Sorry for not updating lately, holidays, family, and intoxicating drinks kind of does that. But I'm back! Also completely slipped my mind that Matilda and Wales were cousins. Fixed that in the last chapter and right on this on.
Chapter 12: Treasure Hunt and Home
A man in a purple robe walked into the chapel. The walls and pews were covered in the remains of the Albion royal guard and Reconquista soldiers. At the alter laid Prince Wales collapsed from exhaustion.
"You have put up a good fight Prince Wales." the man in purple said to the fallen prince.
"Cromwell." Wales said with great difficulty.
Cromwell raised his wand pointed at Wales head, "It is a shame really, you put up quite a fight. Oh well, at least I can still use your body for my little project."
"Think again." Wales knew that using magic without a point of focus is suicidal but it was his only option to take out one of the big leaders. Wales had read how elves used and focused their magic but never applied it. No time like now. Wales focused his magic to the center of his body and let it go.
Cromwell knew that something big was coming so he produced a wall of earth in front of him. Then the blast came, it nearly tore the wall apart but it withstood against the blast of wind magic. Cromwell lowered the wall and saw that Wales's body was splattered all around the chapel, majority on the alter. "No matter, Reconquista will still win this war." Cromwell then left the chapel.
XxXGZXxX
The group had reached La Rochelle safely and are now on a carriage bound for the academy. Shu and Matilda were discussing how to present how the mission went to Henrietta. Kriche and Tabitha were both sleeping to recover from all the magic they did to make the ship go faster. And Guiche and Louise are still in shock on how an honorable man such as Wards could turn traitor.
They finally reached the academy and Matilda, Shu, and Louise went up to the headmaster's office. Inside waiting for them is Osmond and Henrietta.
"I hope no one got hurt during the mission," Henrietta said once everyone was seated, "Tell me, what news is there from Prince Wales?"
Matilda was the first to speak telling her the news of their shared cousin, "Wales stayed behind to defend his country to the last breath. Even though I told him I wasn't done with him the idiot is most likely dead now. He was always reckless, but he loved his country."
"I see," Henrietta said in a sad voice, "And what of the letter?"
Shu answered this time, "Wards was about to get away but I shot it before he could."
"Is that so," Henrietta now had her head down but managed to bring it back up, "Thank you for a successful mission, even though the result saddens me. I would like to speak with Louise in private please."
Everyone left the office except for Henrietta and Louise. Osmond decided to speak up, "So what are you two planning to do now that war is most likely be upon us?"
"I lost my chance to give Wales a life of misery," Matilda said, "So I guess I'm going to follow whatever the princess is planning for now."
"I dislike war," Shu answered, "So many people die in it, but if there was a way to end it quickly I would take it. Even if I have to get my hands dirty."
"Is that so," Osmond said with a sigh, "Why don't you two take a rest here at the academy? Use the staff quarters if you like. It is the least you people deserve."
Matilda took off accepting the offer. Shu returned to the vault to find Colbert by the jeeps. "Mr. Colbert, what are you doing?"
Colbert jumped and turned to see that it was only Shu. "Oh sorry, you scared me for a moment there. I was interested in what was inside this and I was surprised that it looked exactly like my little project. Follow me and I'll show you."
Shu followed Colbert to a shack not too far from the academy and they both went inside. When Shu got in the smell of machinery and gasoline hit his nose and he quickly covered it up.
"Sorry if it's a bit smelly in here, everyone else also complained about it. Anyways come over here and look." Colbert showed Shu an engine and several vials that contained the brown liquid of gasoline. "Interesting isn't it? I found this in the woods nearby and started to mess around with it. Then I accidently cast a fire spell on some blood of the dragon and it burst into flames."
"Blood of the dragon?" Shu questioned, "But isn't that gasoline?"
"Is that what it is called?" Colbert asked surprised, "I always thought that it was a special kind of blood considering the legend."
"What legend?" Shu asked now curious.
"Well it goes like this," Colbert started off, "There were two dragons that suddenly appeared in the sky but the strange thing is that they did not flap their wings and that they were faster than any dragon that anyone has saw. One flew into the eclipse that happened during the time and disappeared but the second dragon tried to follow it but fell to the ground. I followed this legend to a small town where a vendor was selling the blood of the very same dragon. Of course I bought it for a fortune and started experimenting with it and producing it. Now I found the same dragon's blood inside of those carriages. Can you please tell me how they're both the same?"
"Sit down," Shu said, "This might take a while."
Shu told Colbert of the technology of his world and how gasoline was used. He also told him of many problems that they also caused and the many advances afterwards.
"A world where science and technology leads the world." Colbert said, "You're really from a different world aren't you." Shu nodded his head. "But the technology you described for fighting, truthfully it scares me. You can leave now, you left me much to think about."
Shu walked back to the academy only to run into Guiche who is still depressed. "Guiche what is wrong with you?" Montmorency asked the boy in question as she helped him get back up. "Shu do you know what's wrong with him? He hasn't been the same since I saw all of you get back."
Shu walked up to the depressed boy. "Guiche, just because the person you looked up to wasn't what you thought he was doesn't mean you have to be like them."
Life slowly returned to Guiche. "You're right. I'll be better than that traitor." The once depress boy stood up with pride and determination. "But I need to get stronger."
"Well now that we're all better lets go on a treasure hunt." The three turned their heads to see Kriche dragging a flailing Siesta and Tabitha following her. Kriche dropped a bag and a bunch of maps fell out of it. "I never got around to search for any, so I thought why not now?"
"Why do you have a maid with you?" Montmorency asked.
"The more the merrier!" Kriche said grabbing Montmorency. "Now lets get you packing!"
"There may be many challenges along the way, count me in." Guiche said excited as he went back to his room to prepare.
Tabitha gathered all the maps back into the bag and grabbed Shu's coat indicating for him to come along. "More the merrier." Tabitha said. Shu gave a sigh and decided to join.
XxXGZXxX
"Every single of those maps are fake!" Montmorency yelled at Kriche. It has been a few days since the group went on their treasure hunt and they had went through a majority of the maps. But when they got to the place on the map, there was no treasure.
"Come on we had a great time haven't we?" Kriche asked happily. "Besides, there is one more map left and I got a feeling that we'll hit the jackpot this time."
"Lunch is ready." Siesta called out. Over the few days she had been cooking meals for the group. Today's meal is made of the vegetation she found around the area made into a stew.
"Your cooking is amazing Siesta." Kriche complimented her as she ate some stew.
"So where does the last map say where the treasure is?" Guiche asked as he ate.
"Lets see." Kriche got out the last map they haven't checked yet. "Looks like we're going to a small village call Tarbes and the treasure is called the Dragon's Raiment."
"We're going to Tarbes? That's my hometown." Siesta interjected.
"Do you know about the Dragon's Raiment?" Kriche asked.
"Yes, that's my family heirloom." Siesta said.
"Really?" Kriche went up to Siesta's face. "Can you lead us to it?"
"Yes." Siesta replied while slowly moving away from Kriche. "I could ask my father to show it to you, but you can't take it."
"Don't worry about that. We just want to see it."
XxXGZXxX
The group walked along a road that would lead them to Tarbes. But then they heard some low growing sounds around them. The group stopped and pulled readied their wands/staff/swords/pot lid.
Shu took up command. "Guiche put up a wall with peakholes in it so you, Kriche, Tabitha and Montmorency can cast spells. Me and Derf will hold them back in as you do so. Siesta, just stay safe you're not a fighter."
At that moment a horde of orcs dashed out of the trees and moved to surround the group. Guiche started constructing the wall Shu had described, Kriche, Tabitha, and Montmorency casted spells at incoming groups of orcs, and Shu and Derf cut down any orcs that got too close to the mages and maid.
Spells stopped coming from inside the wall and the wall itself started breaking down. The battle lasted for far too long for the mages and there were more orcs incoming.
"What's wrong?!" Shu shouted to the mages as he fended back another orc.
"We're getting tired. Our willpower is running low." Guiche answered from inside panting as he was talking.
Willpower? Shu thought. Then he remembered Kriche's void. "Hold on I got an idea. Derf can you hold them off by yourself for a while?"
"Sure thing partner." Derf answered as he threw an orc at a group of orcs.
Shu jumped over the wall to get inside. He saw that the mages were sitting down with their backs on the wall and Siesta was going around giving them water. "Kriche look into my eyes!" Shu yelled "Sorry but I need to use you."
"I don't think that it's a great time for that." Kriche said as she looked at Shu misunderstanding what he was going to do. Then Shu's right hand slowly went into Kriche's chest.
The others were surprised at what Shu did thinking he stabbed Kriche with his hand. But then he slowly took his hand out, leaving no wound on Kriche, and a flamethrower started forming on Shu's back.
"What's did you do to me?" Kriche said scared.
"I took out your void." Shu answered. "Now lets hope this works." Shu grabbed the nozzle, pointed it at the mages and pressed the trigger. The four mages lifted up their arms as the flames covered them. But instead of burning like they thought, they started feeling that their fatigue disappearing and their willpower regenerating. Shu stopped once they stood up. "How do you feel?" he asked.
"Get ready orcs! It's time for round two!" Kriche yelled out as she resumed casting spells.
Guiche deconstructed the wall and reformed it into two lines of Valkyries. "No more defense, time to counter attack."
After the while the orcs realized that their prey caught a second wind and started retreating.
Shu walked up to Kriche and returned her void to her. "What was that?" she asked.
"That was your void." Shu answered her.
"That was a void?" Montmorency asked surprised. "How did you do that?"
"Well it's really hard to explain clearly."
"Never mind about that. We survived, so lets continue on to Tarbes!" Kriche said continuing walking along the road.
XxXGZXxX
It was sunset when they had reached Tarbes and the group was too tried to continue to go on.
"Heeeey Siiiiestaaaa." Kriche said, "Is there a place where we can rest?"
"Well there is my home. There's a large guest room that we can use, but I have a lot of siblings that could keep you up all night."
"I'm sure we can handle it." Shu said, "Besides I'm sure that your family would be happy to see you."
"Alright then, lets go."
It was a short walk to Siesta's family home. It was the largest home in the town and many voices could be heard from the outside. "Tadaima (I'm home)." Siesta called out when she opened the door.
"Ojama shimasu (Sorry for the intrusion)." Shu called out on reaction. Siesta was confused at what Shu said.
"You speak Japanese?" Shu asked Siesta as he realized what she just said.
"Japanese? It was something that my grandfather would say whenever he got home, so it kind of became a family tradition."
"Big sister!" a bunch of children voices called out. Eight children went up to Siesta and jumped on her. "You're back!"
"Welcome home Siesta." a man said as he came to the entrance with a woman. "Oh who are these people?" the woman asked when she saw the others.
"We're treasure hunters!" Kriche said with a smile.
"They helped me out and they're trying to find is grandfather's Dragon's Raiment. They have been traveling around a lot so I offered them to stay in the large guest room." Siesta explained.
"Is that so, well then come on in I'll show you to the guest room. I'm sure that you all are tried after a journey." the man invited the group in.
When the group went inside and by the door was a bunch of shoe. Shu proceeded to take off his combat boots and place them with the shoes and Siesta also did the same. The nobles was confused by this but thought it was a commoner thing, so they followed suit and followed Siesta's father to their room.
"Oh my dear!" the woman said when she saw that Shu was missing an arm. "What ever happened to your arm?!"
"Wait mother I've already asked Shu that and he doesn't want to share that story." Siesta said knowing that Shu haven't told her yet.
"I'm sorry for intruding." Siesta's mother apologized to Shu slightly bowing.
"Don't worry about it." Shu said waving his hand. "I'm use to people asking me that."
"Well then Siesta, can you take care of the kids while me and your father finish preparing dinner?" Siesta nodded and her mother went back to the kitchen.
One of the older kids went up to Shu and pulled on his sleeve. "Hey you! How did you know to take off your shoes before coming inside?! Outsiders don't know about that rule in our house!"
"Joshua! Don't be rude!" Siesta scolded the boy like a mother would. But deep down she was wondering about that too.
"Was it another tradition started by your grandfather?" Shu asked Joshua.
"Yeah what about it?"
"Then it might be possible that we came from the same place."
All of the kids then rushed over to Shu, all of them asking questions all the same time. During their little scuffle, the kendama that Shu kept with him fell out of his pockets. "What is this? Is this a toy?" one of the young girls asked when she picked up the wooden toy.
"Do you want me to show you?" Shu asked her. She shook her head like a bobble and handed the kendama to Shu. The others backed off to let him show them how to use the toy. The kids and Siesta were amazed how Shu handled the kendama. He juggled the ball the string on all three cups for a while with great speed and skill. Then for a finale he swung the ball in an arch and the hole in the ball landed perfectly on the spike.
"That's too easy." Joshua headed towards Shu and held out his hand. "Let me see that."
Shu smiled and handed the kendama to Joshua and stepped back. Joshua tried to bounce the ball in the cups like Shu did but kept missing. In frustration he arched the ball to get it on the spike only to bonk himself in the head.
"Don't worry about getting it the first time around." Shu said to comfort the boy. "It took me a while to get the ball in the cups."
"Can we keep it?" the same girl who picked up the kendama asked.
"Maria! You should know better than to take someone else's possession." Siesta once again went into her mothering mode.
"Don't worry about it Siesta they can keep it." The girl hugged and thanked Shu. Then the kids started trying to get the ball in the cup.
"Dinner is ready!" Siesta's mother called out. The kids rushed out to get to the dining table and Siesta and Shu followed them.
When they entered, Shu thought he was taken back in time. The floor was made out of tatami mats and in the center was a long rectangular table with sitting mats around it. There were three holes in the table and barren ground under them for fire. Siesta's father was lighting the small fire places and when he was done both Siesta and her father went into the kitchen.
The mages entered the dining room. "Well this is an interesting set up. Where are the chairs?" Guiche asked.
"You sit on the mats." Shu answered as he and the kids took a place around the table. The mages looked at each other and slowly found a placement to sit down at.
"Move aside." Siesta's mother said as she, her husband, and Siesta came in with three steaming ceramic pots and placed each of them in a hole. Then Siesta and her mother went back into the kitchen and grabbed bowls, chopsticks, and two buckets of steamed rice.
Shu eyes widen with amazement when he lifted the lid of one of the pots. "I can't remember the last time I had Nabe."
"How did you know what it's called?" Siesta's father asked while he helped pass out chopsticks and bowls filled with rice. "Father was the one who introduced this to the village."
"Shu said that he came from the same place as grandfather." Maria said to her father.
"Is that so?" He then got up and walked out of the room only to return after a while with a piece of paper. "Then can you read this?" He handed Shu the paper. "Father wanted that to be carved into his grave. None of us has been able to read it since he said it was a different language. But he did say that if anyone can read that then he can have the Dragon's Raiment."
Shu read it to himself then out loud in a sad tone. "Navy ensign Sasaki Takeo, rests in another world." He then place the paper down put his palms together and did a little prayer.
"Siesta." Siesta's father said as he sat down at his place at the table again.
"Yes?" Siesta answered.
"I need to work in the fields tomorrow. Can you take Shu to the Dragon's Raiment instead? I'm not sure about the nobles that came with him, but if he wants to bring them along they can go." He declared. The mages, except for Tabitha, were shocked that they were founded out so easily. Shu thanked the father and bowed to him in a traditional manner.
"Now let's eat. Itadakimasu." Siesta's father said as he placed his palms together.
"Itadakimasu." Everyone else but the mages followed suit. Shu found a bit of home in that night.
Loop 7
It had been several days ever since they found the footage. Tsugumi and Shota been spending whatever time they had into analyzing it. Tsugumi sometimes had to force Shota to stop working to get something to eat.
"Ugh!" Tsugumi yelled out in frustration leaning back in her chair. "I've tried everything I know and still nothing! Do you have anything Shota?"
"No." Shota answered still staring at his screen.
"Then lets call it a day for now and join the others for dinner, I can't wait to eat some nabe."Tsugumi got up to leave. But then Shota started to move fast. "You got something?"
"Maybe." He answered. Shota pulled up a video of a solar eclipse with light wave filter. "I think I got something. See the light wave readings from the eclipse? It's the same as the portal." He pulled up the footage and place a light wave filter on it and compared it to the eclipse. Both of the readings are the same.
A/N: Conveniences is conveniences! Don't ever argue with it you'll never win. I've tried it and lost by a super nova. Kill off Wales cause I can kind of see him actually doing something like that and also, I just didn't want to do the lake scene. It serves to mature Henrietta just a little bit, but she still makes simple childish mistakes. So no lake scene.