Alright ladies and gentlemen, it's time for us to head for Albion! As I am fuzzy on what happens during this particular arc in the original story, I will be using the wiki as a framework while doing my thing in making it its own. In addition, who's ready to see Wardes? Neb doesn't trust griffins on principle, so this'll be fun.

Onwards!

Graduation

Two weeks seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.

The students fell into their remaining time with all the vigor they could muster, Neb disappearing with only a short word on his own 'project'. Even Louise didn't know what he was off doing, only that he'd asked formal permission to leave the Academy for a time.

She'd granted it, very begrudgingly, but she at least knew he'd be back. For all they knew he wanted to do something related to his brand and the Six, as he called his gods. And if that was the case, then she was glad he decided to leave. It was still freaky having the deities pop into Neb's heads as whimsy took them and being free of the possibility for a bit was fine by her.

In fact, not having him constantly hanging over them showed just how ingrained their habits had become. No one needed him there to continue training or studying, as if their bodies expected it of them by now. Mostly though, they all worked on a specific project they'd started at the beginning of the summer.

Louise, outside the walls as the sun set on their second to last day, panted as she stared at the results of her work. Her project was figuring out how to more finely control the results of her spells, rather than just putting the amount she thought was needed and letting it go. As such, while she'd get the spell in question, it would be at the level she wanted.

So instead of her firebolt being as bright as a flare, it could pack the same amount of heat while looking like a dim ember. Anyone underestimating it was in for a nasty surprise, and she quite liked the idea of wiping an arrogant bastard's grin off their stupid face.

But what had drained her energy was the dummy before her, its sack body coated in a thin layer of ice and stone. After that fiasco with Kirche, she'd been experimenting with different amounts of mana to try and make the Ice Armor and Stone Skin light enough for someone to move in. It… was slow going.

But today, she'd successfully gotten the dummy she'd modeled after Kirche to bear the weight without restricting the limbs she'd made for it. The one's modeled after her other friends were still very much work in progress, but this at least showed she was getting there!

It'd just taken… oh, a few dozen attempts. And several dummies.

"…Looks good."

Louise dropped to her knees at the words, pants turning into deep gulps. "Thank… the Founder…"

Tabitha walked over and patted Louise's shoulder. "Getting there… too slow though… probably not practical yet…"

Louise caught her breath before answering. "Yeah… that I can agree with, and I'm not sure I'd get it right in the heat of the moment either. Though… I do feel like my control's a lot better than when I first started with Neb's spells."

To prove it, she pointed Raelag's Staff out to the meadow. "Gust!"

The spell roared forth, but this time in a much tighter tunnel than the sheer gale she'd conjured before. It dissipated after a few hundred yards, and Louise smirked at her friend. "Don't think anyone wants to get hit by that, do you?"

Tabitha giggled and shook her head. "No… I think not. Ready… to practice with me?"

Louise grinned and got to her feet before jogging almost fifty yards from Tabitha. Once set, she turned to wave. "Ready when you are!"

Tabitha gripped her staff and concentrated, Louise watching from afar until she heard a whisper in her ear. "Can you hear me?"

Louise beamed and whispered: "Yes, I can hear you nice and clear. Can you hear me?"

"I can." Tabitha confirmed, a glint of delight in her voice. "It looks like it works. Now we need to see how long it lasts."

The girls giggled and Louise slowly started walking towards Tabitha, asking if her friend could still hear her voice the closer she got. Eventually, as Louise entered arm's length and her voice was little more than a breath, Tabitha shook her head. "…It's gone."

Louise frowned and put her hands on her hips. "Well that was only distance, nothing to see how long it can last. How's this? If it fails at arm's length, then I won't get any closer than that for the rest of the evening. That way we can see how long it lasts."

Tabitha mirrored the frown. "…If you say so, I suppose."

"We can explain what's going on to the others after we get back." Louise agreed, pointing towards the walls with a determined gleam in her eyes. "Now I'll step back and you can cast again. After that, let's see how long it takes to run out."

Tabitha concentrated again and the spell took effect, her eyes trailing to the walls. "…Everyone working. We're… going to be alone, most likely."

Louise shrugged and started for the walls, Tabitha following. "Well, they're all busy like we were. I still haven't the foggiest idea where Neb went off to and we're supposed to set off after tomorrow."

Tabitha hummed, unafraid of their conversation being overheard. The tunnel kept any sound between them and only them, so there was nothing to fear. "Have you tried reaching out to him through the brand? I know that I can feel Sylphid if I give it some thought."

Louise paused and gave it some thought. Then smacked her forehead. "Oh duh, why didn't I think of that? Honestly, it's never crossed my mind to try and use the brand's link before."

"He can talk." Tabitha laughed, smiling as she passed Louise. "No other familiars can, so the link's the only way to communicate with them. You haven't had the need."

Louise shook her head and fell in step with her friend. "That may be correct, but that doesn't make me any less of a dummy for not thinking of it. Could've figured out what Neb was up to days ago."

Tabitha shrugged in answer. "At this point, may as well keep it a surprise. Just see if he's coming back tonight or not, we can do other things in the meantime."

"What's there to do?" Louise asked as she concentrated on the nebulous bond she shared with her familiar. "We're… already packed…"

Tabitha said nothing, letting her friend concentrate. After several moments of silence, Louise sighed deeply. "He's on his way, that's about all I can tell. What little of his thoughts I could sense, it'll be really late when he gets back."

Tabitha hummed and gestured to the walls. "Then let's go inside and give those texts one last review. Much as I'd like to, we can't fit everyone on Sylphid."

"Especially not Neb." Louise agreed, thoughts turning to their journey. "But still, an airship? Even with all the funds we've pooled, I'm not sure it'll be enough for us to charter a vessel. Our destination being a warzone does not help matters."

Tabitha played with a lock of hair, a small frown on her lips. "Speaking of… have you considered cutting your hair?"

Louise looked aghast. "Are you kidding me? I don't care that Neb recommended it; I'm not giving up years of work! Besides, why deprive Siesta of something to work with that isn't laundry?"

Tabitha rolled her eyes. "If ever there's something you'll go to war for…"

She reached out to pinch a lock of pink. "Though you do take very good care of it. Why do you keep so many oils and soaps for it, if I might ask? I never cared much for it."

Louise giggled and took Tabitha's hand, running her friend's digits through the expanse of pink. Tabitha's ears steamed at the motion, though she couldn't help but enjoy the smooth feel of Louise's hair. Dare she say it, a pleasant smell met her nose the more Louise let her stroke.

"It's a special oil I order specifically from Romania." Louise said proudly, seeing the question in Tabitha's eyes. "The women in my family have long prided themselves on our hair, it's a point of tradition. It's… really the only part of my heritage I could be proud of, before coming here."

Tabitha hummed, a warmth stirring in her gut that Louise would trust her to touch something she was so proud of. "Well… want me to braid it?"

Louise blinked at her. "You know how to tie a braid? I've only ever seen you in your usual cut."

Tabitha pulled her hand back and played with her hair, silently sad it wasn't near as smooth as Louise's. "I never really had the need to, but I did learn at one point. Though… maybe I should keep letting mine grow out? I can make a little braid out of what I have, but it won't be much to look at."

"Nonsense!" Louise protested, uncaring that the spell had broken when she grabbed Tabitha's hand. "Believe it or not, I know how to tie a braid too, Siesta taught me last week. You do mine and I'll do yours, how's that?"

Tabitha tilted her head. "…Ok, but while we're looking over the texts. Still need to do that."

Louise pouted and they stared at each other for a time before breaking into a fit of giggles. No further words passed between them as they finally entered the academy for the first time since morning, none of their fellows greeting them. It appeared everyone was still off working on the last bits of their projects, so Louise and Tabitha were going to be alone.

The thought made Tabitha feel strangely nervous.

Louise didn't notice the odd look on Tabitha's face and led the way to the library, their second home. When not training, eating, or sleeping, they were in here studying. Louise and Tabitha the most out of the bunch admittedly, but they were bookworms and proud of it.

In the interest of privacy, Louise led the way deep into the labyrinth of shelves and tomes, knowing that Tabitha could float up to find the way out with no issue. Again, Tabitha felt increasingly nervous as they got deeper in the library, her stomach doing little flips.

What's wrong with me? I've been alone with Louise before, in the bath no less, yet I've never felt this… nervous before. Maybe, I… maybe I fear that we'll run into one of Uncle's agents?

She shook her head of the thought. There'd been no messages from her uncle in some time, no new mission beyond the one she now served. It didn't look like that was going to change anytime soon, so what the hell was she nervous about?!

"Tabitha, sit here!"

Louise's voice broke her of the reverie, a chair and the tomes they were to read set for her. Tabitha took the chair and scooted into the table holding the tomes, grabbing the one on top as Louise stood behind her. "So… you're going to braid my hair while I read?"

"Quiz me." Louise chuckled as she looked through the satchel she'd taken to keeping at her waist. "I'll make the braid and study at the same time. Sound good to you?"

Tabitha nodded and cracked open the tome, a treatise on air travel and its customs in both Albion and the ports. As she read for a good question to ask, she felt Louise's fingers run through her hair, and the light callouses… tingled. Against her scalp.

"Um… Louise?"

Louise was humming as she ran her fingers through Tabitha's hair, gathering the blue locks together. Clearly, she didn't hear Tabitha's mumbled confusion, and her friend could only guess she had no idea what her hands were really doing.

Tabitha swallowed the tingling sensation and focused, soon finding a question. "What… is the protocol for hiring a captain?"

"Approaching the local dockmaster for a list of those available and their prices." Louise rattled off as she gathered the last of Tabitha's hair together. "Then you go find them, buy them and their crew two rounds at whatever tavern they're frequenting, then get them in a back room to explain the situation. If it's dire need, buy three rounds."

Tabitha winced as Louise tugged on her hair. "Correct… please be gentle, you're… tugging."

The tension lessened and Louise apologized. They were quiet again for a time until Tabitha found another passage. "Are there… two signs or three… for bad omens on a ship?"

"Three." Louise answered as she slowly brushed any tangles out of Tabitha's hair. "If a crow lands on the bow before we leave, it's an omen of death. Three cockerels crowing at once means a storm's brewing. Third one's a gust to the south as we take off, means trouble awaits at our destination."

Tabitha spotted an inconsistency. "When do the cockerels crow?"

"First light." Louise answered again, guiding the smooth hair to the right side of Tabitha's head. "Hold off for a second, the first one's always hard for me."

Tabitha did so, trying to relax as Louise started the braid proper. She felt her friend try a few times before getting it right, Louise's hands working swiftly with the base in place. Barely a moment later, Louise's hands pulled away and she let out a pleased huff. "There, take a look!"

Tabitha found a hand-mirror in her face and she took it, holding the glass away from her. As she'd thought, it was a short braid that barely reached her shoulder, but it was odd to see her hair pulled back. "…Not the biggest fan. Braid's good, but… it's weird seeing my forehead."

Louise investigated the mirror, studying Tabitha's visage carefully. "…Ya know, it kinda is. Want me to try again, but keep the bangs in place?"

Tabitha shrugged and Louise undid the braid, hands surer as she worked with less hair. This time, it was a smaller braid, but a bright red tie at the end drew the eye to it. When Tabitha saw it, she decided she liked it. It didn't do away with her usual look but lent a bit of style without messing her hair up.

And it was Louise who did it, so how could she say no?

"Good," Tabitha informed, Louise beaming in answer. "My turn now."

They swapped spots and Louise started quizzing Tabitha on the various types of cargo an average ship would hold, the best ways to get information in a port, and how to react in case of an emergency on the ship.

Tabitha answered with nary a pause, the information long memorized for what Neb described as 'tests'. Those weren't exams, not at all, they were outright interrogations where you had to explain the ins and outs of a situation or run laps all day.

Then you had to try again with a different scenario the next day until he impressed the importance of studying on you.

Regardless, Tabitha enjoyed working with Louise's hair. She'd helped Kirche on numerous occasions with her hair, and even done the same with Siesta on a few occasions when the handmaid was trying to multitask, but this…

Well, Louise's pride in the silken pink locks was clear to the touch.

There was just so much hair to work with that she didn't need to gather Louise's bangs together like had been done to her. Instead, she ended up making a tight braid that ran all the way to the base of the chair.

Odd, I normally don't make this kind this fast. Though… I have to admit, she looks kind of dashing with most of it tamed like this.

"Well don't keep me in suspense!" Louise giggled when Tabitha pulled her hands away to stare. "Come on, show me!"

Tabitha shook her thoughts away and handed Louise the mirror. "I think you look pretty good. Sorry for… making it tight, I wasn't thinking as I worked."

Louise looked herself over for a few minutes before smiling widely. "Why Tabby, I think it looks great! Honestly, with this, I can keep all my hair and get Neb off my back! I'll tell Siesta to make it up like this while we're on the road, thanks for showing me a solution!"

Tabitha blinked again before scratching her cheek, a tiny smile curling her lips. "…You're welcome."

Louise giggled in glee and closed the tome. "Want to keep going or head back to our rooms? It's getting late and I just know Neb's going to want us up at first light tomorrow. We'll grab a snack and go over a few things before turning in if you like."

Tabitha hummed before nodding. "… Go see how Kirche's doing. Last I saw she was with Montmorency."

"Right, and Siesta's off with Guiche." Louise recalled, sounding confused. "I still wonder why she needed to go with him for the project? Guiche never did say what his was, but what can Siesta do to help?"

Tabitha shrugged and they put the tomes back before leaving. As Louise had said, it was getting late, the torches lit and few others wandering the halls. The pair saw neither hide nor hair of their fellow students as they stole away into the pantry for some snacks and tea.

Nor did they see them upon returning to the tower. Or on the climb up. Not even a light under Kirche's door when they reached Louise's room. It wasn't all that strange, considering they could see a column of fire rising beyond the walls outside Louise's window.

"There she is." Louise stated blankly before setting out the snacks on the table. "So, what's the first thing we should go over?"

Tabitha nodded to Raelag's Staff. "What are you going to do about hiding that? It's not exactly a regular staff, we'll get weird looks the whole way. Well, more than we'll get with Sylphid and Neb, anyway."

Louise cackled and grabbed a pear. "I considered not hiding it at all! But as you said, we have two very large familiars going with us, so if we're going to draw attention it's better to keep it to a minimum."

She gestured to the case next to her bed. "I've got a bunch of extra cloth in there, I'll wrap it up so no one thinks it's anything more than a normal staff. If anything, I want Derf to get all the attention. At least if he's stolen, we just follow the curses."

Tabitha snorted, swearing she could hear the sword in question mumbling obscenities in the corner it shared with the staff. "…Alright, then are you still comfortable having me as your… partner? We all know you can work with anyone else just as well…"

Louise bit into the pear, considering the question silently. After a few crunches, she had her answer. "Honestly, I do work with everyone very well. I'm not stealthy like Siesta, able to think on my feet like you or Guiche, let alone as strong as Kirche. Hell, Monmon's got me beat on everything related to medicine and poisons we've learned."

She leaned back. "And that's why. I don't really specialize in anything beyond helping you guys and directing the battle at large, so I can slot in beside any of you and act as a multiplier."

"You've been reading too many of Neb's military tomes." Tabitha grunted as she grabbed an apple. "And you didn't answer my question, you just gloated."

Louise crossed her arms and took another bite of her pear. "…It's partially because I do that. You're… a real peer to me, Tabitha. I don't quite respect Guiche or Montmorency's opinions on a number of things, though it's no fault of theirs. Kirche, I still don't… really trust on that level yet. I'm getting better, but it's small steps."

Tabitha nodded, understanding somewhat. "And Siesta's still a commoner, close as you've become with her these last months. Then there's Her Highness…"

"Exactly," Louise sighed, a long pause stretching between them. They finished their respective snack before Louise leaned forward and looked Tabitha in the eye. "Tabby, I really respect you a lot. You're so… Founder-damned smart, and honest at that. You've never done wrong by me, and I'm sad I never reached out to you sooner. Out of all our friends and compatriots, I enjoy working with you the most."

"Is… is that too selfish for wanting you to be my partner?"

Tabitha considered that for a moment before speaking. "So… it wasn't just being comfortable with me? Like you said before our first mission?"

"That's still there," Louise assured, "but there's more now. I respect everyone we work with; I've seen them put the work in, I just… respect you the most I guess. As I said, I consider you a peer, so having your opinion close at hand is..."

Tabitha held up a hand, stopping Louise from putting her foot in her mouth. "Let's… leave it at respect, shall we? Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Louise. If you're sure, then we'll keep being partners from here on. I just wanted to confirm."

Louise leaned back, a flash of relief in her eyes. "Thank you, Tabby. Let's move onto something more pleasant, yes?"

She leaned over and grabbed a stack of parchment next to her chair. "I was looking at this last night, but wanted to ask your opinion on it. I've found a few duets with Kirche, but this is the first one I've found that I think works with you!"

Tabitha blinked as Louise held out the stack, surprised by the turn of events. "You… want me to look at a duet? On the night before our final inspection?"

"Better than tomorrow night no?" Louise queried with a laugh. "Now come on, look! I just know you'll like it!"

Tabitha took the stack and started to read, swiftly spotting an issue. "Uh… Louise? This is a trio, not a duet."

Louise's look of excitement changed to one of mortification. "Really?!"

She took the parchment back and scoured the writing, shoulders slumping when she found what Tabitha was talking about. "…Oh, it is. Darn, I just… I saw the first two parts and got excited I guess. I'm sorry Tabby."

Tabitha sighed and took the stack back, silently looking it over again. "…Actually, I think it could work as a duet. There won't be… as many layers to the vocals, but it can work."

Louise huffed at the suggestion. "You're just saying that… but if you want to try, I won't say no."

"You do like to sing." Tabitha muttered under her breath, doing her best to hide a smile. She put the parchment down and moved on. "However, we can save that for last. I wanted to ask if you finished memorizing our signals."

Louise glowered at her and started signing at her. "Do you really think I haven't? I came up with them for heaven's sake!"

"Despite that, it's taken you this long to get fast enough for normal conversation." Tabitha signed back, a smirk on her lips. "Siesta was telling tales like this after you showed her, but you were barely capable of single words. And yes, I know I'm a hypocrite."

Louise signed something very rude and Tabitha burst into laughter. Louise steamed at her for a moment before joining, the snacks and tea forgotten. Once they calmed down, Louise looked to the window and blinked. "Oh, I think they may be done! Mind waiting here while I go see how Kirche and Monmon did? I may run into Siesta and Guiche while I'm down there, so feel free to look over the music!"

Tabitha blinked a few times, Louise out the door in a blur of energy. "…Always curious. Hopefully I won't have to drag her back from something she's curious about."

Speaking of curiosity, Tabitha turned her gaze to the staff and sword in the corner, eyes coming to rest on the staff. It was so strange to think that, what looked for all the world like a gem, was actually the eye of a pagan god. Even stranger was that the hydra head holding it looked very similar to Neb himself.

She'd never asked Neb of the resemblance, and she was pretty sure Louise hadn't either. She at least knew that the hydra had been part of its creation, but why would the staff head, the most noticeable part, look like him? Surely resembling the patron whose eye it held would've been more appropriate?

Tabitha nearly dismissed it when she spotted something silver in the still gem, the sliver of color growing bright. It looked kind of like a lightning bolt, and she felt compelled to get closer.

"Wouldn't do that if I were you little lady." Derflinger warned as Tabitha stood and strode towards him and the staff. "Yer not ready to meet with the one wanting to talk, least not yet. Why not listen to one of my tales while we wait? I got one that's a hoot I tell ya!"

Tabitha… didn't hear him. The silver light in the gem had her full attention and she came closer still. Derflinger looked to try again, but a voice like a soothing breeze quieted him. "She may not be ready to hear my full voice, but I am more than capable of speaking at a level that shall not harm her. And please, do share more of your tales after this. I enjoy learning whilst my sister is elsewhere."

Tabitha blinked as a breeze blew from the staff, caressing her cheeks gently. "Child, are you not going to tell them who you are? I feel the secrecy that surrounds you still, your shame, your determination, and your hatred. You bury it deeply, as you have for so long, but do not these you have chosen to fight beside deserve at least some of the truth?"

Tabitha shook her head. "… I am Tabitha, to them, I cannot speak my true name. They… they would not think me a friend anymore, I do not wish to lose those I've found."

"They will learn in time, whether you wish it or not." The voice advised. "I keep secrets, little one, many-many secrets. Those kept close to thine breast have their place and their use, but an identity is not something that need stay a secret. If you wish to still be Tabitha after revealing thyself, well…"

The voice turned stormy, "You will know whether they were ever worth being called friends in the first place. Whether they're worth the air they breathe. And if not…"

The voice took on the tenor of a murderous thunderstorm. "Then remove them like the filth they've shone themselves to be-!"

The voice vanished as Derflinger glowed, the air around Tabitha sucked into his scabbard. Without her realizing it, the breeze had turned into a howling gale blowing about her, somehow not disturbing the room. "And that's enough out of his trap methinks!"

Tabitha took a deep breath and glared at the sword. "…Who… was that?"

"Oh, one of those dragon gods our large scaly friend mentioned." Derf answered as if discussing the weather. "Think it was… Ylath, or was it Whylath? Can't recall, just know he's the big guy back in the hydra's world when it comes to wind and air. Likes gathering secrets by the sounds of it."

The blade shifted and clattered, voice turning serious. "Next time, listen to me when I say not to come closer, alright girlie? Whenever Pinkie and her hydra aren't here, the big lady of darkness pisses off elsewhere. That means her siblings stop to see if any of their favorites are nearby, and let me tell you, they've got designs of their own despite the big poobah sitting over our heads."

Tabitha shook her head, suspicion darkening her tone. "…How much did you hear?"

"That you got some kind of secret related to who you are." Derflinger answered without a care. "But far be it from to pry, I'm a talking sword after all! Up to you if it stays a secret or not, just so long as it doesn't hurt Pinkie."

His voice darkened. "If so then you and I have issues."

Tabitha stared at the sword and she felt it stare back before surrendering the contest. "There's nothing in my true name that would harm any of them. I just… I've been Tabitha for so long, I don't feel it's worth bringing up an old name."

Deflinger's voice relaxed. "As I said, far be it from me to make a decision for you. If ya feel like it, share. If ya don't, don't share! Simple as that."

Tabitha stared for a bit longer before she breathed an amused sigh. "The world seems simple when you speak of troubles like that. Um… thank you, for getting me out of that, and for your words."

"Anytime, Blue." Derflinger cackled before going still. Tabitha shook her head, glared at the staff, and gathered her things before leaving. Unconsciously, she took the stack of parchment Louise had left behind and went to her room to contemplate.

As she sat at her desk, thinking, she heard the voices of Kirche and Louise walk past. They were discussing something, and she heard Siesta's name, but nothing more met her ears as the conversation passed.

No one came to check on her, which she supposed was a good thing, but she just… sat there and thought. It would've been nice to have someone to talk to, get her mind off this…

Tabitha sighed and looked to her bed. "It wouldn't be so bad… just call it a night…"

A humorless laugh passed her lips. "But this is going to haunt me now. Damn that dragon, he's dredged up what I thought buried. Now… now I question if I should trust them enough with a piece. Will they even understand?"

Really, if she was going to go into battle with her fellows, go save the world, they deserved to know. She was just… so nervous, that they'd change on her. Siesta wouldn't let her cook anymore, Kirche wouldn't want to spar anymore… Louise wouldn't look at her as a peer anymore…

They'll know whether you want it or not…

Tabitha's head slammed into her desk with a dull thud, a curse on her lips. "…We're going to run into Uncle. Let's… let's try with Kirche. She took Henrietta's arrival and Louise's mother in stride, maybe she'll be ok with this too…"

Tabitha smacked her head into the desk a few times, trying to either knock herself confident or unconscious. Sadly, the trauma made her brave before her brain shut off. As such, with a welt standing prominently on her forehead, Tabitha stumbled from her room to Kirche's door.

She knocked three times, ignoring the sounds of scrambling within, before Kirche opened the door. "…Tabby? What are you doing here? I thought you went to your room for the night."

Tabitha chose to ignore Kirche's flushed cheeks and look of embarrassment. "…Can I talk to you about something? It's… important."

Kirche lost the embarrassed look and almost threw open her door. "Come in! Feel free to tell me anything, Kirche's here to answer all your questions!"

Tabitha felt a hint of meekness worm into her mind, mostly from Kirche's refusal to wear anything more than a sheer nightgown while in her own room. Regardless, she entered and went to the guest table, eyes on her lap as she sat down.

Kirche took the spot opposite her, eyes shining with glee at the prospect of helping Tabitha with something. In truth, she'd already divined why Tabitha had come to her after the former had spent most of the day with Louise.

Today, she would help her friend realize she had a massive crush on Louise! Then burst the bubble that said pink-haired target of affection was being quietly crushed on by Siesta, the Princess of Tristain, and Kirche herself. That'd be fun for sure.

They got to be partners in crime and rivals in love! It made the perfect story, no matter who won or lost in the end!

Tabitha though, waited a moment before chanting a spell that created a dome of wind around them, preventing any sound from leaving. "…Kirche, I've been hiding something… from all of you."

Kirche blinked as the spell took hold, Tabitha's voice as serious as she'd ever heard it. This wasn't about her love life, no way, not with that look of determination. "…Whatever it is, Tabby, I'm sure it doesn't need all this. Come on, just tell me, I won't think any less of you."

She narrowed her eyes with a conspiratorial smirk. "Even if you've been sneaking flour from the pantry. Don't think I didn't see you experimenting with the oven."

Tabitha didn't drop the serious expression even as pink dusted her cheeks. "Kirche, I'm being serious here."

Kirche held up her hands in surrender. "Alright, I'll be quiet. Say what you need to say."

Tabitha relaxed a bit and looked down at her lap, fidgeting. They were silent for a time, Kirche waiting patiently for Tabitha to speak and her friend trying to find her earlier courage. Then, Tabitha sighed deeply. "…My name's not Tabitha. I… I took it as mine a long time ago, but it's not my real name."

She looked up to meet Kirche's gaze. "My real name… is Charlotte Hélène d'Orléans. My father was the rightful heir of Gallia before he was killed, and my mother's… gone. As such…"

Kirche's jaw dropped. "You're the freaking crown princess of Gallia? I… I didn't think King Joseph had any heirs, let alone a niece!"

Tabitha looked away, shame in her voice. "He… doesn't want me to be. As far as the world knows, I'm dead, and it's only by his mercy I still live. I just… feel that this quest is going to bring us into conflict with him, and…"

"You're worried for your mother." Kirche answered, Tabitha's head shooting up in surprise. "Oh don't give me that look. If he's your uncle, and you're still alive, that means he has leverage on you. We went over this exact scenario in our history classes, remember?"

Tabitha sheepishly nodded. With her full attention, Kirche continued. "So, the simple answer is you're afraid for your mother if we come into conflict with your uncle, perfectly reasonable. We'll just save her and whip his ass should it come to that."

Tabitha blinked in disbelief. "…What? Uncle's incredibly strong, the strongest mage in Gallia. I… I honestly believe he could duel Louise's mother to a standstill."

Kirche opened her mouth, closed it, considered the sentence, and shrugged. "Well… that changes things, but we'll still rescue your mother if we need to! I don't mean to offend, but we've kinda got the whole world to save first. Besides, it's not like doing this is… breaking anything with him, is it?"

Tabitha shook her head. "…No, my mission is actually to keep an eye on Louise. I've… been feeding his messengers false reports for months now, but he doesn't seem to care. I sent Sylphid to check on my mother just last week, she's still alive."

"Why Louise?" Kirche asked, curiosity and a drop of dread mixing in her mind. "I mean, sure she's basically the youngest Chevalier besides yourself, but why would your uncle want you to spy on her?"

Tabitha shook her head. "I haven't the foggiest idea. All I know is that I received the mission shortly before we were given that 'research assignment' and there's been nothing but requests for updates since."

Kirche hummed in thought before shrugging. "Well, I can tell you that this should stay between us until we're out on the road. Neb won't be happy to hear you're… well, a spy. Like, at all. Louise won't take it well either, but if you and I can get her alone while we're out there, we can convince her without a report heading to Henrietta."

Tabitha's mood fell at the suggestion. "You… think they'd take it that poorly?"

"Neb for sure, he'll think you're a leak." Kirche answered without a hint of remorse. "And he was quite clear during the first month about how important it is we don't have leaks. As for Louise, she's still a patriot when it comes to Tristain. Assuming she didn't turn you in, she'd try and run off into Gallia to see you restored."

Tabitha sighed deeply. "…I admire her ideals greatly, but they're standing in our way. What a mess this is turning into."

Kirche chuckled and reached across the table to pat Tabitha's shoulder. "She'll see reason, we just have to talk her down from whatever impulse hits her. After that, I'm sure she'll be glad you chose to share this. Hell, I'm floored you came to me first with this."

Tabitha shook her head, a wan smile on her lips. "Kirche… you're the first friend I made in many years; I trust you with my life. If… If I can trust you with something like that, why can't I trust you with my real name?"

Kirche placed a hand to her breast, touched beyond words. "Tabby… oh come here you!"

Tabitha yelped as Kirche launched herself over the table and enveloped her friend in a strong embrace. The momentum sent them to the floor, Kirche dramatically calling them best friends forever alongside her usual crocodile tears.

Tabitha was more concerned about being suffocated, Kirche shoving her head into the heavenly prison that was the Germanian's breasts. It took her a while to get Kirche off her, freedom coming when she was able to land a solid punch into Kirche's side.

"Point taken." Kirche coughed, the blow nearly knocking the air out of her. "Sorry…"

Tabitha took a great gulp of air as Kirche finally got off of her, the larger girl scratching her cheek sheepishly. Once Tabitha had her breath back and straightened her disheveled clothes, she gave Kirche a smile. "…Thank you for listening to me. I… needed to get that off my chest."

"Whatever you need, Tabby." Kirche laughed, eyes crinkling with her own grin. "You're my friend too, my best friend. I'll gladly stick beside you until the day I can call you Charlotte."

Tabitha looked down at her feet, cheeks red in embarrassment. She hadn't expected Kirche to sound so… sincere. "…No matter what?"

"No matter what." Kirche confirmed, opening her arms for another hug if Tabitha wanted it. "…Unless I find out I'm supposed to be the Imperial Princess or something, but at that point I think we'd all just laugh."

Tabitha tried to suppress a laugh, but it came out as a strangled wheeze. Then she walked into Kirche's embrace, returning it strongly while avoiding her earlier imprisonment. "…Thank you, Kirche, that means more than I could ever say."

Kirche patted Tabitha's head. "I stick by my friends, Tabby, it's something my family and myself pride ourselves on. Now you need to get to bed, I'd bet a pretty coin getting all that off your chest was exhausting."

Tabitha felt a yawn rise at the mention, but she kept it down. "…You're right. Thank you again, I'll be sure to repay this favor someday."

"Don't sweat it!" Kirche assured as she shooed Tabitha from her room. "Now get some rest, I just know Neb's going on a full-scale inspection come morning!"

Tabitha didn't get another word in before she was back out in the hall and Kirche's door closed. A moment later, she heard what could only be Kirche… hitting something. Deciding to give that no further thought, she crept across the hall and knocked on Louise's door.

Several seconds passed before Louise opened the door, hair all over the place and blending in with her nightgown. "…Tabby? What are you still doing up?"

Tabitha opened her mouth to answer, but came up empty. Why… had she knocked on Louise's door? She'd done so, as her sleepy friend showed, but there'd been no conscious thought behind it. Thus, she needed to come up with a reason, and quick.

It came to here barely a second later. "I… apologize, but I was working a bit more on my spell. I… want to see if I can speak to you, through a pair of doors and the hallway. A… final test if you will."

Louise rubbed the sleep from her eyes, interest sparking some life into her. "Oh… ok, I don't mind, but it's late. I know, that's me being a hypocrite, but your health is more important to me than a single missed night on my part."

Tabitha shook his head, well used to this argument. "Louise… we've all had that talk with you before, so I'm not going to press it tonight. Only a few minutes to see if it works, then sleep. Ok?"

Louise looked relieved. "Sure… cast away, I'm curious now!"

Tabitha chuckled and cast the spell, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Can you hear me like normal?"

"Loud and clear." Louise confirmed before pointing down the hall. "Now let's see if it can stick through my door. Here, let me close it. If we can still hear each other, start towards your room!"

Tabitha nodded and Louise closed the door. The caster felt the air slip through the door's cracks, and she smirked. "Louise?"

"Well one door works!" Louise declared, voice as if she was standing beside Tabitha. "Start towards your door!"

Tabitha giggled and started down the hall, asking Louise if she was still there every few feet. By the time she reached her door, the spell was still holding strong and they'd resorted to making animal noises at each other. Mirth nearly spilled from Tabitha's eyes as she opened her door and stepped in, a tug on her spell making her pause. "…Louise?"

Louise's voice came to her barely a second later, quieter. "I can still hear you, Tabitha, but you're quieter. Are you going to walk to your bed?"

Tabitha went towards her wardrobe instead, a curiosity coming to mind. "Well, it looks like this still works, so I wanted to ask. What was Siesta working on today?"

"Oh, she was finally able to get those 'eggs' working!" Louise informed cheerily, describing the small balls in excited detail as Tabitha got dressed for bed. By the time Louise was done, Tabitha was laying in her bed and staring at the stack of parchment she'd gotten earlier.

"Louise." Tabitha said to the air, a soft hum in her ear the only answer. "I… tomorrow, I want to try this song after all. I know Neb's going to run us ragged getting everything inspected for the journey, but when we get some time…"

Louise suppressed a squeal of glee. "Oh, gladly! We'll meet the moment we can and give it a shot!"

Tabitha chuckled and leaned into her pillows, eyes on her window. "…Goodnight, Louise."

"Goodnight, Tabitha."

They went silent and Tabitha felt the spell slowly peter out. Once it was gone, Tabitha's gaze went to the ceiling and closed her eyes. "Soon… hopefully… soon."

-Neb, Morning-

Heavy footfalls heralded the hydra's arrival.

Neb sighed as he trundled through the academy's gate, his trip at last coming to an end. Sneaking into the capital of Tristain had not been easy, let alone meeting with the ones he wished, but Henrietta was kind enough to get him discreet passage.

Now, he could deposit his load and rest for a time. Yes, there was a final inspection that needed to happen before they began the journey to Albion tomorrow, but he could get some shut eye in the meantime.

"Neb, where have you been?"

The hydra blinked and looked towards the wall, Montmorency staring back at him. The girl was hunched over a cauldron, the fire beneath a hot blue, and she looked like she hadn't slept. "I should be asking why you haven't slept, child."

Montmorency snorted softly and looked back to her brew. "Can't… this needs to be tended every moment it's boiling; I can't take my attention away for longer than a few seconds. Truthfully, you arrived right as I was about to add the final ingredient."

Neb said nothing, watching silently as Montmorency pulled a crystal vial from her cloak and poppwd the stopper. She poured a slim stream of glowing red liquid into the cauldron, its brew shifting from a clear yellow to a brilliant orange. A muttered incantation followed, and the brew faded into a black sludge.

Montmorency pumped her fist and started ladling the concoction into a series of flasks, a Neb head slithering over to investigate. Only to recoil as the smell hit him. "What is that potion of horror?! It smells like a festering corpse!"

Montmorency glared at him and kept pouring. "It's one of my family's secret recipes. As you no doubt recall, my 'project' was to learn them to the best of my abilities. This one's the only one I had the ingredients on hand to make, so everyone better be grateful."

Neb's scowl at the smell didn't lessen. "And what, exactly, does that accursed sludge do?"

Montmorency poured the last of the sludge into a flask and stoppered them before answering. "Well, this sludge as you call it gives the drinker a great spike in energy. It can take someone who's been beaten and bruised to fresh-faced in moments and lasts for hours."

Neb blinked and gave the flasks a more considering look. "…So these can get us back into fighting shape, or keep us running if we have to flee. A good choice, Montmorency."

The blonde huffed and put out the fire, shadows nearly swallowing her. "As I said, everyone better be grateful. I worked my tail off to get those ingredients and I swear if someone complains about the smell again…"

Neb rolled his eyes as she gathered up the flasks. "Regardless, you need to get some sleep. My trip has borne fruit, and I will present it to you all after the morning's training."

"Wait!" Montmorency called as Neb started to pad off. "I need to ask you something!"

Neb paused as his least enthusiastic student strode up to him, bloodshot eyes glaring at him. "And what do you need to ask me? Last I checked, you haven't had a question for me since I explained your role in battle."

Montmorency kept her gaze on him, a rare hint of uncertainty in her voice. "I… I want to know why you agreed to train Guiche and I. He still won't tell me what changed him, and I can't… I can't figure it out myself. You keep talking about your gods and saving the world, and I get all that, but why did you agree, what changed Guiche?"

Neb sighed through his noses and brought all his heads to bear on her. Montmorency took an unconscious step back from all the eyes on her but held her ground admirably.

"Can you still not tell?" Neb asked rhetorically. "Much to my own surprise, Guiche loves you. As I've trained him and seen him grow this summer, that has become plainly obvious. He works the hardest with you there, pushes himself beyond what I expect in the sessions with your gaze on him."

Montmorency's mouth opened, but no words passed her lips.

"I don't like to speculate," Neb pressed carefully, mindful of what his words could bring about. "But I think Guiche's philandry was… a rebellion. Tell me, did either of you know each other prior to your engagement?"

Montmorency crossed her arms and looked at the ground. "…No. We were unacquainted. I didn't even know he existed beyond a few rumors about General Gramont's third son. The betrothal… was quite the surprise."

Neb snaked a head down to lift her chin. "And I bet it was quite a surprise for him too. How did he act, when he first saw you?"

Montmorency blushed and pushed the head away. "He… looked shocked, amazed really. I mean, you can see it, he's handsome and all, but… the way he looked at me was like he saw an angel. I'm no angel, so I had no idea what to do with that look. Then came the compliments and I just lapped it up like the dumb girl I was."

She grunted and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "Founder, you should've seen him that first year. Every time we met, it was grandiose gestures and words, everything out of a novel. But the moment we come here? The moment we're away from those prying eyes?"

Montmorency spat, eyes set in a glare now. "He ignored me. If we weren't amongst our group of friends, who expected us to act like a couple, I had to berate him to get a mote of attention. All he did was run around flirting with every other pair of legs he could find. For an entire year!"

Neb watched silently as Montmorency started her tirade. "That wondered gaze was gone, Neb! I was looked at with either fear or indifference, by my own fiancé for Founder's sake! I tried to be the kind girl, to be the one I felt was worthy of those honeyed words, but he still ignored me! My pride couldn't stand it, not with him insulting me like that!"

She threw her hands up. "Then lo and behold, the moment I get on him for flirting, suddenly he's all honey and flowers! That's how I learned he was either to be berated or ignored, it was the only way to get the attention expected of our relationship! This went on from the end of our first year until you came along!"

Her glare sharpened into a gaze to cut steel. "So you know what I think? Even if it was him rebelling, even if it had something to do with his family, fuck Guiche! I didn't want a letch for a fiancé anyway, and if he wasn't mature enough to come and talk it out with me in the first place, then I won't speak to him about us ever again!"

The courtyard was quiet, Montmorency panting from her shouting. She was not, however, done. "And then… you come along… and he's that star-struck boy from when we first met. I'd given up on him completely after that dumbass stunt with the perfume! I was prepared to annul the engagement, hell I was writing the letter to my parents that day!"

She stomped her foot and pointed at him. "What. Changed? I watched him ignore girls as they walked beside him the day we got fitted for our weights and every day after that. Only I got attention, like it was our first meeting every day, like all his philandry and unfaithful acts meant nothing! Does he expect me to go back to that innocent, star eyed girl again? Do you?!"

Neb shook the head closest to her. "That is not something I can answer, Montmorency. This rift lies between him and you, and I will not overstep my role. If you wish answers, then you must speak with him. If it helps, I've advised him to only speak honestly with you, and far as I know, he's done so."

He met her desperate gaze. "Were I you, I'd see to understanding this rift soon. Speak to whomever you wish beforehand, but please talk to Guiche before sundown. Tomorrow will doubtlessly start us down a long and painful path."

Then he looked away and trudged for the spot he'd long claimed as his. "I know I haven't said much of anything, least of all something you'd want to hear, but I think you've had the chance to vent now. I'd hoped, after your heart-to-heart the night of your first mission, this rift would be mended…"

He sighed and left her behind to think, voice heavy with bitter memories. "But I was a fool for thinking such deep resentment could be healed so easily."

Montmorency stared after him, all the fight draining from her limbs. She was tired, she'd been staring at a cauldron all day, and now she'd vented every quiet frustration of the past three months at the hydra. And now she was being told to talk to the source of her frustrations?

The source of the conflict swirling in her breast. The heart that couldn't decide if it hated Guiche's guts for being such a two-faced bastard or loved him for turning himself around and becoming who she'd thought he was.

It was so frustrating!

Montmorency stomped her foot again and gathered her things before storming back to her room. Much as her heart roiled with conflict, the exhaustion of staying up for so long was winning, and she didn't fancy passing out in the courtyard.

It'd only make her mood worse.

-Siesta, Sunrise-

"That's everything."

Siesta nodded to herself as she gave the room of supplies a final check. Everything was in place and accounted for, ready to be loaded up and taken with them on their journey. The actual trip to Albion wouldn't take that long, but they'd be entering a warzone and there was no way to know how long they'd be gone.

So, in the words of their teacher, better to have and not need.

Siesta had woken early enough to do so, her habit of turning in earlier than her fellows serving her well. With the tally done, they could focus on individual needs today, and that was worth its weight in gold with Neb's meticulous nature.

Humming to herself, she made a few final marks on the parchment she'd brought before rolling it up and leaving. She was already dressed for the day, and with no further chores to take care of now, she felt like going on a walk around the courtyard.

"I do wonder what Guiche will do." She wondered to herself, mind going to yesterday. "His project's a success, but all that talk of Montmorency was… weird. It took a lot more work than I thought it would just to get him focusing…"

She shook her head of the thought. Guiche and his issues with Montmorency, or rather his ever-on-going repentance, were between them. Really it should've been no concern of hers, but she was raised in a gossipy house and worked in service. Gossip was a fact of life.

"Good morning, Siesta!"

Speak of the devil, there was Guiche! He looked quite disheveled, a rare look on him, and like he hadn't slept a wink the previous night. Siesta sheepishly wondered if that had to do with the slight accident where she'd thrown a full hand of dust straight into his eyes yesterday.

"Good morning." She greeted after remembering herself. "I… apologize if our work yesterday interrupted your rest. I, uh… didn't intend such a thing."

Guiche waved the apology away. "No, my sorry state is no fault of yours. I simply couldn't sleep. What of you?"

Siesta shrugged. "This is my usual wake-up time, though I admit I'm a bit more energetic than usual. Walk with me?"

Guiche nodded and they set off down the hall, neither speaking for a time and enjoying the early morning air. Siesta though, was always the curious sort, and had to get the conversation started. "If I may, what kept you up? I assumed after summoning so many golems yesterday, you'd have fallen right asleep."

Guiche chuckled and brushed his bangs aside. "Truth be told… I was waiting for Montmorency to come back. She and I haven't had a serious discussion since the first mission, and I can see her getting ever more frustrated and angry as the days go by. We need to have a talk, a serious one, but she didn't come back before I passed out."

He glanced to the handmaid, almost nervous at her curious stare. "I… I was asleep for what could only have been moments, but in that time she passed me by. You've doubtlessly noticed that she avoids me most of the day, even after the mission."

Siesta nodded, well aware of that. "I have, though I thought she was trying to stay mad at you as an excuse to not apologize. You've noticed her looking at you during the exercises, yes?"

Guiche… looked shocked. "S-She has?"

Siesta blinked before a teasing smile curled her lips. "Indeed. Especially whenever you are… relieved of your shirt, preferably after we've all worked up a sweat."

Guiche flushed and Siesta pressed on. "Oh, and you should see how she stares after you whenever we must go off for business, how she seethes whenever one of us talks to you alone. No matter the topic, she glares so heatedly at us."

Guiche's flush deepened. "B-B-But she avoids me at every opportunity! Even my actions show nothing but scorn and she ignores me! I… I know I destroyed any chance at a loving relationship long ago, but I was hoping to make amends so that we may be friends!"

He covered his face with his right hand. "It's the least I can do… after being such a disgrace for so long. I just want to talk to her openly, like we did that morning. If we can just do that…"

Siesta discarded the tease for a more genuine smile. "Well… if it helps at all, I should use the opportunity to thank you."

"Thank me?" Guiche queried, incredulous. "I… I took your job, Siesta, your livelihood. All for… wounded pride. My father would've flogged me for such an act."

Siesta's smile didn't budge. "Oh you were quite the ass, and made me cry at that. However, without you, I would never have entered Louise's service. In all honesty, your disgraceful actions are to thank for my family's prosperity and my own happiness."

The smile turned… a tad vicious. "And I've gotten to use you as a sparring dummy many times since, so I believe your debt to me is paid."

Guiche shuffled away from her, a cold sweat breaking on his brow. "Uh, yes, I suppose so… please don't hurt me."

Siesta laughed and socked him in the arm. "I don't plan on ever actually hurting you, Guiche. What do you take me for?"

"Someone who's stealthy enough to sneak up on a creature with multiple heads." Guiche answered without missing a beat. "And someone who is fond of scaring the life out of her friends for amusement."

Siesta showed her hands, a silent surrender. "Touché, but my point stands. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to come to this stage. It was not your intention by any stretch, but it is what happened nonetheless."

As a final show, she paused and curtsied to him, Guiche bowing out of habit. With the exchange done, Siesta looked to the sky. "…Hm, I should go wake everyone. I saw Neb's bulk resting in the courtyard, so he'll doubtlessly have something for us from his trip. Will you be alright?"

"Your concern is wasted on me." Guiche dismissed, eyes closed in thought. "I do not deserve it."

Siesta rolled her eyes and slugged him again. "My concern is never a waste. Not with my friends."

She walked away from Guiche, though not before throwing a wave over her shoulder. Guiche watched her go, somewhat awestruck, before he felt something land on his foot. He looked down to find Verdandi looking at him, the poor mole clearly concerned. "Oh Verdandi…"

He kneeled and embraced his familiar. "Maybe I'm not such a lost cause after all."

The mole squeaked in agreement and Siesta smiled, a glance back showing the sweet scene before she started back for the rooms.

Only to be interrupted outside the tower by the resident hydra. "Siesta, good. I'd like to speak with you first."

The handmaid paused as Neb stepped out of the tower's shadow, a great tarp over his back. Whatever it was, the load was heavy enough for Neb to be visibly struggling, and that didn't bode well for whatever it was.

Neb's heads coiled around the tarp and hauled the load off his back and onto the ground with a hard thud. As she watched, he opened the tarp and his heads slithered in, various concerning noises coming from within before he retreated and closed it. "Now, I need your help to set up a surprise for everyone else, but we haven't much time."

One of his heads came down and presented a large parcel to her, the packaging… fancy, for lack of a better term. "This is for you. I can't do the whole ceremony, but I don't think you'd want it either way."

He nudged her hand. "Go on, open it!"

Siesta took the parcel and opened it carefully, not wanting to rip the fancy packaging. She gaped at what was within, unable to speak as she pulled out each part of the gift.

To start, the boots. They were nothing ostentatious, or even looked all that different from her current ones, but she could tell by the feel of them that they were high quality. Easily worth an entire month of her royal pension. Under them were pants and a shirt, just a touch showing them to be silky smooth, and dyed black as night.

Then came the robes, and more pants, dyed black as well with highlights of silver and blue. There were vests of varying color, entire dresses of vibrant hues, and even jewelry! All of it paling before the final items at the very bottom, hidden for last.

Siesta pulled out a cloak of starlight, silver sigils woven into midnight blue fabric, with a peaked hood she could instantly tell would hide her face in shadow. The cloth didn't so much as rustle as she examined it, a trait she noticed the cloak shared with all the clothes she'd pulled out. Then the coup de grace lay underneath it, a pair of silver daggers and a brace of knives laying next to a sheathed baselard.

Siesta looked to Neb, unable to give any words.

The hydra smiled back, looking quite pride of himself. "Today, you graduate alongside your fellow students. As is my tradition, I journeyed to the greatest city in the country and received the orders I had made almost a month ago. These are yours, my gift to you, and I hope you'll treat them well."

The head closest to her winked. "And don't think it's all pageantry either. While its no armor, Henrietta pulled some strings and got the clothes you'll be wearing most often enchanted to make no sound. You can sneak to your heart's content, just be careful as always."

Siesta, shaken to her core, folded everything carefully before walking into Neb's flank and embracing him as best she could. "…Thank… you…"

Neb nuzzled her back. "Now-now, no tears. They can come later, but we must get ready swiftly. Will you help me?"

Siesta nodded into his scales and pulled back with a big sniff, hands pressed tightly together as she tried to put on a dignified face. Neb chuckled at her and looked back to the clothes she'd folded. "Good, now get changed. I'll get the majority of this done shortly, but it would do me good to see you wear the gear for the first time. As it would your friends."

Siesta bowed deeply to him before gathering her gifts and running into the tower. Neb watched her go with a warmth spreading through his chest before pushing the great load to where it needed to go and laying out a further five parcels where he thought his students would stand.

Today was a day of rewards, and a reminder. With these gifts, there truly was no return.

Today… they were agents of Asha.

"Heaven help us."

-Louise-

For the first time in months, Louise got to sleep in.

She didn't know why the sun was up when her eyes cracked open. Didn't know why Neb wasn't hovering over her with an evil glint in his eyes. Nor did she know why Siesta or Kirche hadn't come by to wake her.

What she did know was that she was late, and if she didn't get out there in her training gear soon, she'd be doing push-ups till she was blue in the face.

So she could be forgiven for not noticing the large tarp in the courtyard, for she never looked out her window. Nor could she be blamed for hurrying out of the tower so quickly she missed Kirche emerging from her room with an equally concerned look.

The pair traded nods unconsciously as they ran from the tower, temporary partners in fear, and they were so focused on making their training times, they completely missed the gathering in the courtyard.

"Louise, Kirche, get back here!" Neb roared after them, not expecting the sudden dash from the tower. "We're not training this morning! I've got very important information for all of you!"

The pair skidded on their heels at the roar, turning on a dime to run up to the gathering and stand at attention.

Neb drooped when they arrived. "Damn it, I trained you too well. Look, relax, the information may be important but it's not something to get too riled over. At least not yet."

With that ominous warning, Neb gestured to two open spots among the others. "Now, Kirche, if you could stand behind the red parcel while Louise takes the purple, we can get on with things."

The girls went to their spots and Neb observed his students. He could tell they were curious about what the tarp was hiding, alongside the parcels, and where Siesta was. That reveal would have to wait though, more important things first.

"I was in the capital." Neb informed them, proudly noting not a flinch at the information. "Mainly, I was there for what is currently hidden under tarp and parcel, but whilst there I was contacted by Princess Henrietta. She requested our assistance in a matter pertaining to her personally, specifically in Albion."

Louise took a step forward. "Does it have to do with the marriage talks?"

Neb nodded a head towards her. "Indeed, it does. As you all know, with Reconquista backing the Albion rebels, Tristain is in a precarious position. However, the stalemate that contained the civil war for some time allowed the talks to stall as all waited to see how it broke. This meant Henrietta didn't need to fear… discreet details being found."

Montmorency stepped up. "I assume it's something that would jeopardize the alliance talks with Germania then? Has she asked us to retrieve this information?"

"She has." Neb answered, impressed by the intuition. "And considering how important this is, she's dispatched help to meet us half-way to our port of choice. Mind you, her contact in Albion is Prince Wales himself, so this mission serves two purposes."

Tabitha made the connection first. "…Find out how the stalemate was broken from the prince and retrieve the evidence. Maybe even find leads on the artifacts."

"He'd have to know something about them." Kirche agreed. "Wales was set to be king within the next few years and commanded the navy before the civil war started. He's bound to have heard at least a whisper."

Louise brought the observations to a close. "So, we find our next lead and help Tristain through Henrietta. If ever there was a reason to head out tomorrow, this is it!"

Neb chortled at the enthusiasm and gestured to the parcels before them. "Speaking of, that which I retrieved is now before you. Everyone, I ask your silence for a few moments."

He was granted it.

Neb stretched and stood to his full height, heads fanning out so everyone had one on them. Once illuminated in his full grandeur, for his vanity required it, Neb began his speech. "Today, you are all graduates. There is no final exam, there is no formal ceremony, there is nothing save my own approval for you to head out on this journey. In my eyes, you are all ready to take this next step. Whether this proves misguided or premature, only you can decide."

His students straightened, true pride radiating from them.

Neb smirked at them. "I've drilled it into your heads, but I will say it again. This journey we set out on is perilous, and there is a very real chance none of us will ever see this place again. There are almost certainly things beyond our understanding afoot, and we go forth to meet them blind and deaf. So I ask you, graduates, what is your resolve?"

He nodded to Montmorency, at the end of the line. "What say you, daughter of the Montmorencys?"

His most reluctant student breathed deep and heaved a sigh despite the proud bearing she showed. "While I was dragged into this pact unwillingly, and tortured to the point of breaking, I've become strong thanks to you and those beside me. And besides that, my family is important to me, and it would shame both them and myself were I to back out now."

The frown she wore turned to a lopsided grin. "So yeah, I'm sure about going on this perilous quest now. Still got a few things to do, but… well, what else would I be doing with my life if not this?"

She glanced to Guiche. "Though I need to talk to you after whatever this is ends. If we're getting into this… then better to clear the air."

Guiche looked inordinately relieved at that, but Neb spoke instead. "If that is your resolve, Montmorency, then it is accepted. Please, open the parcel at your feet."

Montmorency did so and gaped. Within lay numerous fine robes, shirts, pants, and skirts in varying shades of white, red, and blue. There was even a blue cloak threaded with gold sigils at the base, her family's coat of arms stitched into the lapel of the finest shirt. But her coup de grace was again at the bottom, a belt of dragon scale with flasks and vials of all kind hooked into it. And next to it, a sheathed estoc of quality make alongside what looked like an entire suit of fine leather armor.

She took the belt first, marveling at it. The belt was long enough to go over her shoulder like a harness, and as she held up one of the robes along with it, she found a loop on the interior that looked like it would hold her estoc.

Montmorency looked to Neb in sheer disbelief. "What… the hell is this?"

"Your graduation gifts." Neb answered, looking very pleased with himself. "You didn't think I got another set of measurements before I left for no reason, did you?"

Montmorency blinked several times before silently accepting that which was given. With her done, the head looking at Guiche spoke. "What is your resolve, son of the Gramonts?"

Guiche saluted the hydra. "I swore to protect my country, family, and friends with all I have! You have molded me alongside those I once considered foes, but we now stand forged through training as compatriots! My answer has not changed, I will war with hell itself if I must!"

Ever grandiose, but to the point. A change that would make all who knew him just a year ago stare in shock. Neb's eyes shown with approval at the answer and he gestured to the parcel at Guiche's feet. "Then open your gifts and know that you have come far."

Guiche bowed and did just that, a similar group of fine clothes greeting him. The cloak to greet him was a shimmering white with gold lining, his family crest stitched into its lapel. And at the base lay a shining saber sheathed in black lacquered wood, beside which sat two pauldrons, a pair of greaves, and a chest plate.

"Thank you." Guiche said, sincerity clear in his voice. "This… this is something I thought I would never see. I will do all I can to live up to what you've given me."

Neb bowed his head in turn. "Do it proud, same to you Montmorency. I look forward to seeing you wear this armor and weapons proudly. Now…"

The next head loomed over Tabitha. "You're probably wondering where Sylphid is, no? Let me hear your resolve, Chevalier, and I will reveal what you seek."

Tabitha stared right into his eyes, a determined downturn of her lips making her look bigger than she was. "I resigned myself to this quest from the moment I joined the first run. You won't be rid of me that easily, not when I have something to fight for."

Direct and to the point, Neb could respect that. "Then open your gifts."

His voice dropped to a whisper. "And know that I'm proud of you for coming so far from the isolated girl I first laid eyes on."

Tabitha blushed and smiled, a silent thank you before she opened the parcel. Again, fine clothes met her alongside long boots that she could only guess ran up to her thighs. There was more armor this time too, greaves to cover the boots, a chest plate worked with runes, and a helmet with a small nose guard. Her coup de grace was the great lance and accompanying short-spear that lay wrapped in her cloak.

She took the cloak and smiled up at Neb, the feel of silver velvet in hand relaxing her. "…Thank you."

"Do it proud." Neb whispered before the head looking at Kirche boomed with his voice. "Daughter of the Zerbsts, daughter of Germania, let all hear your resolve!"

Kirche answered in kind. "I was with you all the moment our quest was decided, even before then! Ours will be a story told through all of history, a journey unique in this world! My blood burns to begin, my heart soars with passion to see it through!"

She saluted the head with her wand. "You will have me beside you through all there is! I am your friend and student, and my wand is yours!"

Neb's head bowed to the display of vigor. "Then take your gifts, and may your fire burn ever bright."

"Acting like we'll never see each other again." Kirche cracked as she opened her parcel. There were much fewer clothes in hers, being mostly pants and shirts with only two dresses, but it swiftly became clear why.

Kirche had been given an entire suit of plate armor, including a helmet that vaguely resembled a salamander and spiked vambraces. The entire thing was well made and articulated, Kirche examining the pieces in slight awe. Hell, Neb had even gotten a cleavage window put in the breastplate!

"You'll be wearing leather under that." Neb grunted when Kirche pointed to the window. "I had a feeling you'd want something like that anyway, just be glad I got it before you tried to make the modification yourself."

Kirche chuckled to herself and put the plate down, a sheathed longsword and flaming red cloak the last of her gifts. The blade felt perfectly balanced in her hands, as light as a feather, and she hadn't even drawn it yet…

She bowed to Neb, unable to give her thanks a voice.

Neb chuckled before looking to the last of his students. His first student in this world.

"Daughter of Tristain." Neb intoned, all eyes going to Louise. "Daughter of the Vallieres and my first student of Halkegenia. Need I ask for your resolve?"

Louise looked to him with firm steel in her eyes, answer clear for all to see. She needn't say anything.

Neb sighed to himself, proud. "Then open thine gifts."

Louise did so, a smile on her lips as she examined the fine clothes given to her, before she came to her final coup de grace. Long black boots, a chest plate of shined steel, and a padded jerkin alongside silver vambraces. All of it folded in a cloak of amethyst purple, outlined in gold, with the royal seal stitched to its lapel.

That caught her eye. "Um… why not my family's seal?"

Neb shrugged at her. "It was at the princess's request, and I was loathe to deny her after she helped me get where I needed to be. Besides, you're a Chevalier, I think it appropriate."

Louise shook her head and folded the cloak, nothing further for her in the parcel. "Neb… I can't thank you enough for what you've done. We'll do you proud, I promise."

Neb pulled all his heads back, the central one speaking to them all. "Of that, I have little doubt. Now, before you all go to change into what hopefully is correctly fitted armor, one last thing."

He turned and yanked the tarp into the air, a plain carriage underneath it. And who should be in the driver's seat but Siesta, outfitted in her new clothes with her hood down.

"Woah, Siesta!" Kirche whistled when she saw the handmaid. "Look at you!"

Siesta scratched her cheek as similar whistles and compliments came her way, the urge to cover herself in the hood almost overwhelming. Thankfully she was able to force it down and climbed to the ground. "Thank you all, but I'd like to present something special. While this carriage may not look all that special, it can be drawn by more than just horses."

To prove it, and get her fellows to stop staring at her new clothes, she leaned next to the carriage's belly and lit a match. A moment later, a great rattle shook the carriage and it rolled forward several feet before stopping.

Siesta bowed to her friends. "The carriage is the latest prototype of Sir Colbert's contraption. He let Sir Neb have it since he's already got a new model and our teacher was able to make it work."

"Took a lot of hammering." Neb muttered under his breath before looking to Kirche. "Basically, a small but constant stream of fire magic powers the mechanisms that drive this thing, but it only works for a short while before needing repairs. As such, it'll be drawn by horses most of the time, but should we need to get away in a pinch with our horses nowhere to be found…"

Understanding bloomed across his students, but no one got to say anything before a familiar cooing reached their ears and Sylphid came into land, outfitted in a new saddle and silver plate lining her limbs and neck.

"Sylphid!" Tabitha gasped at the sight of her. "You can fly with all that on you?"

The dragon nodded and cooed at her master, Neb calling attention back to himself with the rumble of cleared throats. "And that is all I have for you today. Go and see if the armor fits, see if you can't get the new clothes in your things, and do whatever else you feel necessary. I hereby relieve you to enjoy the rest of your day."

He pointed to a shaded section of the wall. "I'll be over there if anyone needs me. Dragging all of that stuff was… tiring, to say the least."

He padded off and the students exploded into action, chatter about their gifts flowing through the air as they ran off to store everything and try on the new armor. Or, that's what Montmorency wanted to do, before Guiche caught her arm.

He didn't need to say anything. They waited for the others to scurry off before Guiche guided her to his room and locked the door behind him, Montmorency taking a seat at the guest table. No tea was offered, no words of hospitality, just silence as they stared at each other.

Guiche eventually took a seat and bit the blade. "Ok… you wanted to talk, so let's talk. What do you want to start with?"

"Why did you change?" Montmorency snapped, cutting to the wick. "You started acting like you did when we first met two years ago, before we even started the academy. Am I just supposed to forgive you for being an unfaithful pig the moment our chaperones weren't there?!"

Guiche hung his head, the words striking him deeper than any blade. But he knew his answer, he'd known it since that dream came to him all those months ago. And every night since. "No, you aren't. I can't even forgive myself."

That was not an answer Montmorency was expecting, let alone wanting. "…What?"

"I can't forgive myself for forcing you to such measures." Guiche said, refusing to look at her. "My reasons… are petty, but I feel you deserve to at least hear them after I shamed you so. When… when I first saw you, my heart soared with passion. I wanted to know more about the beautiful girl I was being betrothed to, and for a time, I did. I was happy to be with you. I… I still am."

Montmorency crossed her arms and glared at him, a silent signal. He took it and did his best to explain. "My brothers and father… Founder they teased me with their exploits at school, when they'd be the center of attention and get every girl at their beck and call while the other boys admired them. I wanted so badly to make them shut up, to show that I could be just as good if not better!"

He ground a fist into his forehead. "So much so that it was the only thing I could think of. I forgot about our betrothal, forgot about how you made me feel, and I was miserable. Never being more than a shallow flirt, knowing all the horrid things said about me… and worst of all driving you away despite your attempts to help."

He sighed deeply and looked up to meet her stern gaze. "I do not pretend that I am worthy of forgiveness, not by a long shot. But if nothing else… I hope that I've changed enough from that desperate boy that we can be normal."

"Normal." Montmorency echoed; face scrunched in a scowl. "What's 'normal' for us? Me berating you? You running off to whisper sweet words to some floozy? I don't want 'normal' Guiche. I want… I want something else."

She couldn't voice what she really wanted, so she hoped Guiche could pick up what she was leaving unsaid. And he did… to an extent. "Then what about starting over? I cannot change the past, or the wounds I've given you, but at the very least I can try to be the friend you deserve. If… if you'll have me."

Montmorency sighed through her nose and stood, Guiche following her automatically. They stared at each other for a time before Montmorency started for the door. "Then that is what shall be. You are hereby a stranger to me, Guiche, little more than an acquaintance."

She came to the threshold and paused. "…Work hard, Guiche. I've seen it in you these past months, and maybe… maybe we have hope to salvage this. Keep on this path…"

"And I may just see that handsome, kind boy I loved again."

She left without another word, Guiche chewing on their all too brief talk. At the very least, he'd been able to get her to start over with him, a blessing in of itself, but it felt like a hollow victory. They were strangers on the eve of setting out, and he knew that mere gestures of affection would do little to sway her.

He slapped his cheeks, trying to get his mind back on track. "I… I can do this, just need to show her I've really changed. You've been working on this for months Guiche, you can do this. You can get Monmon back, and this time you'll be worthy of her!"

Guiche pumped his fist and went about trying on his new armor. Had to show he was a new man, in mind, body, spirit, and appearance.

Montmorency, for her part, ran back to her room to steam. She hadn't gotten what she wanted out of that talk either, especially since she was this close to kissing him when he said how miserable he was. Then the dunce had to go and ask if they could be 'normal' and thrown that urge out the window.

Their 'normal' was a disaster! She didn't want to go back to 'normal' she wanted them to go back to what they were! The fairytale in love pair, the love-at-first-sight doe-eyed loons! Sure, starting over was about the best thing she could get after his latest blunder, but how much more did she have to take with him?!

Worst of all, his confession and sincerity of his words still made her heart pound like it did at their first meeting. It was so damned confusing, and she just knew there'd be little she could do but soldier on through this new phase in their relationship and hope she figured herself out.

Or she could just corner him one night and…

Her cheeks flamed and she shook the sinful idea away. Not happening, not while she was this confused and unwed at that. If Guiche wanted her that way, by the Founder he was going to have to work for it!

-Neb, Courtyard-

"Well that didn't work."

Neb stared at one of his heads, Shalassa choosing to grace him with her presence. "And what, exactly, did you try to do?"

"Make the blonde girl act." Shalassa answered as if it were obvious. "I may not be quite as capable of influencing my chosen, what with two of them under my gaze, but I can at least offer suggestions. It was unwise of me to listen to Sylanna this time, her idea was… not well received."

Neb raised a brow at the kirin's head currently replacing his. "Did it have something to do with mating?"

The kirin's whisker slapped him. "When it comes to matters such as this, need you even ask? Her mind is turbulent, a rough sea. With that thought, it has calmed. Just not in the way I wished it to."

"The wonders of a strong will." Neb agreed while he nursed his sore snout. "Or more likely a stubborn belief. Would you care to return my head to me, or is there more?"

The kirin turned to glare at him. "You've become quite flippant with us, haven't you? You're lucky I don't fill your lungs with steam and force you to grow new ones."

Neb shrugged. "I can regrow them in a few minutes, no big deal. Besides, I feel weird if I don't mouth off, it's the only way I can deal with… this."

He gestured to the possessed head.

Shalassa snorted at him, a fine mist spraying from the kirin's nostrils. "You must get used to it at some point. My siblings and I only tolerate the disrespect because of the outlandish nature of this situation. However, even Sylanna's patience is not infinite, and our tolerance will end."

Neb kept a straight face. "I hope that I will, at some point. All I ask is that you not take over my heads when we meet with Henrietta's contact. It's bad enough the guards here had to be sworn to secrecy, we can't guarantee that with this one."

Shalassa said nothing more and the kirin head faded away. Neb sighed and flopped onto the ground, frowns on his maws. "What in Sheogh is keeping them? I know Kirche has a lot to put on, but sheesh."

With nothing better to do, Neb started polishing his scales again, missing the strange glow of his mark before it faded.

-Louise-

"Look at us!"

Louise preened as she posed before her vanity, the mirror replaced shortly after she'd broken it. Her new gear made her look like a dashing mercenary, the kind she read about in stories! It was flexible and comfortable too, none of the gear seeming to weigh much at all!

It especially looked good with her hair in a braid, she looked so mature!

"You all look very nice." Siesta agreed as she helped Kirche with her armor. "I'm amazed that helmet fits you, Tabitha."

Tabitha was too busy examining said helmet to answer, tilting her head this way and that to take in the details. She barely recognized the runes on her new chest-plate, magic in them to disperse fire and wind while reinforcing the metal. It was all… very expensive.

Kirche grinned and flexed her arms, the armor clanking into itself but otherwise leaving her unhindered. It was amazing she was able to move so well in so much metal, and as Siesta clipped the cloak into place, she couldn't help but feel like she was a general!

"We all look awesome!" The germanian cheered once she was dressed. "Bring on whatever bastards come at us, we'll take 'em down no problem!"

Her friends cheered in answer, everyone taking turns to pose before the vanity. It was almost like a little fashion show, albeit with implements of war, and they had to stop when Louise almost cut open her wardrobe with Derf.

Speaking of the sword, he chuckled at their excitement. "Don't treat this stuff badly, aight girlies? That stuff can and will save your lives, just try not to test its mettle more than you should!"

Then his laughter turned into that of a dirty old man. "Now if ya wanna test yer mettle with each other-"

With a reflexive toss, Derflinger was sent flying out of the window. He laughed the whole way down, Siesta already off to retrieve him while everyone, Siesta included, felt their ears flame.

Louise huffed and took a seat on her bed. "That dirty sword aside, we need to figure out something to thank Neb with. All this gear had to be expensive, and likely took a long time to make. Hell, he probably had to account for my growth."

She tapped her boots for emphasis. While her friends would argue that she hadn't grown much if at all, Louise knew that she'd gotten another half-inch last month. Now she stood taller than Tabitha, if only so, and she felt inordinately smug about it.

Kirche flashed her cleavage window and watched the smug air around Louise deflate. "Now that you're out of your own head, what do we have that could make him happy? For all he said of us being graduates, I'd bet we're nowhere near the point he'd consider our progress reward enough."

Tabitha perked up, an opportunity presenting itself. "…Louise, that. We can do that!"

Louise blinked in confusion before a smile crossed her lips. "Yeah, you're right! I mean, we need to practice right now, but I love it!"

"Hello, explanation please?" Kirche groused with a scowl. "What's this 'thing' you're talking about?"

Tabitha shared a look with Louise, only answering when she got a nod. "We… wanted to work on a duet today, see how we were coming along on our own. The song's more of a trio though, so… would you like to join us? Neb really enjoys the music lessons out of everything else we do."

Kirche lit up in delight. "Of course! That lizard's taken me from tone-deaf to half-decent singer, why not! Oh, we should go grab Guiche and Monmon too, they're so much better at accompaniment! We'll give him a real performance tonight!"

She ran out of the room, clanking all the while. Her friends chuckled at her flight, Tabitha taking a seat next to Louise. When she got an odd look, she took off her helmet. "Harmonize better when we're sitting together."

Louise oohed and they were quiet, Tabitha fidgeting while Louise looked around her room. Then, she spoke, as if to herself. "We're actually leaving tomorrow."

Tabitha nodded, gazing around the room as well. It was so odd, to be leaving this place. The past few months had given her so many good memories, not just in this room but almost the entire academy. Eating breakfast with everyone, training and suffering together, making music, laughing…

"It was a good summer." Tabitha whispered, hand sliding towards Louise's. "I… had a lot of fun, despite all that's happened. And… I'm glad to have become your friend."

Louise looked to Tabitha, both missing Raelag's Staff flash with purple in the corner. To Louise, it was if she couldn't look away from Tabitha, the memories her friend mentioned playing out. Her hand slid out too, meeting Tabitha's. Their fingers curled together slowly, both enraptured with each other, yet unsure why.

"I've… had a fun time too." Louise whispered back, breathless. Was Tabitha always this pretty?

Tabitha's other hand came up to grip Louise's arm, the pair inching towards each other as Raelag's Staff glowed brighter. Louise looked so beautiful in Tabitha's eyes, the braid making her look so very… kissable…

They were bare inches apart from each other now, warm breath tickling their lips. It didn't need much, just one of them to stop staring and make the final push. Tabitha could even see how it would go, a tender meeting of lips. Then they'd come back after the performance, the kisses heavier… needier…

Images flew through their minds, of tangled limbs and throaty voices, of cries and tears of ecstasy, gentle hands and vulnerable gazes. Then came more… sinful images. Silken ropes, riding crops, and all manner of demeaning but exciting possibilities…

The final image of Louise standing over Tabitha in an all leather outfit finally broke the reverie, both girls scrambling away from each other. Louise dove into her pillows, desperately trying to hide her face, while Tabitha almost flew to the corner and curled into a ball of abject embarrassment.

Over it all, they heard a very loud: "Shitfucker!"

After that, it was silent, and the girls stewed in their heads for a while. It was slow, but Tabitha was able to get a handle on her emotions and look up to glare at the staff sitting innocently in the room's corner. She knew it was at fault, and based on the dark atmosphere of the images…

Just remembering them made her face resemble a ruby and her hands tremble. She also felt really pleased at the idea, and that scared the shit out of her.

"…Please leave…" Louise squeaked from her bed, barely audible. "I… I need… to cool off… and… figure out what… caused that…"

Tabitha agreed silently and slunk from the room, glaring at the staff as she left. Louise laid there for a time, still, before yelling her embarrassment into a pillow while kicking the bed petulantly.

That was so embarrassing. Why did all those… those… vulgar thoughts run through her head? Why did she do any of that to Tabitha, sweet-sweet Tabitha?! It didn't matter that they were just visions and nothing happened save… holding… hands… but still! She felt dirty.

"Thank the Founder we broke out of that." Louise muttered into her pillow, lifting her head up enough to glare at Raelag's Staff. "I just know… you had something to do with it. That shout didn't sound like Neb either…"

Unfortunately, those images would not leave her, and even as she tried to focus on the image of her fiancé and his handsome visage… her mind went back to those images and her heart sped.

"Founder dammit." Louise muttered, standing and starting to shed her armor. She needed a long, cold bath now. It was the only way to cool off her whirling thoughts and make her stop blushing like the scandalized maiden she was.

So after writing a note of where she'd be and leaving it on the table, she all but ran for the baths.

-Neb, Courtyard-

"This isn't exactly what I expected when you showed up."

Neb's non-plussed tone matched his unimpressed expression. Again, one of his heads had been taken over, this time by the shadowy form of a dark dragon. Which was currently gnawing on one of his other heads while crying tears of shadow.

"I was so close!" The head lamented, Malassa venting at him. "But I got excited and gave them images far beyond what they were ready for! Such a blunder I've not made in a thousand years!"

Neb shrugged. "And who were you trying to show images to? Last I checked, you can't use your powers of illusion very well in this world. Oh, and I mean no offense, but I did not think you given to such… profane words."

The dragon stopped gnawing on his head and regarded him with a scowl. "Be glad you never sat on our councils, literal curses were flung in them. As for who, you need not know, only act my chew toy when required."

The head faded and Neb sighed deeply.

And they expected him to get used to this?

-Louise, After Bath-

"Founder, I needed that."

Louise sighed happily as she entered her room, a towel over her shoulders. No one was in there, which she was silently glad for, but a message was waiting on top of the one she'd left. She put her towel aside, grabbed a more casual dress for the rest of the day, and picked up the message.

"Oh, so they want to practice in the dining hall." She muttered. "And then we'll do our performance right after. Alright, sounds good to me."

She put the note down, got dressed, and set off. On her way, she ran into Guiche, who looked conflicted. "Hey, what's got you looking like a kicked puppy?"

"Louise!" Guiche greeted like she was his last hope. "I must ask your assistance in something of grave importance!"

Louise blinked several times as Guiche fell to his knees and clasped his hands in prayer. "Please, help me learn how to act around Montmorency! I… I got us to start over, but I don't know how to act!"

Louise continued to blink, greatly resembling an owl. Eventually, she ordered her thoughts and put her hands on her hips. "So… are you asking me to be your wingwoman?"

Guiche nodded rapidly. "Everyone else has already turned me down, even Neb! You're my last hope!"

Louise sighed and shook her head. "Guiche, I'm a girl and I barely understand myself most days. It would take wiser powers than I to figure out what's going on in Monmon's mind. Let alone figure out how you should act around her now that you've 'started over.'"

She used finger quotes and everything, but Guiche was undeterred. "It matters not, I merely need a source of advice! Someone that I can turn to should I require a woman's touch in a delicate situation!"

Louise rolled her eyes. "Guiche, we're not going to help you with stuff like that. You said you're serious about changing, so you have to figure this out yourself. Now if you're well and truly lost, I'd be happy to offer what I can, but I've never so much as been courted. Really, you'd be better off asking Kirche, she's dealt with suitors before."

Guiche acted like he didn't hear the last part, popping to his feet with a wide grin. "Then I shall come to you should the need arise! Thank you, my kind friend, I will no doubt owe you many a debt in the future! As such, allow me to escort you to the meeting!"

Louise let him, not willing to try and dissuade him. Besides, she had better things to do.

Namely practice with her friends and surprise their teacher.

-Neb, Night-

Thankfully for the hydra, no other visitors came to bother him the rest of the day.

He was admittedly disappointed that no one came to show him their new armor after receiving the gifts. But, he also knew that getting excited over new gear was only natural, and he was more than content to get himself up to snuff as well.

Traveling for so long had left him splotched and that could not stand!

Thus, by the time every scale was spotless once more, the sun was setting and a fire had been set up in the courtyard. Around it sat his students, all of them wearing some of their new clothes and looking fabulous.

He was proud of his fashion sense, and it appeared he was still capable despite going to an entirely new world.

Neb stood with a groan and strode over to the fire, greeting his fellow familiars quietly as a low conversation carried over the crackle of the fire. None of his students greeted him as he took his spot by the fire, not even when he thudded as he laid down. "Good evening."

Louise, clear spokeswoman, stood in answer. "Neb… we can't thank you enough for the gifts you gave us this morning. As such… we'd like to give you a gift as well."

Neb's heads muttered amongst themselves, though glee shown through when Montmorency and Guiche pulled out their instruments. Then Louise, Kirche, and Tabitha took up spots around the fire while Siesta stood and bowed to him.

"We've been practicing for a while." Siesta informed him; her cloak nearly invisible save for the silver stars stitched into it. "Louise… borrowed your song book and found one that we thought was good. It's a song celebrating the harvest."

Neb sunk into the earth, every muscle uncoiling as he relaxed. "Ah… I think I know what you've chosen. A good song, one sung before the humans of my world knew Elrath's name. Go on, let me hear you."

Siesta curtsied and look to their instrumentalists. The pair of blondes nodded and, after a short warm up, started the song. A haunting flute and the strum of the lyre filled the air, and soon came the voices of his students, Kirche starting them off with her warm voice.

In der goldnen Morgenstund

Ziehn wir aus des Tales Grund

Und wir tanzen froh hinein

In den frühen Sonnenschein

Louise jumped in with her higher, but no less warm, tones.

Hoch hinauf auf Bergeshöhn

Um ins Auge Lughs zu sehn

Lasst uns feiern diese Zeit

Die der Sommer hält bereit

All three joined their voices together, Siesta starting to dance about the fire like a starlit mist while Guiche and Montmorency got into it.

Du lässt deine Raben ziehn

Wenn die Felder golden stehn

Und das helle lichte Rad

Dreht sich über Lughnasad

Louise took over the solo, voice rising to greet the darkening sky as Neb swayed along with Siesta's dance.

Es war nun ein ganzes Jahr

Seit ich dich beim Tanze sah

Allzu oft in langer Nacht

Habe ich an dich gedacht

Tabitha answered and added her voice, the pair smiling at each other with flushed cheeks.

König Sommer führt den Tanz

Dem ich folg im Blütenkranz

Und so dreht sich unser Kreis

In der alltbekannten Weis

Again, the trio came together, Siesta dancing amongst both light and dark, Neb's heads snaking about her as partners in her performance. All while Guiche and Montmorency played their hearts out.

Du lässt deine Raben ziehn

Wenn die Felder golden stehn

Und das helle lichte Rad

Dreht sich über Lughnasad

Tabitha and Kirche lowered their voices, Guiche plucking his lyre while Neb could almost hear Henrietta with them, playing along on her violin. Then the old friends sung together, voices humming like warm coals.

Bald schon wird das Rad sich drehn

Werden wilde Stürme wehn

Mit Rauhgesang der Winter nahn

So fängt der Kreis von Vorne an

Louise slowly added herself to their voices, the trio slowly growing louder until they were singing for the heavens themselves.

Kommt und folgt uns in dem Reigen

Wolln den großen Kreis beschreiben

Wenn die Felder golden stehn

Werden wir uns wiedersehn

The chorus broke forth again, all in the throes of the performance and the fire's light. There was no war in Albion, no mission to worry about, not even the fear of messing up. The trio stood and began to dance as well, swept up in the atmosphere.

Du lässt deine Raben ziehn

Wenn die Felder golden stehn

Und das helle lichte Rad

Dreht sich über Lughnasad

Montmorency's flute sung over the final part of the song as Guiche finished his part, all becoming still as the performers held their spots. Then, Neb stood and roared to the sky, scaring his students silly, before he started to laugh. "Excellent, Excellent! I was brought back to my very first harvest festival with that performance, all of you should be proud!"

The performers bowed to him and felt proud, Kirche speaking. "As Louise said, it's out thanks for getting all that gear and hauling it here. You deserved our best, and by the looks of it, we brought our best."

"Indeed, you did." Neb agreed whole-heartedly. "All of you were fantastic, and it does my heart good to see those nights of lessons come to fruition. You all still have a ways to go before anyone would call you masters, but…"

He sniffled a bit. "That was beautiful, and I am humbled to be granted such a sight for a pittance like gear."

"Thank you all."

His students bowed and the night went on, more songs and improvisation filling the air as they all enjoyed themselves. Unknown to them, Osmond and Colbert watched the goings on from high in the central tower.

"Are you sure we should let them go?" Colbert asked the headmaster. "Lady Éléonore will be most upset to find her sister cavorting off in Albion."

Osmond shook his head. "And why should we, Colby? They are set on their mission, and it's their lives they choose to lead. All we can do, as we are, is strive to support them as we do all our students. Now then, we must prepare."

"The moment her daughter's known missing, Karin will return with war at her heels."

-Louise, Night-

After the festivities, Louise had returned to her room and promptly fallen asleep. Tomorrow they'd be loading up their supplies and bidding farewell to the academy for who knew how long, and in addition to enjoying themselves that night, she was tired.

But not tired enough to not dream.

At first, she saw more visions of battle and study, this time joined by stunning vistas and rolling sea waves on many boats. However, as the night wore on, her dreams became… strange.

Like a repeating sequence, the images she's seen with Tabitha rolled past her eyes with torturous deliberateness, though they changed only in who her partner was. Sometimes partners.

Worst of all, she was unable to wake. So, she had to fidget and groan as the images passed her by, whether it be tangled in Siesta's embrace, sharing tender kisses with Henrietta, pressing deep into Kirche's skin, or nipping at Tabitha's neck.

It. Was. Mortifying.

She didn't know how long those dreams were with her before everything vanished. It was like the time they'd been summoned before the Six, nothing but a plain of white all around her. In turn, she noticed that she was able to move and speak once again. "Hello?"

Her call echoed, but she heard steps and turned around. Suddenly, there was a river of black in the plain of white, pinpricks of silver floating in the depths, and a woman seated at its banks. She could not see a face, but she knew it was a woman.

"Come, sit." A soothing voice called to her, compelling Louise forward. As she grew closer, the woman seemed to split into three, the middle one unchanging while to the right a young girl sat while to the left sat a hunched crone.

Louise chose the middle one to sit besides, gaze forward in some instinctual fear.

"It has been many years since I've spoken to a mortal." The woman beside her mused, voice wise and soothing like a paragon of motherhood. "But how could a mother not be curious when all her children break their habits? Let alone have her eldest twins end their war, if only for a time?"

The woman looked towards her, a hand of vibrant life reaching up to cup Louise's cheek. "Come now, babe of this world, look at me. I wish to see the face that my eldest daughter is so enamored with."

Louise was again compelled to look as well and met the eyes of creation. Entire galaxies swam in inky black skin, eyes like blazing blue suns gazing at her from the otherwise featureless visage. Silver spines shone on the woman's shoulders, the voice speaking again despite the apparent lack of a mouth. "Hmm… yes, I can understand the fascination. Magic uncolored by the world, accepting of all that is not."

The hand fell away and the eyes looked across the river. "Tell me, can you guess what this river is?"

Louise's gaze creaked to the black water, now recognizing the silver specks as stars. She could only hazard a guess, one she felt was horribly off, but one she had to give. "Is it… Neb's home?"

"Close." The woman answered. "His home is indeed here, but it is not all. This is the entirety of my creation, time and matter, light and darkness, life and death. This is the place from which your teacher came."

She waved her hand and another black river appeared, just barely touching the original. "This is your realm. You already know why I show this to you I assume, so allow me to say this. My brother is even now working to widen the way to this realm from ours. I cannot intervene beyond this, the souls of my children require my constant attention, but you must find the artifacts. Do so and I will be able to seal the way."

The blazing suns dimmed in a glare, the woman's hand pointing to the opposite bank. "Do not, and he shall destroy all that I have striven to build, alongside all that you strive to build now."

Louise felt pure, primal fear flood her veins as she was forced to gaze across the bank.

And met the stare of madness incarnate.

Across the bank stood… something she could never hope to describe. Its shape never remained for longer than a breath, but all she could make out were horrors and abominations of unspeakable heresy.

"He speaks to you." The woman informed and Louise forced her gaze away. "I'm blocking him out, for even now it is a weak voice. However, I also block your view, for you can never hope to gaze upon his true form and remain sane. None save I can do that."

The woman waved her hand. "Begone to thine cell, Urgash!"

The abomination and its gaze vanished, Louise gasping a breath. She hadn't even realized she'd stopped breathing. With her breath back, she looked back to the woman, who'd stood. "Are… you… who I… think you are?"

The woman looked up, the young girl and crone turning to shadow and merging with her. "I am, that I am. I crafted the world of Ashan and all the races thereupon, every rock and blade of grass. Every soul to ever be born and die is of my devising."

The eyes came back to Louise and she was forced to the ground. "I am Asha, Mother of Gods, Crafter of Worlds, and Orderbringer. Seek thy fortune and goal, babe, lest you be devoured by endless possibility."

"And do not trust the grey!"

The woman waved her hand and Louise was sent flying back to slam into the ground. She bounced forward with a heavy gasp and found herself in her room, moonlight illuminating what it could. Louise gulped down buckets of air as she tried to reconcile what she'd just seen with the mundane surroundings.

"A… dream…" She muttered, though the excuse did little to calm her. "It was… a dream…"

Her eyes went to the corner and Raelag's Staff stared back, eyes dimming with silver light. Louise snarled at it and moved to throw a blanket over the damned thing when she paused. Her bed was… cold. And it felt weird to move.

She hung her head, any chance at going to sleep again gone with the discovery.

"Dammit."

-Morning, Siesta-

"That's everything."

The handmaid sighed as she packed the last case into the carriage, still amazed by how much space there was. It had everything needed to house all of them while Siesta drove, alongside most of their cargo. The rest would be carried by Neb and Sylphid, while Flame and Verdandi got to ride on top.

Off to the side stood the rest of her friends, going over the last of their personal items. They'd helped her get most everything else, but it was for her peace of mind that she packed the last items and did a final check. She was paranoid like that.

But perhaps what was most on her mind was Louise. The poor girl looked like she hadn't gotten a wink of sleep and was eyeing her own staff like it was going to come to life and strike her. Siesta had asked Neb and Kirche if they had any idea what was going on, but neither knew any more than she did.

That meant only one thing, she had to ask Louise directly. "Excuse me, Louise!"

Her friend and master looked up from her boots and jogged over to Siesta. "What's up?"

"Are you ok?" Siesta whispered, letting her worry shine through. "You've been jumpy ever since I found you washing your sheets. You still won't tell me what happened either."

Louise flushed the same shade as her hair. "Um… it's alright, I assure you Siesta. I just… was too excited by all the dancing and singing last night that I didn't get to sleep until late and spilled some water when I couldn't really get to sleep."

She gave her best smile. "So, don't worry. I'll catch a nap in the carriage, and remember I'm helping you with dinner tonight, so bring your teaching glasses!"

Siesta tilted her head. "I don't need glasses though, so I don't have any to bring."

She chuckled at the consternated look Louise gave her, a hand going out to her master's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll do fine on this mission. We've got each other, and that's more than enough to see it through, right?"

Louise's shoulder lost some of its tension and Louise put a hand on Siesta's opposite shoulder. "Of course. Sorry for being so… distant this morning, just a lot on my mind."

Siesta stepped forward and embraced Louise, a squeak of surprise coming from her master. "I'm here to listen to whatever you have to say, Louise. I know I can't… quite relate, but you know I'm a good ear whenever someone needs it. So please…"

She pulled back and gave her brightest smile. "Feel free to rely on me, if only a bit. I've come a long way from that scared girl cowering before a fop of a boy, let me be of use to you."

Louise pulled back until she was holding Siesta's hands. She squeezed them and nodded decisively. "You're right… I'm sorry, Siesta, I haven't been giving you the respect you deserve as a fellow student and graduate despite all you've done. I'll be sure to rely on you whenever I need you."

"And I you." Siesta agreed with a laugh. "Now are you presentable? Neb's going to want one final inspection before we leave."

Louise gestured to her boots, which practically shone in the light of a rising sun. "What do you think I was doing? You may be a miracle worker when cleaning things, but that doesn't mean the rest of us are. Now come on, he's going to call us all together in a moment."

Siesta giggled and followed besides, taking her place on Louise's right side as everyone stood at attention for the final inspection.

Several minutes of tense silence followed as Neb stomped over and scrutinized them all to the last detail. Slowly, but surely, he gave a nod of approval until all had passed muster.

"Today's the day!" Neb announced after the inspection. "I do not know when or if we will come back to this place, but hold its memory in your heart. It is here you trained, cried, fought, and bled in order to forge yourselves into fighters! It is here you studied, searched, and crafted yourselves into scholars! None may take these past months from you, and any who try can eat my foot!"

He got a simultaneous salute for his words.

"And by all the gods of the world, I. Am. Proud." Neb intoned with all the sincerity he could muster. "Where once a ragtag group of children stood, now I see those worthy to walk this world in search of tis salvation. You all still have a long way to go, many trials yet to overcome, but I know you will do so."

He bowed to them. "You have my utmost faith."

The moment was gone as soon as it came, Neb straightening with a grumble. "Now that the sappy stuff's out of the way, load up! We have a contact to meet and a mission to start, let's get on with it!"

Before anyone could move, an eagle's cry sounded over them alongside a large shadow. Neb looked to the sky and scowled, not expecting this in the least. "Well it appears our contact has arrived to meet us of his own volition. Clear a spot!"

Everyone scrambled away as a feathered mass came in for a hard, yet graceful landing. It was a beast of brown feathers and fur, a griffin. Its intelligent eyes gazed at the students for a moment before focusing on Neb, a warning scree its only greeting.

Louise focused instead on its rider. Long hair, a dapper set of clothes, a truly gentlemanly hat, and a goatee that was expertly trimmed. Oh, and it was grey hair.

Louise gaped as the man looked them over before smiling gently. "Good morning to you all. I apologize for the abrupt entrance, but I was able to get underway from the capital much sooner than I'd anticipated."

He stepped from his mount and bowed at the waist. "My name is Captain Jean-Jacques Fraincis, though you may call me Wardes. I am the current captain of the Griffin Knights and your appointed contact for the mission to Albion."

He rose from his bow and spotted Louise, his pleasant smile turning personal. "And… it is so good to see you again, my sweet Louise. You have grown so beautiful since I last saw you."

Louise blinked owlishly, not expecting her fiancé of all people to show up. It made sense, but… as she stared at him, something shifted in her mind.

Where once she saw him as handsome, a paragon of noble virtues, now he was just… handsome. Skilled, well regarded in addition, but the infatuation wasn't there anymore. Even as he came forth to kneel and take her hand, she felt an odd shiver run up her spine.

And the words of a goddess rang through her mind once more

'Don't trust the grey.'

Ch. End

Sweet. God.

I sure hope y'all like this early Christmas gift, because heaven knows this ended up a lot longer than I thought it would be!

I'm really tired, but I enjoyed writing all of it. With this, Eighth Dragon gets its last update before the end of the year and I get to take a break XD

I hope everyone has happy holidays and a happy new year! We'll see you all then!

And last but not least, review responses!

ReWyrmLord: I'm glad you like the story so much, it's high praise for sure! I hope you enjoy the journey with us!

SameGuest: It's not exactly soon, but here's a massive chapter for ya! I'm glad you think I'm doing the character's justice, it's a big goal of mine to try and do them well as they develop. Hope this lived up to expectations!

Vixtra: Hope this one is worth the wait, and I have a plan for who Louise's first love will be. It may or may not be who you expect

Xeivous1: Well today it's Tabby's turn! All the girls will have their scenes, I assure you.

Sketch-yTimes: Glad you like, and I can't reveal my future plans because that wouldn't be any fun. Hope you stick around to enjoy the journey with us!

TheLastBattalion: Oh she won't just be sword fighting. Prepare to see the future queen pull out so acrobatics when next we see her in action XD.

Pacer287: The Cult of Malassa requires one of two things for conversion. Fanart commissions or reviews, preferably both XD. Thank you for your kind words, pacing always feels like something I struggle with, so it's nice to hear I'm doing ok so far.

That's all folks! See y'all next year!

Ciao!