I knew Louise didn't appreciate it, but I was worried about her. I remember Naofumi's persecution complex, and the paranoid depths to which he believed everyone was out to get him. To a certain extent he was right, almost the entire Kingdom of Melromarc was against him at one point, but to not trust anyone was a miserable way to live. Despite my best efforts he had never fully trusted me. He kept me at arms distance once my slave seal was undone, giving me missions and things to do, but never including me in his planning, and never confiding his feelings in me.

Louise didn't have things quite that bad, but I believed I was seeing similar symptoms. "What did she mean by 'they started it'?" I turned and asked Kirche after Louise had left.

She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Oh, that? I mean, I suppose it's true in her eyes, but not quite fair to the others."

"What do you mean?"

"I suppose I will have to tell you, then. Though she has been trying to hide it from you."

"Hiding what?"

Kirche leaned across and spoke in a low voice, like she was saying something very rude that she shouldn't. "Louise can't do magic."

Now that just wasn't true. "But I've seen her do it. She summoned me."

She shook her head. "That was the first spell she ever succeeded at, and even then she had serious side effects."

I didn't know what Kirche was trying to get at. Most people in my homeworld never learned magic. "Even if that's true I don't understand why it matters."

"In this world, magic is everything." Kirche continued her explanation. "The difference between a peasant and a noble is their ability to do magic."

"But anyone can do magic if they're taught." I objected.

"Maybe on your world, but not here in Halkeginia." Kirche replied. "Most people just don't have the ability to perform magic at all, they have no attribute, that's why they're peasants. Those of us that do have a magic element are the nobility."

How strange. But I supposed it was simple enough to understand, and it did explain some things. In a world without levels, someone who had magic would always have a huge advantage over someone that didn't. But why would so many people lack any kind of magic attribute? Everyone should have one, if not two.

"A noble who can't do magic is declared In Ex Prime, and is a great shame to their house. They're usually exiled if discovered, or hidden away somewhere by their family to escape the embarrassment. The only reason Louise has barely avoided this fate is because even if she can't actually cast spells, she can create these smokey little explosions. It means she has magic, even if she can't use it."

"So… her classmates have been bullying her because of that?" This disapproval in my voice was clear.

"Well, yes I suppose." Kirche shook her head with a half smile. "But also no. Louise is from a very proud family, both her father and mother have a reputation for being incredible mages. Then Louise comes to the academy with her pedigree and proud bearing, and she's a small little thing with silly pink hair and quite a temper. That alone would be enough to make people tease her, but then all her spells turn out to be explosions, and she refuses to acknowledge just how ridiculous she looks, and continues to act in a haughty attempt at a regal bearing. Of course everyone was going to make fun of her!"

I blinked at that. "That just sounds like you're making excuses for bullying her."

"It wasn't bullying, not at first." Kirche rolled her eyes. "It was teasing. If she hadn't made such a joke of herself it would have stopped almost immediately, but she didn't understand that, and now she hates almost everyone at this school, and they hate her back."

"And what about you?" I asked. "Were you just teasing her?"

Kirche hummed before answering. "You heard her earlier, calling me a slut and a barbarian. I might not hold any ill will towards her, but she feels quite strongly about me."

Wait. Was Kirche now trying to say Louise was the bully? That was ridiculous.

"Whatever teasing you intended in good fun has obviously hurt Louise." I frowned at her. "And maybe if you want to become friends with her you could consider starting with an apology."

I was almost shocked at Kirche's response. She just rolled her eyes, and smiled. "I have my own pride too, Raphtalia. I'll admit fault after I've done something wrong, and not before."

I was stunned into silence. The sheer of belligerence of that statement honestly reminded me of the sort of thing Naofumi might have used to say. Actually, no. With the sheer arrogance with which it was delivered, it reminded me more of Princess Malty…

"Now you're looking at me like I'm a monster." Kirche pouted.

"...You're not old friends at all." I realised out loud. "You weren't bickering like old friends, Louise just hates you."

"And I love her for it." Kirche smiled.

"How twisted can you be?" I gaped.

"It's not as twisted as you think it is at all." She dismissed with a wave of her hand. "If you're interested in something of course you want to poke it and prod it, turn it over in your hands and see its different sides. Really, I'm like any boy picking on a girl he likes."

"Yes, well those boys grow up, but you're just vicious and unrepentant." I snapped and stood up, pushing my chair out and leaving my meal unfinished. "I can't believe I misunderstood things so badly."

"You're still misunderstanding them." Kirche scoffed. "Louise is much stronger than you think she is, and she doesn't need your protection."

"I've had enough of this." I shook my head and turned away.
"Goodbye Raphtalia!" Kirche called out to me in a cheerful voice as I stalked away.

That woman was unbelievable! How could she just treat Louise like some kind of toy for her to play with? It was a wonder that someone as sweet and quiet as Tabitha could ever be friends with her. Now I was wondering if she even was friends with the small girl.

Shaking my head in disbelief I stalked away to find Louise. I owed her an apology; she was completely right about Kirche!

When I didn't find Louise in her room, I spotted Siesta sweeping one of the halls and humming to herself as she worked. "Siesta!" I called out to her.

A wide smile came over her face when she saw me. "Hello, Raphtalia. It's a lovely day."

"Yes, it's nice outside." I agreed, and glanced at her broom. "Though it seems a shame to be caught up inside. Anyway, sorry to keep you from your work, but have you seen Louise?"

"I saw her climbing the void tower." She looked over her shoulder and pointed. "In that direction."

"Thank you." I told her, and started to head the way she indicated.

"Um…"

I looked back and saw Siesta closing her mouth and sheepishly looking away. "Is something wrong?"

"I was just curious… um, you grew up so fast." Siesta nervously rubbed her thumb across the broom handle.

"Oh, it's just a thing about my race. When... certain conditions are met we just start growing." I chuckled to put her at ease. "Why, did you miss the small me?"

She blushed and looked away again. "I still think you're very cute."

I almost blushed at the compliment, and looked away rubbing the ends of my hair between my thumb and forefinger. "Thanks."

I had to climb two other towers before I finally found Louise at the top of one. She only just finished explaining the different kinds of magic they had in this world when she suddenly opened her menu, turned pale and cursed.

"What's wrong?" I asked, worried. She was obviously worried about something.

There was no answer at first, as she just looked intently at something on her HUD. After a moment she lowered it, and covered her mouth with her hands.

"Louise?"

She straightened up and checked the menu again, before lowering it. "...WHAT?!" She exploded after standing there for a moment. "F-f-for how long?" She demanded, then turned to me. "Can a Hero Weapon change your magic attributes?"

"No, I don't think so." I answered. "Or at least mine stayed the same."

Louise chewed her lip, looking stunned and disbelieving. "I-I need to write Mother." She nodded. "Yes. Yes that's what I should do. I'll write to Mother, and she'll know what to do."

With that said she turned on her heel and started back down the tower.

"Louise, I don't know what's wrong!" I hurried after her.

She didn't answer any of my questions all the way back to our room. She threw the door open with and strode in only to let out a shriek of surprise and leap back a step. "Brimr's blood!"

"What's wrong?" I put my hand on my sheath and jumped in front of her. Inside the room I found a girl wearing a brown cloak. "Who are you?" I demanded, drawing my sword.

"Oh, sorry I didn't mean to frighten you." She reached up and pulled back her hood, exposing a beautiful, heart shaped face framed by purple hair that stretched almost to her shoulders. "Louise, it's me."

"H-Henrietta?" Louise gasped, putting her hand to her chest. "I thought you were the inquisition!"

This Henrietta's eyebrows came together in a confused expression. "Why would you think I would be the inquisition?"