Chapter 9: The Godsword.
It was nearly evening when Saito returned to the inn; he knew that if he were there, tensions would be high, because he wiped Wardes face on the floor, and Louise was mad at him also, he can't understand why his master would not give support to him, instead she sided with her "Wardes-chan". Saito spent the whole day walking around, sightseeing, the air was refreshing, and it helped him relax.
"I hope things had cooled down, maybe I will apologize to Louise-"
"Mr. Saito!"
"Guiche? What's up? And relax man, catch your breath!"
"Thank goodness, I found you Mr. Saito, I was searching for you the whole time! Sir Wardes asked me to find you; he told me Louise wants to say something to you." Guiche told Saito while catching his breath.
"What? Wardes told you that?, That's kinda strange… for me to speak him of my name, and let alone to relay a request from his fiancée?" Saito pondered.
"Why? Is something happened?"
"Well while you are asleep, he challenged me to a duel, and I kicked his ass." Saito replied casually.
"WHAT? YOU DEFEATED SIR WARDES IN A DUEL!" Guiche shouted.
"Fuck man! Keep it down, you are killing my ears, Anyway, we should get back…I had a hunch something bad is gonna happen." Then Saito and Guiche ran back to the Inn.
"What they already left?"
Saito was not surprised; in fact, it only cemented the suspicion that "shit-face" bastard was up to something. They were in the inn that they stayed, and the innkeeper said that their companions already left.
"Oh, I think they would leave for the last ship that would depart for this evening, and I think it would depart 5 minutes from now." The innkeeper
Guiche suddenly panicked, and started to shake Saito, "Mr. Hiraga, What are we going to do! They left us for real? What would the princess would say! What will-ouch!"
Saito gave Guiche a chop on the head, and the latter crouched down, holding his painful head.
"Shut up, panicking would not do any good, probably that shitface planned to ditch us all along, let's go man I think could catch up. So get your ass up, we are gonna do some running."
Guiche was about to stand up when Saito suddenly grabbed his and the innkeeper's collar and he threw them outside the nearby window. After throwing them outside, a huge rocky fist suddenly appeared the outside, and it destroyed the whole inn.
A hooded magician was riding on the golem that attacked Saito. She surveyed the destruction that she did, "Hmph that was too easy, but better to be sure. His freakish magic and Gandalfr ability was more than enough for me to take him out faster." It was no other than Fouquet.
Guiche stood up, and he was horrified by the destruction, and Saito's sacrifice.
"Mr. Saito!, you…..I will avenge you!" Guiche declared, and then he summoned his Valkyries, but Fouquet just squashed the Valkyries by stomping it with her golem.
"What a joke."
Fouquet then raised the Golem's feet to attack Guiche, but suddenly a blast offed the balance of the Golem, it was Kirche and Tabitha riding on Slyphid.
"Guiche! Are you alright? Where are Louise and my Darling?" Kirche asked.
"We are trying to catch up with Louise! She is with Sir Wardes, Saito and I was going to catch up with them but…." Guiche then pointed at the rubble that was used to be the inn, the arm of the golem still latched in on the cave-in.
"Oh my god…..Darling, surely he can't be-"
"Dead? Are you kidding me? With that force, no one can survive that!" Fouquet interrupted, her golem regaining composure, and its arm regenerated.
"Since all of you did me a good job of throwing me into the prison….I will return the favor, and I will start with you!" Fouquet pointed at Kirche.
"Oh is that so? Try me Old Lady."
"Old Lady? I am only 23!, for that I will sma-"
She stopped her threats when she noticed that the stone arm embedded on the rubble moved, then suddenly shot out on the air and smashed in to pieces, and then a human figure came out, it was Saito!
Saito then inspected his coat, and he furrowed his eyebrows. "Fuck this!, you stained my coat!", then he looked at Fouquet, whose expression as if she saw a ghost, not only her, but Guiche, Kirche and the emotionless girl Tabitha showed an expression of disbelief.
"Impossible! You must be dead by that attack! Are you a human?"
"Well, not bad for that attack, but still not enough, heck even that Shitface made me bleed, but your surprise attack dirtied my coat….and for that, you are fucking screwed."
"If the first time didn't hurt you, I will smash you now!" then the Golem raised its arm.
"Moonsong: Eien no Tsuki", a broadsword with a translucent blade came appeared on his hand, and then he walked slowly and passed thru the golem before waving his sword as if removing the blood from it. , and the golem suddenly split into two and then four and many, many pieces and crumbled down.
"What happened!" Guiche spoke in disbelief, his eyes must have played tricks on him, Saito just passed thru the golem without doing anything, and the golem was destroyed! Kirche and Tabitha were also amazed, how did he do that?
Fouquet struggled to stand, but her strength would not allow her, she fell high, and she might have broken a leg. She looked up and a sword pointed directly in her face with a man whose eyes looked like shining orbs of death, it seems that her life would flicker off.
"Talk." Saito's only word to her, but it was more than enough to make her sing.
"I was sent here by my client; he wants you to delay both of you as possible, but since I want to return the favor that you did to me last time, I think I overdid it. Too bad, you are a monster…."
"Who."
"I don't know, he wears a mask probably to conceal himself. Anyway, I guess this is it for me. Right? Fouquet looked at Saito with calm eyes.
Saito did not even blinked, but instead he raised his sword, and then Fouquet closed her eyes, hoping that the pain would not last, but instead, a clinking sound was produced beside her and laughter in front of her.
"Hahahahaahaah!, That's funny!, Let me guess you are scared shitless right? Hahahahahaahahahah!" Saito managed to say while holding his stomach from laughter.
Foqouet was at loss of words, is he the same man that was full of killing intent? Now that man was in front of her was laughing his heart out.
"Why?" is the only thing that she spoke.
"Hehehe…..Let me guess, you still didn't know why did I spare you last time and now right? Before I answer that, let me ask you a question, is there someone waiting for you?"
"Huh? Why would I answer that, you don't butt-"
"Because, depending on your answer whether you live or die."
"…"
Saito then folded his arms on his chest, and waited for Fouquet to answer. Silence ensued, and then she gave her answer.
"There is someone waiting for me, my sister Tiffania. Although I know that man would protect her, I still want to see her, she is the only reason that I entered in to these things…"
"Hmmmm I see..."
Saito then turned his back and started to walked away.
"Wait!"
"Hm? What's up? I need to hurry, I still need to follow Louise, and kill that son of a bitch."
"You didn't answer my questions…"
"Oh sorry I forgot." Saito then faced Fouquet, "You see Fou-"
"Fouquet is just an alias; my real name is Mathilda, Mathilda of Saxe-Gotha."
"Well you see Mathilda, I have a strange way of admiring a person, I don't give a damn on their looks, status, or riches. I admire not what they are but who they are, and I do that by looking at their eyes."
"Mathilda stammered, "E-Eyes?"
"You can lie with words or body actions, but you cannot lie with your eyes, they reflect what you feel, I faced many people, and thru their eyes I can see their intentions, determination, and will. In addition, Oh boy I am so lucky, you know why? Your eyes were one of the rarest; it's full of will to live, resisting till to the end, I admire that and more so it's because someone is waiting for you."
Fouquet was speechless, for the one in front of her looked like a divine being.
"Is that all?" Saito asked.
"Well I have another one….how did you defeat me?"
"Oh…Eien no Tsuki is a sword that dictates its sharpness and power depending on the phase of the moon. I did not expect that it would be more powerful here on this world, maybe because of the two moons, and also….."
A gust of wind suddenly blows on the back of Saito, then Eien no Tsuki that was lodged on Mathilda's side was suddenly blown away.
"It's the lightest sword that I have."
Kirche, Tabitha and Guiche were speechless, Saito granted mercy to the thief and let her live. Then Saito turned back and started to walk towards them.
"Saito…." Kirche whispered.
"I know we need to catch up, but I think that ship left, right?"
Guiche then asked, "How are we going to catch up with them?"
"How far is Albion from here?"
"One ." Tabitha replied.
"Yeah! Your dragon could carry us to Albion without problems right?" Guiche happily remarked.
"One problem. Weight."
This left everyone crestfallen, it's true that Slyphid could carry them from Albion in one day, but provided she was not overloaded, 4 people is not exactly what would you could light baggage.
"Fine. Then everybody now ride now." Saito said.
"How about you?"
"Just ride."
Everybody looked at Saito, who was now walking toward the port.
"Where are you going?" Kirche asked.
Saito did not answer, instead he ran toward the port, and jumped to the harbor….and dropped down to the sky.
"SAITO!"
Then something flashed below, and a figure rose up in the air, it was Saito standing up on a sword, his arms folded in his chest and his cloak swaying majestically in the wind. The sword that was Saito riding on was the Reppu.
"What are you gawking for? Let's go!" then Saito sped away.
Everybody was speechless for a while, and then Tabitha broke the silence.
"Surprising."
Louise looked out on the window of the airship; she cannot believe that her familiar and her classmate returned to the academy. She does not want to believe it but the news came from Wardes.
"Is something wrong Louise?"
It was no other than Wardes. Louise turned back to face him.
"No...nothing."
"Ah I see, you are worried for your familiar I presume?"
Louise looked down, affirming his suspicions. Wardes held Louise's shoulders, to comfort her.
"You know Louise; you should not be thinking of that man, He ran away from you. He is not even worth it. In addition, let me tell you a secret that Saito asked me to go to his room, and asked me to have a duel, but he said that I must lose, so it would boost your confidence in him.
Louise was surprised, his familiar just asked for a mock duel so he can impress her.
"And also Louise, I know my proposal have surprised you, but I hope you will be able to accept it by now, I really love you and no one can change that…..I believe you must rest now, because tomorrow would be a big day."
Wardes smiled and released Louise; he turned back and smirked "Hmph, Foolish Little Girl." Then he walked back to his room.
Louise was still uncomfortable, knowing something is wrong. She looked again outside the window and let her thoughts gaze for a while.
"Saito….."
"Saito…"
Saito lost his concentration, as if someone had just whispered on his ear. He was still flying but more slowly, although he can catch up with the airship, Sylphid will not catch up with him and may endanger the lives of its passengers. Saito then shook his head and continued to fly.
"Louise...Wait for me."
Louise and Wardes arrived at Albion in the morning, they arrived at a secluded church, and then Wardes opened the door, and both of them entered. In front of them were fully armored knights with weapons poised to strike. The commander then motioned them to stop.
"Halt, state your business here."
Louise answered the commander's question. "We are here to see Prince Wales."
"We cannot accept your request."
"But why? We came all the way from Tristain! We are the ambassadors!"
"Many assassins are attempting to take the life of the prince, even though you say you are the ambassadors, maybe you are just lying so you can get close to the prince, turn back now or face the consequences." Then he removed his sword from his scabbard and started to walk towards them.
"Princess Henrietta sent us!" Louise remained steadfast, determined to meet the prince.
The name of the princess seemed to have an effect on the commander, he stopped but still on his guard.
"The Princess sent you…That must be a lie."
Louise shook her head and instead she showed a ring. The commander was surprised and then he removed his glove to show a ring.
"Could you please raise your hand to my ring?" the commander requested.
"Eh? Uhmm…Sure." Louise complied with the request, and then both rings glowed with brilliant colors like the rainbow.
"What happened?"
"This is the Ruby of the Wind, and your ring is the Ruby of the Water. It was passed down in Albion's Royal family. If both rings would meet together, it would produce a rainbow…." The commander softly explained, "You are not lying, forgive me. Could I ask for your name?"
"I am Louise La Valliere, and my escort is Viscount Wardes."
The commander then sheathed his sword and removed his helmet, it revealed a handsome young man, with blond hair and blue eyes, and he has a regal air around him.
"I am Wales Tudor, the prince of Albion, Now follow me, and let's talk about it."
"What brings you here?" Wales asked. They were on the prince's quarters, and Wardes was outside of the room, excusing himself to provide both of them privacy
Louise took out the letter that Princess Henrietta wrote, "The princess wants you to have this letter."
The prince opened the letter and then he read the contents, his eyes seemed to have soften and then he closed his eyes and kissed the letter itself, then he opened the box, with a picture of Henrietta on it. The letter itself was frayed because it was always being read.
"Here is the letter, now please take care of it." Wales sadly remarked.
"Can I ask something?" Louise asked.
"What is it?"
"Judging from the letter and the box with the princess portrait on it, is that a lo-"
Wales sighed, and sadly smiled. "Yes, you are correct, it is a love letter. The princess and I have a relationship. This letter if were to fall on the Germanian household would cause great distress. In the letter, she is swearing eternal love for me in the name of Founder Brimir. It is like an oath when marrying, love sworn in the name of the founder. If this letter was to brought to light, she will be accused of committing the crime of bigamy. The emperor of Germania is sure to break off the engagement with the princess who violated the rules. Then, there would be no alliance. Tristain might be politically ignored by other countries' noble families."
Louise was surprised, to think that her mission is not just to retrieve a letter, but to ensure the safety of the kingdom…
Wales then continued, "There were also a group of nobles that are controlling everything that is happening, especially the war. They were called Reconquista…I must be left here to protect everything here…."
"Meaning that you are ready to die? But the princess didn't want the marriage!, She loves you….Can't you do anything to stop her? Why don't you come with us?" Louise asked Wales.
"I…..cannot, for me to stop the marriage would just make things more difficult, besides I must protect this country even at the cost of my life….especially for her."
Louise was sadder than before, to think that the world runs this way….
"May I request something?" Wales asked.
"What is it Your Highness?"
"Please tell Henrietta…May she live in prosperty…and goodbye."
"…..Yes, Your majesty."
Louise went outside the room after Wales left, and Wardes approached her.
"Did you have the letter?"
"Yes….I have it..."
Wardes then smiled and patted Louise head.
"Good job, That's my Louise…..Now we can do what we have planned earlier."
"What do you mean?"
"We will get married right now, and I asked Prince Wales to be the witness. Aren't you glad?"
"But that's too sudden! , Why don't we go back to Tristania first!, we need to deliver the letter first!"
"The letter will come later, because I need you." Wardes steps closer to Louise ," Or rather….the Reconquista needs you!"
"Yes, I am a member, now Louise, Come with me…It would be easier for you and me" then Wardes sported an evil smirk that scared Louise.
"No!, I won't marry you and I won't be used by you!" Louise forced herself to get away from Wardes, she pushed him and then she ran, but man wearing the clothes of the clergy and a skullcap blocked her way.
"Not so fast, You won't get away descendant of the Void" the man coldly announced.
Then he raised his ring to her, and it shone, Louise suddenly felt lightheaded.
"Vo…id?" was the word she whispered before her will disappeared.
"Where am I? What happened? My head…..wait, Why am I in front of an altar?, What is this? The prince, he was saying something….is that a wedding affirmation?, No! I don't want to get married! I must say something! What is this? I can't stop my mouth! No! I don't want to get married to him! Help me! Saito!
" -ask again. Do you swear to respect, love, and to have him as your lawfully wedded husband? "
"I…"
"No! I don't want to!"
"I do..n't…"
"SAITOOOO!"
The ceiling of the church suddenly broke down and collapsed, everyone on rose on their seats and scattered, Chaos and panic was everywhere. The smoke subsided, and in the middle of the rubble, a man was standing on the sword that was pierced on the ground, it was Saito.
Wardes had the look as if he saw a dead man, how was he able to get here! Meanwhile Louise suddenly snapped back, and then she ran to Saito, with tears on her eyes.
Saito hopped down on the sword, and Louise hugged him tightly, he hugged back and patted her head.
"Everything is OK now…I am here, Sorry that I didn't keep watch. Now could you stand aside for a while?" Saito then broke the hug and held Louise shoulders. "Hide for a while, will you?" Louise nodded and hid on a nearby pillar. Saito then looked down and closed his eyes.
Wales has no idead on what was going on. "What is the meaning of this Sir Wardes!"
Wardes did not reply, instead he stabbed the prince in the chest near the heart without batting eye. The prince has widened eyes and shock, he looked at Wardes who was just smirking, admiring the piece of work that he made. The prince fell down on the floor clutching his bloody chest.
"Hmph, One objective completed..." Wardes coldly commented.
The soldiers that are standing guard was shocked by the assassination, they charged at Wardes, but he casted a Lightning spell and unleashed it to the group of knights, the metal armor conducted the electricity and fried them inside, they were shouting and screaming in pain before dying, and filling the room of foul smell and smoke.
Wardes just smirked and he flicked his wand, then he looked at Saito,"Hmph, did you see that Gandalfr? My power was more greater tha-"
Wardes was cut short when a heavy and intense killing aura filled the room, everyone that was on the room either fainted or kneeled down as if something heavy just been place on their backs. Louise was also not spared, she holding her chest and there were tears on her eyes. "What is this? It's just like the last time…but more heavier! As if someone was choking me!."
Wardes almost fell on his knees, never on his career that merely killing intent made him feel fear. "This can't be….how can his intent could affect me! This must be a trick, yes it's a trick!, Nice try Gandalfr, you can't just beat me with that, Lightning Clones!" Wardes flicked his wand and five clones of him appeared beside him. Saito was still not moving, so the clones attacked him; all of them surrounded Saito and simultaneously stabbed him. Saito showed a surprised reaction and blood came out of his mouth.
"HAHAHAHAHA! What an easy fight!, you didn't put up a fight! That was for humiliating me!, surely you can't survive that! You were just all talk, Gandalfr!" Wardes gloated.
"Yes…I will make sure that she will receive this, rest in peace now, your Majesty."
Wardes looked back and his eyes widened, Saito was kneeling beside the prince's dead body, and closed its eyes, he looked back to the one that he attacked, his clones were still piercing the body of Saito.
"How did you….!"
Saito stood up and said, "Shattersword: Kyoka."
The Saito that clones stabbed suddenly cracked, and exploded, its shards hit the clones and dispelled all the clones, in the middle of where the fake Saito stood, was a katana with a crystal-like blade was pierced on the ground and shattered into nothing.
"You were not the only one who could create clones…Shitface." Saito then disappeared in a blur and punched Wardes on the gut, the latter was thrown back and destroyed many pews and cracked the wall.
"For breaking Louise's heart, I will make your death slow…." Saito lifelessly spoke, he drew Derflinger slowly. The sword voiced its feelings "Hey are you my Master? You seem kinda different…your killing intent was so great that it kinda gets me spooked!"
"Hey sword, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Do you want to taste a noble's blood?"
Derflinger suddenly became silent, and then it spoke in a gleeful cheery voice, "Sure why not? It's been a while since a blood of a noble dirtied me."
"I am glad we are on the same page….You, stand up. We are not finished yet."
Wardes stood up, and his face was contorted with rage, his hand that was holding the wand was shaking, but he managed to keep his cool, and then smugly smirked.
"Hmph, you are just lucky Gandalfr, just think that first blow as a lucky shot….Here I come!"
Wardes charged Saito, he amplified his speed using Wind magic, his sword clashed with Derflinger, and both men stared eye to eye, and Saito unleashed a punch aimed at Wardes face, but the latter broke the clash by stepping back and floating in the midair. Wardes stared down at Saito with the same smug look that he sported.
"What's the problem Gandalfr? Can't reach me?" Wardes taunted.
Saito did not reply but he summoned a sword in his right hand and throws it at Wardes with an amazing speed, Wardes tried to dodge but it wounded his shoulder. Wardes was surprised, "You can use magic!"
"Fuck I missed; I was aiming for your fucking head." Saito deadpanned.
Wardes was more surprised, to think that the Gandalfrcould use magic. He will not be relaxed on him, instead he chanted a spell and aimed at Saito, "Breaking Wind!"
The spell was heading onto Saito with break neck speed, but Derflinger jolted as if he remembered something.
"I remember now! I used to absorb magic!"
"What?"
"That my true ability! To absorb the magic of the mages!"
"That's good, now let's try it."
Saito sliced the wind upwards, the Breaking Wind was absorbed inside the sword.
"Not bad, but there are swords that can do better." Saito lazily commented.
"WHAT! You were not impressed by that! You got to be kidding me!" Derflinger angrily shot back.
"Well can you cut reality?"
"….."
Wardes was getting angrier, the Gandalfr was just making this fight a child's play, he took the opportunity of chanting another spell, this time his clones would be more powerful than the last one. Wardes finished and beside him were six clones.
"Behold! This clones had now the same power of the original, now Gandalfr, YOU are the one who will die slowly!" The clones charged at Saito who was still arguing with his weapon, but Saito did not look but he swept his hand horizontally, and 10 katana came out of nowhere flew towards the clones, 4 clones were able to parry the swords but 2 were not so clashed with a clone then he grabbed another one in the neck and threw it to another, then he kicked the clone that clashed with him and stabbed it on the chest. He summoned another katana and stabbed the clone that will pounce him on the back. The two clones were able to recover and charged him, Saito dodge the assault of the both and cleaved the heads of the flicked Derflinger, and the he returned it to its sheath, he glared at Wardes.
"That's all? You go to be kidding me asshole."
"No! That can be! How….."
"My turn….Doomblade:Akuma."
A jet black colored blade with an odd shape, it has only one edge and one side tip and on the flat side of the sword there was a "Akuma" kanji on it appeared on Saito's hand, then Saito slowly approached Wardes, he let his sword grate on the ground, producing sparks.
Wardes was at the edge, he didn't expect that things would turn out as he expected, he only managed to kill the prince, but he didn't retrieve the letter AND he was not able to get Louise because of that familiar, he raised his wand and then he spoke in a haughty tone," I will kill you now familiar! Playtime is over n-"
Wardes was cut short, when he felt an erupting pain on his arm, Saito was nowhere on sight and a wound came out on his arm, he was about to hold when Saito's voice was heard from his back, "If I were you I will not touch it if you don't want to lose your another hand, asshole."
Wardes removed his sleeve and he was horrified, the wound that he received was getting larger, and it was getting more painful by the second it spreads. "What have you done!"
"Doomblade:Akuma, a sword that releases a poison that destroys a person's flesh, touching the wound would also transfer it to another, What are you planning to do now?, Time is ticking Wardes." Saito coldly announced.
Wardes glared at Saito before looking at his arm, his breathing became more faster before raising his swordwand and sliced his own arm, it fell down before it was fully consumed by the poison. He held his arm to stop it's bleeding.
"Gandalfr…..GANDALFR!"
Saito summoned another katana, but he noticed that the place was now burning, and he just smiled at Wardes as if to taunt him, and left him bleeding. He was about to go near to Louise, but she took a step back from him, she was now scared of him because of the brutality he showed, Saito just looked down, a warm hug suddenly came to him, it was Louise.
"Thanks…..you saved me, Saito."
"That's alright…now let's go now, they were waiting for us."
"How about the prince?"
Saito sighed, and just closed his eyes, "We can't do anything about that body. Let's go."
The two ran out of the church, leaving the traitor and the prince behind.
Well this it the first time, R&R please! Thanks for reading!