They watched the filolial quietly sleep, the nurses did their rounds. Tanya knew what they were, homunculus, though they could sleep they didn't have the need that humans had for it. The soldiers rested as well, having formed a special bond with their corresponding filolial, thus using them as pillows. She got to where Meiyo was and kissed her forehead smiling a bit to herself. Then, she turned her attention towards Naofumi and Fitoria who were still awake. The light blue-haired girl gestured for Tanya to come, the blonde obeyed.

"I wish to know how the seal that Oliver made got broken" Tanya nodded when Fitoria said that, also wishing to know the details of it.

"I thought you knew and that's why you helped us" oh well, it seemed she wouldn't get it.

"I could only feel something was wrong"

"I have a bit of an idea of what happened" Tanya closed her eyes not wanting to see their expressions. "Our allies have eyes and ears everywhere so I was informed. Also, your majesty Fitoria, took us there."

"I only wanted to meet the new candidate for queen," said Fitoria.

"You mean Filo?" Asked Naofumi.

"Yes."

"Do you know why she grows abnormally?"

Tanya was confused, did the other blonde grow weirdly?

"Because she is being brought up by a hero" now Tanya was even more confused, was it like Meiyo and herself? Whatever it was she needed more info. "You should stop your useless fights amongst each other. The waves are coming soon. I know the kingdoms that reject demihumans do not appreciate you but running away won't solve anything. You need to face it head-on. Even if species fight, the heroes mustn't"

"I think so too" said Tanya. "When we helped you guys it was a mess. The noncombatants almost died because of your ineptitude. If we hadnt been there, things would have gotten ugly." Tanya looked back at Naofumi. "The waves happen in other places, not only Melomarc"

"Originally every kingdom summoned a diferent hero to help with them"

"I didnt know about that part" Tanya didnt either, but she wasnt about to say it.

"I only do what I was told to, and I have made sure other places can survive without a hero" said Fitoria.

"That's why armed forces of mages have been created and adventurers sent everywhere" added Tanya. Of course it was a supposition, put her hypothesis wasn't that far off.

"Yes" said Fitoria. "Our role is to defend this world, but I cannot do it alone... I didnt think I could without the heroes. But something diferent happened. One day... my filolial told me about people with a greater power than my own. Some were being exploited and others had barely found out" Fitoria looked back at Tanya, making Naofumi do the same. Tanya only sighed.

"My power was a curse" at least that was her opinion. "It was until recently I could develop and use it right"

"I felt it when you forced me to not touch the dragon"

"My power is based on the seven deadly sins. I am able to seal them as well. Other than that, I cant interfere." Said Tanya

"If the heroes keep fighting each other..." Fitoria now looked at Naofumi "I will have no choice but to kill you and bring new ones for the greater good of this world"

She left them alone after saying that.

"Your sword loves you" said Tanya out of the blue.

"What are you talking about?"

"Its obvious, the way she acts gives it away" answered the blonde. "If you die, or, if you are killed, she would miss you. I think she would lose hope thanks to you"

"She can survive"

"Yes and no" said Tanya "You're fortunate, using your curse is a choice"

"Yours as well"

"No" Tanya had no idea why she was talking about this to him. As if compelled to vomit all these things "I didnt have a choice. I was born with it, and now I can control it in my favorite doesnt affect me as much. But it can affect you." Tanya put her hands behind her back. "If you use it, it hurts your comrades, right?"

"How...?"

"Informants" answered Tanya. "In this world, information and strategy are power, as well as allies."

"They could betray you."

"They can also protect you. I understand your predicament, believe me, I have been in the same position as well. Just look at me, I'm a child sent to the frontlines of war."

Naofumi stood quietly.

"Yet, I learned a lot. There are risks you must take, amongst them is trust. Do you get what I mean?"

"I need to trust my team more?"

"And your other comrades" said Tanya "I know it goes both ways, but sometimes its needed. Not everyone wants you dead. Some would sacrifice their life for you, you're lucky you met her this early"

"Who?"

"Your other half, your soulmate, the red string. It took me ten years"

"You say it as if you we're older than that"

Tanya smiled "it's my advice from senior to junior"

"How old are you, really?"

"That is a rude question, you dont ask a lady her age" scolded Tanya.

Naofumi didnt seem to interested in her joke. Tanya had no intention of answering either so she turned around. "Whatever, just express yourself more. You will benefit in the long run. They are not soldiers, they dont need to fear you"

"I'll consider it"

"Goodnight, Iwatani."

Tanya left, going to hug her girlfriend and falling asleep with her. Next day Naofumi made Naofumi again with the nurses help. Tanya and Meiyo were called by Fitoria.

"We will have to give them a trial"

"A trial?" Tanya begum thinking about all the ones she had to go through or make "what kind? Will we make someone suffer or give them training from hell?"

"Makor" Meiyo took Tanya's hand to relax her, but her smile couldnt be hidden so quickly.

"No, it's only to test their will." Said Fitpria. "Their bond. Their kinship"

"I see..." sighed Meiyo "but, why ask us? You are more than capable of doing it alone"

"I only have the ones for Filo. I wish for you to give some to the shield and his sword" explained Fitoria gazing at them intensely "I also will need for you to put the soldiers to sleep to avoid interference"

"So, we will fight them" said Tanya. Well, she could find out more about their powers.

"Yes, I will need you" she pointed towards Tanya. "To fight the shield. He needs to show us his strength, trust, love and loyalty." Then she turned towards Meiyo. "You will go against his sword. Her trial will involve love and loyalty"

"Yes."

They made their way towards where everyone was eating. Once done, Fitoria lifted her hand in Melty's direction and whispered a spell. Meiyo did something similar, but instead of encapsulating someone else in wind magic, she made every soldier and nurse fall unconscious, carried away by the filolials to safety.

"Melty!" yelled Naofumi alarmed. The confused princess stared at her wind prison in confusion "What are you doing!?"

Tanya knew he was asking her and Meiyo, he also seemed to notice the missing people.

"Nothing really, just checking how weak you are," said Tanya taking out her saber. Of course, she wasn't going to use her firearms or this wouldn't make sense. It was the third time she used the physical one, instead of the one made with her magical energy, which, was much more powerful. She did infuse this one with a bit of it though. Closing her eyes she concentrated on her gem, and soon, when she opened her eyes, she could see a list of the seven deadly sins in Latin. Everything seemed to go slow motion, and she wondered if this was an enhancement that was made. Tanya also needed to remember, one, there was no need to pray, two, she didn't have to win against Naofumi, three, the fight ended when Fitoria declared Filo the winner.

Tanya decided on using Ira, since it favored the current conditions. Her saber turned red, as if it was in flames.

"You're fortunate, shield hero," said Tanya pointing at him with her weapon. "You'll be training directly under me, a human"

"I thought you wanted to help"

"My job is my job" she answered calmly. "And now, it is to train you. Lets see how much you can accomplish, and if you are even worthy to go on"

"I didn't ask for this!

"It isn't a matter of choice" said Tanya, rushing towards him, holding her saber as if it was a spear. Naofumi activated his shield, trying to avoid being harmed by the blonde. She could hear her lover fight against the demihuman. As she could hear it, Meiyo wasn't even breaking a sweat. It was then when Naofumi turned towards the girls. He had left himself vulnerable, and now, he had to pay the prince.

"Weak!" Tanya made a thin cut on his leg, then going behind him and kicking his back. Naofumi let out a pained gasp "You won't protect anyone that way! Your team will be weak thanks to you!"

"This isn't training!"

"The waves nor war have mercy! If it wasn't for me, all of you would've died that day!" answered Tanya attacking again. Good, she was analyzing the repercussions of the sin of Ira inside Naofumi's body. She could clearly see what points she had to hit for him to be able to use it without consequence. First, she needed him to be able to resist its influence, therefore, she had to make him angry. "If you can't protect yourself, how will you protect others?!"

"Shut up!"

"So, I hit the nail on the head, huh?" said Tanya moving away from his attack. The winner hadn't been announced yet. "Show me you can save others without losing yourself, look" she pointed at Raphtalia and Filio who looked exhausted. "You can't do anything" Tanya hit him again, almost making him fall, but he had activated his shield, trying to capture her. "Even if you want to, you can't. You will always be useless"

"At least I do my job! The rest don't even care!"

Tanya hit him again, this time with the blunt side of the place and swiftly changed it to make another thin cut. She grinned as she looked at the raven haired male, and kicked where she had harmed him previously.

"What kind of fucking training is this!?" yelled Naofumi as he covered himself from the blonde's attacks.

"This is hell on earth!" laughed Tanya without stopping, this weapon was now enveloped in fire, according to the title of the buff it was the archangel sword "They did not call me the demon of the rhine without merits!"

"I get why your soldiers fear you!" said Naofumi, he seemed to try to lock her in his prison shield. Tanya analyzed it calmly, looking at the orange bubble-like monsters inside. Sighing, she concentrated. Superbia. She enhanced her aura until she made her 'cage' explode. When she saw Naofumi, his eyes were open wide, and the balloon monsters were just like the popped version of their namesake.

"How..."

"And you call yourself the shield hero" Bullied Tanya with a grin "I don't get what demihumans see in you, actually, I don't get what Raphtalia is thinking!"

"I'll get strong! I'll protect everyone!" she heard Filo yell.

"Look! Even she has more balls than you!"

With one loud scream, she heard something break. Tanya wasn't going to stop till instructed, those were the rules of war.

"You won" now she did. Tanya put her weapon away.

"Filo!"Raphtalia and Naofumi ran towards the blonde filolial. Meiyo Smiled along with Tanya and Fitoria. The major took her lover's hand in hers and felt a bit calmer now, it seemed letting out magical energy was almost as effective as having sex.

"I won! I won!" Filo looked excited and Melty was freed. At least Tanya wouldn't be blamed if something happened to the princess.

"If you hadn't everyone would be dead" said Fitoria still with a calm smile. Woken up soldiers were coming back.

"You'll be able to do the same as I later" informed the ravenette to Tanya.

"Tell me later, I need to do something now" answered Tanya as she walked towards Naofumi. "Well done all of you. You did good. I decided to give you a gift"

"A gift?"

Tanya unblocked his wrath shields. Naofumi stared at them confused.

"But..."

"It won't have any side effects. I made sure to destroyed them while we fought" said Tanya. "You showed me you weren't gonna lose your head in battle and can manage your emotions, so you deserve it"

"I dunno what to say," said Naofumi staring at his shield.

"I do," said Tanya pulling him down by his cape down to her height. The reaction of Filo and Raphtalia made her almost burst laughing. "Don't be a pussy and tell her you like her"

Naofumi stared at Tanya dumbfounded. The blonde only smiled and walked towards her girlfriend.

"Master Nofumi... I..."Tanya knew he had told her. She looked back confirming her theory, they were kissing. Good. Raphtalia and Naofumi had a tension that frustrated Tanya more than necessary.

"Lower your head," said Fitoria to Filo, a crown in her hands. The blonde filolial did as told and was crowned. There was a new filolial queen. Tanya thought she hallucinated, but she saw the translucent image of her brother sitting on a filolial clapping happily.