To War: Attempted Chivalry
It was night. The princess had finished her speech hours ago and left the academy in a solemn silence.
Albion had fallen. It was the closest neighbor to Tristain, as well as its closest allies. The ties between the two royal families had always been strong, and though it had been beset by rebels, there had been hope that it would last at least a few months longer.
It had not.
News had come that Reconquista had successfully breached the royal palace using powerful magical artifacts that allowed a single man to take out an entire company of soldiers.
A group of no more than ten had proved enough to eliminate all that remained of the Royalists. Down to the last man, the Albion royal family was no more, and the old king's body had been strewn on the streets as a symbol of corruption in the old system.
The body of the prince, Wales, had not been found, but from the bloody scene that was left in the halls of the once hallowed palace, it was a foregone conclusion that the heir was also dead. His wasn't the only body missing, after all. The sheer power of whatever artifacts that had been used left more than a dozen bodies as nothing more than a stain on the wall.
That was the report given to him by Karin when he had asked to learn more of the situation to prepare for the inevitable war that would break out.
Somehow, someway, the rebels had managed to obtain an equalizer. A power that could potentially rival even the Heavy Wind, which was what allowed them to attack with impunity.
But that wasn't what troubled Emiya. No, it was the fact that the battle had taken a such a sudden turn.
Karin had told him that Reconquista and the Royalists had been at a standstill until just the day before. From all signs, it had appeared that Tristain had another month to prepare. Karin herself had been slated to be deployed should the tides shift any further, the vanguard before the Tristainian forces would be sent out in an official war.
Now they had less than a week.
It was obvious. A rebel force obtaining a weapon of mass destruction and successfully conquering a nation. An alliance that could have saved Tristain being called off just a week prior. The fall of their only true ally in Halkeginia.
Tristain was on their own, and there was no doubt that both Germania and Gallia would remain neutral, if not invade outright so that they could seize a piece of the country for their own.
This was the truth of the situation that now waited them.
Emiya closed his eyes. Troublesome...
Louise had retired to her bedroom the moment that the princess finished talking. Completely silent, she had immediately lain on her bed, and had been unmoving ever since.
Emiya had let her be. Though he couldn't feel it himself, he was sure that his Master was feeling overwhelmed, and likely in despair.
He should have comforted her. Said something about how everything would be alright, how it was possible that the rebels wouldn't attack Tristain. That her life would remain the same as it had always been.
It would be a lie.
Though Emiya wanted to protect her, he would not lie to her. The illusion of safety could protect one's innocence, but their life would be forfeited the moment that illusion was destroyed. An illogical structure that would fall the moment danger first arrived.
No. It was better to let her despair for now. To let her realize the odds against her.
Because, even if his Master was fragile, there was steel in her. And to forge that steel...
"Emiya."
The first words from Louise in hours. Her voice was dry, and cracked like she was going to burst into tears. Even so, even as wavering as it was, he could feel the strength in them.
"Teach me."
He smiled. "I already promised, didn't I?"
Yes... his Master was fragile. Her heart was like glass, but there was steel in her. Now it would be up to him to forge that steel, to create a sword that could weather the harsh winds of war, to survive countless battles.
"We'll begin at the break of-"
Knocking at the door. Two long, and three short.
Emiya grew silent, and moved to the immediate right of the door. It opened outwards, so he could still be seen if the one knocking stepped inside, but he was fast enough to subdue them in either case.
Louise had started to get out of her bed, but she noticed what he was doing and also grew silent. Instead of getting up to open the door, she moved behind her bed and grabbed her wand. It was a position that would let her take cover if the visitor was hostile.
She's learned caution. I suppose that's one benefit of these trying times...
Emiya gave her a small nod to acknowledge her actions, and then the two waited. After all, even if it was someone benign, like Karin (though Emiya wouldn't really call her a benign presence in Louise's life...) there was still the high chance that it could be someone malevolent.
Knocking to announce their presence was suspicious, but then they could just be waiting for Louise to open the door so that they could attack her. No, he knew better than to let Louise do that, and it seemed that she understood that caution as well, willing to wait for the visitor to emerge before acting.
A tense few seconds, then the door slowly opened.
A cloaked figure, with a hood up to disguise their features.
Louise tensed, and for a moment Emiya thought he would have to subdue the visitor. But then he saw the face beneath the cloak and relaxed.
"Princess Henrietta," Emiya said. "What brings you here so late at night?"
Despite her subterfuge, because it wasn't magical in nature, Emiya could clearly see the identity of their late night visitor.
She jumped in surprise, and made shushing gestures with her hands before stepping in the room and closing it behind her. After that, she pulled out a staff and cast a short spell, filling the room with glowing powder.
Emiya narrowed his eyes. Silencing magic...?
After she was satisfied that there weren't any ways to eavesdrop, she dropped her hood and smiled at Louise. "It appears that you've obtained a competent guard, Valliere." That smile dropped a bit when she saw how tense Louise was, and that she had grabbed her wand. "...Though I can understand why."
Louise blinked, looking between her wand and the revealed princess, and then dropped to her knees. Of course, since she was standing behind her bed, that led to a collision with its mattress, sending Louise sprawling against the wall behind her.
Emiya sighed.
Louise's embarrassing reaction to the princess broke the tension, and the three of them were now seated at Louise's table.
It seemed that Louise and the princess were old friends, as they spent the time reminiscing on childhood events. They also seemed close, as the princess made a sincere apology to Louise for the terrible events happening to her recently, and even gave her a hug.
All in all, the two were acting like an ordinary pair of teenaged girls should, something that Emiya thought was good for them with the recent events.
...Of course, it was apparent that the princess had come for more than just catching up on old times.
After the two had talked for a while and settled down a bit from their excitement and joy of talking to each other, Emiya turned to the princess and said, "While it is good for old friends to reconnect, I would like to know the true purpose of your visit, Princess. I don't believe you are here for just a simple chat, are you?"
"Emiya! You shouldn't talk that way to the princess!"
Louise scolded him, but he ignored it. That seemed more of a reflexive action than actual condemnation, so it wasn't worth considering. Instead, he focused his attention on the princess, who let out a sigh and lowered her eyes.
"No, Louise. Your... servant?"
She gave Emiya a questioning look, and he nodded in response.
"Yes, your servant has made a valid point. And I cannot blame him for his caution after what has happened to you in the past few weeks. Truly, I cannot apologize enough for that incident."
Louise was quick to object. "It's not your fault, Princess!"
Henrietta smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "You are too kind, Louise. But it is as I said, your servant has a right to be cautious."
There was a moment of silence where it seemed as if the princess was gathering her thoughts, and then she said, "...I would like for you to go to Albion, Louise."
Another moment of silence, though this one was born of stunned surprise.
Emiya was the first to regain his composure. "...You want Louise to go to Albion? The country where the rebels have successfully overthrown the royal family? Where it is all too likely that any supporter of the Royalists will be immediately put to death, if not worse?"
Henrietta cringed at that, but gave a firm nod. "Yes, but it is a matter of utmost importance."
"Enough that you are willing to risk the life of the very friend you spent the past hour reminiscing with?" Emiya paused, a thought coming to him. "...Or was that just to manipulate her emotions so that she would be more accepting to a suicide mission, Princess?"
He spoke the last word like a curse. It seemed that the rebels were justified if the royal family was willing to go to these depths to achieve their desires. Perhaps he should... expedite their cause, if that was the fate awaiting his Master-
"No!" Henrietta flinched, as if visibly struck. "I would never do such a thing!"
"Then why don't you send someone else? Louise is both untrained and uninitiated. Karin would be a better choice for whatever mission you have in mind-"
"Emiya." Louise sent him a stern glare. "Let the princess speak."
He shook his head. "No, Louise. I can't allow this. It's one thing for you to fight monsters as you have, but another thing entirely to tread in a war torn country. Even with your abilities."
Louise crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "It is my life, Emiya!"
Emiya didn't back down, meeting her gaze without flinching. "And it is my duty to protect you! I will not allow you to place yourself in danger like this while you are not ready!"
"I am more than ready-"
"You. Are. Not!"
A small fit of laughter brought the two of them back to the situation at hand.
Louise blushed, realizing her actions in front of the princess, and made quick apologies.
Emiya merely leaned back in his chair. Mission by her sovereign lord or not, Emiya wouldn't stand by and let Louise run off to get herself killed. He would follow her to the ends of the world itself and give her the tools to shape her own fate, but at the moment she was far from capable of that.
"Truly, you two are a good match," Henrietta said. "But Sir... Emiya, is it?"
At his nod, she continued. "Sir Emiya, while it assures me that my dear Louise has such an ardent protector, you need not worry. The task I have for her is not so dangerous as you imagine."
Emiya scoffed, drawing another glare from Louise. "Then what is this so called mission of 'utmost importance' that is also 'not so dangerous'?"
The princess pulled out a letter from her pockets and set it on the table. There was a wax crest on it, but it meant nothing to Emiya.
It seemed that it did mean something to Louise, however.
"That's the Albion Royal Crest!"
Emiya frowned. "And what does a letter from the Albion Royal Family have to do with this mission?"
Henrietta smiled. "I received this letter a day after the news that Albion has fallen, Sir Emiya."
Louise gestured towards the letter. "Princess, may I?"
"Of course."
Emiya got up and examined the letter from over Louise's shoulder. It was brief, but essentially stated that Prince Wales was alive and that he was doing well. It also stated that he hoped to meet the princess again sometime soon.
When he finished reading, Emiya sat back in his chair and let out a sigh. "...You want for us to retrieve the prince, don't you?"
Henrietta shook her head. "Not alone. One of my personal guards will go with you to Albion. Between you and he, my dear Louise shall be well protected, will she not?"
Emiya pinched the bridge of his nose, staving off a coming headache. It was nostalgic, almost, considering that the last time he had one was when Rin turned into a magical girl and attacked the Lords of the Clock Tower 'for love and justice'. But he still didn't relish the thought.
"You can count on me, Princess! I won't let you down!"
And there was Louise, all too eager to fulfill Henrietta's wish. He could already tell that there would be no changing his Master's mind now. It would require a miracle on par with defeating ORT itself to stop a teenaged girl once their motivation became 'love and justice'.
...He should know, considering he had to do just that after Rin had finished with the Clock Tower.
Even so, he wouldn't give up without some resistance. And he still didn't know why it was necessary.
"Before my Master volunteers herself for anymore reckless and suicidal actions-"
"Emiya!"
"-at least explain why you cannot send someone like Karin instead and chose Louise. Or why you couldn't just send your guard himself?"
Henrietta had been smiling fondly at Louise's enthusiasm, but that dimmed when Emiya spoke. "...The Cardinal."
"The Cardinal?" Emiya frowned, considering that response for a moment, and then sighed. "Of course. The Cardinal is the one with the 'Scepter', isn't he?"
"Eh?" Louise looked between Emiya and Henrietta, confused. "What are you two talking about?"
"It means that the princess is nothing more than a figurehead while the Cardinal is the one with the power," Emiya said.
Henrietta nodded. "It is as Sir Emiya says." She turned back to Emiya and said, "The reason why I cannot send Karin or my guard alone is because he would know that I am planning something." She sighed. "He believes that Tristain is doomed, and intends to surrender the moment Reconquista arrives. I cannot... I will not allow that. But to do that, we require a rallying point."
"...And the sudden appearance of the prince that was thought to be dead would allow that?"
Emiya didn't see how it would help. It might give the nobles and supporters of the royal family some motivation, as well as opposition to Tristain surrendering, but it wasn't something that would help a lot. War would come to Tristain regardless. Though I suppose having another member of the Royal Family present while the rebels invade would give the princess more authority.
Emiya sighed. This wouldn't end well, regardless of his decision. There was still that mysterious magus to consider, and the unknown artifacts that allowed the rebels to suddenly shift the scales.
Henrietta nodded. "The Cardinal would not be able to deny the voice of two members of the Royal Family."
"Emiya." Louise looked at him. Like he thought, she wouldn't budge a bit on this issue.
"...I guarantee, this will not end well," Emiya muttered.
Henrietta smiled. "But at the least you will be there to protect Louise, will you not, Sir Emiya? Someone capable of matching the Heavy Wind in a duel, as well as a member of my personal guard should ensure that all goes well."
"...Fine. I'll agree to this foolhardy plan." He glanced towards Louise and said, "It looks like my Master will be going no matter what I say, so I might as well follow to ensure her safety."
"My guard will meet you at the stables when dawn breaks," Henrietta said. "He will know where to go to find Prince Wales." She turned towards Louise and pressed a ring in her hands. "When you find him, show him this ring and remind him of the oath made upon Ragdorian."
Louise's eyes widened with the princess's last words. "You... and the prince...?"
Henrietta just gave Louise a small smile in response, and then she got out of her seat. "Thank you, my dear Louise, for accepting this favor of mine." She gave her a deep bow. "I will eternally be in your debt should you succeed."
Louise scrambled, flustered at the princess's gesture, and frantically motioned for her to get up. "I-it's not trouble, none at all, Princess! Please, there's no need to go to such lengths!"
Henrietta straightened and smiled, then turned to Emiya. "I entrust you with her safety, Sir Emiya. I beg of you, do not let her come to harm." She paused, her smile dimming. "I... I know this is dangerous, and I know it might seem selfish, but..."
"You have nothing to worry about, Princess. So long as I am by her side, even should the world itself turn on her, I will ensure her safety."
Henrietta nodded, and then turned towards Louise. "You have a very loyal and noble servant, Louise... or perhaps he is-"
Louise flushed. "Princess! Th-that's... Emiya and I... such a thing...!"
The princess laughed and shook her head. "I jest, my dear Louise, I jest. After all, you already have Viscount Wardes, do you not?"
Viscount Wardes...? Emiya frowned, but before he could think more on it, the princess headed towards the door.
"Well then, I bid you two a good night. May the Founder protect you from the harsh winds blowing in Albion."
With those final words, the princess left, leaving just Louise and Emiya alone in the room.
Silence, and then Emiya said, "You should rest, Louise. I will wake you when it is time."
Louise glanced at Emiya and blushed, but then said, "...Okay." After that, she headed back to her bed and laid down, cuddling with some of the animals Emiya had made for her.
Eventually, her breathing smoothed, and she fell asleep.
"...I don't like this, Sword."
A rusty voice, coming from beside Emiya.
"I don't either, Derf. Like I said, this can't end well."
Derf shuddered against the wall next to Emiya, his equivalent of a sigh. "Looks like pinky's going to get that training sooner than you thought, isn't she?"
"...It appears so."
It was silent again. Looking outside the window, Emiya could clearly see the twin moons in the skies above.
"...Hey, Sword," Derf said. "Did you mean what you said about protecting pinky over there from the world itself?"
"Of course. I am her sword, and my body was created to save."
"...You know that the world actually has a will, right?"
Emiya smiled, though it was different from his usual expression. Distorted. "I meant what I said, Derf. The World, Death, Time... even Reality itself. So long as I am by her side, she has nothing to fear."
"...Heh. Let's hope it doesn't come to that then. Blondie would get a heart attack."
Dawn had just broken. Emiya had already roused Louise, and the pair were at the stables, waiting for the last member of their party.
Louise was dressed in her uniform as always, though she had changed her shoes for the more practical riding boots.
Emiya was in his usual attire, namely his coat, armor, pants, and boots. He had changed the color though. Seeing as they were trying to be stealthy, they had become a dark gray, closer to black then the silver they had been. He also wore Derflinger on his side. He would have preferred having Louise wield the sword, but he still had not gotten the chance to train her yet, and he didn't want her getting any rash ideas about attempting Tracing without him nearby.
He still wasn't sure if that was what she was actually doing, after all.
"...I still say that this is a bad idea, Master."
Louise sighed. "You've already told me that, Emiya. And stop calling me Master!"
"You are my Master, and I am your sword. So long as we are going on this mission, that is our relationship, Master."
Though Emiya had agreed to go along, that didn't mean he had to like it.
"Fine! See if I care!"
Louise crossed her arms with a huff, and turned away from Emiya, looking through her packed belongings.
A brief moment of tense silence later, and someone entered the stable.
"My dear Louise. Are you in here?"
It was a man, with gray hair and a complete beard. A feathered cap, gray cloak over a matching tunic and tan breeches. If it wasn't for the color, Emiya would have mistaken him for a red mage from that one game long ago. What was it called again... Last Delusion? Ah. Final Fantasy. That was its name.
"V-Viscount Wardes! You are the princess's guard?"
It looked like that man was the 'Wardes' the princess had teased Louise about. ...He seems competent, at least. There was something... off, about the man, but he didn't seem to be malevolent.
Wardes stepped inside the stables. "Indeed, my dear Louise. I will be the one accompanying you to Albion." He took off his cap and gave Louise a brief bow. After that, he turned towards Emiya. "And you must be her familiar."
Emiya raised an eyebrow. While true, even the princess hadn't addressed him as such. "...I suppose you could call me that, though I am acting more in the capacity of a Servant to my Master than a simple familiar."
Wardes gave Emiya a scrutinizing glance, and then a brief nod. "Very well. You seem capable enough to protect my fiancée." His gaze suddenly hardened. "However, I shall not forgive you for causing that incident."
"Viscount Wardes!" Louise said. "Emiya was not the one at fault! There was a magic field placed on the school, and-"
Wardes waved off Louise's words. "Yes, my dear Louise. I know all about that accursed spell placed upon the academy. But even so, his appearance is the reason the incident occurred. That you cannot deny."
Louise bit her lip. "B-but..."
Emiya gave Louise a reassuring smile. "It's alright, Master."
Seeing that she wasn't quite so upset, he turned his attention back to Wardes. "You need not forgive me, Wardes. All that you need to know is that such an incident will not occur again."
Wardes gave a curt nod in response. "As you say. Now then, shall we be off? Daylight burns the longer we remain here." He turned towards Louise and said, "You will ride with me on my griffin, won't you my dear Louise? It has been a while since we last spoke, and there's much I would like to say to you."
Louise looked at Emiya and hesitated. "I-"
"Ah, that is if your familiar doesn't mind, of course. Do you?"
The words were said as an afterthought, and Emiya could hardly miss the dismissive way that Wardes continued to call him a 'familiar' rather than Servant, or his name. A petty gesture, one that Emiya would allow. After all, had one he cared for gone through similar circumstances, he would likely do the same.
"Of course not. You have the destination?"
"I do."
Emiya ignored the clipped response, and said, "Where shall we be heading first then, Wardes?"
The man let out an exaggerated sigh. "To think that such an ignorant individual is my dear Louise's familiar... I suppose it's good that you are at least capable in combat."
Louise frowned. "Viscount Wardes. Emiya is not-"
"We will be heading to the port city La Rochelle. Though it is normally a two day ride, with my dear Louise and I on my faithful griffin and you switching rides along the way, we should make it by nightfall."
Again, the dismissive tone. No, not dismissive but rather... slightly hostile? Either way, Emiya ignored it. "Very well."
He started walking out of the stables.
"Are you not forgetting something, familiar?"
Emiya turned back when he walked outside and gave Wardes a slim smile. "Call your griffin, Wardes. You need not worry about my own transportation."
Wardes gave Emiya a strange look, but nodded and walked outside, a strangely meek Louise following him. There, he gave a shrill whistle, and his griffin appeared a few moments later. He easily climbed his mount, and helped Louise up. With that done, he turned back towards Emiya and raised an eyebrow when he saw that Emiya had yet to take out a horse. "...Are you not coming after all, familiar?"
Emiya kept smiling. "Again, you need not worry about me, Wardes. Focus on your fiancée. Even if you two are promised to each other, I will be... most displeased if she comes to harm in your care."
Wardes scoffed. "Arrogant as well... your familiar is truly a piece of work, my dear Louise."
"Emiya is not-"
Whatever Louise said was lost as the griffin took flight with powerful gusts of wind.
Emiya waited until their figures were nothing more than a dot in the sky and then put a hand on Derf's hilt. "...Tell me, Derf. Have you ever gone faster than the speed of sound?"
"Can't say that I've had the privilege, Sword. I've gotten close in the hands of some of my wielders, but I've never actually done it. Can't say that many other swords have either though."
His body is made of blades.
An interconnected emerald web, thrumming with power. A pulse of energy from a single thread that was from his Master.
"Well, there's a first time for everything, isn't there?"
"Wait... you aren't-"
The stables were on the outside of the academy, quite a distance away due to their 'stench' as the Nobles would put it. But it was still too close for what he was planning to do.
A thrown sword and quick substitution fixed that issue.
"Whoa. Sword, did you just-"
"Trace, on. Reinforcing composite materials... complete."
He could barely see Louise now, even by reinforcing his eyes. It seemed that Wardes was eager to arrive at their destination, and even speeding up his mount by layering wind spells.
There was nothing but grass all around for miles.
Perfect.
Louise wrapped her arms tighter around Wardes.
The Viscount had decided on a blistering speed, and doing anything less than that would have been uncomfortable at the least, and dangerous at the most.
Not that Wardes would let her come to harm, but there was still that fear of falling in the back of her mind, especially after that one time at the tower...
Either way, Louise held on tight to the man in front of her. Even so, she couldn't help but sneak a few glances back, looking for Emiya's distant figure.
He had been there a while ago, but now was nowhere to be seen.
"...So he was bluffing after all."
Wardes shook his head. "I cannot understand what you see in that familiar of yours, my dear Louise. Incompetent, if strong. Arrogant. It's no wonder you came to so much harm after you summoned him."
Louise frowned. "Emiya is not that bad, Viscount."
Wardes turned around and smiled. "Up here, with only the heavens to accompany us, my dear Louise, a simple 'Wardes' will suffice."
Louise blushed. Though he was ten years older than her, or perhaps it was because he was ten years older than her, Wardes possessed a certain charm about him that made her heart race. And at times like that when he spoke to her so endearingly, with such a charming tone of voice... it was almost enough to make her mind blank.
"Now, what were you saying, my dear Louise?"
Ah. Louise blinked. What was she saying again...? Something to do with... Emiya. Right. That's what she was talking about. "Emiya's not as bad as you make him out to be. And he's not my familiar! He's my Servant!"
"Hm... Servant, you say? Did Karin decide to hire him as your guard then?"
Louise frowned. "No... but the spell used was 'Summon Servant' and familiars are supposed to be animals. Since Emiya is not an animal, he would be a Servant then, wouldn't he Vis- Wardes?"
"...You may be correct, my dear Louise. Familiars are supposed to be animals, so it is possible that your summoning spell was literal and called forth one who could become your Servant."
Louise nodded at that. It made perfect sense. Emiya was her 'familiar', but he wasn't really a familiar. After all, mages couldn't be familiars. So that meant he was a Servant, even if he was bound to her like a familiar was.
...Right?
"Very well," Wardes said. "I shall endeavor to use the appropriate term in the future, my dear Louise."
There was a moment of silence, where only the wind accompanied them, and then Wardes said, "So tell me more about your 'Servant', my dear Louise. Is it true that he dueled Lady Karin to a draw?"
"...I thought he won that duel?"
Wardes laughed. "A ridiculous notion, my dear Louise. Truly, you have too much faith in your Servant. Dueling Lady Karin, the infamous Heavy Wind and claiming victory? It is good to have faith in one that will stay by your side, but too much can be dangerous."
He shook his head. "Your Servant appears capable, but not that capable."
Louise frowned. There was something about the way that Wardes was discounting Emiya's abilities that bothered her. Something about the way he dismissed Emiya, the one Louise knew had-
survived through countless battles, not even once retreating, not even once regretting.
-gone through so much that irritated her.
"You have not seen him fight, Wardes. I would not... I wouldn't discount him so easily."
"Hm... if you say so, my dear Louise. But I do wonder... could the reason for your continued protest be that he has stolen your heart?"
Louise flushed. Me? And Emiya? No... that couldn't- He wouldn't... Would he?
"I jest, my dear Louise. I know full well that your heart still lies with me."
"...Of course."
That's right. She loved Wardes. And Wardes was the one she was going to marry, so why couldn't she get Emiya out of her head?
"You know that I will protect you, Louise?"
"Even should the world itself turn on her, I will ensure her safety."
The one who had sworn to protect her, the one who would be by her side. Wardes was the one who made her heart race, but Emiya-
He stands there alone, protecting from his world of swords.
-he was the one that Louise never wanted to leave. The one that she couldn't leave.
She was broken out of her thoughts by the sound of an explosion below them.
She felt Wardes tense and heard him say, "An attack? No, that was not a spell, nor was it a cannon, despite the sound..."
Louise turned back to look to the ground, only to see a silver blur racing along the grass beneath them.
Seeing that, she couldn't help but smile. "It's Emiya."
"Your Servant?"
Wardes turned around to follow Louise's gaze. "So I see. Perhaps your faith and the rumors are not unfounded after all."
He turned back to the front and gripped the reins tight. "Prepare yourself, my dear Louise. This might be rough."
"What do you meeeeaaaannn!"
Their speed doubled, and Louise had her breath taken away at the sudden change in pace. All the while, the only thought in her mind was...
Stupid men and their stupid competitions!
A/N: And here's the next chapter! I'd intended it to be longer, as it said on my profile, but this was what remained after editing, and also where a logical break appeared, so I split it like so.
Review replies... er. It looks like I'm getting really bad at doing these... PM me if you have a burning question? I do read all of the reviews, but time's been getting shorter and shorter. Guest reviews are easy to do since they're all there, but signed reviews are actually harder since I forget who I have and haven't responded to... Sorry about that.
Tiger Dojo might or might not appear in the next few days. The Fifth might have gotten annoyed at the two and booted them into imaginary time. XD
So Reconquista got a hold of mysterious magical artifacts... I wonder what those are?
Wales is alive! But the rest of the royal family is dead. Where is he, then?
Wardes is being oddly possessive of Louise... and her reaction to him is a bit strange too.
We see the other side-effect of a Rank A Familiar Bond begin to develop as well. It's not just one way, after all...
Anyway, thanks for reading, and leave a review on your way out! It helps me improve as always, and in turn helps to refine the story and make it more enjoyable in future chapters.
Until the next!
Guest Review Replies from October 30th onward.
Chapter 9:
Guest: Yep, he can only modify one 'blueprint', and can't hold duplicates of the same sword, even if they're different shapes.
Guest: Yeah, that's a shame that Heart of Iron hasn't updated. It was a really good story, too.
Guest: Hm... it's probably not going to be completely as dark as HF, but it might be a bit darker than A Different Path? I dunno, gauging it off the top of my head like that's kinda hard.
Guest: It sounds right because I can't confirm or deny anything without giving things away?
Guest: All Void Mages lack an 'aspect' of their personality, making them somewhat distorted. Louise is lack of 'confidence' or 'selfworth'. Tiffania is lack of 'malice. Josef is lack of 'emotion'. And the Pope is lack of 'doubt'. At least that's what I have in mind so far. I had in depth notes on this, but I seem to have lost them...
Guest: Yes. Better than an average sword, but only barely on the level of a Noble Phantasm.
Guest: The Sword feels overkill is the best policy, so used Tsubame Gaeshi with the Shooting Hundred Heads to completely eradicate the opponent in an instant.
Guest: Gotcha!
Guest: Indeed, it is supposed to be Emiya.
Chapter 10:
Troll: Now that is the real question, isn't it? XD
Guest: To be honest, I've never heard of Legend of the Legendary Heroes before now, but I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter.
bro: Yeah, I know . A lot of it got stripped down when I went over it though, and that's what we ended up with, while the other half is for the next chapter. I should stop saying how long they'll be... it sets up incorrect expectations, I guess...