Now that I've gotten much review I can start to concentrate on the story. So without further ado let begin.

Disclaimer: I don't own Zero no Tsukaima.

Tabitha arrives at the small village. The reason she came here because there is a rumor about vampire in Albion and her job was to eliminated it. When she heard about some strange creature near the forest town of Dartanes she came there to investigate.

It seem that the cause doesn't seem to be related with the vampire but if left alone it will threaten the town villager so with the help from Saito she eliminated the monster. After that she continued to gather a some more clue. She managed to get an information of a vampire from the sailor at the dock. After thorough investigation she thought that she won't get any more clue so she head for a Saxe-gotha instead. She didn't say goodbye to Saito because she though they won't be meeting each other again. There was something odd about that boy, that magic clearly is not normal. It more like a firstborn magic that she had read about before.

From what she know human cannot use firstborn magic. There are rumor that some can with a modification but that was just a rumor she thought.

But that didn't matter right now. A day after she arrive at Saxe-gotha she got a piece of information about suspicious person. It better than nothing since vampire look the same as human and they won't be able to be recognize even by using magic. The only clue she got is they will avoid sunlight.

She arrive at the place of the rumor she heard. It say they had found a corpse in this place. If it just a corpse it won't get her attention but the problem is the condition of the corpse. The victim look as if the corpse had they own blood suck.

"You, are you the noble that was send." The guard at the entrance ask her as she get near the village.

She nod at that, she wonder why would a chevalier from Gallia need to come all the way to solve Albion problem. But when she thought about it the only assumption she can make is Gallia had some connection with a noble in Albion. With how the war going on they couldn't spare anyone else to do the job.

"Phew… I though they won't respond to our request, with how the rebel is starting to seize the royal family it make it hard for them noble to notice this problem. Ask me anything and I'll be happy to provide any information."

She uses this chance to get information on the situation. It seem that they had been a victim yesterday. 2 victim found having they blood suck from the body. According to the guard they haven't been any traveler that has stay at the village so the only assumption she can make is the vampire had stay outside of the village.

She ought to camp outside today. She couldn't let the vampire knew that a mage was here or else there is a possibilities that he would escaped.

She thank the guard before leaving the village to found the best spot for observing the village. If she was right the vampire will target the village again. If not than she would have to keep looking. They must know that vampire is a dangerous creature so they want her to get killed on this mission.

But she won't let them that. She will live until she get a chance to get her revenge.

XXXXXX

She could see that the sun was almost set so after she found a clearing spot she set up a camp there. She brought out bread from her backpack and eat it. The bread look normal but the truth is it has been enhanced by magic to have a taste of meat. The bread is popular among commoner since some of them can't afford to buy meat. She also short on money as most of it spend on her book so that the she need to save some of it.

While waiting for the sun to set she continued to read a book called hero of Ivaldi. It was her favorite book so she always carried It with her. She don't know why but whenever she read about Ivaldi her mind wander to the strange boy she met at port-town Dartanes.

The boy was weird not to mention that his clothes indicated that he wasn't from around here. Maybe he from Germania. Or maybe at the land past Sahara. She couldn't tell.

The boy skill is also not natural. He definitely not a noble and yet she has seen him using magic without any wand. Is it because of the sword. In one of her mission she had met with someone who modified the axe to act as a wand so she thought it may be possible with a sword. Then again he must be a noble if that was true but nothing seem to indicate he is a noble from the way he act.

As she was in thought she start to notice someone is watching her. With all eye was to her at the palace she could tell if someone was watching her with a alternative intention or not.

She step out of the tent raising her staff. Scanning the surrounding.

"Air cutter." With a wave of her wand the spell hit te nearby tree. The sound of tree branch breaking can be heard.

"clap, clap, clap…. I impressed. You managed to detect me." Someone coming out from the direction of her attack.

It was a man but she also noticed something. Although the man was smiling his eye was blank as if there wasn't a soul in the body.

"Who are you?" Her stance indicate that she's about to unleashed the second attack. She already finish the chanting. It was a delay chant. Sometime a mage need a time to chant but in the middle of the battle one may not have the time to chant the spell fully so that why this type of chanting was discovered. It allows a mage to chant a spell at earlier time and use it later. The downside is they can only use the spell that they had designated or else they would need to do the chanting again.

"What with that look? I'm not your target."

This guy knew what she looking for, could he be a vampire? She still cautious about the guy and that prove to be good as he suddenly raise the dagger from his waist.

"But you are my target."

A volley of fire aiming at her but she immediately counter it with her spell.

"Windy icicle." A dozen arrow of ice manifested around her aiming at the guy.

Both attack collide cancelling each other. The collision of both attack create a steam making her sight suffer but she didn't worry to much since it should be the same for the other guy. She take this chance to change her location. It will be unwise if she doesn't know her location.

"Got you!"

When did he…. She was caught of guard. The guy had already moved behind her. How did he know where she is? She doesn't have the time to think about it as he already bringing out the dagger aiming at her.

She spun around and immediately casting the 'wind shield'. He got thrown back by the spell.

"As expected of someone who achieve the title of chevalier at such young age. And here I thought this will be an easy job."

The guy keep blabbering but she just stare at him. Inside her mind she already thought of many possibilities. This must be the assassin sent to kill her. Her guess it must be Isabella who sent him. No one would know if she die in another country so this must be the best chance for them.

"Aren't you going to say anything, you barely speak a word since we met." He seems to be annoyed by her silence. No matter what she doesn't have time to chat with him. If he an enemy than all she need is eliminate him. She still have something else to do.

It was starting to get dark but with a simple night vision spell it make it easier to see the surrounding clearly.

"Sigh… it no fun when you didn't response. Oh well I guess I finish the job fast and get out of this land."

He immediately start to chant something but she wont give him the chance. She launch and 'air cutter' at him but this time he also launch the same spell. Both spell met and because it was the same it cancel each other.

Something wrong. From what she see this guy manipulate the fire spell just now she assume that his main element must be fire. But how did he able to beat her spell since her main element is wind so her spell should win even if it is the same kind.

A mage should only verse with one type of element. Of course there is a second element but they usually strong at the first element they use. She haven't heard of any mage who can use different element effectively. Even though a square class mage can use all element their mastery of spell still limited to what his or her main element is.

"That was a nice wind spell, then what about this."

A gust of wind aiming at her. Tabitha got caught by the wind and was blown over. She managed to regain balance on the air and before she fall she use a levitation spell to slow down her landing.

That was 'breaking wind' she sure of it. Not every mage can use the spell. They must at least have a wind element as first or secondary element.

What she can conclude about this guy is that he must be at least triangle class. If he was a square class the fight will be a lot harder for her but that does not mean that she could not win. Even a dot mage could beat a square mage if he has a plan and a bit lucky.

"I guess it about time to end this." He use the dagger as a medium to create a windblade. But then something change. The wind start to burn and the windblade had changed to fireblade. It must be the combine element of wind and fire.

XXXXXXX

At the same time Tabitha was fighting with 'undercurrent' something had happened to the village.

"kyaaaaaaa!"

"Gaaaaaahh!"

Scream and shouting can be heard from the village.

"You! you're the one that do this." A guard from the village spoke after noticing someone that was not a villager.

He unsheathed his sword and with a battle cry charged at the one he just accused.

The one who being attacked look like a normal human. But the truth is he was a vampire. He had decide to destroy this village and all the human within it as well.

He raised his hand and pointed it at the sky. A storm of fire raining out from the sky burning down the whole village including all the human no matter if they already had they blood suck or not. He doesn't really care.

"Tch…" he clicked his tounge. He could feel that the spirit try to prevent him from using it power but he still force his way out to use the magic. Those who use Firstborn magic make a contract with the spirit. If the spirit doesn't approve of the action, the magic will be a lot weaker. Normally the spell that he unleashed will already burn the whole village to the ash but some village still standing.

The guard who had charged at him earlier receive the most damage as he was near the vicinity of the spell.

He struggled a bit but soon quieted down as he was not breathing anymore.

Now then it time to eat. The village is not really big but he thought that they must be other human still alive. Then he noticed a spark not to far outside the village. He can smell blood from it and not to mention it was a noble blood. He decide to head to that direction.

XXXXXX

The fight with the guy had gone a bit long. Throughout the fight, she managed to learn that this guy is an assassin sent from Isabella to kill her. His codename is 'undercurrent'. What surprised her is that this guy is not the one who she had been speaking to the entire time. It was the dagger. It didn't surprise her much since she already met with another talking weapon before but what surprised her was that this dagger had an ability to remember the spell that her owner had. He must have transfer to different host many time as he seem to be able to use all element effectively.

"….!"

"Got you!"

Tabitha stops moving. More accurately her feet was stop as her it got caught by the crumble of the ground.

"This will finish it." Undercurrent thrust the fire blade to Tabitha.

The blade pierced her body.

(Something wrong.) Although he was sure that he had stab her there wasn't even a drop of blood coming out from her body.

Then the figure of Tabitha start to distort and disappear from the spot.

"Breaking wind." The force from the wind knocked the dagger from the guy hand and Tabitha quickly step on it aiming the wind blade at the dagger.

"kuh! I was careless. That was 'uneven distribution' isn't it."

Tabitha just stay silent at that not answering his question. As she though the guy had stopped moving after the dagger had been release from his hand. Now all she need is to break the dagger and everything will be over.

"Hahaha…. I must admit, such young age and you already able to use that spell that even adult found difficult."

It true what he say. That spell was hard and so far she can only make one clone. She had heard that here are other mage out there that could even make 6 clone without any problem. But that not important right now. What important is she already beat this Dagger. All she need to do now is destroyed it.

"But let me say this first even if you broke the dagger I will not die. We sentient weapon will always live even if our body is broken."

At that word Tabitha hesitate for a moment. What did he meant by that? She start to though about it but then decide to do it another way. Something like this could cause trouble for other people so she decide to deal it the most effective way.

"I'll bury you."

At that sentence the tone of the dagger seem to had change.

"WAIT! You don't want to do that will you…?"

"…"

At that silence the undercurrent start to sound panic. If someone bury him underground all he could do is wait if someone will dig the place he had been burried. For all he know no one will ever came. He was better of dead that way. But the sentient sword cant be killed in a normal way so it was useless even if he tried to kill himself.

He tried to think a way out of this and then he start to remember something.

"I-if you spare me I told you what exactly happen to your mother."

At the word mother Tabitha stop what she was about to do. Her mother. Does this guy know something.

"Speak." Although her face always expressionless but if someone look at her now they will run away for sure.

"Okok… I tell you just don't bury me."

"This is something I overheard years ag-"

"gaaarghh…"

He was interrupted by something. it seem that Tabitha was to focused with what he was about to say that she didn't noticed someone else.

When she look she found the guy that had been controlled and also someone else with him. The controlled guy look as if in pain as the newcomer had been bitten him on his neck.

"Vampire" It seem that her target had decide to come for her. Her attention divide to two. She really wants to hear what the dagger had to say and at the same time she need to deal with what was happening.

The vampire stop sucking as he raise his head from the man neck blood dripping from his mouth.

"Kill her." With that simple word the man who had just having the blood suck start to charge at her. She tried to conjure a wind shield but it was not enough time as the guy punched her making her thrown a few meter back. Normally that blow would have killed her but because of the incomplete version of wind shield it reduce the damage she receive.

"That was a ghoul, be careful, they combat power is enough to destroy a small city all by itself."

Undercurrent who are still on the ground shouting at her.

"Ho… a sentient sword. Tell me what are you doing with a human. I though that the elf doesn't get along with human." The vampire spoke for the first time.

"Huh? I don't know what are you talking about, I don't remember to much about my past."

The vampire pick up the dagger holding it at his hand.

"Then vanish!"

"Gaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"

Tabitha tried to stop it but it was to late as the flame already engulfed the dagger reducing it to nothing. She still need to hear what he had to say about her mother but it look like she wont be able to anymore.

The fire spell was strong. Strong enough to turn metal to ash. So this is firstborn magic. She need to be careful with this vampire. Not to mention that she had to deal with the ghoul at the same time.

Tabitha start running away to another direction. She will be at disadvantage if she fought right there. She need to separate them and take them out one by one. The ghoul had start to chase after her but the vampire doesn't even move from his position.

She move to the village direction and then she start to notice something. The village seem to be burning and illuminate the sky with it color. She didn't notice it before because she had been using the night vision the entire time making it impossible to notice the difference of lighting.

"Graaaaahhh…."

She wait for the ghoul to come at her but this time she was prepared as she immediately activate the 'wind shield'. The ghoul got blown back as his body slam to wall of wind that had been forming in front of her.

Her attack doesn't stop at that as she continued to thrown 'air cutter' one by one. The attack hit the ghoul but it seems that it wasn't really effective as it didn't managed to get through it.

She wants to use her ice spell but it wasn't possible right now with all this many fire around her her ice will only melt if she use it. So her only option is to resort to wind magic. She can use a water magic to put out the fire but that will only exhaust her willpower and she need her willpower to deal with the ghoul.

She dodge the attack after attack but it seem that her body start to tired out already. Not to mention from the battle with undercurrent earlier and the punch she got from the ghoul earlier.

And then something happen. When she was moving her leg seem to lose energy for a short while and that give the ghoul a chance to broke through her defense. She wont make it. The blow will hit her before she can conjure anything. This is the end. At least that what she thought but the ghoul stop moving.

Someone else had stab the ghoul with a sword making it writhing in pain.

At that time she notice who it is that had stab the ghoul. There's no way she could forget those clothes. It was Saito.

XXXXXXX

I stab the guy using Derf. The sword goes through him. I know I was panicked right now, I just stab a person for god sake. But because of the rune it still allowed me to think clearly.

"Graahhh" The man throw his fist at me. I pulled out Derf from his body to avoid the attack but it seem he managed to hit me causing me to be blown away. Before I fall, I noticed my speed seems to be slowing down. I noticed that I was floating.

When I look around, I start to realize that I was indeed floating. Tabitha had pointed her staff at me while taking the chance to get near me.

"Ugh… that hurt, what happened here." This is really confusing. I'm pretty sure I stab the guy through his heart but he seem to be alive. Not to mention his punch is powerful. If I hasn't pull out Derf at that time I will definitely end up broken some of my rib.

When I ask her she grab my hand to find a place to hide. It would be no good to talk when were in enemy sight.

"Gah… that really hurt. Who does he think he is."

"…!" someone voice seem to be appeared out of nowhere, from the direction it seem to behind me but when I look bck no one was there. And the man I just stab still crouching in pain from it. How is he still alive by the way? That makes me feel better a bit. I really thought I had killed him that time.

"What is that voice? Could it be a ghost?" With how many amazing creature in this world I wouldn't be surprised if the ghost really exist. I may not be surprise but the thought of meeting a ghost still scared me. I also wonder why am I still able to think something like this even in this kind of situation. In any case I blame the rune for it. That sure was an easy way to get an explanation.

"…!"

Is it just me or is Tabitha just tighten her grip on my clothes just now.

"You aren't afraid of ghost… right." There no way someone like Tabitha can be afraid of a ghost. She look like she won't be scared by anything.

"no…." That confirm it. She was afraid of ghost. If you want to convince me at least look me in the eye when you said that.

"Hey I'm not a ghost." There it is again. An unknown voice.

"Partner, at your back." I look behind me and there's still no one there.

"There's no one there Derf."

"I mean at your back. Not behind you."

At my back. the only thing I had beside my bag pack is the Katana. I take Derf advice and unsheathed the Katana from my back.

"Yo! Nice to meet you, or I should say again. remember me." The Katana just spoke.

Oioioioi… I never remember that it can speak. What the hell happened?

Tabitha upon seeing the Katana suddenly spoke up while pointing her staff at it.

"Get away from him." Wha- what is this so sudden. First I just stab a guy and I don't even have time to thought about it. Then my Katana suddenly talk and Tabitha told me to get away from him/it. Nothing make sense anymore.

"It seem you recognize me right away but it to late, this guy will be under my control."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Nothing happened. " I said to break out the silence, now that he said his control I finally recognize the voice. "Wait a minute, aren't you that 'undercurrent' guy. What the heck are you doing in my Katana.

"It seem that his body must have broke and his soul is transferred to a nearby weapon which coincidently is your Katana. And don't bother about trying to control him. I already put a block on his mind to make sure that he can't be controlled." Derf starting to become more reliable as time passed. I wonder if his memories had been recovered. Did he say that I was about to be controlled by this 'undercurrent' just like the guy from before.

"You can do that Derf?" I don't know that he have an ability like that.

"I just remember about it so you don't need to worry about him now." That reassuring.

"Tch… oh well it not like I have much magic power left anyway." Did this sword just clicked his tongue. How did he have a tongue in the first place.

"By the way Tabitha you can put down your staff now." She seem still to be wary of this 'undercurrent' but she put her staff down nonetheless.

"Ok, now that we're all calm down how about you told me what happened here and I told you what I know."

She nod at that. We need to assess the situation better before we make our move. I'm pretty sure that the guy from before will be looking for us right now. Our hiding place should buy us some time to understand the situation better like how that guy could still live and what really happened to this village. It was obvious that the vampire is responsible for this attack but we need to hear the story of both side before jumping to conclusion.

This will take a while. Not to mention that right now even my Katana had gain an ability to talk. One talking sword was already hard and now there two. Could it get any worse?

I say this before and I say it again. I suck at fighting scene. It was hard to write a battle between a mage since I already use to close combat battle. Not to mention that there almost no Saito in this chapter making it hard to write.

I must apologize first because I think the quality of this chapter is not to good. I don't want to waste my time and want to move to the next chapter so this seem a bit rushed.

There might be some information I got wrong about undercurrent and vampire but there not to much information about them in the first place.

This chapter or I guess last chapter marked the end of music box arc and the vampire arc had begin. For those waiting for Tiffa she will appear in the next chapter or if not the next chapter after that. She will be start to make much more appearance in the later chapter as because of her new void spell. It nothing strong but the spell will be the most important for the story.

So please review this. I need it.