Kirche only smiled calmly. Then, she turned to Saito.
"And what's your name?"
"Hiraga Saito."
"Hiragasaito? What a strange name."
"Hey!"
"Well then, I'll be off now."
She stroked her flaming red hair back and dashed off. The salamander followed her with a cute shuffling movement that looked odd with such a large creature.
As she disappeared, Louise shook a fist in her direction.
"Ooh, that girl gets on my nerves! Just because she summoned a salamander from the Fire Dragon Mountains! Argh!"
"Calm down, it's just a summoning."
"No, it's not! You can determine a mage's true power just by looking at his/her familiar! Why did that idiot get a salamander, while I got you?"
"Jeez, sorry for being a human. But you're one too, y'know."
"Comparing mages and commoners is like comparing wolves and dogs!" Louise exclaimed haughtily.
"...Okay, okay. By the way, she just called you 'Louise the Zero', but, what's the 'Zero' stand for? Is it your surname?"
"No way! My name is Louise de La Vallière! 'Zero' is just a nickname."
"A nickname, huh? I can understand why she's called 'Ardent,' but why are you 'Zero?'"
"You don't need to know," Louise answered uncomfortably.
"Is it your breasts?" Saito asked, glancing at Louise. Yup. Flat as a board.
Louise's hand flew out. He dodged it.
"Come back here!"
"Don't hit me!"
A slap?
That reminds me... This girl... Yesterday, even when everyone else flew away, she walked. And, last night, when I grabbed her, she kicked me in the groin.
If she really wanted to chastise me, wouldn't it be better to use magic instead of hitting or kicking me? That would be more effective, and more mage-like. Why is that? Saito wondered.