Kailor: Quick lesson in pronunciation. Se should actually have an accent over the 'e' but I'm too lazy to make my computer do it. It is pronounced (Shay). And Muirin is (Mwir-in). Gaelic names can be confusing, but there's a little bit of knowledge for you, dear readers. As always, reviews are appreciated. Enjoy.
Seras moved closer, the hologram zooming in on her face. "Far to the east is the country of Selva. They weren't a part of the last war, nor have they ever been a threat to anyone. However, a few years ago, a new leader took over. Se Muirin. He is the nephew of the last ruler there. Until four months ago, no one even knew that much. But now his name is infamous, as is Selva. Four months ago, the governor-general of Ostia, Senator Ricardo, and Rakan-sama went to the Old World to visit Nagi-sama. I had a suspicion then that something wasn't right. That many high-end powers leaving at once? But they assurred me they would only be a week."
She sighed. "But the second the gateport took them, the guards turned on us. Selva had infiltrated the gateport's protectors. They seized the gateport, sent through a message about damage on our side, and sealed it. Before anyone even realized what was going on, Selva had taken over all the way to Ostia. I don't know how their army is so large, since they are such a small country, but Megalomesembria has fallen. They have set up base at Ostia, effectively taking control of the world. They advance as we speak. Only Ariadne, Elysium, and part of the Hellas Empire still stand against them. Princess Theodora and I have managed to salvage a sizeable army. But the Selvens are...something is off about them. They don't fall as normal men do. So we have decided this is our best chance. We are uncertain if the other side of the gateport has been captured as well, but we have to take the risk."
On Ayaka's other side, Yue saw Asuna's hand grip the blonde's arm. In front of her, Konoka and Setsuna held hands, Konoka's other hand over her mouth.
Seras blinked suspiciously wet eyes. "We need help. This may very well never get to you, but if it does, please. Send help."
The hologram flickered out.
As Ala Alba's voices began to ring out, Konoemon raised his hand. "Silence, please." When they had settled back down, he said, "There is something you all need to understand. The way the gateports work is that neither one can be completely closed while the other is open. When both are open, they work on their own. Transfers are immediate. But if both are closed and you open only one, it takes an extreme amount of power and concentration to keep the one open. It also forces the opposite side to crack open a bit. So to get this letter through, Seras must have broke through the enemy's guard, forced the port open, then held it open for at least five minutes. She must have brought a small force to watch her back as she did it. Still, it is an incredible feat. And all of that, for just a hope at a chance of reaching help." Konoemon peered around at them all. "Even if we had no loyalty to Mundus Magicus, knowing what had to be done to send this letter here, I would be obliged to help."
"Headmaster-sensei," Negi said. "What do we need to do? Shall we-"
"Now, now, Negi-kun." Konoemon cut him off. "Too quick. I am sending as many of our strongest as I can. All of the magic teachers will go, except for Seruhiko-kun and Gandolfini-kun. They will stay here with me. Nagi-kun and Rakan-kun went on a mission to America two days ago and no one has heard from them since. But we will continue to try and reach them. As soon as we can, we will send them through." He stroked his beard. "But we will need you, Negi-kun. Takahata-kun will hold this side open as you pass through. Once everyone else has made it through, to watch your back, you and he will open the ports together. However," he raised one finger. "Though I have hired Ala Alba as security for Mahora Academy, I cannot force any of you to go along on this mission. You will be given time to make a decision. I understand some of you feel like you have to do this." His eyes wandered to Asuna. "But this will be a very dangerous mission. Anyone who can capture Megalomesembria cannot be underestimated. Think hard about this. It is not something to walk into without thought."
The class was silent, glancing at each other, none willing to speak first. Yue saw Negi and Asuna look at each other. Their decision was made. So was Yue's. She kept thinking of the headmaster's words: "She must have brought a small force to watch her back..." That must mean her knights. Were her friends in that small force? Did they escape after the letter went through? Or...
"Ayaka-kun," Konoemon said. The blonde looked up, surprised. "I must ask you, though, if we could use the jet you have at your disposal."
"O-of course," Ayaka stammered. "I can have it ready within the hour."
"Make it two hours, Ayaka-kun. I promised time to think things over. Have your people land it in the field under the World Tree."
"Yes, Headmaster-sensei."
"The rest of you, go. Think. Decide. Then either pack...or prepare to say goodbye."
XXXXXXX
As Yue mounted her staff to fly home, Negi called to her. She glanced back. He stood beside Akira, nearly her height these days, looking more and more like a story book hero each day. "I'll see you under the World Tree."
It wasn't a question. She grinned. "See you there, Sensei."
As she landed in front of her house, she stopped, peering up at the hardwork and sweat of the last four months. While her friends had been fighting a war, she'd been building bookshelves, sleeping in a drifting canoe on the lake, and watching reruns of her favorite TV shows late into the night. Her stomach clenched with guilt and she chided herself for it. It's not like she could have known. It wasn't her fault... But that didn't stop her from feeling angry with the beautiful wood of the porch, or the carefully laid cobblestones on her side of the house.
She let herself in, racing upstairs to pack. Using a shrinking spell, she managed to fit a few changes of clothes, a bandolier of her own potions, a set of throwing knives Kaede had given her for her last birthday, and a short sword with the symbol of Ariadne on the handguard, into her satchel. By the time she was done, she still had an hour to wait before she even had to leave. She made her way back down the stairs, hating the silence in her house. She sat on the couch, grabbing her staff. She began to tap it on the floor, watching the crescent moon atop it shimmer.
Her left hip gave a small squeak.
She sat back, opening the little black pouch. She pulled out the little ball of fur and the cloth baggy with the bottle and paper inside. The paper was covered in Negi's careful scrawl.
"Yue-san, I do hope you enjoy your gift. Nodoka-san was very insistent that we get him for you now instead of waiting until he was older. Otter-elves are wonderful companions and very magical beasts. Like Chamo-kun has the special ability to gauge people's affections for one another, your otter also has a special ability. He can control water to a certain degree, depending on his age. The older he gets, the stronger it will be. Right now, yours can probably make a few waves in the lake. After about a month, their magic fully kicks in and they begin speaking-pretty much overnight-and they have better control of their powers. For now, you must feed him twice a day and soak him in warm water once a day. The bottle included in this bag is enchanted so that it will automatically refill with the special milk Otter-elves need. We all sincerely hope you like him. Negi, Nodoka, and Setsuna."
Yue peered at the little bundle in her palm. He wouldn't be safe, going into a war zone on her hip. Maybe one of the class would stay behind and she could leave him with them. But just as she decided that was the best course of action, the little otter's head lifted towards her, shaking on his too small neck, and he opened his eyes, blinking up at her. Something in her stomach clenched and she knew she couldn't leave him. He was her familiar. Her first step to becoming a Magister Magi. "You know," she told him, as if he could understand. "I'm not even sure I can be a Magister Magi. I'm not as powerful as Negi-sensei. Or Konoka-san. I wasn't born with my magic. A pactio probably wouldn't even work with me as the Magister."
The otter's head dipped dangerously close to her palm, then rose shakily back up to peer at her.
"But even if I can't...I guess I've got you." She scratched under his tiny chin and he made a small snuffling sound. "You need a name, don't you, little guy?" Stretching out on the couch, she laid him on her chest. His legs struggled to move him around as he explored the buttons on her shirt and the pactio card in her pocket. The little white tufts at the corner of his eyes made her think of her grandfather, once he'd gotten old and his temples had gone gray. What would her grandfather have called him?
"Grandfather would have named you after his favorite book. Maybe his favorite character." Yue moved the tiny animal back to the center of her chest when he got too close to the edge. "My favorite books when I was younger was The Chronicles of Prydain. But you don't strike me as an Eilonwy. Not Taran. Definitely not Fflewddur." She stroked the little white tuft beside his right eye. "You look like a Dallben to me." The otter's head swung towards her, the little mouth opening in a yawn. "Dallben, then. Dallben the Otter."
For the rest of the hour she chatted with the creature, no longer bothered by how quiet the rest of her house was.
XXXXXXX
Yue landed under the World Tree, looking over at Ayaka's plane. She was glad the blonde had decided to take Negi's face off the side.
Ayaka, the headmaster, Shizuna-sensei, and Negi stood outside the plane. As Yue neared them, Asuna bounded out of the plane and greeted her. "Hey, Yue-chan! Glad you could make it! Chisame, Eva, Chachamaru, Haruna, Ku, Setsuna, and Konoka are already on board. You're coming, aren't you?"
"Of course she is," Negi said, approaching. "Are you bringing your otter?"
"Dallben," Yue corrected him. "And I think so. I don't want to leave him, for some reason. Is Chisame-san really coming?" She hadn't expected the internet junkie to make the trip.
Asuna shrugged. "She said Chachamaru forced her, but Chacha says Chisame-chan's stuff was already packed when she arrived to get her."
"What about Akira?" Yue turned to Negi.
Negi's cheeks flushed. "Uh, actually Akira-san is coming with us."
Yue's eyes widened. "Really? I thought she didn't want anything to do with magic after our last trip."
Negi's shoulders rose, as did the color in his face. "I don't know. She said she wants to help."
Yue nodded. "What about Ayaka-san?"
Now Asuna's cheeks turned pink. "Stupid Class rep. She said she has to come to make sure I don't lose everyone this time. Like she can do better. Hmph."
Yue smiled. Asuna led her into the plane. The interior was lined with plush white seats that could swivel around to face the seats behind them. Little tables flipped down between each row. A tall man in a suit with an impressive mustache stood at the very front of the plane, bowing as they entered. Konoka was sitting up front talking to Haruna and Ku. Eva and Chachamaru had found seats not far from them and they were sipping tea. Setsuna and Chisame, however, were at the very back of the plane with Chamo. Yue made her way back to them, waving away Haruna's invite to sit with her. "Hey, Setsuna-san."
Setsuna looked up, looking a little surprised that Yue was talking to her. "Hey. How's your familiar? Have you named him?"
"Dallben," Yue said. "He's great. I'm bringing him with me actually."
"Is that safe?" Chisame said.
Yue shrugged. "Probably not. But I wanted to thank you again, Setsuna-san."
Setsuna shook her head. "It was Nodoka-san's idea and Chamo-kun and Negi-sensei found him. I just went and picked him up."
"Thank you anyways," Yue said, settling into the seat next to the swordsman. "Also, I have a question." Setsuna waited for her to continue. "Should we really allow everyone to come along? I mean, I know they're all gung-ho to help Negi-sensei out however they can, but...this isn't Sensei. This is a different world. At war. Some of 3-A has no connection to that world. Some, only a small one. I mean...is this a decision we should leave to a bunch of twenty year olds? I just feel like a few of them will jump into this without really thinking about it."
Setsuna pondered that for a moment, glancing at Chisame. The computer wiz shook her head, pushing her glasses back up her nose. Setsuna turned back to Yue. "I think only they can make this decision. Their connection may not be as strong as Asuna-san's or Negi-sensei's, but even if they have only one friend on the other side...isn't that enough?"
"You have reasons to go," Chisame added. "What makes their reasons not worth it?"
Yue thought about that as she watched Yuna, Makie, Akira, and Ako board. Setsuna was right. Each person who climbed those stairs had a reason to come along. Who was she to judge if that reason was worth risking their lives?
She patted Dallben's pouch, thinking about her friends at Ariadne. Collet's puppy-eyes when things didn't go her way. Beatrix's infallible serenity. And Class rep...
"They'll be okay," Setsuna said.
Yue looked up, blinking. "I thought Nodoka was the mind reader." She smiled.
Setsuna returned the smile. "It doesn't take a mind reader to know you're thinking the same thing we are. You're not alone in worrying for the other side or for the people on this plane." Her black eyes flickered in Konoka's direction. "They'll be okay. Everyone will be. That's what we have to focus on."
Yue watched as the rest of the class boarded. Only Chizune, Satsuki, and the cheerleaders were absent. Kaede settled on Yue's other side, Mana on Chisame's. Nodoka waved as she took the seat Haruna had offered Yue.
To her surprise, Yue found herself remaining where she was, talking to the small group around her, even though she had never thought to find herself choosing their company. The quiet protectors, Yue had thought of them over the years. Even Chisame, with her sharp eyes on Negi.
As she watched Nodoka and Konoka laugh at something Haruna had said, she decided. She wanted to protect them. She wanted to protect her friends from Ariadne. She wanted to protect little Dallben, Negi, all of them. Yue settled back into her seat, in her place among the quiet protectors.
