Took another look at Chp.1 and just KNEW what I could do to make it better for people to see so that they could consider viewing the other chapters afterward. Here's the arrival scene just after the familiar summoning ritual.
'Speech': Thoughts
"Speech":language not understood by everyone present
*****
The dust cloud churned up from the summoning was unusually large by Professor Colbert's reckoning. Then again, this was Miss Valliere. Thankfully, this was a holy spell, and as such something anyone with power could do, in theory. The balding magic user patted down his dark blue robe to clear some of the dust being kicked up.
A voice suddenly arose from the fading cloud of debris. “Commander, this is Gabriev. Did you guys use another goofy science experiment on me?”
The dust cleared and a startled gasp rose from the student body. Even the middle-aged inventor had never had he seen anything like this. Shining black greaves ending in large yellow spikes shaped like drill bits. Pale grey armor at the thighs and upper arms. Strange black protrusions from its back that reminded him oddly of wings. A lion's head made of metal acting as the chest-piece. A black head with an emerald studded gold crest... which the body was attempting to remove?
But as odd as it seemed, the creature did indeed want to remove its own head as it began pressing the sides while tugging upward every so often. Then came the same deep, metallic voice that had been heard before ."...Dammit, where are those latch plates? I swear Doc’s moving them around this helmet just to frak with me..."
At that point the armored being touched two spots on either side of its head and a plume of steam began to spray from the odd red vents on either side of the faceplate. The helmet slid off easily now allowing everyone to see the face of the... human being?!
'Of course! A suit of armor. Quite impressive.' Satisfied with that little mystery solved, the teacher turned to the youngest Valliere. "An excellent familiar, Miss Valliere! You must have quite a bit of power inside to bring forth a giant, of all things."
The ‘giant’ shook his head suddenly causing the short black ponytail in the back on his head to whip about, before turning to look at the assembled crowd with a set of bright hazel eyes. “Alright, who are you all and where the hell am I? I was supposed to be half-way to Washington by now to give a lecture about Krix’ar Tactics and instead I’m brought here by… well, whatever that thing was that scooped me up in midair.”
The stranger tucked his helmet within the crux of his right arm while many of the students began speculating as to how such a tall person could be brought by the summoning spell. As that continued on, and the young Miss Valliere just stared at whom she had summoned, the armored unknown began whispering to himself. “System: Access Linguistic Database. Attempt to confirm match with spoken language around me.”
Within his mind, a chime sounded, and seconds later spoke a reply. ‘Unable to confirm sufficient match within database using linguistic sample. Continuing translation attempt.’
A sour look fell on the stranger’s face. “Terrific. Stranded who knows where and the locals aren’t talking…”
At that point Professor Colbert coughed into his hand to help grab the students’ attention. “Alright now, class! While it is fascinating to consider how such a familiar came into our midst, there is still one bit of business left before this day is finished. Miss Valliere, would you please continue with your part of the ceremony?”
The clamor started up again at that declaration as the pinkette flushed suddenly. Slowly, she straightened herself and moved toward the armored stranger. The young man looked down at her noting the height difference. When standing straight up like he was the short girl was now about eye level with his torso. She wore a black mantle over a white blouse with a grey, pleated skirt, just like all the other young people that had been assembled, though that redhead with the nice bronze skin was using her blouse to show her impressive cleavage to the world. “What’s up, little lady?”
The mage-in-training grimaced at something only she knew of before speaking again. “You should consider yourself lucky. Normally, a commoner would go his whole life without a noble doing this for him.”
The commoner in question blinked in confusion. “You are aware of the fact we can’t understand each other, right?”
The young girl’s face started to redden in anger while she pointed to the ground below. “Just kneel down!”
The stranger smirked lightly before shaking his head. “I hate to break this to you, Little Miss, but I can’t bend as well as I’d need to to get eye-to-eye with ya…”
He trailed off as an idea came to him, seconds before he took the crested helmet that had been tucked under one arm and laid it down in front of him rightside-up, before moving to a kneeling position himself. “There! Still not sure what you want to do, but you might be able to reach me now.”
A few stray giggles escaped from the crowd as the pinkette climbed upon the impromptu stepping stool, swaying slightly as she tried to get her footing. For an instant, it seemed that she’d be able to stabilize herself without help, only to lean suddenly to the side as her arms started windmilling wildly.
A large metallic arm thrust out to grab Louise and steady her before she had a chance to fall. Her eyes moved up the length of the limb to the smiling eyes and face of the one she had summoned. “Steady now. I’d ask why you’d need me so close, but I’m guessing all I’m saying is gobbledygook to you.”
Louise closed her eyes with a sigh before beginning to wave around the small wand in her hand. "My name is Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière. Pentagon of the Five Elemental Powers; bless this humble being and make him my familiar."
“What the hell?” was the only thing the stranger could say before the small girl reached out and tapped the crown of his head with her wand. Mere seconds later she lurched forward and planted a kiss on his lips. The oddness of the act was enough to get the armored warrior to his feet in surprise, which in turn caused Louise to stumble and faceplant herself in the dirt.
The students all around burst into laughter, while the young man blinked in confusion. “Uhh… sorry ‘bout that. It’s not that I’m not flattered and all, I just never-”
He suddenly trailed off as a sudden pressure filled his head and a sudden pain flared on his left hand, causing him to thrash about and groan in pain. Louise managed to clear enough dirt and debris from her face before speaking again. “It’s just the runes inscribing themselves, so stop wailing like a child already.”
But his tantruming didn’t subside, rather it increased until the armored stranger suddenly jerked himself into standing as tall as he could with a wide-eyed expression that he held for several moments. Afterwards, whatever current that caused him to stand erect as a tent pole left him, letting his body go limp and crash to the ground upon his back in a dead faint.
*****
What do you think?