Chapter 14: Saito's Training and Itsuki's Mission
After Henrietta was safely returned to the royal palace her friends let her be alone for the time being after they witnessed her most emotional moment of her life.
Kazuko especially let her be alone seeing how she in a way chose him over Wales, feeling ashamed of putting Henrietta in that position. While the battle was won there was still the war that has been recently silent.
Itsuki left Tristain covertly on a mission to find out more information on Albion's current tactics. However he left keeping it a secret from everyone else. He left leaving the nature of his departure ambiguous and went off to Albion. Meanwhile in Tristain's academy the whole school was letting go of their male student's who were enlisting in the war effort.
This news was quite big seeing how Kazuko and Saito were now the only two males within the school. "Interesting, I wonder...", Kazuko said.
"What that all the girls will be flaunting over the both of us while the men are off to war?", asked Saito.
"No. I wonder how many times Louise will get mad over you getting flirted with the girls. It seems like you may not survive the first day all things considered.", Kazuko said jokingly.
Saito wrestled Kazuko demanding him to knock it off with Louise's cruel and unusual punishment. Then everyone looked up at the sky seeing a dragon being flown by someone.
As the dragon landed the person flying it was a young teenage guy. He came off his dragon like a show off and flaunted his blond hair charming all of the girls, he introduced himself as, Julio Chesar'e.
He then made his way to Louise of all people, saying he is a transfer student from Romania. Kazuko was not liking this guy one bit. Not he was jealous of the attention he was getting but he came at the most opportune times for spies to get a clear shot at Tristain's army.
Saito just hated him because he was flirting with Louise and no other reason. As the day passed Kazuko was keeping a sharp eye on this Julio since his timing again was impeccable. Hence he quietly watched his movements during the classes he took with Louise.
"Hmm I don't trust him. His smile, his timing here and that his country has virtually has no stake in the war makes this guy too suspicious. I need to make sure that he isn't seen by no one cuz the first thing that happens where he has no alibi, he's mince meat.", thought Kazuko.
Then the classroom door sprung open with Agnes and her squadron rushing in. "Everyone, report to the assembly area. The Tristainian army will use this school to train the army for the time being.", Agnes stated.
"Wait everyone back to your seats this class is not over!", said Mr. Cobalt.
"Sir this is war time they need to be ready for what it has in store.", Agnes said.
"All the more reason to teach the follies of war. Even though the male students left can you stop talking war in this school?!", Colbert replied.
Agnes drawled her sword to his throat almost like she was actually going to kill him. "I've always hated mages and especially the fire ones.", she then slowly placed her sword back in her scabbard, "Do not interfere with my mission again!", Agnes replied.
A few minuets later...
The whole school gathered in the school courtyard and were preparing to train. "Yawwwn... you know for somebody who trains all day long I would have expected to see you, out there helping Agnes train with the student's.", Saito stated.
"I would be if it wasn't for that Julio. I'm not sure he's on our side. So until I have a good reason to trust him I'm watching him.", Kazuko replied.
Kazuko observed the session watching Agnes do her job. Montmorency refused to fight using only staffs and said they should focus on using their magic. Agnes provided a demonstration by taking her wand and asking if she could defeat her with out it.
Montmorency could not thus proving Agnes' point. "Knew it! Without magic they are all helpless. Maybe I should help her out. But then again don't want to take my eyes off of Julio unless I have to.",Kazuko thought. Then Saito was being attacked by one of Agnes' gunpowder squad members and tried to fight Saito with a wooden sword.
Kazuko checked to see if Saito was fine which he was, more or less. When Saito got knocked the hell out, Louise went over to know why he was attacked. Agnes said that Saito has to have training since he has seen him in action while he fought Whales in the lake.
Saito explained that without Delfinger he couldn't use his familiar powers. Agnes thought maybe he should receive actual training if he had any chance against the enemy. "I agree. I've been meaning to get Saito some real training but I've never had the time. But if you could do that he'd be unstoppable.", Kazuko said in response.
"Well I for one would like to see what your made of. I challenge you to a duel between swordsman, the winner get's to kiss Louise. Tomorrow at dawn we fight. What's say you?", Julio said. Saito and Louise were enraged by the prize of winning a duel. But Saito was get sick of his know it all attitude and accepted the duel.
Meanwhile in Albion...
Itsuki was in disguise trying to find out who was leading Albion after Nightmare died. Itsuki blended in with the crowd trying to hear what the townspeople were talking about. "Our country will lead to greatness thanks to our ruler. Albion will crush those Tristain fools.", said a random citizen.
"Is that so and what does our leader have planned?", Itsuki asked.
"Our leader will find out tomorrow when everyone gathers at the main capital.", the citizen replied. Itsuki thanked him and discreetly left making his way toward the capital.
Itsuki went inside the castle searching for the leader of Albion but could not figure out where he/she was. Itsuki sneaked inside and followed a group of an important political hierarchy. Itsuki investigated and stealthy followed them in to the throne room.
The room's light was crimson red and the fires were lit in a way that resembled hell's own fire. A mysterious figure entered the room, "All hail our leader of Albion. For we shall all become one nation under his might.", the figure said. Four people carried someone sitting on a pedestal hidden behind black curtains.
Itsuki then threw his sword and hit the thing inside it. But all he hit was a puppet resembling a human king. "We knew you would come here to assassinate our leader from the moment Nightmare was murdered. But we have a new leader far more fit to rule our people.", said the mysterious figure.
Who are you and how do you know such things?", Itsuki demanded.
"Perhaps it is better to show you exactly what has been driving our forces toward Tristain.", he said. The figure clapped his hand and the throne room began to shift into another room revealing that the whole thing was under a catacomb.
"Walk with me if you wish to understand the truth.", Itsuki followed and cautiously had his other sword with him in case of any double cross. Itsuki was lead in to the cavern but as the deeper they went in the darker it became. Soon Itsuki could not see the figure and was lost.
Itsuki searched for something to light his way out of the catacomb but he was lost in the entire labyrinth. Itsuki lost his footing and fell in deeper in the cave and broke his arm. Itsuki rose up and yelled, "Where are you!", but then a blinding light shined on Itsuki and he tried to see who it was.
Coming out of the light came Kazuko, smiling evilly. He laughed and the ground shook revealing Nightmare rising from the ground. He drove Soul Edge up at the top causing the cave to collapse. Itsuki tried to avoided the falling debris but was buried in a whole mess of rocks. Nightmare's head began to rumble and it started to crack.
It exploded and revealed to be the same thing that stalked Kazuko. That person was the very mysterious figure, it was toying with Itsuki and was trying to do kill him. "It's too late for you Itsuki, you've been hiding in the dark for far too long. Your days of hiding are numbered. Now give in and fall from your precious grace.", the stalker said.
Suddenly the ground cracked and Itsuki fell through. He fell for what seemed like an eternity. He screamed and he thought nothing could stop him, he saw only an abyss that seemed endless but then as it began to darken it looked like solid ground. He closed his eyes waiting for the ground to impact his fall but it did not. It felt like he wasn't falling at all.
It was all in his head. His entire mission in to Albion's capital was all but a hallucination. He found himself in the fields near a Tristain settlement. His body sweated and his mind felt like it was hit by a locomotive.
A crazy intent lurked inside the walls of Albion and that unknown force was more manipulative than any in The Order could have predicted.
Meanwhile Back at the Academy...
Kazuko was still keeping an eye on Julio and while it was excessive, Kazuko knew he had to be certain that he was clean. Kazuko decided to try and get this whole thing sorted out and confront him out right. Kazuko came up to Julio and said quietly, "I would like to know exactly why you are in Tristain."
Julio smirked knowing full well of Kazuko's intentions. "I am here on my own accordance. What my true business is, is none of your concern.", Julio remarked.
"It is my concern when the safety of this school and this country are at risk! So I'll ask again. Why are you in Tristain?", Kazuko replied.
Julio took a breath and said calmly, "I am here because I was sent to support Queen Henrietta's secret mission regarding Albion. It was assigned to me by the Romanian Pope himself. The only reason why I am telling you is that the Queen has total trust in you and I believe it's respectful to honor that trust.", he explained.
"What is this secret mission Henrietta has going?", Kazuko asked.
"I don't know, but she said she would tell me when the time was right. For now she appears to have remained silent.", Julio replied. Kazuko thought back to the night Whales died at the lake and understood why she had been silent.
But then again perhaps it was for a different reason. After all she took a mighty stance against the man she loved. "Are you still going to duel Saito in the morning? I believe that it would yield some outbursts from the women here if you won. Then again there'd be outburst if you lost and they'd kill Saito.", Kazuko said.
"I fully intend to duel him. But I promise not to break him...too hard for both yours and Louise's sake.", Julio warned.
"Very well but just be warned don't try to make me suspect you of causing harm to Henrietta, because if you do, then I'll hunt you down.", Kazuko threatened.
Julio left smirking at Kazuko. As the night began to turn evermore later, Saito spent the entire evening training with Agnes on actual sword fighting, using only a wooden sword. Saito tried his best but he had little success, Agnes always got the better of him and Saito always lost.
Kazuko came by checking on his progress. Agnes then knocked Saito down yet again and held the wooden sword to his throat. Kazuko decided to intervene, "Saito let me give you a demonstration.", Kazuko simply said. He picked up Saito's wooden sword and stood in a proper fighting stance and held it tightly and proper.
Agnes the swung her sword and Kazuko blocked it, all the while he tried to swing right back at her using the attack as a means of a chance to strike her. "You see how a parried her attack and went for an opening? It's not about luck based attacks Saito. It's about studying your opponents technique so that you can properly defend yourself.", Kazuko said.
Agnes nodded replying, "Your friend is correct. Though I would also recommend this as well.", she then swiped Kazuko off the ground and held her own sword down to his throat. Kazuko was taken off guard and broke a sweat for an actual moment.
"If you see your opponent is vulnerable then don't waste your chance. Knock him down and deal the final blow.", Agnes instructed Saito. Saito couldn't help but laugh at Kazuko being schooled by Agnes of all people.
"You think that's funny Saito? Well here's another lesson. Agnes have I ever told you how much I always loved you?", Kazuko said. Saito and Agnes just looked at Kazuko and froze. Then in a split second Kazuko rose up, disarmed Agnes and held his sword to her throat.
"As shown when you get an emotional response from someone they leave them self's open. Take that advantage and finish them.", instructed Kazuko. Agnes blushed a bit feeling angered by being schooled by Kazuko on such a weak yet useful tactic.
Agnes then went in her pocket and swiped a knife at Kazuko. In response he let her go and went for his own sword. But was stopped when Agnes held out her gun. "But the most important lesson Saito is expect the unexpected.", Agnes said.
She relinquished her knife and gun and held out her hand expecting Kazuko to shake it. Kazuko smiled and firmly shook it saying, "You are quite a great teacher. Saito's in very good hands.", Agnes nodded and yelled, "Now Saito-san AGAIN!"
Agnes trained Saito until he finally won a single time against her, though with the multiple lessons her just received it shouldn't take that long. "Very impressive. I have never encountered someone like her in all the millennial I have lived through. Glad she's on our side, because nobody is going to stand a chance against her. Mage or knight." , Kazuko thought leaving for his bedroom.
The next morning...
Itsuki came back to Tristain's royal palace to explain his very disturbing endeavor. He said to Henrietta that this force whatever it may be has the power of hallucination and a master of manipulation. It was a deadly force Itsuki never came across in all his life.
For ounce he actually was afraid of his own enemy and sweated bullets. He went to his desk and began to write of his experience, though reluctantly having explain the full nature of his hallucination. He worked diligently while as he wrote his report.
As he finished it he slowly walked toward his bedroom door and slammed it shut. He knelt down on his knees and burst in to tears having see his greatest fear brought to life. Henrietta knocked on the door asking if Itsuki was fine, but he yelled, "Please don't come in! I'll be out in a while."
Itsuki cried until he could regain his calm and collective nature. Itsuki tried to keep calm but he couldn't help himself. He cried for hours until he was relaxed after he let out his emotion.
At the academy...
The day of the duel between Julio and Saito, and everyone in the school was anticipating the outcome. The ladies wanted Julio to win but at the same time didn't want Louise to have a chance with him. Kazuko was just going to watch and see what happens.
Saito grabbed his wooden sword and Julio armed himself with another. Kazuko watched with Louise from the sidelines, with Kazuko looking cautiously at Julio.
"You can still back out of the match you know. I will hold no shame to you for it.", Julio said. Saito held out his sword and prepared for the duel to begin.
"I'm not running away from you!", Saito replied. " Well then if that is so, then Louise I hoped you've prepared yourself for that kiss then.", Julio teased.
This made Saito attack first swinging his sword. Julio responded with multiple clean and very strong attacks with Saito trying to defend them as well as he could. Kazuko on the other hand was getting worried about Saito seeing him already having difficulty with Julio.
Saito was getting a bit roughed up from dodging Julio and began to breath heavily. He was feeling tired but then started to focus and went for him again.
Saito swung his sword fierce and hard making Julio stagger back. Saito began to start doing well in the duel and even impressed Kazuko and Agnes. However from the words of Delfinger it was obvious Saito was going to lose, badly in fact.
Kazuko started to get a little more worried hoping Saito would win so he cheered for him. "You know what to do Saito! Break his roots! Find that window of opportunity!", he yelled.
Saito heard and remembered how Kazuko and Agnes told him about finding and exploiting an opening. And thus using it to his advantage. Saito clashed with Julio saying, "So your a priest huh yet your trying to receive a kiss from Louise? You said you quit but was it because you were too despicable?", Saito said trying to get a reaction out of him.
Julio was annoyed by it and thus gave Saito his chance. However Julio knew what Saito planned to do and easily evaded him. "Saito, trying to get a reaction out of me to find an opening? How incredibly naive of you. Besides how do you plan on even beating me when you keep on getting beaten by your own master?", Julio taunted.
Saito was embarrassed on how he was incessantly blown up during Henrietta's coronation thus showing he was vulnerable to Julio attacking him. Julio went in for the kill and went toward Saito like a bull.
However Saito went to defend the attack and it resulted in everyone speechless with surprise. A sword was spinning up in the sky and dropped. Saito won the duel.
The school girls huddled around Julio angered that he lost. But saddened by his defeat as well. Louise came toward Saito and congratulated his victory. Kazuko said, "Well here is your chance Saito. Might as well take it."
Louise blushed at Kazuko's remark but Saito replied, "I don't deserve it. Julio won on purpose. He knew I could not win.", Saito said in anger.
"Even so you don't have to reject me like that. It... it's hurtful OK.", Louise said trying to hide her feelings. They all left the grounds but were stopped by Agnes.
"All of you are requested to follow me now!", she said with urgency. Kazuko, Saito, and Louise followed her to the main office with no other than Henrietta in the front desk. And Julio in the room as well.
"What are you doing here?! What was the point of that match?!", Saito yelled. Julio smirked acting like it was all planned out.
"I have no intention on winning or losing. I only needed to see the strength of my second comrade. Correct Lady Henrietta?", Julio replied.
"Yes it was. You see I must thank the three of you for the other day. And you especially Kazuko, you saved two lives out there, not only mine.", she said appreciating Kazuko's undying loyalty to her. "But back to the matter at hand, I need all 6 of you. I am only borrowing the academy's strength from the people to ensure peace. I can rely on you all can't I?"
Everyone nodded and would put their lives on the line to defend Tristain.
Meanwhile at the palace...
Itsuki was having trouble sleeping and could not stop seeing his hallucinations. They began to start eating away at his thoughts so it was all he could even see, awake or asleep. He awoke gasping and sweating with only fear clouding his mind.
He went to wash his face trying to get his act together but when he faced in the mirror he saw not just himself but what he would be like if he continued down his path. It was him only with a large scar on his face to the right and his clothing looked like it was tattered.
He screamed in shock but the reflection of the vision vanished when he looked again i to the mirror. He panted with his heart beating faster than normal, he was unstable and he had to be strong. Otherwise he would lose himself...