Author's Notes: GAH! I have no excuses for posting so late. I mean, school and stuff did get in the way (they're taking up a lot of time now as it is), but I had time to finish this and post this up. But I didn't. Eh, it isn't like I don't have any more interest in this story. Heck, I even imagine all the ways I can make all the scenes unfold in the future. But I just don't write it. I get side tracked by this game and that, as well as this assignment and that, that I just completely forget about writing the next chapter.

So... my apologies for anyone waiting for this chapter. This still doesn't change the fact that I plan to write new chapters from time to time and post them up here. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter nonetheless.

Oh, and thanks to my beta-reader: Riri-Kun

"HIYA!" I swung my arm out to my left, my forearm raised perpendicular to my upper-arm in a side block as my opponent tries to punch me in the face. The opponent then tries to do a cross, but I spot a flaw in her attack. Almost immediately, I block the attack with my rear hand, grabbing her fist, before slamming my palm into her side.

My opponent stepped back, holding her side, before running at me and stretching out her leg to try and hit me. I sighed and step to the side, easily dodging the attack before turning around. She lands on her feet, wobbly, but upright. However, as she struggled with her balance, I stepped forward and backfist her, or at least, I would have until I stopped in front of her face. "3. You're done, Louise." I sigh and relax my stance. What we had just done was a sort of sparring. Louise had 3 tries to hit me. If I get her three times, then I win. However, if she lands a hit on me, she would win and we would move onto new material.

This was part of her training that I developed, on top of teaching her more or less the exact content I was taught. However, unlike in the traditional way my school taught, I started sparring with her no sooner than after I had deemed her a rank above White Belt. This is because, while she is still learning, I need her to develop hand-eye coordination and reflexes early. The incident with the bandits a few weeks ago also helped me make that decision.

I learned the hard way how physically unfit she actually is: none of the students actually bother to exercise, save for the few who, like Guiche, wanted to look handsome for the girls. Of course, the more she begins to improve on this, as well as her forms and blocks and attacks, the more I began the more complex content. Right now, I'd say she would be in the Intermediate-Beginner ranks, since I am well aware that different martial arts schools have the same colors for different ranks. It's not bad, but I feel like I'm pushing her through the ranks too quickly. However, she's not 6; she's 16. Despite her small stature, Louise apparently excels in theory and thus content, which really helped her learn what I've taught her quickly. If only she can master them quickly enough.

Though we were in a secluded spot in the forest, apparently we attracted the attention of at least Siesta, who saw us one time on our way to our training sessions after Louise's classes. In fact, she even wanted to join after seeing us work. Before, Siesta simply watched us on the sidelines. However, she came up to me during one of our sessions and begged me to teach her my ways. With those puppy-dog eyes that she made, I doubt any normal person would say no to her. After that, Siesta pretty much did whatever she could and flew through the ranks quickly. Like, seriously, you should've seen her. Though, it did help that, because of the physical labor of a maid, Siesta was fit.

Of course, while she was normally energetic during our training sessions, Siesta acted strange during today's. She seemed depressed, looking down to the ground and spacing out. She doesn't ever smile when she thought I don't notice her doing so.

"Hey, Siesta." I walk up to her, grabbing a cloth and wiping it. Dear Lord, what I would do for some water. Apparently, these kids already are drinking wine, though as much as water!

"What's wrong?" Putting aside my thoughts for a later time, I looked at Siesta. "You seem out of it lately."

"O-oh. Asher…" She smiled, or, at least, attempted to smile. "I, ah… I have to ask you a question."

"Sure." I shrugged. "Ask away."

"You wouldn't mind if I didn't show up for the next few days, would you?"

I blink and looked at her. "Not to drive into your personal life, but why? Is there anything wrong?"

"I…. rather not talk about it." Siesta sighed. "But is it alright?"

"Yeah. Just come to me if you need help, alright Siesta?" I looked at her with a worried expression. Something's definitely up. "Come on. Let's get back to the castle." I smile at her, and she smiled back and nodded. It was still the same smile as before, though I noticed that she began to tear up. As soon as I turned around to lead the way back to the castle, I felt myself frown at what could possibly make such a sweet girl be on the brink of tears.

….

"You can go ahead, Louise," I said as we entered the castle, "I'll get to your room soon enough."

"Where are you going, Asher?" Louise turned back to look at me.

"Just walking around and pondering about something, that's all. Maybe go on a walk through the woods to clear my head, if needed." I shrugged and smiled at her. "Don't worry about it."

"Alright…" Louise nodded with obvious reluctance and climbed the staircase up to her room. Meanwhile, I turned around and began to roam the campus. Luckily for me, my very foreign clothes would allow me to be distinguished by teachers from other students, so I wouldn't be pushed to go into a classroom that didn't have me. I mean, it's not like the classes are bad or anything, but I seriously don't want to go through the trouble of being mistaken for a student, only to find out that I'm the rumored 'strange familiar'. Then things would get awkward and- you get what I'm saying by now.

So, in any case, I found myself aimlessly walking through the halls, thinking about Siesta. What could have been bothering her? I mean, I can already tell that the job of a servant in this school is mentally taxing, but it didn't affect her so much that she cried… Well, not that I knew, anyway. But she never cried from the stress of the work during any of our sessions...

In the middle of my pondering, I felt myself bump into someone else. I blinked and stepped back. "Sorry." I said, before going to pass whoever I ran into. I'd expect an indifferent reaction, since I've earned some feeling of respect among the noble kids. However, I felt my arm get grabbed roughly, and I turned around to who I assume to be the same person. It was a middle aged man with brown hair and that distinct narrow mustache.

"You'd do well to apologize properly to me, boy," the man growled at me. Jesus, the nobles think they're all beautiful, but they easily mess that image up whenever they get angry. "It's insulting to think that someone in your position would think that a simple word would be sufficient."

I sigh and glared at the noble. "I'm not a servant here, if that is what you think I am. Just because I am not wearing my cloak does not mean I'm not associated with nobility. However, I can assure you that you will eat from the floor the next time you grab my arm so harshly. Someone in any position must be busy in some way, and I am sure you are yourself." I pulled my arm out of his grasp and continued before he could say anything else.

"I am trying to get to the library to study, good sir, as I have several examinations coming over the next few days because of unfortunate timing. You may or may not have come here for certain business reasons, since I have never seen you around in this school." Nose up and direct eye contact, as well as unnecessary Medieval noble vernacular. A few days of observation and you can pick things up fairly easily. Thankfully, the guy bought my disguise and stepped back slightly, albeit still glaring at me.

"Hmph… Just because you are a noble does not mean you should not watch yourself boy. You're right, I am quite busy. So I will let you off with a warning. The next time you do such a thing, however, you better know that I will bring you to the headmaster and I will bring shame to your family. Do not think I jest because I am Count Mott, a Palace Messenger, and I have the power to do so." Count Mott turned around and walked off, as did I. God, the guy's even worse than Guiche when it comes to arrogance. Can't imagine if someone else was in my place…

Oh, right. The stuff about Siesta's sudden depression. I still don't have an answer to that. Maybe she ran into Mott or something? I know I would've been brought to tears if I was a servant in this society, considering how he seemed to be the worst of the worst.

Eventually, I reached Louise's room and walked through the doorway, shutting and locking the door behind me. I see Louise changing into her night clothes, though thankfully she was almost done anyway. "Hey, Louise." I yawned. Huh, I guess my internal clock was screwed up because of my summoning if I'm so tired this early into the evening. Probably didn't notice it earlier because of how busy I was.

"I was walking around the halls and bumped into this guy named Count Mott. Seemed like a jerk to me. Can you tell me about him?"

"Eh? Count Mott?" Louise blinked and stared at me. "What happened after?"

"He threatened me, but I convinced him not to because I told him that I was busy and he most likely was as well. He responded with letting me off with a warning." I sigh, shaking my head.

"He must've been in a good mood then…" I heard Louise mutter.

"That's his good mood?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Count Mott, despite being a Palace Messenger, is even more arrogant than everyone in this Academy combined." Louise sighed. "However, because of his higher standing, we can't do anything about it. If anything, we're afraid of him. I heard Guiche and Montmorency are on his bad side, which is why they're in their financial crisis."

"Jesus Christ…" I muttered, shaking my head.

"Who?" Louise looked at me.

"Nothing." I also learned in my stay here that they follow a much more different religion. This Founder guy was their version of Jesus. "Put an asshole in a position of power, and you get a tyrant." That's the thing about this world; you have someone who can handle the power, but then the guy just abuses it all. It's disgusting, honestly, but it just can't be avoided. All that can be done is to stop it before the problem gets worse.

"Hey, Asher."

"Hm?"

"Have you found anything related to what happened during your duel with Guiche?" Ah, right. That's another thing: during my spare time I discovered that I could control ice, maybe like these nobles, only without a wand. However, during my training over the days after Guiche's duel, I occasionally got these visions just like when I first used that ice sword….

"No. I can't read your language, sadly." I sighed. Of course, there has to be a catch when there is a hint of a lead put out in front of you. Apparently, they write in a completely foreign alphabet compared to any I've seen. It was all Greek to me. "Besides, my vision was a bit too vague to be considered a part of a specific history or folklore in this world." I shrugged.

Louise yawned, covering her mouth with her hand before going to her bed. "I'm sure you can find something… this is one of the largest libraries in the country of Tristain, after all."

"True." I nod and lay on the haystack. Louise never got me a bed of my own, and like hell is either of us going to let me sleep with her on the same bed... Still, though, it's actually pretty comfy once you're used to it.

….

The next morning was the same as usual. Since I wake up earlier than Louise ever could (damn you, high school), I would wake her up during sunrise. After that, I would just go down to the kitchen and eat an early breakfast before going to train my ice powers and think about what I can do for the martial arts with Louise in the afternoon. Of course, like yesterday, it was all different.

The moment I entered the kitchen, I felt something was wrong. The kitchen's atmosphere was somber, rather than active and lively. While the servants were normally preoccupied with preparing the breakfast for the nobles, they seemed to be zoning out. Finally, I walked forward went up to Marteau, who seemed to be trying to preoccupy himself with his own job. "Morning, Marteau." No answer. I furrow my eyebrows and lightly grabbed his shoulder. "Marteau?"

"O-oh!" The chef turned around in surprise, realizing I was calling him. Well, it was a good thing that he wasn't chopping something or actually at a cooking step right now. "Our Sword!" That was apparently their nickname for me after I stood up for Siesta, since I drew a sword of ice. Well, they apparently weren't imaginative in their names, but I digress.

"Morning." I tilt my head. "Is something wrong?"

"O-oh…. Our Sword, it's horrible…" Marteau nearly sobbed in front of me. "Siesta… she was taken away."

"For what?" I furrowed my eyebrows. Dear Lord, there's so much tension in this room… There's a bomb about to be dropped, isn't there?

"Count Mott… he bought her from the Academy… she works for him now." Marteau muttered.

Remember when I told Derflinger about my resentment towards that last bandit when I had to rescue Louise? It's back, and it's growing. I grew silent and patted Marteau on the back, as if to comfort him. I could feel my face twist into a grim expression. I suppose that this is what had been eating her mind the past few days, as well as her actions yesterday. Knowing Siesta's appearance at the very least, I could tell things would not end well for the maid… at least, without my intervention. I walked out of the kitchen without eating my breakfast, walking to the person I hoped would know where the bastard is.

"Guiche!" I shouted, slamming the door into his room. Of course he would be there sleeping his ass off, considering the fact that it was still so damn early in the morning.

"AH!" He gasped and nearly shouted, grabbing his wand. However, the blonde realized it was just me and lowered it. "A-Asher?! What is the meaning of this?"

"I'm in no mood to mess around so I'll ask you this simple question." I stared at him. He flinched and shrunk under my stare, though I ignored it. "Do you know where Count Mott lives?"

"W-why?" He gulped, clutching his blanket.

"Do. You. Know. Where. Count. Mott. Lives?" I walked to him and grabbed him by the collars of his shirt, most likely making him piss his pants.

"G-gah! He lives several hours southeast of us!" He nearly shouted, though was smart enough to not wake everyone else up with his voice.

"Thank you." I dropped him and walk out once more, without saying another word. Again I ignored him, despite him calling my name. I pushed through the noble children that walked down the stairs as I made my way back to Louise's room. Thankfully everyone else was smart enough not to provoke me in a pissed off state, because those who had time to see me before I would push them stepped to the side. Eventually, I opened the door to her room and grabbed Derflinger. Louise was already out of the room, so I didn't have to deal with another person delaying my trip.

"Hey, Partner. You seem pissed off today." Derflinger said as I grabbed his hilt. "Hell, you have a really strong grip this morning, so what's up?"

"Remember that maid?"

"Yeah?"

"She's now working for a pervert." I muttered, sheathing him and placing the sheath across my back. I walked out of the room, glad that there weren't any students around to now question the blade that I'm carrying with me. I walked out of the academy and towards the stables. "Count Mott."

"Whoa, whoa, hold up a sec, Partner." Derflinger said, and I stopped just to humor him. "I've heard of many people in that store you bought me in, and Count Mott is one of them. You do realize that if you attack him, this'll blow up into a whole fiasco, right?"

"I'll simply hide the fact that I'm Louise's familiar, and I'll just… Oh, I don't know, hide my runes in my gloves, anyway." I said, now walking again. "Besides, I'm acting alone. My only worry is not getting to Siesta before anything… bad happens."

"You know, Partner." Derflinger sighed. "You really are stubborn."

"Live where I was before and you'll see why." I felt myself smirk. "Now, I need you to stay here a bit. I'm going to have to get to the stables" I told Derflinger as I laid him down on the ground out of sight of the stables.

"Alright. Not that I can go away, anyway." Derflinger said as I left for the stables.

"I need a horse," I told the stableman, approaching him in a jogging and panicked motion.

"A horse? Why?" he asked and stared at me. I bit my tongue, looking back at the academy.

"I need to run some errands for one of the nobles." I explained in a hurried tone, tilting my head. "I'd rather not go back to them empty-handed and face their wrath, so could you please let me through?" It seemed that servants are very sympathetic to others, because he sighed and stepped towards one of the horses.

"Alright, but be here by sunset. It shouldn't take you too long to get what you need to get."

I smiled and nodded. "Thank you." I ran to the horse that the stableman got for me and got onto the horse. "How can I repay you?" I asked before I had the horse go. The man waved dismissively.

"Just do what you need to do." He told me and I nodded, getting the horse into a gallop to Derflinger's hiding place. I picked him up before riding the horse all the way to Count Mott's.

…

"So, do you even have a plan, Partner?"

"Nope," I muttered, crouching low. I'm at the mansion that Count Mott owned, or at least hidden behind some foliage that puts the mansion in my view. The mansion was unsurprisingly large and had a large door as the front entrance. Guards were positioned on the roof of the mansion as lookouts and at the entrance,. There were several patrols making their rounds around the outside of the mansion. There were a few windows that I can use, but I'm not even sure whether there are guards stationed at the windows that I see. "... I have to either find a way to distract the guards while I make my way in or make up some kind of bullshit to let them let me in," I muttered to Derflinger.

"Huh. Before you seemed ready to barge in swinging my around, but you're actually thinking ahead?"

"I'm no use to anyone dead." I said as I rubbed my chin. "Jesus… I feel like I'm in an Assassin's Creed game…"

"A what?"

"It's… something from my homelands…" I muttered.

"And what're you doing here?" A voice behind me spoke.

"Shit!" I hastily turned around, only to lose my balance and fall backwards. I looked up to see a tall man staring down at me. Despite his silhouetted figure, I could make out his black hair, red eyes, and a smirk. I could make out clothing that is much different from the guards. In fact, there was no armor whatsoever, just a black shirt under a black trench coat and black jean- Wait, they don't have those here…

"Who… who are you?" I muttered.

"Call me a friend," the man spoke. He still had that smirk, though the more I looked at it the more it seemed so familiar..

"I know why you're here, and I want the asshole's head too."

"An ally, then?" I tilted my head.

"You can say that." The man held out his hand. I took it and let him pull me to my feet. He pointed towards the mansion, and I looked at it.

"What I can do is cause a ruckus with some of the patrolmen and get the guards to stream out of the entrance. From what I know, they may be idiots and leave the door open, so you can probably sneak in through there or through a window. Of course, they might actually be smart enough to not get all the guards to run out, so I expect you to make a direct path to Count Muck."

"... Well damn," I muttered after a few seconds, thinking over how that plan would go. "It may not be a great plan, but it's a sort of good plan… But what about you? I can't imagine someone handling that many guards without falling."

"I'll survive, so don't worry. I didn't expect you to make a flawless strategy to win the war yet, Asher." The man patted me on the back.

"Wait, how did you know my name?" I turned towards him, but he already had started running towards the mansion with a thin steel sword.

"LEEROY JENKINS!" He shouted.

"Oh my god, he just ran in…" I muttered, scratching my head. That meme exists even here….?! "Is he really that suicidal…?"

"What does it matter, Partner?" Derflinger suddenly said.

"... I swear, I attract all the weird ones." I sigh and shake my head, watching as he began to fight the guards with just his sword. "We might as well get ready to sneak in through one of the windows, then…" I began to sneak through the plants to another side of the property, looking around.

"You know, Partner, this may actually go well," Derflinger said.

"Shush. That's going to jinx us," I hissed as I made my way to one of the windows away from the fighting. Somehow, some way, the guy actually managed to have the guards focus on him. I can't let this opportunity go to waste. I began to close my eyes, calling on that same power I gained during Louise's kidnapping. However… I only saw the black beneath my eyelids. For some reason, it didn't even work this time, and when I needed it too. Well… shit.

"Looks like I'll have to work without clairvoyance…" I mumbled to myself before peeking through the open window into the room.

The room was a kitchen, full of maids and the like. I sighed, climbing through the window. Luckily nothing was near the window that would be an obstacle to getting into the kitchen. As I did so, the maids all stared at me, though I just climbed through. I stared back at them, removing my hood.

"Sssh." I placed a finger on my lips just as one of them were about to scream. "I'm here to get a friend of mine in the mansion. I'm not going to hurt anyone, so stay calm." I said, relaxing my stance.

"Who's your friend?" One of them asked. She had long, blonde hair and hazel eyes and the same maid uniform as everyone else. It was tight fitting, especially around the chest, and the skirt was short. The leggings were also tight on the legs, and the low cut on the uniform left quite a bit of cleavage of each girl out for anyone's eyes to view. It was a perverted man's dream, pretty much. I had to will myself to not scowl at the sight of the abuse of power this man was doing.

"She came here, probably yesterday. Black hair and eyes," I described, placing a hand on my hip.

"Oh… my…" The maid blinked. "She's upstairs because Count Mott called her…"

"Goddamn…. Do you know how I can get to her from here?" I looked at the maid.

"Of course." She nodded. "The stairs are on the third right in the hallway, after you turn left outside the kitchen."

"Thanks." I sighed in relief. "You..."

"Don't like Count Mott if I'm giving you directions to his room? Of course not, he molests us every day!" The maid whispered. "I want him gone, and you're our opportunity to make it happen."

"At least we have the same want in this situation..." I nodded to the maid. "Thanks again."

I walked out of the kitchen, peeking my head through the hallways. Looking both directions, I see that it was clear and I headed out to the hallway. I grabbed Derflinger and felt myself gain the feeling of being lighter and stronger. Sighing, I walked swiftly past the doorways, glancing to see if anyone were in the rooms. Those guards must either be idiots for sending everyone to the outside to fight the stranger, poorly trained for going after the guy with everyone, or are most likely in deep shit if the stranger is actually skilled.

I kept walking up the stairs until I reached another hallway. However, at this point I could tell which door belonged to Mott- it's the most extravagant one. Honestly, it's as if these people WANT their location to be known to any thieves that have snuck in. Then again, with the nobles I've seen with their arrogant and invincible-type behavior, not surprised.

With one mighty kick, I slammed the door open. My first and foremost sight was Siesta in a skimpy maid outfit, not unlike the ones I've seen in the kitchen. My second sight was her bent-over position, right in Mott's view. The third was the disgusting bulge in the noble's pants, and let me tell you that by the second sight I was pissed the fuck off.

"MOTT!" I yelled, grabbing his attention.

"The noble boy from yesterday?" The Count stood up, staring at me. "What are you doing here, boy? Are you not supposed to be within the Academy?!"

"Don't pit me with arrogant fools like those children and you," I growled, storming into the room. "I have come to take back Siesta."

"You will do no such thing, boy," the count replied. "GUARDS!" he called, however as he waited, none came.

"Your guards are as foolish as those schoolboys." I smirk. "My ally has probably kept them all busy."

"So that's what the commotion earlier was about..." Count Mott muttered, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Very well then. I'll dispatch you myself, if you are not a noble! I'll teach you to respect a palace messenger!"

"The last man to say anything similar to that found themselves humiliated." I open my right hand, letting the air solidify into an ice katana. Yeah, I know I have Derflinger slung on my back, but something told me that I REALLY want to use swords made by this power...

I smirk as I hear him gasp and utter something like 'A spell without a wand'. "Release her to me now, and I will not further harass you." I glared at the Count, who quickly regained his composure.

"Hm. If you really wish to duel me for her, then you risk your freedom and your life should you lose, boy." The Count glared back, pointing his wand at me. "You will now know why they call me Count Mott the Wave!" He chanted for his spell. Honestly, if it weren't for my amusement for his attempt to kill me, I would've just charged and slashed at his hand already. His concentration was invested into the spell, and the chant by now was around 5 seconds long, 4.5 seconds too long.

Water began to appear and gather around him as he chanted, before rushing at me in a more solid, but still liquid, state. "You want to push me back, eh?" I smirked, swinging my blade back and raising my free hand. By now, The feeling that I was felt since this morning has taken control of me. I'm aware of it, but the rush of adrenaline and the feeling of taking back what's due... The feeling of taking revenge... It felt so fitting to me. I was seeing my current situation, a stream of water just flying at me with the strength of a waterfall. Yet, my visions kept arriving by the legions, all of them knowing exactly how to react to such an attack. Dodging, rolling, freezing or evaporating the water, so much to do...

I swing my ice blade, the tip just barely touching the rushing water. However, the stream began to freeze from the point where it made contact with my sword. Smirking, I swing it again, letting the sword cut through the ice and making it all shatter.

"What the? How are you doing this without a wand, or a sword-wand?!" Count Mott cried out. I chuckle darkly, something even I wouldn't expect myself to do at all in my entire lifetime.

"No, I won't be made into a mockery by a mere child!" He shouted, waving his wand as more water came. However, instead of a stream of water, it began to surround him and circle his body before forming a giant tsunami.

"Funny, that's also what the last person said..." I grin, spreading my legs as I stabbed the floor, erecting a barrier of ice. "...Before they were completely and utterly humiliated!"

"Asher!" Siesta cried out to my left, against the wall. I glanced at the temporary distraction from battle before raising my finger, forming a barrier around her as well. The water crashes against my barriers, though they did not give way to its liquid brother.

"How dare you...!" Count Mott said, flicking his wand. My barrier began to shrink as it was being forced to turn into water.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." I smirk, waving my finger. I pressed my palm against the ice... Letting a small line of ice freeze through the small sea and reach Count Mott in a second as a spike. I smirk, my barrier recovering as I broke his concentration with by forcing a dodge. "It seems someone needs to know who the real master of the elements is."

Another vision came to me, and I slid my palm to the floor, raising myself onto a platform so I can see above my barrier. Count Mott was standing near a wall, growling and pointing the wand at me.

"Poor you..." I cooed at him and grin. What a poor little thing, playing with fire using wood. He's just giving me more to use against him.

I could hear him growl at my smile. Good. He's frustrated. He'll be more likely to trip up. Count Mott chanted once more and raised his wand, a water hand rising up to grab my leg. I grabbed Derflinger, suddenly remembering him, and heated the edge of his blade. I swung down on the hand as it grabbed my ankle, severing and evaporating the 'wrist' and letting the hand splash onto my ice platform as regular water again. I looked at him and smirk.

"Are you done, yet?"

"I… will not lose!" Count Mott shouted. He began chanting once more. I guess it's time to show him just how foolish he was to fight me. Mid-chant, I stabbed my ice platform with my ice sword, letting the ice spread through the water. All the ice began to move, creating several ice blades. I grin as he stared at what I was doing, and that was all that I was going to let him do.

The several ice blades were sent at him, causing him to scream. The blades penetrated through his clothing and struck the wall, sticking holes into it. By the time I was done, Count Mott's body was pinned by his clothes against the wall by my blades. Smirking, I sent one more blade towards his direction, causing him to yelp as it very nearly unmanned him.

"Good, Asher…" I heard a voice praise me for my action behind me. Glancing back, I saw the stranger grinning, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall next to the doorway. "Now, why don't you finish him off…? End his current misery and the cause of others' misery." Oh, I do certainly like that idea.

I created stairs of smaller, levitating ice platforms, all the way down to Count Mott's pinned body. I melted the blade in my hands and grabbed Derflinger, heating the sharp edges of his metal.

"Please… stop… don't do this!" Count Mott pleaded as I brought Derflinger to above his shoulder, the tip just nearly stabbing into his throat. I felt myself frown at this display of... cowardliness.

"I wonder..." I muttered, staring deep into the shitting noble's eyes. "How many of your maids have said this before you defiled them..."

"N-no! I'll give you your maid back, and any that you choose! Just let me go alive, oh Founder!" he pleaded, pathetically beginning to sob.

"I wonder... If you even deserve your own life, let alone the title of nobility!" I hissed, pressing the blade against his shoulder. Yes, it was under whatever layers of cloth, but the burning sensation could be felt nonetheless. I smiled as he screamed in pain and suffering. "No… I think the answer here is obvious, isn't it?" I hissed with the blade as he screamed louder.

"A-A-Asher..." I heard a soft voice behind me. Turning around, I saw a frightened black haired maid, staring at me as her body trembled. Ah, I must have used the ice I created for her barrier to make some of the blades that I launched. I stared at he, causing her to shrink. "Please… this isn't like you..." Siesta whimpered.

"Partner!" Derflinger shouted suddenly. "My blade's too hot; I can't take any more of what you're doing to me or I'll melt!" I grit my teeth, staring at Derflinger. I blinked, seeing the blade white and red from the heat I'm giving it. Hell, since when can I control fire? And- ah shit… my head's beginning to ache….

"Asher...?" Siesta blinked, staring at me as I held my head. I groaned, shaking my head. "Asher!" I heard her yell as my fell onto my knees and began to cough, into my hands. I heard metal clang against the stone floor as Derflinger fell without any hand to grip it. Damn… what… the hell did I do….? Looking at my hands, I saw blood and not just a little. Oh no… my mind's blanking… out…

"...sher!" I heard once again before I fell to the ground.

….

I grinned, charging through the growing crowd of guards. I ducked and weaved under the swinging pieces of metal, causing the guards to hurt their own allies. I smirked and rolled through the edge of the crowd. Turning around, I saw several injured guards, some of them in critical condition from certain fatal wounds. I chuckled as they turned to me, all arming their swords and lances.

"Well, well. Come on then." I opened my hand in front of me, reaching into the air. Shadows from the ground rose up to meet my hand as they formed the shape of a blade. "I'm waiting."

I smirk as the first guard charges at me. I stepped to the side with my front foot, tripping the guard with my back foot. As he fell, I made the shadow on the ground rise up, impaling the idiot through the stomach. Glancing at the group, I see they all tried to rush me. Fools. I sink into the ground, as if my own shadow was a pool of water. I rise up from under a tree's shadow behind the now-confused mob of guards. I smirk and let the tree's shadows rise up as well, creating a multitude of blades. I let them levitate around me a little. You know, thanks for the memories of video games, Asher. This is going to be really fun to watch.

I ran right at the crowd once more, not even having to move my hands much before I heard screams of pain and agony as the shadows ripped through their clothes and flesh and muscle….They didn't even stand a chance.

Eventually, after expanding the radius of potential carnage my blades can do, I dropped the entire crowd of guards. I suppose I should get inside, see how Asher is doing. Ah, I can feel his rage now. I sunk into my shadow to get to Asher's position. Interestingly enough, I saw a carriage pull up near the other side of the mansion a split second before I fully disappeared. Well, good thing they wouldn't have to see this shit.

I saw that Asher had the noble pinned against the wall, a blade right at his neck. I grinned, not letting myself be seen by anyone but him. I had to hurry up though, since the children are almost here.

"Good, Asher… Now, why don't you finish him off…? End his current misery and the cause of others' misery," I whispered to him, despite him being all the way across the room. Yet, I could hear his thoughts, and I knew he heard me. I chuckled at the thought. Ah, he's turning out like me already, isn't he? He's grinning sadistically as he's making him suffer. However...

I watched as Asher slowly began to succumb to the paradox. I couldn't help but shake my head as he fainted and fell to the floor. The door to the room right opened, the pink haired girl as well as the blue haired girl and redhead ran into the room. Louise stared at the panicked Siesta, before running to the unconscious Asher, while the redhead- Kirche was it?- began to free the bastard noble.

The last two mentioned began to talk, though it was obvious that Count Mott was scared for his life now, especially because of what was done. The blue haired girl began to heal the burn mark that Asher made on Mott's neck, but no matter. The psychological trauma has been done, anyway. I hope his mind falls into paranoia when he gets nightmares of my other side…

Eventually, Count Mott told Kirche to keep the maid for free, so long as Asher didn't come here anymore. As a sort of bribery to keep the incident silent, I saw Kirche give Mott a bo-

Since when the hell did Japanese porno magazines exist in this world? Like, literally the naked woman whose chest is covered only by certain parts of Japanese letters was the focus of the cover and…. goddamn. I think the cover girl was that one chick's granddaughter in there that I hit on that one time...

Hm… they still are focusing on Asher, so I guess I should make my way out. Then again, that maid might've seen me, but I was being careful not to stick out from this shadow…

Maybe I should do a more direct interference with Asher. He's already been exposed to so many memories in such a rush in that battle, so maybe it won't hurt him too much… As long as it won't drive him into an undesired situation…

I suppose I should wait still until I make an appearance. If you're dreaming this, Asher, just wait until the right time. I'll help you some way...