"text" Talking
'text' Thinking
|Text| Saito thinking or talking in his mind (with one or more entities in his mind [Shaitan/Derf/Amaterasu])
[text] Derf talking
[text] Derf talking with Saito in his mind (or with one of the other entity from Saito's mind [Shaitan/Derf/Amaterasu])
*text* Shaitan talking
*text* Shaitan talking with Saito in his mind (or with one of the other entity from Saito's mind [Derf/Amaterasu])
{text}Amaterasu talking (but for now she doesn't have a medium to use so she can't talk for other to hear so you will not see her talking with other for some time)
{text}Amaterasu talking with Saito in his mind (or with one of the other entity from Saito's mind [Derf/Shaitan])
*In Tristain Caste*
We see early in the morning a person who appeared to be in his late twenties, with long gray hair reaching to his shoulders. He seems to be thinking deeply about something.
'That guy, Arthur I think his name is, his magic is very weird, and he doesn't work for any country. He might be perfect for my plan if I have a chance to get him involved somehow.'
While thinking, a girl with red hair approaches him. "Sir Wardes," the girl calls him. He stops moving and turns to look at the girl who called him.
"Yes, what do you need, guard?" He asks, without paying too much attention.
"Her Highness needs to see you," The girl said, then left.
'What does she need now, I wonder?'
*The Throne Room*
"Your Highness did you call me?" The Viscount asks behind the big door.
"Yes, please enter, Viscount Wardes," Princess Henrietta says.
As he enters the room, he sees the Princess has a troubled expression, as if she was trying to make a very difficult decision.
"What do you need from me, Your Highness?"
"I have a special mission, and I can't ask anyone but you to help me!" the Princess says.
"If I may ask, why me?"
"Because of the other people who are taking part in this mission," the Princess speaks sadly.
"Who?"
"Louise de la Vallière and Guiche de Gramont," The Princess says after a bit of hesitation.
'Louise? I wonder what mission this is, if she is sending her and the Gramont kid.'
"What does this mission entail, Your Highness, that you require my future wife to do it?" the Viscount asks in a somewhat angry voice.
After a bit of not saying anything, the Princess starts to speak.
"You are aware of the situation in Albion, and about my engagement with the Prince of Germania, are you not Viscount?" the Princess asks.
"Yes, I'm quite aware of both cases," the Viscount replies.
'So that is what all this is about. Of course she would ask Louise, she is the only one she can trust; but she knows that alone Louise will not succeed.'
"I once sent a letter to the Prince of Albion, Prince Wales, my cousin. I'm afraid the Albion rebels will try to use the content of the letter to try and put a stop to our attempt to make an alliance with Germania. Because of this, I am sending Louise to take the letter back, and I need you to go with her, Viscount, not just because you are engaged to her, but also because she will be in danger alone," the Princess explains.
'This might be just the chance I need for to bring Louise to my side, and it will be a good chance to get that Arthur guy, too, if I play my cards right.'
"I understand your worry, Your Highness, but with all due respect, I don't think this mission will succeed even if I come along. There is only so much I can do alone against an entire army of rebels," the Viscount says.
"I know this, Viscount Wardes, but I don't have any other choice. We must succeed, or we are doomed to enter a war we cannot win alone. Also, you will not be alone; Louise's new familiar is quite something, if I say so myself." the Princess says. The last bit about a new familiar is something that surprises him; he didn't know that Louise summoned a new familiar.
"Her last familiar is a human, a commoner, if I'm not mistaken. What happened with him?" The Viscount asks.
"It seems like he ran away. Somehow he managed to break the familiar contract between him and Louise, so he is alive, somewhere," the Princess replies sadly. She got a good impression about Saito the first time she saw him.
Wardes is surprised about this new information, but not too much; in the end, a familiar is just a tool for the mage. The fact that the boy managed to break the contract and run away is impressive, but not important at all. What is important now is the new familiar.
"What is Louise's new familiar? Another human?" he asks.
"No, a wolf. One who can speak, and can change his size, if he wishes so," the Princess offers, remembering her meeting with Louise and her new familiar.
"Well, this is really much better compared with a commoner. But back to our problem, even with this new familiar, we still can't do it," The Viscount says.
"So what do you propose, Viscount? To send the army? Sorry, but I can't do that," the Princess says with despair in her voice.
'Now this is my chance…let's just hope the Princess is desperate enough to accept help from an outsider.'
"If you agree, Your Highness, I have someone in mind who, I think, can help us with this mission."
"Who is this person? One of the Griffin Knights?" Henrietta asks, concerned. She really doesn't want to ask for help from more people.
"No, he is not even from this country. I met him some days ago; he is the one who captured the Tax Collector. His magic is really something; I think, with his help, we might succeed."
"If he is not from this country, then where is he from? And why do you think he will help us?"
"From what I get from him, he is not from any country. I think he is a fallen noble, who abandoned his country. He says he will help any country, as long as this will permit him to accomplish his goal. What his goal is, I don't know, but I think it is better to have him as an ally, rather than as an enemy."
"Is he really that powerful, for you to say this, Viscount?"
"I don't know about his skill with a sword, but if we just speak about magic, his magic is way better than mine."
"Can you tell me a bit about this person, Viscount Wardes, his name, his magic-anything you may know about him?"
'So it seems I have to tell her a bit about him; well, then let's make her want him to join us.'
"Well, his name is Arthur. The first time I met him I was together with Antoine; we were speaking about Albion. He heard us and asked us about the situation there."
"Why do you think he wanted to know?"
"He told us that his family lived there; but now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure this was a lie. Anyway, after a time the tax collector, Chulenne, came and Arthur started to fight him. At the beginning I thought he would lose. But just as I prepared myself to interfere, he started to use magic, or at least I think it was magic."
"What you mean by 'I think it was magic,' Viscount"?
"I mean I have never seen magic like his before. He just summoned out of nowhere a wall of black flame that blocked all attacks from Chulenne and his guard. Even his sword had been coated in flame, and melted anything it cut. But the weirdest thing about his magic was the fact that the fire didn't burn anything if he didn't wish for it. And even though the fire he used can melt anything, I stood next to it, and I didn't even feel the least bit of heat from it."
"This is really something I've never heard about before, Viscount…so do you think this person is willing to help us?"
"Don't worry, Your Highness, I will talk to him and make sure he accepts," the Viscount declares proudly.
"Very well, Viscount Wards, you have two days to convince him to accept this mission; I can't afford more time."
"Very well then, have a good day Your Highness," the Viscount says before leaving the room.
*City, near The Charming Faeries Inn*
'Now, I know I must make him join us, but how exactly will I do this? It is not really like I can just force him; I don't think he will take it kindly if I do.'
As the Viscount walks around lost in his thoughts he sees Arthur looking around for something, so he decides to follow him and see where he wants to go.
***Break***
"Seriously, where is the damn cartographer," Saito says to himself as he walks around the city looking for a place where he can buy a map.
[Now, now, partner, no need to hurry, we will find it.] Derf says from Saito's back.
*As he said, Saito, there is no need for us to hurry; what we need to consider is what we will do AFTER we get the map,* Shaitan's voice is heard too, from the other sword on Saito's back.
{Saito.}
|What is it Amaterasu?| Saito asks.
{Someone is following us.}
|Who?|
{I do not know, but he is a mage, this much I can tell you. But don't worry, I don't feel any bad intention from him, so he may just want to talk with you-at last I think so.}
|Thanks, I will take care of it.|
Saito started to walk faster and made a turn in a dark alley behind a store, while Wardes follows him; but as he enters the alley he sees no one there. But after a short time Wardes feels a sword coming his way, and he reacts fast enough to get out of the way. As he manages to get a good look at his attacker, he sees Arthur, who is holding a black sword in his left hand.
As Saito looks at the person who he attacked, he sees the face of Viscount Wardes, and starts to lower his sword. "So are you the one who follows me?" Saito asks.
"Happy to see you again, Arthur, but do you really have to attack someone and afterwards ask him?" Wardes responds.
"Not really, but nothing good ever comes from being followed by someone in a city, so I don't know."
"Anyway, why do you follow me?" Saito asks.
"Before I explain, what are you searching for? I watched you walking around, looking for something."
|What do you think? Should I tell him?|
*I don't see why not, maybe he can help you. Also beware, I don't think he followed you just to see what you are doing.*
"I am searching for a cartographer. I need to get a map of the entire realm of Halkeginia."
"If that is all, I can take you to the best cartographer I know. He can even make you a map at command, if you have the money to pay for it, of course."
"Money is not a problem. Thank you for your help. But might I ask, why are you helping me-I don't think you do it just because I need it?"
"You are really smart, Arthur. Yes, I have a sort of…job for you…if you are interested."
"Well, let's hear it."
"The Princess gave me and two other persons a mission to deliver a letter to Prince Wales of Albion. But as you already know, a rebellion is underway in Albion, and I don't think just I and two others have much of a chance if we have to fight an army. So I proposed to Her Highness to let me take you with us, too."
"Why me?" Saito asks, surprised about what he heard.
"Your magic. I think it will be of great help. Also, you said you don't work for any country right now, so this makes you a perfect choice…so what do you say?"
"Just one more question…who are the other persons who will come with us?"
"Well, I don't think you know them."
"That doesn't matter, just tell me their names."
"Louise Françoise Leblanc de la Vallière and Guiche de Gramont," Wardes says, and Saito's eyes widen in surprise; he did not expect to have a chance to meet with his old master so soon.
|What do you think? This might be important.|
*I say, to accept this mission, we can just wear something to keep the girl from recognizing us. Also, if we are lucky, we will get one of the four rings; if the Wales guy is the true prince, he must have it. This is really a big chance, so accept it.*
[I don't know what to say, partner. You will go in a war zone; but really, what other choice do we have?]
|You don't have anything to say, Amaterasu?|
{I do not care about your mission. As long as you can amuse me, do wherever you want.}
|So it is decided; we go to Albion. I did not expect to meet Louise again so soon, but as long as she doesn't awaken her Void power, she is as dangerous as a commoner.|
"I accept you offer, Wardes, but I will not do it for nothing."
"Of course…what is your price, Arthur?" The Viscount asks happily, as he manages to convince Arthur to join the mission. Now he just has to think of a plan to make him join Reconquista…but this can wait until later.
"I want 10,000 gold…5,000 now, and 5,000 after the mission is finished. Is this acceptable?"
"I think it is. Of course Her Highness will decide, but I don't think she will refuse."
"Also, can you tell me a good shop for clothes? I think mine attract too many looks from people."
"Haha…yeah, they sure do. Of course I can point you to one," the Viscount said, and then he told Saito where he needed to go to get his new clothes and maps. After a bit more talk, the two agree to meet tomorrow to go and see the Princess about the mission.
"Good day to you, Arthur."
"And good day to you too, Viscount Wardes," Saito says and leaves to go and buy what he needs for his new journey.
"So we will meet again soon, 'Master.'"
SO here chapter 4, hope you enjoy, review if you like.
