It had been dark by the time Louise had arrived in Tristian. She was silently thankful for that as the only people on the street were the local guards as they went around lighting the lanterns. Although her surroundings were peaceful the same couldn't be said for her mind. It kept wandering back to the image of the man in her mind Just who was he?

She didn't know what to make of him, he tried to get her to accept who she was, whether that is a good or bad thing she couldn't quite tell. Perhaps he was the manifestation of the suit, Derf was sentient so it wasn't all that farfetched to believe a suit could be sentient.

Glancing around she made sure that no one was around before turning to the sword on her hip.

"Derf?"

"Hmm, what is it, partner?"

"Have. Have you ever heard of a spirit inhabiting a suit of armour?"

"Are you implying that your suit is elven?"

Louise shushed the blade as she quickly looked around making sure that no one had heard her sword. "Yes." She whispered.

"Yes I have, but when did you meet this spirit?" The sword said in a similarly hushed tone

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, "It was when I took that potion, I-I found myself in the same bleak void dream as my mind ran through my previous battles. He simply stood there scolding me for even thinking what I did was wrong."

"Was he an elf?"

She thought it over, the man's face was obscured by light but she didn't see any pointed ears in his silhouette. "No, he was human."

"Well, I've never heard of human spirit magic... What other things did you notice about this man?"

"He spoke as if we were familiar, he also wore my suit." She let out a chuckle. "It looked a lot more natural on him though."

The sword hummed in thought. "Perhaps your suit is sentient... if only he could speak, from what you said we would have gotten along."

She let a small chuckle escape her lips, "yeah I can see that." Silence took reign over the area, only the light hum of the oil street lights could be heard. "What happens if she doesn't want my services?" She asked

"After you saved her, I thought nobles always paid their debts?"

"Ok maybe she will, but what about the court, do you think they will let just anybody become the princess guard?"

"Didn't you say you were a Valliere. Just walk on in there and offer your services."

Taking several deep breaths, she calmed herself "You're right."

She felt a smile creep up on her face. She could think of many other life choices that could be worse than serving the princess, to think a week and a half ago she was worried about becoming a simple housewife to Wardes.

"Where do you think you're going?" A coarse voice asked her.

Brought back to reality she realized that she was now standing in front of the castle's gate, two tall men dressed in heavy armour blocked her path "I wish to see Princess Henrietta."

The two guards looked between each other obviously suspicious "You got an invitation?"

She was taken aback she hadn't thought about that but of course, this was going to happen after an attempt was made on her life.

"Well?" One of the guards questioned growing impatient.

thinking on her feet she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "No, but as a Valliere I demand entrance."

The guards stared at her for a moment before bursting out in laughter. "You, a Valliere, yeah right."

"Yeah, the Valliere's are proud, they wouldn't be caught dead wearing something like that." The guard laughed as he poked her with the tip of his blade.

Louise felt her blood begin to boil. "why you."

"Get out of here before we arrest you for loitering."

TACTICAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE.

Her rage suddenly vanished as a mischievous smile formed on her face. "Fine, I'll be leaving." She told the guards before walking off down the street.

She followed the walls for a bit before pulling her mask down and quickly activating her tactical visor. Her vision was quickly directed to the top of a nearby building.

INFILTRATE THE CASTLE AND RENDEZVOUS WITH THE PRINCESS

She quickly ducked into an alleyway before jumping up, she quickly grabbed on to the roof pulling herself up. If they weren't going to let her in, she would simply have to let herself in. Looking up at the castle wall, she examined her options. The wall was too high for her to jump up but there was an arrowslit in the castle wall, most likely used for commoner archers or mages to repel invaders.

With a new plan clear in her mind she Looked over to make sure the guards weren't looking this way. suddenly she sprinted forward towards the castle wall, leaping off the building with her arms extended. She felt the amazing power of the suit as she soared through the air.

she gripped the slit with a hand as her body collided with the wall causing her to let out a small groan.

"What's that?" The same coarse voice asked.

CLOAK ENGAGED.

Looking over to the gate she found the guard staring intensively at her. She held her breath, as the man narrowed his eyes, after a long moment he simply shook his head before turning away.

Louise deactivated her cloak, allowing her energy to charge up again. "Say Derf, do you feel pain?" She asked in a hushed tone.

"Not that I can remember, no, why do you ask?"

"No reason."

MAXIMUM POWER.

Using her feet, she lunged upwards, quickly pulling out her sword and impaling it into the stone wall. A muffled scream came from the blade hilt. "You know partner, I do a lot for you." The sword gritted out.

"Tell you what. After this, I'll go get you some sword polish and buy a sharpening stone." She told the blade as she gazed up to the top of the castle.

"Just hurry up."

CLOAK ENGAGED MAXIMUM POWER

Jumping up once more she grabbed onto the top of the wall, quickly she slid Derf back into his sheath as she climbed up onto the top of the wall. She quickly looked around the wall, only to find no guards manning it. she couldn't help but gaze at the sheer beauty of the castle. Memories of her days spent here flooded back to her as a smile worked its way up onto her face.

Low energy

The red text brought her back from her thoughts, she quickly deactivated her cloak. She had to meet the princess. Walking to the end of the wall she looked down at the courtyard.

NANOVISION ENGAGED

No matter where she looked she couldn't find a single guard. The confusion began to overtake her senses, she could remember all the guards that had guarded them while she and the princess played together, but there were none.

MAXIMUM ARMOUR

Activating her armour she dropped off the large wall, landing she quickly deactivated her armour and dashed into a nearby bush. What had happened, why were the guards missing? A feeling of paranoia began to fill her she had to find the princess. Looking around to make sure she hadn't missed anything she sprinted across the courtyard.

Coming to a stop in the bush closest to the castle door, she found a single blue-haired female guard. Louise found herself even more confused. She didn't look anything like the two guards manning the front gate, for one she didn't wear any bulky armour instead she wore a simple black and white maid outfit with a white cape that ran down the back, on her hip was a holstered sword while in the women's hands was a long musket.

Using her tactical visor, she zoomed in on the women, finding the rifle at the ready to fire, it's hammer cock back ready to strike the gunpowder. But from the look on the woman's face, she seemed anxious. Did the guards get replaced with servants? That would explain the lack of men guarding the castle. Quickly coming up with a plan she grabbed a nearby rock.

CLOAK ENGAGED

She walked towards the women, casually tossing the rock away from the door causing her to turn towards the sound. As quietly as possible she attempted to open the door.

"Stop right there." A trembling voice of the guard shouted at her.

She grit her teeth this was just not her day. "Look I'm a Valliere, I just want to speak with the princess." She said as she decloaked.

"You're not getting in. You're going to drop your wan-." The women trailed off as she realized that she didn't have a wand.

"Look I don't want to hurt you I don't mean to bring harm to the princess, quite the opposite in fact."

"You, couldn't hurt me. I've dealt with mages before, it takes time for you to cast while all I have to do is pull this trigger." The women told her trembling voice betraying the mask she attempted to put up.

"I'm sorry." She spun around with unnatural speed and precision, grabbing the barrel of the musket while using her other hand to cover the breach, stopping the women from being able to fire off a shot. Yanking the women forward she headbutted the women causing her to let go of the musket. Placing it on her back she used her free hand to slam the women into the nearby wall. "I'm really sorry but I need to speak with her."

Glancing around in order to make sure she hadn't been spotted she dragged the guard back into the bushes. throwing the women to the ground she used her knee as she kept the incapacitated women at bay as she began to pat the women down for any weapons. She suddenly had a moment of clarity, where had she learned to do this. No, she had to see the princess and so long as the women underneath her had weapons she wouldn't be able to continue.

She began to take count at what she had found. Two pistols which now rested on her thighs, and several knives as she continued to pat the women down, she felt something odd on the side of her torso.

She gripped the back of the women's clothes as she bit her lip, what was she doing, this was hardly noble like. No, she has to make sure that she isn't a threat. Using her enhanced strength, she ripped the women's clothes revealing a shoulder holster and a wand.

"That's mine, stop it." The women slurred as Louise stripped her of the cape that held the holster.

She had never liked how volatile her magic was, the explosions that she would cast, although non-lethal still could hurt people. But with the princess in trouble perhaps this would be the first time that she used them on purpose. Turning back to the women "Don't hate me." She told her in a hushed tone.

She let out a weak chuckle before vomiting. "Commander Agnes is protecting her, you won't get her." Before Louise could question her, she saw the women pull out an odd-looking tube in her hand. She quickly reached out in order to stop her but it was too late, the sound of gunfire came from the tube alerting, she could hear far off doors being slammed open, reinforcements surly on their way. Quickly she put on the holster before making her way to the door

CLOAK ENGAGED

Hiding just right of the door she waited. After a few moments later the door swung open, several female guards left the building, each one brandishing a musket like the one on her back. Taking this opportunity, she quickly moved into the large foyer of the castle. In front of her was another squad of women in maid uniforms. Dashing to the right she jumped up towards a balcony that wrapped around the foyer.

The loud tolling of a bell rang through the halls of the castle. They knew she was here. Deactivating her cloak, she dashed through the winding hallways of the castle as the memories of the layout came back to her, she didn't know where the princess was going to be but she had a good idea where to look.

The world around her blurred as she sprinted through the halls, but as the princess room came into view she slowed down, something was off. She hadn't seen a single guard since she first entered the castle.

"Something wrong partner?" Derf asked.

"Where are they?"

"What do you mean?"

"The guards, I was just caught they should be positioning more people to guard the princess."

"You're right, ok take it slow and be careful."

Heeding the blade's advice, she inched forward, bringing a pistol up, ready for anything to happen. Eventually, she came face to face with the princess's room. Pressing the side of her head she attempted to listen in, but she heard nothing, she then attempted to open the door, to see if she could peek inside only to find the door locked. Stepping back, she brought a leg up.

MAXIMUM POWER

She kicked the door with all her strength causing it to cave in. As the door flew away, the sight of the destroyed room filled her vision. The furniture was mostly destroyed as bodies of the guards laid motionless around the room. She could also see the subtle blue glow of a silence spell. But in front of her stood the man who had done this. Anger began to fill her as she watched him slide a body off of his blade

The man wore a large white jacket that covered most of his torso, with a matching pair of pants. He wore a plain white mask that covered his face, but it didn't hide his long grey hair that could be seen behind his head. In one hand he held a rapier that crackled with yellow energy, while in his other hands was the unconscious form of the princess. "To think that you would show up again. Perhaps this is God's way of saying to take revenge for your comrade, but I have no intere-."

She tuned out the man focusing solely on the princess. She felt her blood boil. This man dares lay his hands on the princess. How dare he, she was going to make him pay. She got ready to charge the man, to run him down and take revenge for what he had done.

ENERGY BUILD UP DETECTED

But before she could do anything the man pointed his sword at her as yellow energy began to build up in the blade. Quickly ducking to the left of the open door she watched as lightning tore through where she just was.

MAXIMUM ARMOUR

She quickly dashed into the room as she pulled out both Derf to block any magic spells that would come her way and a pistol that she stole from that women. a pistol she took a shot at the man who simply blocked it with a wind shield. She threw the now empty pistol at the man who swatted it away with his blade.

She felt her anger continue to grow. Letting out a scream she swung the blade at the man. The man ducked under before blasting her with a jet of wind. But instead of being flung away, she was simply pushed backwards, her armour weighing her down. The man flicked his wand causing all the glass in the room shattered as the double doors that were behind the man flew opened she brought up her arms as another blast of air hit her. "I appreciate the enthusiasm but I must get going, my employers are waiting for me."

His wand crackled with yellow energy once again, but before she could react lighting collided with her. Her armour was instantly deactivated as the lighting seemed to sap all of her energy. Pain took over her confused mind as she felt the lightning course throughout her body. She fell to her knees. Her legs no longer having the strength to hold her up.

This seemed to drag on forever as the pain continued until in a single moment, the lightning stopped. Glancing up she saw the man turn and walk away as the pain began to die down. Reaching for her back she pulled out her new musket. Quickly she flung the hammer back and took aim at the man.

She watched as the man quickly turned around, most likely in sheer surprise that she was still going. She smiled behind the mask as she pulled the trigger. Time seemed to slow down as the hammer slowly made its way to the breach. The man attempted to raise his wand in order to block the bullet but it didn't matter, no one could cast a spell that fast. But as the hammer hit the breach it became clear. Luck was not on her side as the musket misfired.

The man instantly relaxed. "Guess it is my lucky day." The man walked backwards until he reached the balcony. "Well it's been fun but I need to leave." The man flicked his wand before rising off the ground.

She grit her teeth as she picked herself off the ground. She wasn't going to lose, no that was not an option right now. A cry of a griffin filled the room. She dashed forward as fast as she could, trying to catch up with the man. As she made it to the balcony she saw the dark silhouette of a griffin fly over her. Picking up more speed she used the railing of the balcony as a step to jump as high as she could into the air.

With her arms extended she grabbed hold of the griffin's tail causing it to cry out in pain.

She began to climb the beast's tail as fast as she could but looking up she found the man staring at her the princess nowhere to be seen. "You just don't know when to give up do you?" The man raised his wand as more yellow energy began to form on the tip. Using the tail, she threw herself over to one of the beast's hind legs grabbing on to its foot as the sound of lightning cracked through the air.

Instinctively she glanced downwards much to her dismay, as the ground below her was already far away. Swallowing her fear, she quickly climbed up the beast's leg only to find the man had already taken aim once more. Using a free hand, she pulled out Derf just in time for him to take the brunt of the lightning spell.

MAXIMUM POWER

Jumping upwards she caught the man by surprise, giving him a quick punch to his face he recoiled almost falling off of his griffin. Not wanting to give him any quarter she pulled Derf out once more and swung at the man who fell back, off of his griffin.

But the man quickly flew to the front of his griffin repositioning himself. It was then that she realized that the princess hung in the griffin's mouth. Letting out a cry of anger she dashed forward Derf at the ready.

The man sent out a sudden gust of air but it was no use as she simply cut through it before swinging the two-handed blade at the man. he attempted to parry it, but her force was too much, causing the blade to go flying off of the griffin. But before she could celebrate the man suddenly spun around kicking her in the head causing her to fall off the side of the beast.

Quickly she grabbed on to the various feathers stopping her fall. She looked back up to find the man standing over her. he reached into his jacket pulling out another wand.

She let out a sigh. "Derf you're coming up with the plans from now on."

Before the blade could answer she stabbed the blade into the beast causing it to let out a cry of pain. Using this to her advantage she pulled out a pistol. She hoped to god that she could hit her target. Taking aim, she fired the gun at the beast's mouth. Not a moment later the bottom part of its beak was shattered as the musket ball tore through it.

"Are you insane!?" The man shouted as the princess fell towards the earth. She didn't really know how to answer it. Pulling Derf free from his hold. She jumped towards the wing of the griffin.

MAXIMUM POWER

The sound of the beast's bones breaking under her attack was barely audible as the air began to fly faster around her. As she fell towards the earth she could see beast begin to enter a free fall.

She turned towards the earth finding the princess was now wide awake and was obviously scared as she seemed to look all over for her.

Putting Derf back into his sheath she angled her body like an arrow as she began to speed towards her friend. She had to reach her in time, as the ground was getting way to close for her taste.

She quickly caught up with the princess who was screaming as loud as she could. Grabbing her she pulled her close before pulling out the wand from her shoulder holster she quickly passed it to Henrietta.

The princess quickly casted levitate causing both of them to slow down. The two girls let out a sigh of relief as Louise brought her mask up.

Henrietta, on the other hand, wasn't in such a calm state, she was trembling as if she had just gotten soaked in the middle of a winter storm. "W-w-w-what happen? where were we? Why were we falling?" The nearly broken voice of the princess

"Breath Henrietta. It's fine, you're safe now." She pulled the princess into a hug. "You're fine." She could feel the trembling arms of the princess wrap around her clinging to her for stability. They stayed like this for what seemed like hours before parting. Tears could be seen running down the princess's face that she quickly wiped away.

"What happened?" She asked her voice now steady.

Louise bit her lip. "You were kidnapped yet again, I snuck into the castle to meet with you, but when I got to your door I found most of your guard's dead and you were unconscious in the grip of a man."

Tears began to flow once more down the cheeks of Henrietta. "Founder no. Not again." She collapsed to her knees.

Crouching down Louise placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Princess please, these men and women chose to serve you, this is what they died so that way you could be safe."

"It's not what I wanted!" She suddenly shouted. "They were only servants, but mother fired all of my guards to be replaced with some of your families reserves. So, in the meantime, she just gave the servant's firearms and hired a mercenary to train them." She shook her head. "They didn't sign up to die for me, they weren't guards that chose that line of work."

Louise could feel anger begin to build up once more. What was the queen thinking! Was she insane!

"Halt!" A voice shouted from behind her. Turning she found a woman with dirty blonde hair on horseback. Her blue tunic and white cape were illuminated by the twin moons. In her hands was a musket aimed directly at her. "Step away from the Princess and keep your hands where I can see them."

"Are you the merc they hired!" She shouted.

"By order of the crown, you are under arrest on seven counts of murder and one count of assault." The blonde said ignoring what Louise had said.

"You think I did that!"

"Stand down Agnes. She saved me."

She ignored the princess. "I know you did that, you perfectly match the description of the person who assaulted one of the castle's guards, not to mention that I saw you up on that griffin."

She was about to retort once again when she felt the princess pull her back. "Louise, run back to Tristian find a place to stay, we need to find the people that are attacking our Kingdom and end them." The princess told her in an unnaturally serious tone. "I'll try to keep the guards off your back, but you should lay low. I'll find a way to contact you."

"Ok princess." Turning away from the blonde she ran as fast as possible. Much to the surprise of everyone there. cracks of musket fire could be heard from behind her but it was no use she was already gone.

As she ran through the fields her mind was set on the goal. Whoever was orchestrating this whole charade would pay.

xXXXx

Louise found herself back on the streets of Tristian contemplating her next move. She would have to find a job tomorrow as she only brought enough money for a single day, but right now she had to focus on finding a place to sleep. An idea suddenly popped into her head before she turned and walked down an empty illuminated street.

"I have to thank you, partner." The blade on her hip suddenly spoke up.

"What do you mean?"

"It's been a long time since I last tasted the metallic sweet taste of griffin blood."

"Metallic sweet?"

"Yeah the blood tastes metallic but the magic running through it gives it a subtle sweet taste."

Leave it to her blade to be a connoisseur of blood. "Derf new rule. No talking about what blood tastes like in public especially where we're heading."

"You have no control over me until I get that cleaning you promised, my blade still aches."

She stopped as she gazed towards the immaculate white building in front of her. The shining pearl in a place where both local and foreign nobles stay if they have business to be done in Tristian. "Ok just be quiet for the next day. The blacksmith is closed."

The blade let out a humph as Louise entered the two large white double doors that. As soon as she stepped through the doors she could feel the luxury in the air. The entrance hall was a bit small but that was due to the fact that meals were served in a separate room. A red carpet ran through the center of the room leading to the front desk.

The sound of flowing water came from an indoor fountain that supposedly ran on rare water stones ignoring that she walked forward towards the front desk whose top was made out of marble. A man in a tux stood behind it as he offhandedly read a book.

"You call this laying low." The sword quipped

She walked towards the front desk as the man slowly became aware of her presence. He let out a sigh as he shut his book. "We don't sever mercs here if you're looking for a place to rest your head the charming fairies in is down the street and to the left."

What was he implying "I'm not a mercenary!"

The man scanned her body once more. "Could have fooled me."

She wanted to retort but swallowed her pride. "Look I'm a Valliere and I'm looking for a place to stay for the night."

"Do you have any proof?"

Her mouth instantly ran dry. "Well, no."

"The get out."

"What is the cheapest room you have." She said trying to plead with the man.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Four-hundred new gold a night. If you want it you need to pay in full."

She let out a sigh of relief, she had saved up her allowances just for such a day. She reached down to her coin pouch that rested on her hip, only to find it missing.

Looking down in a frenzy she tried to find her coin pouch, but no matter where she looked she couldn't find it. Letting out a small chuckle she turned back to the man. "Can you give me a moment please."

She swiftly spun around. "Derf where's my coin pouch." She asked in a hushed tone.

"Since when is it my job to keep track of your things?"

"You're on my hip all the time, surely you could have noticed when it fell off."

"You're right I did."

"So?"

"So?"

"Where did it fall off." She was getting annoyed, why was he so grouchy all of a sudden.

"It fell off when that man kicked you off that griffin."

She let out a groan as she turned back to the man. "You wouldn't happen to believe in charity would you."

"Out!"

So, she found herself back on the streets with no money. What was she going to do?

She could always try the charming fairies inn, she was sure that Scarron would help her. But did she want to deal with him? A small beep sound played in her ears as her mask was automatically brought down, indicating that it was already eleven.

Letting out another groan she walked off towards the inn.

It didn't take long for her to find the inn following the map that her suit had made for her. As she approached she could hear the sound of muffled cheers.

Entering the establishment, she found the source of it. All around her at various table people were drinking but over in the far corner, there was a large crowd of people. Ignoring it she simply walked towards the counter where Jessica stood as she watched the crowd.

The raven-haired girl seemed to notice her presence, as she turned towards her with a smile plastered on her face. "Hey there Louise."

She simply sighed in response. "Hey there Jessica."

Her smile instantly vanished as she quickly reached down and pulled out a glass and a wine bottle. "What happened?" She said as she poured brown liquid into the glass.

"I lost my coin pouch and I need a place to sleep for the night."

A solemn expression formed on the girl's face. "I'm sorry to hear that, I wish I could do something but all of our rooms are being rented out." She pushed the glass forward. "Here it's on the house." Louise took the glass and inspected the contents before drinking it all in one swig.

Slamming the glass back down she began to think up another plan. She could always sleep out on the street but that would leave her vulnerable to being robbed. She could handle a simple street punk, but if she was asleep.

A loud groan filled the inn before a crash took its place. Cheers erupted from the crowd. Turning towards the sound she found two men carrying a large man away. "Who's next!" The familiar voice of Kirche shouted.

As if on command the redhead popped up from the center of the crowd. She looked around before coming to stare at her. "You." She pointed at her.

"Me?" Louise pointed at herself confused. Two obviously drunk men walked up to her and picked her up. Dragging her towards the crowd ignoring her protests.

She suddenly found herself sat at a table sitting across from Kirche who wore a red low-cut dress. In front of her was a small mountain of coin easily dwarfing what she had in her coin pouch when she had lost it. "I had heard that you needed a place to sleep. Pity since I had just rented the last room." She said with a smug grin.

Louise clenched her hands in anger. "What are you getting at?"

She continued to smile at her. "I'm proposing a game. if you can handle your liquor better than me not only will you win this gold, but I would happily give you my room."

She thought about it for a moment when she drank wine yesterday she didn't feel the usual effects of it. Perhaps it stops it, if that's the case not only would this be an easy win for her, but she would also win back what she had lost as well as winning a place to sleep for the night. "But what happens if you win?"

"Then I get your sword."

"Now wait just a minute I'm no-"

"Deal." Louise said cutting off the blade.

A few moments later Scarron came by with a bottle of wine and two glasses. Kirche filled the two glasses with the purple vintage. Which they both drank without incident.

Louise then poured which they both drank with little issue.

it went back and forth until the entire bottle was empty.

"Well, that was simply the start. Now for something a little different." Reaching down she pulled out a bottle of Gallian ale rated at around eighty proof.

Louise began to feel anxious, leave it to Kirche to ramp up a contest to this. She felt her mouth run dry as Kirche poured out the brown liquid. She had never had something so strong.

"You're not scared are you." The girl across from her said with a smile.

"Of course not!" She shouted picking up the glass and quickly drinking its contents, she was surprised to find that she couldn't taste it for some reason. Perhaps this was the suit's doing. She found the girl staring at her in surprise. "Well, it would seem that it is your turn."

She simply shook her head. "So, it seems." She took the glass and quickly downed it.

As time passed the bottle got emptier and emptier as the crowd began to thin out. The fun in watching a drinking match was to see a person fall over drunk, but when both parties show no signs of it affecting them at all, that's when it loses out on its magic.

"Ok, I have one mo-"

"We're closing up. If you don't have a room I'm afraid that you need to leave." The oddly feminine voice of Scarron called out, eliciting a sigh of relief from the pink-haired girl.

A sigh came from across the table, as all sense of annoyance seemed to vanish from the redhead. "Looks like it's a tie." She reached out and split the mountain of coin in two halves pushing towards her before getting up and climbing the stairs towards the room. "Come on Louise."

She could only stare at the redhead. "What do you mean."

The redhead scoffed. "Look I'm not cruel, you had a problem and I want to help. Now hurry up."

She turned back to the coin on the table. Quickly she looked around for anything that could hold it when a pouch landed on the table. Looking up she found Jessica smiling at her. But before she could take her winnings Jessica reached down and scooped up most of the coin into her own pouch. She turned and glared at the women who only shrugged. "Drinks aren't cheap and she didn't pay."

She let out yet another sigh. Scooping up what was left she quickly followed Kirche up the stairs, and into her room.

"I told you it would work! Now we can get you a good set of armour." She shouted as she tossed a bag full of coins onto one of the beds. Looking into the room she found Tabitha who was reading a book while laying down on the bed who simply hummed at Kirche.

As Louise entered she had to wonder what they were doing here. The room looked unkept. Dust seemed to cover most of the furniture save for the two beds and a table by the window that looked to have been recently cleaned in the corner she found armour that looked to belong to some warlord.

A red blur suddenly flew by her. "Oh, Flame I missed you so." Turning she found kirche baby carrying her oversized fire lizard who licked her face as if it was a dog.

"Wait so what are you to doing here?"

"We're planning on joining the mercenary guild in the morning," Kirche told her as she dropped her lizard to the floor who quickly scurried to the middle of the room and curled up into a ball.

"Why?"

"Felt like it?"

"That's it?" Pretty much

"And the armour?" Louise asked pointing to the corner

"Oh, I bought that to complete the look."

"That does-"

"Man, I think all of that ale is starting to get to me. I think we should get to sleep." Kirche said as she climbed into one of the two beds after taking off her boots. She felt even more confused didn't she care about the dress, and why was she being so defensive about the armour. "Oh, sorry to say this but you're going to have to sleep on the floor."

"It's fine, it's not the first time."

"Here." Kirche said as she tossed a pillow which Louise caught.

"Thanks."

Undoing her belt. She rested Derf her bow and quiver up against the wall as she laid down on the floor. The lights suddenly went out as she closed her eyes.

A single thought filled her head. Where was she going to work?

xXXXx