed subtlety as they closed their eyes.

"Hey," He whispered, "What's going on?"

"S-Sensei." Nodoka greeted him, with a runny nose and red-rimmed eyes. Oddly enough it wasn't just the meek girl that seemed to be feeling this, as the others all had some varying degree of sadness and tears in their eyes. Even Evangeline was furiously rubbing her eyes clear before anyone could say anything, "W-We're using my Pactio to see what Negi-sensei is talking about with Asuna-San."

"It's Negi-kun's past." Kazumi sniffled, "Man, I had no idea that kid had been through so much."

"You're spying on his memories?"

"B-But he was sharing them with Asuna and we wanted to know what it was about." Konoka wiped her tears to little avail, "I-I feel so bad!"

"But you're still doing it."

"Boya said it was a story about how he met Nagi for the first time." Eva piped up, acting cold but failing to hide the puffiness around her eyes, "You can't tell me you aren't interested to hear about the first time he's been sighted in over a decade."

He wanted to let Negi keep his privacy, but it was more tempting than he'd like to admit to hear about where Nagi had shown up. He never had gotten around to hearing the story from his little friend. He sighed and leaned down to look at the book, "Okay, but I still think this is..."

...

No.

No. No it can't be.

This wasn't right. This couldn't be right.

Naruto lurched forward and snatched the book out of Nodoka's hands fast enough to leave the shy girl surprised. His movement was so fast that Kyūbi was nearly launched off his shoulder as he stood back up to look at the book.

The town. The demons. The people. The petrification.

"T-This can't be right."

"Dumbass what are you-"

"N-No way. He couldn't be - I-I mean he couldn't be there to-"

"Hey, calm down. Take a breath."

"Oh my god, he was-"

"Naruto-kun, what's wrong?"

Naruto's breath hitched and he dropped the book on the ground. He stumbled back on his feet, his breathing coming out in short gasps as his heart started to race. The other girls looked up at him with worry in their eyes at his sudden change in demeanor. Setsuna made to reach out for him-

A flash of a girl cracking apart against him filled his vision.

Naruto flashed away in a single step. He appeared back on the circle platform just apart from the main resort and was bathed in light that teleported him away. He found himself back in the basement of Evangeline's cabin, alone and dark with the outside being pelted with rain and thunder. But even with all that noise Naruto was deafened by the beat of his heart and the sharpness of his breathing.

He stumbled his way out of the room and made his way up the cabin. All the while his breathing became frantic and he kept muttering to himself, "This can't be happening. This can't be real. H-He couldn't be a part of it. He couldn't have been - h-he couldn't have been there when-"

"ENOUGH!"

Kyūbi slammed his tails into his charge's cheek and nearly floored the teenager after they had stepped out of the cabin and into the rain. Naruto fell into the wet rock and gravel as the fox scurried back inside for protection, "Dammit you got me wet! Couldn't you hear me when I told you to fucking calm down!"

Naruto ignored his angry yelling and just laid on the ground for a moment as the rain pelted him. After a few seconds he sat himself back up and stared up into the clouds as lighting flashed and thunder rang.

Kyūbi stared at his partner in silence before sighing, "I thought you were done panicking about it. You haven't had an issue like that in years. So what happened?"

"You saw it, didn't you? Nodoka's book?"

"That right. I saw it."

"You saw where Negi was. He was there...during the attack."

"Yeah...I saw."

"That...that can't just be coincidence. I-I mean he was there, Kyūbi. He was there where the whole thing started." Naruto panted, "He was there where everything started going wrong."

"That was years ago. It's over. It's past. What's done is done. You've moved on now. You've done better." For a moment, Kyūbi's trademark hostility and anger faded from his voice as he spoke to his old friend, "You can't keep thinking about it."

In the force of the rain, Naruto looked down at the ground. At the rocks and dirt and gravel. He closed his eyes and thought back so long ago when he was surrounded by rock and ash before...

But it was so much worse.

"I never stop thinking about it."

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Natsumi Murakami was a normal girl. She considered herself rather plain and boring. A boring girl. Living a boring life. At her boring school. Where she was part of her boring club. And everything was perfect in its own boring way.

Some of the other girls around her were fantastic and amazing and larger than life. But Natsumi's life didn't need to be any of those things. For her, boring and normal were just right.

But this?

"Don't ya move." The young boy said as he pressed his unnaturally sharp nails into her neck and used her as a meat shield, "Or I'll hurt this Nee-chan."

A naked boy that was an injured puppy just a moment hiding behind her and using her as a shield with sharpened nails against her neck and threatening to kill her?

Yeah...she wanted her normal boring life back please.

[[[[[[[[Omake: Enemy Contact]]]]]]]]

"Okay, I think that's it for morning roll call." Negi tapped his papers together and neatly corrected them in place before looking around, "Although I don't know where Chao-San is, which is a little peculiar. And Nii-San is late as well."

"Hold on. Here I am."

"Nii-San!" There were gasps of shock and snickers of laughter as the blond AT walked into the room. However it was difficult to tell if he was blond because of the multitude of colored paint that covered not only his hair but his whole body. It looked like a human rainbow had walked into the room, "What happened to you?!"

"Oh, didn't you hear Negi-kun?" Makie said, "Chao-Bao-Zi is holding a special promotional event! You get food stamps and coupons for every paint ball you peg Naruto-kun with! Special colors are for different prizes!"

"Apparently Chao sent out a mass email last night promoting this, and when I was making my way through the campus this morning it was only to be swarmed with paintballs and balloons." To emphasize his point, a blue balloon pegged him from the side and coated a rare piece of his clean suit in blue paint. His eye twitched, "Fucking really?"

"Sorry-Aru. Too tempting."

"T-That's awful. I-Is that why Chao-San isn't here this morning?"

"Hey, that's rude Negi. You can't go marking her as late or absent. I made sure she could keep her perfect attendance record up."

He pointed up and everyone in class followed his finger to the ceiling. They were met with the surprising sight of their #1 student duct taped to the ceiling with so many layers she would never get down. The genius had a peeved expression, but most of her mouth was taped over as well.

"I caught her on the way home last night and did this. Apparently she set up that email to go out even if she wasn't there to send it. I'm just going to guess Chachamaru had a hand in that."

"My apologies."

"Chao, should we call this a tie for now?"

The genius narrowed her eyes but nodded reluctantly.

"Don't worry, we'll have other chances to get back at each other."

Chao actually looked happy to hear that idea.

A sense of dread and horror filled every students' chest.

[[[[[[[[Knight]]]]]]]]

Done

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