Henrietta pulled herself out of bed with blurred eyes, her tired mind several leagues behind. She sat there blinking for nearly a full minute before realizing the maid in her room wasn't one of her own attendants, but Ryuukoto. "Good morning," she managed to say.
"Good morning, your majesty," Ryuukoto replied. "I've prepared a washbasin for you. Will you need assistance preparing for today?"
"No, thank you," Henrietta said. She wouldn't need the same perfect refinement that court required. "I hope I'm not too late for breakfast."
"Given that it's past noon I'm afraid so," Ryuukoto replied.
Henrietta's eyes snapped open at that. How had she slept so long?
Then the weight of last night finally seeped back into her mind. She'd spent all night talking with Keine. Learning more about the fundamentals of the universe and magic than even the greatest tutors knew. Her head still felt stuffed from all she'd learned, and she knew she'd forgotten quite a bit already.
"Has Ms Kamishirasawa been waiting?" she asked quickly. It would not do to offend the woman.
"Hardly," Ryuukoto replied. "She awoke less than half an hour ago, and is busy nursing some rather strong tea. Please take your time. We'll see to breaking your fast when you are ready." The maid curtsied and exited the room.
Henrietta took her time preparing for the day before walking out. She froze for a second when she saw the strange striped wolf lying before her door, but the animal gave her a lazy glance before wuffing and heading down a corridor. Henrietta took that as a signal to follow.
Sure enough she arrived at the kitchen area. "Thank you," she said to her guide before entering.
It took her a few moments to realize the woman sitting at the table with a large cup was Keine. The woman's hair was blue instead of green now, and her horns were gone. She also looked very tired, but Henrietta understood that. She bowed to the woman before taking a seat. "Greetings."
"Good afternoon," Keine replied. She poured Henrietta a cup of dark green tea. "How are you feeling?"
"A little tired, but otherwise fine." Henrietta smiled. "It's been a long time since I spent the whole night awake." She took a sip of the tea while considering how to bring up her teacher's sudden change of appearance.
Fortunately Keine seemed to know her question even before it was spoken. "I'm a were-hakutaku, so like other lycanthropes I only have my full powers when the moon is full. Normally I spend the nights creating history, but another has taken up those duties this time."
"Creating history?" Henrietta blinked in confusion. "Isn't history simply what happened in the past?"
"If a tree falls in a forest, and leaves no traces, is that a historical event?" Keine shrugged. "Once the last record is gone, the last memory erased, and the last piece of evidence wiped away it's no longer history. Those grey spaces allow any explanation to hide there. And so it is my duty to chronicle it."
"I... see?" A blurry thought surfaced. "But didn't you say creatures of fantasy exist in those grey spaces?"
Keine sighed. "Yes. And so I have to weigh what to write and what to leave out. Which is why full moon nights are such a pain. Well one reason. Mokou and Princess Kaguya picking that as their fight night doesn't help."
"A princess fighting with a commoner?" Henrietta felt her eyebrow raise. "I knew customs between our lands were different but..."
"Mokou's technically a noblewoman," Keine corrected. "But in this case it's more Kaguya is exiled. I doubt she'd have been allowed such pastimes on the moon." The woman shook her head. "And of course since neither of them can die, they take things too far."
"I see?" The idea of people who couldn't die seemed like nonsense. But this was a land of make believe. And legends of two immortals fighting for eternity weren't unknown to her. It was just that such fates were considered punishment for folly rather than a fun evening.
Her further thoughts were interrupted by a soft impact. "Brains!" Pahoe cried out happily as the fairy nuzzled against Henrietta.
"Good afternoon little one." She patted the little creature. "You really do seem to like me don't you? I wonder why."
"Lava stands between fire, earth, and water. The lava that birthed her especially," Keine said, grabbing a scone. "So with the other two elements stronger here she gravitates towards powerful water sources." The were-hakutaku took a bite before continuing. "Also she's a very old fairy, despite her current state. She probably remembers your ancestors from where she lived before she was forced to retreat to hell."
"What?" Henrietta started. "But we're from a different world! Unless you're claiming one of the royal family came from Earth, like Lady Takao's grandfather."
Keine slowly folded her hands. "Ah you still haven't realized it yet. Well I suppose it's harder from your perspective. Come. Think about it. Gensoukyo is a world created by youkai escaping the march of science and the death of magic. But youkai aren't the only race that needed to flee. And while it's much easier for relics of the outside world to fall through, the difference between one connection and two isn't that big."
"That's-" She froze. The pieces fell into place. "You're saying we Helgekians came from your world?"
"The world we both fled from," Keine replied quietly. "We youkai fled to escape science. Your people fled destruction long before, from weapons of iron and powerful gods that even your magic couldn't stop. But in the end we are both refugees from reality who created a new home."
Henrietta sank back in her chair, the sheer incomprehensible weight of those words leaning on her. It meant everything and nothing all at once.
Finally she looked over at Keine. "I see tonight will be another long night."
"Indeed your majesty. Let us both make the most of it."
Siesta had a headache.
She'd been rather cavalier about teaching others magic. It seemed simple at first. Just show them the spellbook and help them with the spells. She'd assumed the problems would come when the students surpassed her miniscule skill with magic.
It had been a foolish mistake.
"Lulu! I told you, please stop turning the candles to brass!" she called out as another light source shifted impossibly.
"It's copper this time," Lulu protested.
"No transmuting candles! Or anything else you don't own personally! I don't know how to change things back!" Despite her rebuke she handed over the candle. Somehow Lulu had transformed even the flame into metal. The young woman might have had a tenuous grasp on reality, but she'd taken to magic better than everyone else. And was causing all sorts of trouble.
The sacrifice of the copper candle mollified the girl however. "Fiiine." Lulu ran her hand over her new metal toy.
"Isn't that line class magic?" Lisa muttered as she once again tried to create a spark. Sadly the firefly flicker couldn't light any of the remaining candles, though at least the woman's aim was good.
"You should think about making the wick catch fire, not summoning fire. Our magic is different." She looked back at the transformed candle. "Which is why it's easier for Lulu to make copper I think. It's a pure metal, not a mixture."
Jessica flopped down. "If this magic is so cool and special why are we learning how to make lights and other parlor tricks then? Why not learn something cool like love potions or ways to bag a hot guy?"
"No love potions!" Siesta snapped. Her cousin was at heart a good girl, but long term planning wasn't her specialty. Especially when romance was involved. "I've had enough problems with those."
"Eh?" Her cousin popped up. "Wait wait. You didn't tell me any of this Siesta. Who tried to seduce you? That Count? Or one of the noble kids? You couldn't mean-"
Jessica's mouth snapped shut as Louise and Utsuho burst into the room. "I got the stuff you wanted Siesta."
"Thank you." It was a little strange asking her nominal master to run errands. But both of them had agreed Siesta was better at keeping her 'magic class' from accidentally burning the inn down.
And the line between 'master' and 'servant' had gotten rather blurred even before they'd taken this job.
She clapped to get everyone's attention. "Alright everyone. I'd like to show you all how to make a healing potion."
Everyone immediately gathered round, their other attempts dropped. "Are healing potions that interesting?" Utsuho asked.
Louise elbowed her familiar in the ribs.
"Of course!" Siesta replied. "Not everyone lives in a city where you can just ask a water mage for help." Or could just ignore wounds, she mentally added. "Besides this is much cheaper. Now, pay close attention. This will heal any cuts, scrapes or bruises, but not broken bones."
Louise had been looking forward to her trip to the palace of the Earth Spirits more then usual. Not because Satori or Momiji had anything special to give her. But a far more important reason.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous this was your Majesty?"
Chewing out Princess Henrietta.
"What could possibly justify leaving the palace grounds, much less traveling to a literal hell, filled with man eating monsters!" Louise knew she was pushing the point but she felt it was warranted. "And do so without telling anyone? During a war!?"
"We both know the Palace of the Earth Spirits is safer than my own Palace." Henrietta said with a yawn. "And if my country falls to pieces without me being present for a mere two days I will have to follow your tutor's advice and execute my advisors for utter incompetence."
Louise blinked. "Did I say that out loud around you? Or did Satori tell you that?"
"It wasn't too hard to guess," Henrietta said. "And Lady Satori has mostly been picking at the mind of Ms Kamishirasawa. Apparently she finds the dual nature of the woman fascinating. Though I feel she should show a little more decorum when questioning."
"That's Satori." Louise shook her head. "Anyway who the heck is so important that you have to do all this cloak and dagger stuff to out them? Don't you have spies for this sort of thing?"
"High Court Justice Richelieu," Henrietta said.
Louise blinked in surprise. "Wha- Him? But why?" The man had one of the highest non landowning positions in the country. More importantly a job that prevented him from getting a land owning title. There really wasn't much further he could climb.
"Money." The princess shook her head. "I wish there was more to it then that, but no. It seems the man loves money more than country. And since he has yet to be punished for his crimes he continues selling out anything to anyone. If my information is correct he's betrayed us to three different powers already."
Louise grabbed her tea. "I thought he was just incompetant."
"He is that too. However given my spies haven't found anything that apparently doesn't matter." Henrietta sighed. "I have a great deal of work ahead of me to put the kingdom back in order."
Her eyes sharpened and Louise was reminded of the brief moment the princess had been truly serious, back when she assigned Guiche to their party. At the time it had been confusing. But now it brought Louise hope. Henrietta needed that spirit now.
"On that note, how is your mission going? What do the common people think of me?" She looked at Siesta. "And how are magical studies progressing?"
Louise looked over at Siesta. Probably best to start with the easy answer, so she let Siesta lead. "So far I've managed to get all of the girls capable of casting basic spells."
"All of them?" Henrietta looked surprised.
"Yes," Siesta replied. Louise nodded to confirm. "Most can only do small things. Summon light or a tiny flame. Perhaps a little more. But half have managed what would be considered a dot class spell. And one girl, Lulu, has performed something that Louise calls triangle class."
That was one way of putting it. "It'd be triangle class if it was possible at all. She transmuted fire to pure copper somehow." Normally earth transmutations at least stuck within the element of earth. You could do some tricks with water, but actually transforming fire was ridiculous. "I'm glad she hasn't tried it on anything living because I think she might be able to hit a square class trick."
Henreitta stared at the two, before rubbing her temples. "Everyone. I knew you said it was likely more people would be able to access magic. But everyone... I'll have to rethink how we handle matters." After a moment she looked back at Siesta. "How are the other students compared to you?"
"Most are less skilled, though I had better teachers." Siesta replied. "And just like me, we all perform much better with magic item creation. Potions or other simple charms."
Louise decided to clarify, "There's a couple of girls who hit line class like Siesta. Most are a little below dot class." She grimaced. "Though our classification system doesn't really work well. We're going to have to completely rework it."
"We will leave that to the scholars," Henrietta said. "Still this is good for our future. One of the issues of magic is that it's too easy to leave it as a service to perform instead of a good that can be used. While Ms Kamishirasawa's comments on the celestial order have many faults to my mind, I agree that the creation of goods is something that builds a strong foundation for a country. Adding a great number of people who had skill with magic but little means of using that to improve themselves would be a burden on the system. Having a mass increase in magical crafting however will be a great boon to everyone."
"Wait you've been forced to sit through discussion on Confucianism?" Louise winced. Satori's coverage of that, and then the follow up on the various schools that had arisen afterwards had given her headaches.
Henrietta sighed. "No, I fear I've been given the lecture from a representative of the celestial order itself. Though I feel any god that has conflict with mortals is unworthy of the name. Fortunately Ms Kamishirasawa was unwilling to argue the point."
"Good thing Utsuho isn't here," Louise muttered. That'd be a conversation with no good end. "Still you think that will help make the nobles less touchy about losing their power? I imagine they're not going to be happy."
The princess shook her head. "No they won't. Which is why the other half of your mission is so important." She fixed Louise with her stare. "What is the populace's opinion of me?"
"That's pretty complex," Louise admitted.
"I'd say you are very popular with the women in the capitol," Siesta said. "I hate to bring it up, but your love of Prince Wales is viewed favorably by most. Especially since you kept chaste and put your country ahead of your own desires."
Louise felt her own heart twist at the pain that crossed Henrietta's face, but the princess quickly recovered. "And the men?"
"The chauvinistic assholes think you're a silly little girl," Louise said, allowing all her pent up annoyance to bleed out. "The more reasonable men are worried, but your command at the battle of Tarbes has them cautiously optimistic. And you're definitely more popular than the rest of the nobles."
Henrietta nodded slowly. "Do you think harsh actions against the nobility would cause me to gain or lose sympathy?"
"If they're obviously traitors? Gain," Louise said.
"I think bold proclamations would also gain you support," Siesta added. "Many commoners would love to see you humble the nobles, but hurting more than their pride would draw sympathy."
"Thank you." Henrietta chewed her lip before nodding to herself. "We'll confirm that tomorrow then. And should that work, I'll begin steps to start training all children in magic studies." She smiled. "What better time to do something that might annoy the nobility then during a war where all their troops will be in the field, while my trusty guards will be in the capitol?"
Louise looked over her friend. "I like the idea, but do you have any trusty guards?" The few that might have been worth a damn in her mind had died to the undead ambush.
"I do now," Henrietta said. "I think you'll both enjoy meeting her when we go to handle matters tomorrow."
"Both?" Siesta and Louise asked in unison.
"Indeed." Henrietta smiled. "After all, the leader of my Musketeers will need training in our country's new magic immediately."
"The streets ahead are clear," Utsuho said from her position in the sky.
Louise nodded and began walking forwards, Siesta and Henrietta following. Apparently the guards were out in force looking for Henrietta, and they were very difficult to get past. They'd have been caught already if Siesta hadn't brought some invisibility potions along. If they'd been using ordinary wind magic some of the nobles would have spotted them.
"The guards are doing better than I thought they would," Louise muttered. "I guess treason was the biggest problem."
"Indeed," Henrietta said. "Let's work on carving that weakness out of our nation."
They slipped through an alley and returned to the main streets, heading towards the playhouse. A short haired woman wearing a sword moved to greet them. "Your majesty," the woman said softly as she joined the group.
"Agnes," Henrietta replied. "Do we have evidence?"
"Yes." The woman handed over several papers. Louise tried to peer around Henrietta's arms to read them, but it mostly looked like a set of names and figures. Giving up on piecing through the list she turned her attention to the swordswoman.
Agnes gave her the same feeling as Momiji at first look. Someone who lived by the sword. But where Momiji was secure in her position, Agnes looked like she was ready to explode. Louise wasn't quite sure whether it was experience or something else.
"What do you think, Utsuho?"
"Feels like a cat who's heard a rat. She wants a fight, and she knows she can win it." Utsuho preened. "Young though. The type that gets their tail pulled a lot."
Henrietta folded the evidence and looked at them. "Very well. We'll proceed as planned. Louise will head into the main hall with me. Siesta please accompany Agnes."
The swordswoman stiffened. "You promised-"
"And I will deliver," Henrietta said. "Siesta will make sure your injuries are treated if necessary."
That seemed to satisfy Agnes, but Louise wasn't thrilled. "Take care," she whispered to Siesta, giving the other woman an arm squeeze. Siesta nodded and smiled in return, so Louise relaxed, just a little.
Still Louise couldn't help but wonder, "Wouldn't it be better if she was with us, instead of wandering off?"
"My safety has already been assured," Henrietta said. The princess looked down at Louise. "But I would feel a little more secure if you kept a Dispel on hand. When his plan crumbles I expect him to run. But just in case..."
"Well be ready," Louise said. Utsuho croaked in agreement.
"I'll be in the royal box," Henrietta said, giving her a ticket. "You should have a good angle to any trouble from the floor seats."
Louise grimaced. "Utsuho, you're going to have to help me see over everyone." It would be really nice if her growth spurt kicked in.
"Don't worry. I've got this." Utsuho snuggled up inside her hood.
"Too bad about the play," Louise said as they moved into the theater.
Henrietta shook her head. "I doubt the performers today are going to be all that skilled."
Louise felt a little pang of worry as they separated but she forced it down and worked her way into the common grounds. Fortunately the place was only part way full. The audience was mostly common women giving the occasional jeer at the stage. The actors really were mediocre.
Still she wasn't here to watch a bad play. She turned her attention to the box. Sure enough Richelieu was there, waiting impatiently for someone. The smug bastard had sold their entire country out for a measly scrap of gold. Pathetic.
"If he looks like he might actually hurt her majesty, cook him." Louise thought to Utsuho.
Utsuho shifted a bit. "Didn't she ask you to use Dispel instead? She wants him alive I bet."
"Yeah. But if she's in danger I don't care," Louise replied. "Sometimes a general in the field must disobey their sovereign."
"Okay." The raven seemed uncertain, but generally liked the idea of setting bad people on fire.
Louise honestly wanted to cook him herself, but instead she simply kept an eye on the man as Henrietta confronted him.
It was painful watching the princess keep her composure in front of the man who'd tried to get her killed and enslaved. Henrietta really looked disappointed rather than angry. Louise would have knocked him over the banister with an explosion by now. It would be more than he deserved.
She watched as Richelieu passed through surprise, hurt protestations, and then smug insolence. The last one was strange. He had to realize he was cornered.
Louise tensed as the man waved his hand. But it was the stage actors that drew wands and leveled them at the princess. The crowd erupted in shouts at the disturbance.
"Damn!" Louise grabbed her own wand and turned her attention to the stage. Dispel might work? But it wasn't fast enough. Maybe she should have Utsuho kill one? Or wait until one started casting before having her familiar strike.
"Now."
At the command all the ladies around her reached into their bags and petticoats. Suddenly a great number of pistols were all aimed at the fake actors. Louise blinked and realized she was the only member of the audience that didn't have a gun.
"Bad day to sneak into the theater," the woman next to her whispered with a grin. "The actors today are really sub par." Well, that explained why Henrietta didn't need Agnes.
Further conversation was cut off as some of the fake actors began to chant. The room erupted in fire before even Utsuho could react. Louise's ears rang from the noise as the spies fell to the floor.
The high court justice raised his arms and hopped onto the stage. "Well. That was clever, your majesty." Louise kept an eye on the man as she started slipping forwards. He was still acting smug for someone about to get shot.
And then he slipped through the floor.
Louise rushed along with the crowd to the spot. "How'd he do that?" Utsuho thought, hopping off her shoulder to peer down.
"Opera houses have secret doors for shows." She pushed her way through to where the women were looking for the trigger. It was probably something that had already locked behind the fleeing man.
"Stand back!" she yelled, and to her joy everyone actually listened to her without complaints. She looked at the lines in the floor and made an educated guess. "Utsuho burn through here."
"Sure!" Utsuho's gem glowed and a lance of fire burst through wood. Louise winced as she saw molten stone dripping down at the edge of the passage. She'd been a little off. Oh well, it would only slow her a little.
As soon as the rock stopped dripping she jumped down, using her flight to hover in the tunnel. No reason to hold back now.
Richelieu was facing Agnes further down the corridor. As Louise raised her wand the man caught a glance at her and swore. He flung a hasty blast of flame and rushed forwards to use the swordswoman as a shield.
To Louise's surprise Agnes advanced and threw her cloak into the flame. Steam burst out as they collided. She must have hidden water pouches to temper the fire spell.
Before Richelieu could prepare another spell the woman ran him through. Louise winced a little as the man coughed up blood and slumped down.
Agnes whispered something to him before the light faded from his eyes, then pulled out her blade. She then turned to Louise with a frown. "I had this handled."
"If you had it handled why'd you let him steam cook you?" Louise snapped back. "Siesta, can you come help?"
Her friend appeared around a bend in the passages, walking briskly to Agnes' side with potions already in hand. Siesta really was a step ahead these days. It was impressive.
Agnes sneered, but she accepted the potion with a nod of thanks. "There's no other way to get close to a fire mage."
"Wouldn't it be better to throw something like phosphorus powder to turn the spell back on him?" Louise asked as she moved up. "Dousing yourself with steam just seems like you spread out your injuries."
Agnes raised an eyebrow. "Well. Most nobles just assume we commoners are easy prey that can't hurt them. Unfortunately setting a mage on fire doesn't usually stop them from killing you with their own spell. It'll work, but only once."
"Fair." Louise sighed and looked down at the body. "I suppose we'll have to find some way to get this back to the Princess."
"I was going to leave him to the rats," Agnes said as she wiped the blood from her blade.
"She should give him to me then!" Utsuho thought. "It's eyes time!" Louise gave her familiar a look.
Siesta chewed her lip. "Wouldn't that lead to more rumors?"
Agnes hissed in annoyance. "I suppose so. A burial is more than he deserves though."
"The princess will have to present evidence proving he was killed for treason," Louise pointed out. "After which he'll be strung up in the square as per the laws." After a moment she sighed. "Which means you can eat his eyes then Utsuho."
"Yay!"
So yeah. 2020 sucked. I don't wanna go over all of it, but I imagine you all know the feeling. But hey, I didn't die. And here's another chapter. Let's hope for a general improvement in 2021. The first months will still suck but maybe it'll get better after.