Apologies for the long update but here is it now!
Chapter 21: A Disturbance In Meeting
(Royal Palace Of Tristain, Tristania)
Queen Henrietta sitting at the palace balcony with Zaric, Louise and her familiar partner Saito having some conversation regarding about the envoy's visit.
"So, you found something suspicious about them?" Henrietta asked Saito if their is something about the envoy's that warrant doubt.
"Nothing in particular Henrietta-san, it seems the Count was very legit. But something about his guards is quite...intriguing." Saito pointed out about the group of guards with the envoy from the floating country.
"Something about his bodyguards that bothers me. It seems like they are different from the bodyguards that I've seen in this world." Saito deduced his opinion regarding the Count's escorts.
"What do you mean by different?" Henrietta asked in confused, wondering what is the difference.
"They're more like they had been trained by professionals back in my world. The discipline and movements they've shown screams exactly like that. Unlike some typical guards around here they more like professionals than them." Saito explained.
"I see so that's your assumption..." Henrietta not quite follow what he says about professionalism but fortunately knows what he means by different.
For Zaric, it could be sound like it but the factor here is who in the world has a capability to train people like that in this world? Unless they are some that had some knowledge about it, who knows maybe their is since this is a whole new world with 6,000 years of history.
"That's some just an opinion, perhaps their is some people out there who could train this guards like that. Rather than scrutinizing those who are close to us and easy to monitor, why would we investigate those in distance? About those mercenaries you guys encounter while going back your way here?" Zaric changes the topic with more pressing matter.
"Ah yes, about that well let's say their claims are somewhat valid. The mini spy drone I sent to stalk them sighted that they indeed sold those trolls body parts in a certain store. I keep tracking them until my drone suddenly lost signal by an alleyway that lead to a rundown area of the Capitol." Saito reported.
"Hmm, that's quite strange...you said that your drone suddenly shut down in a middle of spying?" Zaric asked, now starting curious.
"Yeah, I wonder why but the only explanation there is they maybe notice the drone following them that they shoot it down perhaps. It's not too farfetched since they have a mage on their ranks although I don't know the extent of magic in this world but from what I study their is some sort of detection spell that existed, isn't that right partner?" Saito after a lengthy explanation look at his partner/master for a follow up confirmation of his statement.
"Ah yeah sort of, their really is some kind of spell like that!" Louise didn't follow the conversation between familiars because of lack of a bit understanding regarding about this spy drone thingy but she knew that Saito is spying the group of mercenaries that they met on the way yesterday and it seems that he lost track of them recently.
"Is that so, but still quite intriguing on how they pinpoint that." Zaric wondered and suspicious.
"Haa it would be a hassle to think about it. Let's get on the more important part." Saito then also changes topic.
"Indeed, about the negotiation meeting that will be held tonight." Zaric followed.
"Yes about that I already prepared some proposals for our talks with Count Norman and Zaric I want your advice for this." Henrietta asked for her familiar's guidance.
"Of course my friend, I will give you some pointers if you needed one." Zaric gives a positive response.
"Thank you Zaric." Henrietta thank her for assistance on the upcoming meeting. Zaric nods while Louise and Saito was looking forward for this meeting but still wary of the said envoy and his claims eventhough he has backing regarding it.
(Spy Network Hideout, Somewhere In Tristania, Tristain)
"We have to be extra careful around them indeed..." After a brief talk, the spy leader said to his unit that they must get a least but non existent contact with the two commanders as possible.
Almost a awhile ago that they nearly got busted if not for their advanced radar detection system that also installed in their communication device. A mini spy drone they recovered that came from the imperials was really a pain in the neck. They didn't even expect that the imperial commander would take an initiative to spy them. He really is a dangerous individual that a very little detail would make him suspicious towards, no wonder why he is feared in the past during the war back there.
"Yes sir, we almost caught by him. Thankfully we have this." The comm operator said as he looks at their mechanism. Their radar equipment also has signal disruption device that would ultimately cut any unknown foreign signals within radius to prevent interception. They cut off the signal between the drone and the operator timely before it even going further of eavesdropping them.
"So what's our next move?" The other spy in the enclosed room asked.
"Like always, we watch." The spy leader sternly replied. All spies in the room nodded their heads in agreement. The leader saw this and proceed to continue the meeting.
"We've traced a possible third party here in Tristain after we investigate the troll incident yesterday. It is quite weird for such a species to idle in the middle of the road least the very road where our envoy will take. So we have a suspicion that it was a trap set by someone else and they have a capability to manipulate such creatures to ambush the convoy." The leader started the meeting as everyone listens closely for every detail they got so far.
"Sir is it possible that Gallia is the one behind this?" Spectre asked as he deduced it. Surely they have a wind that Gallia has some spies lurking around in this small nation due to their investigations but they we're also too slippery that even them their fellow infiltrators have a hard time gathering info about them since they suddenly got lay low for awhile. Matilda who also listens to this meeting knew of this and pretty obviously believed that it was the Gallians all along. Gallia has a interest in this small but flourish nation of Tristain ever since and they believe that it was their right to claim and annex this land. Both Gallia and Tristain has a very similar heritage, literature and culture. The very reason why they have such desire but some factors are preventing them from doing so in the past. Religious protection, Germania and some political backlash that stopping them from taking any action. Now it seems they're taking this slowly but surely while devouring the whole nation from the inside.
"Hm that would suffice but we have no concrete proof for now. Nonetheless we have a high possibility that it was them, still they are not the only ones who has spies in this place rather than us." The leader implied, rather than them and Gallia they have reconquista and possibly Germania lurking around this place. A small feeble nation like Tristain is feasible to those big shots neighbouring it's borders and being sandwiched by both sides.
"We will continue the usual low profile way tonight but keep your distance from both Soviets and the imperial elements out there as possible. We can't afford to be compromised in this operation that the high command entrusted to us understood?" The leader reminded to all his spy unit.
"SIR YES SIR!" They all shouted in understanding which got a nod of satisfaction.
"Good folks we are dismissed!" He dismissed the meeting and prepare for tonight's mission.
(Unknown Airship, Somewhere In Tristain)
A mysterious unknown airship currently sailing to it's designated destination carrying some mysterious but armed group of men in cloaks. Whichever they go, they will be not there to do some goodwill.
"Listen my men, today we will engraved a never forgotten history in all of Tristain! Because WE will invite ourselves into the royal palace doorstep and give them a one hell of a night to remember. So prepare yourselves and follow what I'll say and we'll definitely enjoy this evening because tonight, WE WILL INCINERATE THEM TO OUR HEART'S CONTENT!" An eyepatch man holding a black metal staff gives his speech towards his men and raised his staff in the air with his men followed suit in unison and elation. Their contractor gave them an instruction to raid the royal palace and bring the envoy to their custody while kill the rest including the Queen herself. Along those orders the man with an eyepatch who is the leader of this bunch of ruffians has some other business he wants to do with and the very reason why he accepted this mission is when he's having a conversation with their contractor.
(Flashback)
Sir Menneville, a blind man whose half of his face was covered in eyepatch and leader of some group of hired mercenaries. He was currently summoned for an assignment and now on his way to hear the details of it. There he was greeted by a woman in black attire and it seems that he knows who it was.
"It's been awhile sir Menneville. I hope your not getting bored being sitting idle without doing anything." Sheffield greeted the man.
"Hmph, and I hope that there's something interesting you want us to do now miss Sheffield." He replied back sarcastically. Having nothing to do in the past couple of weeks makes him irritated to the core. He and his men was supposed to be send to Albion to aide reconquista to crush down the new rebels there but alas the rebels are quick to do their job and they eventually seize the entirety of south Albion minus the Capitol. So they could no longer send help to reconquista as they are now isolated and trapped to the rest of the mainland. Just thinking about this makes Menneville wants to burn this rebels to cinders all because they denied him of having entering the fray on the ongoing civil war there.
"Oh but you would be in delight if you hear the task that my master will give to you." Sheffield said with amusement on his casual manner in front of him.
"Hoh and what it could be I wonder?" By what he understands it seems that it would pick his attention, it would better be.
"Say sir Menneville, would you like to infiltrate the royal palace in Tristain and have fun there?" Sheffield offered.
"What...? Now Menneville was confused, he did hear it right. Infiltrating the royal palace? What a fun mission to account with!
"So would you like to hear the details?" Sheffield smirked as she got the attention of the blind mercenary. The man nodded and Sheffield began explaining the details of the mission. After a moments of briefing Sheffield asked Menneville if he is still interested on taking this assignment.
"So sir Menneville, are you going to accept or you need some time to think first?" Sheffield asked wanting to hear his reply now.
"Time to think, are you kidding me? Why would I slip this exciting opportunity presented in front of me? This is a once in a lifetime chance!" Menneville laughed in excitement. This is the mission he is waiting for, all those days that they're gone inactive was finally paid off with this daring but dangerously exciting mission for him. Having a chance to attack the very heart of the nation is a truly blessing for someone like him who sought nothing but to burn everything in it's path.
(Flashback End)
Menneville hear one of his people that the Capitol was now seen in distance. Perfect, is it time to prepare.
"Alright activate the cloaking magic device and make yourself ready until we reach the palace." He ordered and his men began preparations. They activate the cloaking device imbued with advanced magic that Sheffeild gave to them. An elven artifact that releases a concealing magic made by the elves. It will help them camouflage the ship while approaching the Capitol secretly.
While everything transpires Menneville couldn't help but looking forward to the future battle that will occur at the palace especially the information that Sheffield mentioned in their briefing about the two most dangerous individuals currently there. From what she told him this two is the one he must be aware of because they're much of a threat than any of the rest there. This only brought excitement to the former royal mage but heck he was still a bit doubtful by this claims of how strong these two are. For him the strongest opponent he'd faced so far was the flame serpent. The one who gave him burb marks on his face and took his ability to see. All his life after that incident he spend his days searching for him and yet he still has no clue where that man is. The very reason why he turned into a mercenary job after leaving the army. But all that aside for now because today he will indulged himself in this mission first.
(Spy Network Hideout Tristainia, Tristain)
As everything seems looking normal for the spy infiltration group while monitoring the whole Capitol for their envoy's protection their radar system suddenly blared in warning.
"What is it?" The leader asked there communicator.
"Sir our radar detected a large silhouette of a flying object entering the Capitol and it appears to be an airship!" The communicator replied while looking the radar blaring with large red dot in a shape of an oval beeping within it.
"A single airship entering the Capitols airspace? Where is it heading?" The leader asked in serious tone, looks like he smells a big incident here.
"From the path it's taking sir, it's heading towards the palace!" The communicator informed in alarm.
"This not good, I have a hunch of who they are and what they are after. Wait, why is it someone didn't notice an airship flying above the Capitol?" The leader suddenly asked about the obvious. There's still no one manage to notice an airship infiltrating eventhough it's nighttime there's no way they could not notice a large object like an airship floating above this populated place.
"Sir I have an aerial visual of our satellite sir and it seems that the airship turns invisible." The CO informed.
"Invisible, it is magic?" Seems like a reasonable explanation of why the Capitol didn't even alerted on this.
"Alright I will call out the group for an emergency and prepare ourselves for this upcoming encounter while you will stay here monitoring the situation and keep us inform." The leader let out an immediate order.
"Yes sir!" The CO saluted and the spy leader hurriedly contact the group for this emergency.
(Royal Palace of Tristain)
The meeting with the envoy was officially about to begin. Very important figures within the kingdom are now currently present at the meeting hall because this meeting serves as an important measure concerning the security of the kingdom and also uniting a stand against a common enemy that tried to take them out. For security, the musketeer unit are safeguarding the room while the palace guards are patrolling the vicinity but among them are some conscript units armed with AK's are also patrolling the whole palace. Zaric's soldiers a quite a spectacles to see for the residents of the palace especially for the maids. The shinobi units was also present while hiding their presence within the palace and of course Saito along with Louise is the one who tasked to be the head of security while Zaric is attending the meeting because of her position as the tristainian commander.
Count Norman Alford, the most important figure for the meeting along with his personal guards finally showed themselves in this event. As everyone now all present the Queen enters along with Agnes, Henrietta seeing that everything is in order she commence the start of the conference meeting.
"With now all the subjects here, I hereby announce the beginning of this meeting." Henrietta declared out loud for everyone to hear and they all take their respective seats.
"Now, Count Norman Alford shall we begin the talks about the mutual relations you want between the royalists and my kingdom and what benefits we will gain from this?" Henrietta asked first as start for the meeting.
"Yes your majesty, I have some proposals that I hope you all be agreed with." Norman replied with politeness and begin his speech. While everything transpires inside the meeting room some trouble also beginning to surface outside the palace vicinity.
Saito and Louise are having some strolling around the palace hallway to keep supervising the security until the meeting is done. Looking at the area with supervision Saito's radio suddenly blared to life.
"This is the commander, something the matter?" Saito asked from his comms.
"Sir we have an emergency, our radar system detected a strange large object entered the Capitol and now approaching the palace." The communicator replied in alert.
"What, and you just reported it until now?!" Saito was annoyed by the late report as this uninvited bogey has now already in the Capitol.
"Forgive us for the late report sir but due to our visual scanning we saw nothing in the vicinity but our radar suggest that their is something approaching towards us. We got some confusion to confirm whether we have troubleshooting happening in our radar system that's why we were late to inform you sir." The communicator officer explained in apology.
"Not seeing in vicinity, is it using magic to conceal itself to approached undetected?" Saito wondered about the possibility that they are hostiles wanted to infiltrate the palace and they're aim is probably to disrupt the meeting.
"Understood, but next time I want you to inform me immediately whether it's a confusion or not." Saito reminded.
"Yes commander and I apologize on behalf of our communication team for the late report." The communicator replied and Saito turn off the line.
"Saito is something happened?" Louise asked in concern after hearing his conversation on the other line.
"We've got intruders and they're now approaching the palace." Saito replied in a serious tone, this meeting is getting a serious trouble.
"WHAT, INTRUDERS?! Saito we have to inform her majesty now!" Louise blurted out in panic. There are some unknown people forcefully entering the palace and surely in Louise book they are definitely bad guys.
"Calm down partner I've got this but first I have to inform Zaric." Saito then began contacting Zaric through his radio.
"Zaric come in." Saito spokes to his radio.
"Saito, something wrong?" Zaric replied on the line.
"We've got company." Saito replied in a simple but understandable words. A brief pause before Zaric respond on the news.
"Understood, when and where?" Zaric asked in specific.
"Just now, a large flying bogey probably an airship entered the Capitols airspace and it's heading here. It uses some sort of camouflage magic to slip through without being spotted in the vicinity." Saito explained.
"I see, thanks for the warning." Zaric understands and now knows what to do.
"I'll leave to you the situation there." Saito entrusted Zaric for the safety of the people in the meeting.
"No worries I got it." Zaric then cut off the line and Henrietta asked her if there's something happening.
"Zaric is something wrong?" Henrietta asked in concern, everyone inside also tense up and confuse if there's a problem outside.
"Some intruders is entering the palace." Zaric informed in a calm manner but the whole meeting was thrown in shock.
"INTRUDERS?!" One of the nobles in the meeting blurted out into shock soon followed by the others as the meeting becomes full of shouts and worries.
"EVERYONE CALM DOWN!" Henrietta seems to be a mature one voiced out her authority over them.
"My dear subjects now is not the time for panic. We have to compose ourselves and deal with threat as a true nobles accordingly." Henrietta said with firmly, having a strong conviction in this situation is needed for such a ruler and Henrietta knows it very well.
"Your majesty what are we going to do?!" A nobleman spokes asking the Queen for some solution.
"First we have to stay calm and no one is going to exit this room for their own protection. We have skilled guards and my musketeers will secure this area and prevent any intruders from entering. Don't worry they are skilled enough for this task." Henrietta answered with certainty. Thankfully these words are enough to make the people in the meeting calmed themselves.
"But your majesty I may suggest something?" Duke Valliere suddenly asked.
"What is it Duke Valliere?" Henrietta respond, wanting to know the Duke is suggesting.
"Me and my wife are former military officers who had fighting experience. I suggest that if we could lend a hand to repel this intruders." Duke Valliere suggest if they could join the fight to secure the palace. Good thing they brought their wands just for this kind of situation.
"I agree with my husband your majesty, with us we would have a higher chance of defeating this trespassers. I will not stay here and do nothing especially that my youngest daughter was also there outside probably engaging the enemy." Duchess Karin, Louise mother also voiced out her approval to her husband's suggestion.
"I agree your majesty, as the general of the army it would be my shame if I stay here while the fight to defend the palace is happening within my watch!" General Gramont also voiced out his desire to defend the royal palace.
"Thats right I will also join the fight your majesty, as the general of the navy I will not sit idle here and do nothing!" General De Pointers also agreed. Soon some of the military officials present in meeting agreed and voiced out their desire to join the fray of upcoming battle. At the envoy's group on the other hand they are surprisingly composed while Count Norman visibly frowned in concern at the situation they're in. The meeting was going smoothly as it was planned but suddenly interrupted by a group of intruders whose objectives are still unknown but he has a worry suspicion of who they after. Norman glanced at the Soviet commander with scrutiny. Just now she was using a device that Stanford also uses when calling people at distances. This are one of two individuals that Stanford told him to be aware of. If any indication that they also have this magical device then there's no doubt that have some things in possession that are same with them.
'I must be wary around her and Mr. Saito.' Norman take a mental note on that. Henrietta being barraged by the army nobles demand to join the defense Zaric then calls out with an idea.
"Your majesty if you may I have a plan for this. Thats if you all willing to listen." Zaric suddenly came out with a solution.
"What do you suggest commander Zaric?" Henrietta asked her.
"I suggest that we should agree with them. They have experience in fighting this kind of threats and the more hands we can get the more chances we survive this, since I was also planning to intercept this unwelcoming visitors we have." Zaric stated his idea on agreeing with them.
"You too Zaric?" Henrietta asked but not surprised by her familiar's suggestion. She knows that Zaric is not a kind of person that will just sit still while something is transpiring.
"Yes and I suggest that I'll be planning the strategy of what are we going to do. Well unless if you guys are willing" Zaric said her proposal for this upcoming encounter. The nobles present look at one another and it seems they all have nodded.
"Very well then, so what is your plan Ms. Zaric?" General de Pointers then asked on behalf of his peers.
"Thanks for the trust you guys given to me. Now then this is our strategy plan..." Zaric then began to say her plan to defeat the incoming possible hostiles.
(The Area Onlooking The Palace, Somewhere in Tristainia)
The allied spies observing the situation at the rooftop while looking at the royal palace direction. Spectre looking through his binoculars closely monitoring while the others are on standby.
"Any changes so far there?" The spy leader asked while also glancing around for any threats.
"Sir, I think they already aware of the airship entering there premises. I saw some guards suddenly hurrying around in positions. Seems like they'll gonna combat the intruders head on." Spectre reported while still peering through his binoculars.
"I see, keep monitoring them and report for any changes." He instructed.
"Copy that." Spectre replied keeping his sights to the situation in the palace. Beta leader then faced towards the other spies in waiting.
"Alright listen up, we have objectives. We will be on standby and keep an eye on the situation, interfere if a must but only if we have no choice and do it with secrecy without alerting them of our presence." All spies nodded, clearly understands his message.
"Good, we pass this night without problems and our mission will be accomplished as good. Got it!" He said to his men and all responded with confidence. The spies will be on the lookout, ready to move if something didn't go out in the palace's situation.
(Back At The Royal Palace)
At the rooftops of the palace, several hooded men jump out from the air and landed on the vicinity. They check their surroundings for any presence before they quietly proceed to enter the building. Unfortunately, before they even took a step towards the entrance a smoke suddenly bursts out on their ground covering the area along with them.
"What the-WHAT IS THIS?!" One of the hooded men blurted out while coughing from the thick smokescreen that envelops them. Before he could even aware of their situation he hears a scream along with a sound of a flesh being slice in half.
"AAAARGHHH!"
It was a sound of one of his comrades being cut down by an unknown enemy.
"SHIT AMBUSH!" With sudden realization he shouted to his comrades to alert them but what he hears as response was not he wants to hear.
"AAAAAACKK!"
"GGGGUURRGH!"
"UUUUUURRGH!"
"W-WHERE ARE THEY, I CAN'T SEE-ACKKK!"
The sounds of his slained comrades was clearly heard behind the thick smoke that engulfing around. As if the unknown hostiles is picking them out one by one just under the thickness of the smoke.
"FUCK THIS, SHOW YOURSELVES YOU COWARDS I'M NOT AFRAID OF ANY OF YOU!" One of his comrades shouted while swinging his staff around the smoke and then attempted to cast a fire spell when suddenly a blade pierce though his heart from behind make him paralyze in shock as he fell on the ground with groan pain, slowly the light leaving his eyes for eternity.
"FUCK WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" He shouted in frustration, he could launch a fire spell around but would potentially hit his comrades around. If he could use a wind spell that would disperse the smoke but no he was a fire mage that only knows fire spells. Thankfully for him the smoke slowly dissipates but what the next seen he saw abruptly stops his heart in shock.
Pile of corpses, a pile of dead bodies bathed in blood belonging to his comrades scattered around. Just a moments ago that he saw them alive but in just a span of a minute they all laid in the ground lifeless. This sight mortified him and was now realized that he is the only one left alive. Before he could do something a smacked in head was all he felt as he falls on the ground losing consciousness. Behind him was a group of masked men with a young man in the middle holding an antique sword, the same man hit the last intruder in the head.
"Carry him for interrogation and make sure he spits everything out." Saito instructed to his shinobi units.
"HAI!" They complied and carry the unconcious intruder away.
"The rest of you clean out this mess. It's started to get awful here." Saito ordered the rest. They all replied the same and started to clean the place while Saito informed Zaric on his radio.
"Zaric, my sector here is clear." Saito informed.
"Affirmative." Was the only reply Zaric give before the radio is off. Saito then proceeds to leave the area to move to his next objective.
At the other side of the palace, a fighting ensues between the palace guards and the mage intruders as the guards was on verge of losing ground.
"HAAA! This common guards has no chance of beating us head on. They should accept their fate rather than resisting their inevitable!" A fire mage mercenary shouted with glee while firing his fire spells towards the guards who struggled to fight against this group of intruders. Some of them already suffered some burns while some are barely, but they could not afford to back down especially if the royal palace itself was at stake. The intruders fire another volley of fireballs and the guards preparing for the impact.
"FIREBALLS WATCH OUT!" A palace guard shouted when suddenly a gust of strong wind swooshed away the fireballs.
"WHAT?!" The intruder was taken by surprised, it seems like the palace mages manage to arrive in time.
"So this are the intruders we need to deal with." A strong female voice speaks out.
"How impudent, to have a gall to attack the royal palace!" Followed by a man with a regal voice.
"So dear, shall we teach them a lesson to not mess with our kingdom?" Karin asked her husband.
"Yes of course my dear, let's show them the might of the tristainian nobility!" Duke Valliere respond. The Valliere couple showed up in the battle in a timely manner, bringing hopes to the now battered royal palace guards. The mercenary intruders was taken aback by this sudden turn of events.
"Ho ho ho, I never expected I would encounter some big shots here especially you Karin of the Heavy Wind!" The fire mage who seems to be leading the part of this intruders spokes out.
"And I'm not fond of being facing any of you bunch of insects." Karin shot back with clear annoyance.
"So why don't we end this quickly so that we could return back looking to our daughter my dear." Duke Valliere then said to his wife.
"Yes, let's finish this mongrels off quickly." Duchess Karin replied as she prepared her wind spells in her wand.
"Hah as if we go down that easily. Don't dare underestimate us!" The fire mate replied as he and his fellow comrades also prepare their own fire spell to unleash and the two side begin their clash.
(At The Palace Gardens)
Menneville steps of the ship and landed the place backyard along with his men. They are the last group to landed as some of them already landed in some parts of the palace. It is more convenient that they cover more ground than focusing in one area, the palace is big after all.
"Finally were here, alright let's start wrecking fun in this place." He said to his men and they all stealthily walk towards the palace building.
"This is as far as you go fools." A female speaks suddenly gained their attention as they alerted themselves.
"It seems that we got caught early than suppose to be." Menneville sense some people in front of them. Although he can't see but he can feel them through heat signatures by his magic as if he was a living thermo sensor.
Zaric and the other nobles confronting the enemy at the palace courtyard. They've been informed that the majority of the intruders will land at the gardens so they here to deal with them accordingly while the rest will took care of the others who infiltrated in different locations of the palace.
"Welcome to our humble abode. We would like to know what are you guys want for visiting the palace unannounced?" Zaric started the introduction and asked.
" And why would I answer that?" Menneville asked back.
"Because if you don't, we will going to forcibly know it...in a way you wouldn't wish." She said through a threatening manner.
"Hoh you think I'm scared lady? Hah as if I would be intimidated by a mere commoner like you!" Menneville mocked at her. Zaric raised her eyebrow in surprise as this man seems to know her that he deduced that she was a magicless individual.
"So you know about me, it seems your superiors was aware of our presence then. Well can't be surprise after all the stuffs we've been doing." Zaric already predicted this that their enemies would soon notice about their existence due to their actions so far that would definitely gain their attention.
"More like we've just informed about you and the other guy. They told us to be aware of you as you might pose a danger to us but I highly doubt if someone like you would last long against us." Menneville boldly said with confidence.
"You might pull out a fight using your musket but that was all there is. Without magic power, your nothing but a good target practice." He said while tapping his metal staff, eager for a battle.
"But boss, we would like to keep her in one piece. It would be a waste if we didn't enjoy a fine goods as a reward!" One of his goons suddenly suggested while at Zaric with lustful gaze.
"Aye boss look at her she's quite a sight to behold and here I thought that the queen was the only unparalleled beauty in this kingdom! We want to have fun with her after we complete this boss." Another pervert goon complimented.
"Hm so she's quite a beauty I presume? Ah it's unfortunate that I could no longer see it but I guess she's a sight to behold." Menneville let out a comment also agreeing with his men. Then suddenly a shot rang out across the surroundings making their attention back at the person they're talking about.
"I'm running out of patience, so I offer you bunch of clowns a chance to lay down your staffs while you can." Zaric fired a shot from her magnum revolver through the air and give them a warning to surrender. She still has a courtesy to give them an ultimatum despite them talking perverted things towards her.
"Heh can't wait to be laid on lady, well then let's all take a dance shall we?"Menneville menacingly said, was bit pissed from her words as the fire formed at the edge of his staff preparing to strike.
"Here it comes, all of you proceed as planned!" Zaric yells out as everyone complies and now the battle at the palace courtyard begins with the enemies firing the first shot.
Meanwhile at the meeting room, the remaining nobles, the queen and the envoy's group are patiently worried while waiting from the reports regarding the ensuing battle outside when suddenly the former queen Marianne barge in hurriedly along with Agnes inside the room. The nobles stands up showing a gesture of respect towards the former queen.
"Mother!" Henrientta immediately approach her mother and hug her tightly.
"My dear daughter!" Marianne also returned the hug as they embracing each other. They both broke up after and the queen looks at her bodyguard warmly.
"Thank you for bringing my mother here Agnes." Henrietta gives her thanks to Agnes and her Chevalier personal guard bows her head in respect.
"It is my duty to follow your orders your majesty." Agnes replied. After this crisis started, Henrietta ordered her to fetch her mother from it's quarters as she worries that she might be in danger against the intruders. Thankfully she was safe and Agnes manage to bring her.
"My dear, I heard there are some intruders entering the palace is it true?" The queen asked worriedly.
"Yes but thankfully we're aware of their infiltration and some of us are now dealing with it." Henrietta replied assuring her mother that everything is within their control.
"Agnes is their any news about the situation?" Henrietta asked suddenly became serious, wanting to know about the latest situation.
"From what I received just now, sir Saito and his unit already took care of the intruders at the top. The Duke and Duchess of Valliere are currently dealing with some intruders at the west side while Alena and the others are now engaging the enemies at the courtyard." Agnes reported completely.
"I see, I hope this crisis would end soon." Henrietta wished that everything would soon be over and back to normal again.
At the side of the envoy, Norman saw the former queen and decided to pay respect to her also to gain more trust. Despite this scenario he still needs to be professional and do what he must.
"Sir I have something to report." One of his guards suddenly whispered through his ear.
"What is it?" Norman whispered back.
"Our spies reported that the situation outside will might be getting worst." The guard warned the about the incoming danger.
"The intruders airship is planning to launch a cannon fire in this palace." The guard revealed the bad news.
"What...!" Norman was shock but in a quite tone so that no one could hear his reaction.
"That's why we suggest that we will going to evacuate you if things go haywire. The spies will provide a safe route for you if things went bad. They have a high suspicion that these intruders are going after you since they choose to attack in this day." His guard informed him of the possibility. It is really obvious that he is the one they after and Norman very well aware of this. It might probably the reconquista or their secret Gallian collaborators in this mainland according to the information the spies provided to them. Stanford told them to secretly contact their spies here in Tristain but limit it at the same time to avoid getting discovered. He was now worried that this situation he's in might getting worst than he anticipated and now this people was in danger of getting bombarded.
"But what about them? If the intruders are going fire at this place then they are in great danger." Norman whispered back in worry, getting concerned about the safety of this people and the queen.
"You don't have to worry sir, if the commander's hunch was right then they have a means to counter this kind of threats." The guard assured. Now Norman thinks about it. Zaric has the same communication equipment like Stanford using and probably some more magical things in their possession. If it's true then they might have some countermeasures to repel this attack.
"Alright, let's pray to Brimir that his assumption is right." Norman could only wish that everything will not go south.
(Some Rooftop Area in Tristainia)
After contacting their inside man at the palace the spy leader's radio suddenly blared again as their radar C.O back at the hideout is contacting them in urgent.
"Sir urgent report, I have detected a flying airship approaching fast towards the capitol!" Their radar operator reported about a new situation.
"What, is it also from the enemy?!" The spy leader asked wanting to know if it's another problem.
"Probably not sir because I'm detecting some radio waves in this one and its also fast compare to a typical airship of this era. This might be from the soviets or imperials." The operator replied.
"So their reinforcements have arrived then, that's good. They have now means to battle that airship above the palace, least of our problems." The leader sighs in relief that it was not another crisis because if possible they don't want any complications in this mission now.
"And sir this might be important but I also detected a very small bogey idling just inside the Capitol." The operator added another report.
"Say it again C.O, a very small bogey just inside the Capitol?" The leader wanted some clarity.
"Uhh yes sir, I don't know what it is sir but its just suddenly appeared out of nowhere. From the looks of it, it seems it's just observing." The radio officer informed.
"I don't like the sound of it but thank you for the report officer, keep us updated for anything unusual around the vicinity." The leader said.
"Yes sir." The C.O response and the radio cuts off.
"Men get ready, we have something to investigate." He ordered and his fellow spies understood and prepare themselves to investigate the mysterious observant.
(Somewhere Above The Capitol)
Sheffield on top of her flying familiar observing the events that unfold within the palace. King Joseph ordered him to foresee the situation and report what she observed regarding the two familiars. She saw the battle at the palace courtyard currently happening as Zaric handling Menneville's men fairly along with other nobles who fights back strongly thanks to Zaric's instructions.
"Your quite impressive queen's familiar. You manage to push Menneville to his edge" Sheffield commented in interest as she saw how she fights and commands. Truly commendable and out of this works, her movements and tactics are quite phenomenal. She is different to anyone else being without magic and she put up a great fight but what intrigues her the most is her mysterious magical coat that can resist fire spells. Everytime the fire spells land hits on her she uses her trench coat to cover herself and she was left unscathed thanks to that, it's probably imbued in special magic against any attack base spells.
"Hmm, what an interesting piece of artifact." Sheffield tempted to snatch it especially her musket weapon that fired multiple shots before needed to reload but it would be risky if she did so. It would be great gift to her lord if she manage to get her hands on those. As she was entertaining herself watching the live battle she suddenly notice that the airship is now positioning itself for cannon barrage. She deduced that the airship is making it's move seeing that it's allies below is now in tight situation.
(Back At The Palace Courtyard)
The battle was heatedly intense...literally as each opposing sides throws their spells at one another though the other one is slowly getting push back with Menneville's men slowly dwindling in numbers.
"Kuh, your really now getting on my nerves bitch!" Menneville keeps attacking with his intense fire spells but to no avail. Zaric was good at evading and retaliating at the same time.
"What's wrong, I thought you said this won't last long for you blind fool!" Zaric taunted, this infuriates him more.
"GRRRRR THAT'S IT, I DON'T CARE GETTING YOU ALIVE NOW! I WILL JUST BURN YOU TO DUST!"Menneville running out of patience unleashes his ultimate fire spell. A giant fire vortex is forming at the tip of his staff directed towards the all of them.
"General De Pointers NOW!" Zaric signalled the navy general.
"GOT IT!" The general responds and started to cast a giant water vortex on his rapier wand intending to counter the fire vortex spell his opponent was going to release.
"ALL OF YOU BURN TO CINDERS!"Menneville shouted as he launches his spell towards Zaric and her allies.
"NOT ON MY WATCH!" General Pointers counters with his own water vortex spell. The two strongest magic spells collides at the middle and a ring of explosion occurs on impact creating a huge fumes of fog scattered around the area. A few moments have passed as the cloud of smoke subsides seeing the aftermath of the explosion. A crater was created due to the collision and Menneville now at the state of was exhaustion after releasing his powerful spell.
Huff huff I see, so that's why you keep him from fighting. You make me exhausted and trick me to use my trump card and counter it with his water spell. Very clever, now I understand why she said you are a threat." Menneville commented in exhaustion, seeing general De Pointers still standing and not tired he unleashed his powerful attack.
"Actually he fought a few just awhile ago so he's not at full condition and his attack earlier was not at his prime." Zaric explained which gains a shock expression on the blind mercenary.
"What?!" Menneville was surprised.
"Water beats fire, surely you should know that common sense. From the elements itself he's already has an advantage against you. He's the perfect countermeasure to someone like you isn't it not?" Zaric stated the obvious. Menneville hearing this could not help but laugh.
"KukukukukuKUHAHAHAHAHA!" INTERESTING COMMONER FAMILIAR, INTERESTING! YOUR A ONE TRICKY PONY!" Menneville let out a crazy laugh gives unnerved feeling not only to the nobles but also to his men.
"I get it now, if this is your play then I will play along with it!" He said as he pull out something on his clothes.
"Good thing I considered her advise and prepared for this." He pulled out a pouch and open it revealing a pill inside and he immediately swallows it. It was a recovery magic drug that makes him instantly recovers his stamina in a blink and full condition.
"A drug that recovers your magic power, he's also well prepared." General Gramont commented while watching the situation transpires.
"Now the real fun part is about to begin!" He declares while raising his staff in the air alerting the nobles in the vicinity for another incoming attack.
"How about we watch how your precious palace crumbled to ruins first?" Menneville let out a malicious smile as an airship appeared above the palace removing it's invisibility. All of the Tristainians looks up in horror as they knew what he meant by his words.
"NO, THE PALACE!" General Calincourt watch in horror along with other nobles as the airship started to aim it's cannons at the palace.
"YOUR MAJESTY!" General Marquis De Gramont was now extremely worried that their queen is now in danger against the enemies airship. Alas they forgot about that thing and their own airship was nowhere near the Capitol to reinforce them. There is no way they could fight that ship not with some enemies here on the ground. Menneville seeing their despair laughing hard thinking that he has the last stick.
"KUHAHAHAHAHA HOW'S THAT BITCH. BET YOU DIDN'T SEE THIS COMING! Menneville laughed with a snickering face along with his remaining men who also cheered alongside him. But the triumphant face he has suddenly submerge when he hears Zaric's chuckle which also makes the nobles around her confused.
"Oh I'm sorry, your just quite hilarious with your laugh though. Your just like some typical villains in the show that thinks they got the W." Zaric resist her amusement as she face up him.
"Let me tell you shitbrain, don't count the chicks while the eggs still not hatch." Zaric replied.
"YOUUUU!" He could no longer allow her insulting him and lets out a signal by swinging down his metal staff.
The cannons on the ship immediately let out a barrage of cannon balls speeding towards the palace as the nobles and palace soldiers shouted in horror at the inevitable. General Gramont closes his eyes as he didn't want to see it. He was expecting an explosion to occur, the crumbling walls of the palace and the shouts of dying people inside.
A seconds have passed as Gramont lamenting himself in guilt that he could not protect the palace and his queen but the explosion he was expecting did not occur. He was confuse and slowly opens his eyes just to see people around stared above in complete shock including the enemies themselves. He also looks upward and his eyes widened by what he saw.
"Wait, what happened?!" Menneville the only one who didn't see anything asked in confusion. As if time stops for him as everyone went quite. He did not even hear the explosion from the cannon impact that he was waiting but instead a complete silence.
"B-boss th-the-the-" One of his men could not speak properly in his place.
"Speak what is it?!" He demanded.
"Th-the cannon balls stops...i-in mid air!" He manage to say.
"What do you mean by stop?!" Menneville no longer knew what's happening.
"A-and th-there's a strange airship suddenly pop out of nowhere!" He added in uttered shocked.
"WHAT?!" Menneville losing his thought at the sudden change. He could no longer comprehend everything that transpired.
"Bet you didn't see this coming." Zaric words suddenly rang out talking to him. He face at the direction of the woman with furious expression.
"Y-YOU..."He's seething in full anger knowing that Zaric makes a fool out of him.
Above them was a strange white metallic airship with some orange details. A turbofan wing engine and a platform deck befitting of a ship. This ship was far more advanced than any airships in existence. It was none other then the Ostland, professor Colbert's first advanced technological invention in this new world. At the deck of the ship professor Jean Colbert along with some imperial soldiers standing while at the front a mysterious woman wearing an imperial army officer uniform ( I did not make her wear a schoogirl uniform just like in the game cuz it's kinda lame and ridiculous for such a commando) stretching her right arm forward with her irises in the eyes glowing a pink hue.
Professor Colbert was tensed up in his position. He didn't know who this girl is but only her name since she introduce herself to him back at the base. Saito let out a distress signal a while ago saying that the palace is under attack. He and some army personnels at the base immediately scrambled themselves in a hurry to help although he worried that they didn't make in time but he's not expecting they'd arrived this fast in the Capitol. Truly marvellous piece of advancement that Ostland could travel faster than any airship this land could offer. Thanks to it they managed to reach in such a perfect timing.
The woman in front of him who appears to be the one responsible of stopping the cannonballs from hitting it's target suddenly raised her other arm and the cannonballs moves on other direction pointing towards the wooden airship. And with just a flick of her hand, the cannonballs launches themselves back towards where they came from and the next thing happens was multiple explosions appeared not in the palace but in the enemy's airship. The cannonballs hit the airship's guns effectively taking it out of battle.
"No our airship was hit by our own cannon balls!" A mercenary yelled in shock seeing their airship damaged by their own attack.
"Boss what are we gonna do now!" He said in desperation towards their leader. Menneville himself was now in utter shock. Everything was turning around against them in a whim.
"No...I cannot accept this, not until I meet that man again. I have to escape first!" Menneville then immediately runs away to the other side of the palace garden trying to escape along with his remaining men when suddenly someone stops him from his tracks.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!" Agnes with her musketeers suddenly block his way pointing their newly acquired AK-47's at the fire mage.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Menneville shouted as he launch a fire spell aiming at the musketeers. The girls in respond fire their assault rifles at him grazing his shoulders in the process stopping his spell. The musketeers was ordered to capture the leader and not to kill him so they fire at points where not fatal only to immobilize him.
"AAARGH, What's with those muskets?!" Menneville stumbled a few feet backwards reeling from the slight surprise of the assault firearm.
"MEN PROTECT ME!" He calls out his remaining goons and they rushes to his rescue. They immediately cover their leader who had been in a tight spot. Menneville seen this as an opportunity attempt to cast another spell to retaliate and he doesn't care if his men will caught in crossfire, they're just meat shields to his view.
"Fools." Menneville evilly smirked as he let out a stream of fire that caught his men at the front causing them to scream in shock at what their leader did. Being burned with shock on their faces while the flames consume them as it continue sailing towards Agnes and the musketeers who caught in shock at what Menneville did.
'He would go that far as sacrificing his own comrades?!' Agnes was shock but also angered at the actions this man do. She snapped back from surprise as she saw the red orange flames rapidly surging at their direction.
"GET OUT!" She shouted at her unit but sees it was to late. As everything was hopeless for them a man appeared in front of them and block the fire with another fire causing an impact. Agnes covers her face at the impact while her musketeers was thrown a few feet from the explosion knocking them out unconscious. When she open her eyes she saw a man in blue robes holding a staff standing in front of her. Then a flashed of memory in the past pass by her sight with the back of a man standing in flames. Agnes was confused by what she saw as if this man who save her and her musketeers in the nick of time was somewhat familiar.
"Miss Agnes, are you and your musketeers alright?" The man called out and asked. Agnes then immediately recognized that person and it was professor Colbert of the magic academy. She meet him in their visit with the queen in the past at the academy. Agnes hurriedly checks her comrades condition.
"Y-yes, they've just knock out unconscious. Thanks for the help." Agnes appreciated the help and composes herself on the situation at hand.
"Agnes, I thought I told to stay at Henrietta's side. Why are you here?" Zaric called out Agnes while she approaches them.
"Sorry Alena, she told me to come to you for assistance and I brought some of my available units." She said as she place her musketeers into safety.
"She can't help but worried about you although we know your capable of protecting yourself, but she can't help it though." Agnes explains that the queen sent her here to help. Zaric can't help but sigh at her friend's behaviour and understands it, that the way she is after all.
"Professor Colbert, good thing you guys arrived in such a timely manner." Zaric then switch her attention to the teacher.
"Yes we manage to get here on time after we received an emergency call from Mr. Saito's back at the base." Professor replied back. It was thanks to Saito's quick thinking that they need an aerial reinforcements in this crisis since the enemy had a advantage on that and decided to use the Ostland to counter the enemies airship as it's debut.
"Great call there, now we must focus on the danger in front of us." Zaric reminded them as they are not done yet. They still have an enemy to subdue.
On the other hand, Menneville was reeling from the impact while regaining his focus. As he was able to compose he felt something oddly familiar.
'Wait, this heat... Ohh this intensity is so familiar! The same intense heat that I felt before, it could be?!' Menneville lift up his face facing towards his opponents and saw a heat signature our of three people standing in front seems he very familiar with.
"No way, IS THAT YOU CAPTAIN?!" Menneville called out as his face grew a maniacal smile like a kid drooling from a candy inside a store. Colbert heard the man's words suddenly got anxious but when he looks carefully at him he got somewhat surprise.
"It can't be..." The professor was shock at he saw, it didn't not notice by Zaric and Agnes the situation they're witnessing.
"Professor, why is he calling you captain?" Agnes confusingly asked but Colbert didn't answer him because of his full attention towards Menneville while Zaric stays quite but narrowed her eyes as she knew what is the professor's previous occupation before he becomes a teacher.
"WHAT LUCK, AFTER ALL THIS YEARS OF SEARCHING I FINALLY FOUND YOU CAPTAIN! WHAT A GREAT REUNION HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Menneville laughed uncontrollably in joy after all this predicaments in his mission. Seems fate wasn't cruel to him after all.
"Your face...so you got blind after that." Colbert sweating profusely while he noticed the loss of sight in the man's eyes and recognizing the man on his past that he wanted to forget.
"YES, IT WAS ALL THANKS TO YOU!" Menneville then remove his eye patch to show his permanently injured left eye.
"You put this scars on me after I tried to attack you during our last mission back at the east side of this country." Menneville explained the reason he got his burned that gave him his disability. Colbert's looks at him with a stern eyes, he never imagined that he would encountered his old acquaintance in his dark past this soon.
"Ahh~ reminiscing those glorious days when they call you in the army as the flame serpent because of your unparalleled power in fire magic. The way you burned your enemies to death is the most beautiful sight I saw and the very last thing I see in my life." Menneville reminiscing the past, referring to the professor and him as once part of the royal army. Agnes was surprised to hear that the respective teacher of the academy was formerly a soldier serving the royal army while Zaric is not really surprise from this revelation. She and Saito already aware about this, just looking at the professor they can surely tell that he was once from the military. As a fellow soldier they knew it very well with just a glance.
" Why are you here, are you working with Reconquista now?" Colbert clenched his staff tightly questioning his former squadmate during the time he served in the army.
" You could say that, I ran away after I lost my sight because of treason. I also heard that you resigned yourself afterwards after our last mission to burn down some heretic town at the east 10 years ago." Menneville replied the details that he went AWOL after their last mission. Those final days he served in the military is the very thing that Colbert wanted to forget. A day that his hands was stained with the blood of the innocents. Their conversation was not private as two people listening from their exchange but one of them suddenly dawned in a state of shock especially when she heard the blind man's last sentence.
"Heretic town...the east?" Agnes was in a complete lost in her thoughts as there's only thing that was on her mind.
"Hey you, what do you mean by a town that you burned in the east?!" Agnes suddenly demanded.
"Hmm, and why would you like to know about that woman?" Menneville curiously asked.
"What is the name of that town that you bastards burned 10 years ago?!" Agnes still demanded, she was becoming paranoid but she still wants to know. Her tone of voice was unbecoming which Colbert and Zaric notice. Something is wrong about her now.
"Heh, hell if I know. I don't bother myself remembering places that we burned to dust." Menneville was just blatantly scoffed without care of his deeds in the past.
"That place...is it D'Angleterre isn't it?" Agnes suddenly mentioned in a monotone manner with her shadowed eyes.
"Hm, D'Angleterre...?" Then it hit Menneville as he suddenly remembered.
"Oh the name of the place that captain singlehandedly burned into oblivion, I remember now! The very same day I will never forget, the way he plunged that town into hellfire was the very thing I mesmerized." Menneville stated makes Agnes began to tremble in fear and anger knowing that she was going to find out the person that destroyed her hometown.
"Those beautiful flames, the cries of the people and the very landscape of a burning buildings turning into ashes is truly a sight to behold! In that very moment that I feel a sense of amazement and envy to myself seeing such power and destruction that a single man would cause, isn't that right captain!" Menneville from his face full of ecstasy everytime he remembers it then looks at Colbert with such eyes full of amazement. The bald professor on the other hand was now in a cold sweat and dreaded face. He didn't expect that this day would come that his past will be revealed. When Agnes hears it she slowly turns her head to Colbert with wide eyes.
"What...?" She was speechless by this sudden revelation. This person referred the professor as his captain and he said the one who responsible for the destruction of her home. The very person that she wanted to hunt down and take revenge with was within her reach all this time and she wasn't even aware. The person who took everything from her and everything she knows and grows up with. Her family, friends and her home that gives meaning to her life all was taken by the man who is now in front her.
"YOU..." With a dreaded voice and hate towards the man that murdered the people she loves she grits her teeth and suddenly unsheathed her sword to attack the professor with rage.
"Miss Agnes!" Colbert was surprised by her sudden actions as Agnes was about to swing her sword towards him. But before she enact her actions Zaric immediately hold her from behind.
"HOLD YOURSELF AGNES!" Zaric yelled at Agnes which beginning to struggle at her grasps.
"LET ME GO ALENA, I WILL KILL THIS BASTARD!" Agnes yelled back with fury in her eyes glaring at Colbert who was now in total shock.
"HE'S THE ONE WHO KILLED MY FAMILY AND BURNED MY HOMETOWN, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE HIM!" Agnes throwing yells of pure anger while trying her best to escape Zaric bind. Colbert hearing her words immediately realizes something.
"It can't be...miss Agnes you're..." Colbert wasn't able to finish his words when Agnes interrupts him again.
"I WILL KILL YOU, I'LL AVENGE FATHER AND MOTHER AND EVERYONE ELSE In MY TOWN!" Agnes furiously swear still seething in blind rage without anything on her mind but to get vengeance against the professor.
"Dammit Agnes you leave no choice!" Zaric using the hilt of her revolver hit Agnes on the back of her neck. Agnes feels a surge of pain on her back neck as she slowly losing strenght and consciousness while struggling.
"Y-you I-" She can't even finish as she completely fainted on the spot. Zaric then place Agnes on the ground carefully afterwards.
"Professor Colbert we will discuss this matters in the right time but we have a problem to solve first." Zaric said to the professor while looking at Menneville who saw everything.
"Oh what drama I've been hearing back there. I bet that woman was once from that town I presume." Menneville amusingly said, being aware of the commotion. Colbert glared back at Menneville with displeasure, he wants to end this sour event quickly and settle things with his former comrade who gone mad.
Then the nobles and the guards arrived at the scene and Menneville was displeased by this turn of events.
"Tsk, a bunch of pests arrives." Menneville uncomfortably sneered at their arrival. He wants to escape but he wouldn't get this opportunity of facing the famous flame serpent anymore if he let this slide.
"Zaric, what happened here?" General Gramont asked as he manage to get to them.
"Nothing much, we've just cornered the target here." Zaric then looks at the direction the only intruder remaining is. Gramont nod his head in understanding as he approaches in front.
" All right you damn intruder this is a far as you go. Surrender now and we might even consider giving you hospitality." Gramont give Menneville an ultimatum as a courtesy.
"HAH, as if I would bite your gratitude!" Menneville rejected.
"So it is fight to last breath you want. Then let me give you that thing you want." Gramont was about to unsheathed his scabbard wand when suddenly Colbert interrupted him.
"No, let me handle this." Colbert stops the General as he didn't want anyone to intrude in his fight.
"Professor Colbert?!" The General was surprised that the academy professor is here. He knows him since he was one of his sons instructor at the institute.
"This is only between me and him and I won't allow anyone to interfere. I have things to settle with him and now is the right time to end it all once and for all." Colbert stated and Gramont came to understand it gives way. A duel between mages is sacred even if the latter one is downright dishonorable. Menneville hearing this let's a gleeful face.
"Finally I've been waiting for this moment that I will face you in a battle flame serpent!" Menneville doesn't care anymore, as long as he faced the renowned strongest fire mage in the kingdom is all that matters to him. He no longer bother what happens to him afterwards, this is a dream his waiting for.
"All of you no one interfere in this duel! We will only take action once the fight is over no matter which side is victorious!" Gramont let out an order and warning to everyone. Knowing that this was a duel they let themselves on standby. They held the duel between mages as holy and sacred no matter the situation they're in so they back off for awhile.
"Good, good no one will interfere. Now then, let's see who is strongest fire mage between the two of us flame serpent!" Menneville with excitement ready his staff.
"I don't care about that title but it all ends here now!" Colbert prepared as he cast spell which in return the blind mercenary casts his own as the clash between the fire users begin with a fiery explosion.
(Above The Vicinity Of Tristainia, Near Royal Palace)
Sheffield was taken aback by surprise by the sudden arrival of this mysterious metal airship above the palace. She didn't even aware that they have something like this in their possession. Where did it come from? From the looks of it it's not an ordinary airship obviously. This is the first she saw a ship made of metal, the details are one of it's kind and she even doubt that elves made this kind of peculiar ship since it has no sails because of its uniqueness. It might be feared looking but the ship is not the one Sheffield was afraid of but what aboards it. Using a far sight spell she saw a mysterious woman shrouded in unknown power stop the cannonballs hitting the palace and throw it back at the airship and what's more today she saw that woman suddenly did something to crash the ship into pieces at the palace courtyard. This interrupts the duel between Menneville and Colbert as everyone else saw the downfall of the wooden airship.
"The enemy's airship...its crumbled to pieces..." General De Pointers mumbled in shocked seeing the destruction from distance. Colbert notice it also and he knew what exactly happened.
'She really is terrifying. Just where did Mr. Saito get that kind of powerful entity?' Colbert wondered but brush it off aside because for now he has something to do.
"Grrgh, seems I'm the really only one left now but it no longer matter as long as I defeat you and prove that I am the strongest!" Menneville let out another barrage of fire spells as Colbert counters it with his own.
Back at Sheffield she felt a premonition of danger if she attempt to get closer to that iron ship due to curiosity. Since Menneville already failed his tasks she decided to take up the other mission that her master given to her.
"No time for this, I must do the task that my master bestowed on me." Sheffield then with her flying stingray-like golem begin glide around the palace.
"Now then where are you Miss Valliere.." Sheffield said while looking for Louise but it was difficult to find her in this chaotic situation. It will take time to find her especially this place was on high alert so she decides to widen her area of search. She summons a number of gargoyle golems to search and at the same time making distraction and commotion around that would force the young void mage to come out.
Meanwhile the Valliere couple after taken down some intruders continued their search for their youngest daughter when suddenly.
"RATATATATATATATATA!"
A sound of continous gunfire echoed around the corner. The Duke couple went around to the source of gunshots and there they saw what surprises them. A group of conscripts seemingly gunning down a group of winged-like golems at the hallway.
"WHERE DID THIS THINGS COME FROM?!"
"I DON'T NOW THEY JUST JUMP OUT OF THE WINDOW AND ATTACKED US!"
"KEEP FIRING, THEY'RE COMING!"
The conscript units continued their hail of fire towards the unsuspecting hostiles. This units was not a clone units but men that was personally recruited and trained, for the past months they began to well verse in this new kind warfare. The Duke and the Duchess quite skeptical at the muskets this common footmen holding, this must be the rumored rapid firing muskets that they were talking about.
"Who are this people again?" Duchess Karin looked skeptically at the red wearing uniform men.
"From what I know they are commander Zaric men." Duke Valliere answered.
"Anyways we have to help repel whatever this creatures are." The Duke reminds his wife they have to take action. The casted a strong wind spell that blew some of the gargoyles disabling their advance.
"Men the mages are here!" A conscript who appears to be a squad captain of this group said as they all saw the spell that clashes the golems in contact giving them a chance to gunned them down with ease. After finishing off the last gargoyle the conscript captain saluted to the Duke couple, thanking the two for assistance.
"Thank you for the help lords, we appreciated it." The captain on behalf of his men thanked the Vallieres.
"At ease footmen, but we would like to know what are those things that suddenly attack out of nowhere." The Duke asked.
"We have no clue milords they also popped out of nowhere." The captain replied then suddenly his radio blared to life.
"This is Squad 2-1 we've encountered some golem hostiles at north side of the hallway we need immediate assistance here! Sub-leader Louise is currently with us fighting this unidentified creatures in this vicinity, I repeat with need additional reinforcements!" The other squads on the radio calls out in alarm. When the noble couple heard of this they immediately speaks out.
"Dear you hear that!" The Duchess said in alarm, she didn't know what magical device is this radio thingy but it seems it's kind of communication spell but what troubles her was the message it received.
"Yes dear we have to hurry, our daughter is in trouble!" The Duke replied also in worry.
"Rest assured milords we will be here." The captain assured and he respond to the radio.
"Squad 2-1 this is Squad 2-2 where coming in for assistance." The captain answered the call.
"Please be hurry!" The other side received the transmission and cut off the line.
"We need to hurry, let's go men. Milords follow us please." The captain said as they are about to leave.
"Lead the way soldier." The Duke respond and they all hurriedly made their way towards the north area.
(Palace North Area)
"DAMMIT WHY IS THERE TOO MANY OF THESE DAMN THINGS HERE!" A conscript soldier shouted while having trouble reducing the numbers of this so many gargoyles attacking around.
"STOP COMPLAINING KEEP SHOOTING I ALREADY CALLED OUT SOME REINFORCEMENTS!" The 2-2 captain said back to his squadmate as he also having a hard time. They already spent some magazines against this flying golems as 5 shots is not enough to bring each of it down. Soon they will run out of ammo and eventually be overwhelmed if help doesn't arrived.
"EXPLOSION!" Louise kept firing her own explosions towards the gargoyles but it seems this things didn't even dwindled in numbers and just keep coming.
"Why are this things are so persistent!" Louise yells in frustration as if all of their efforts has no work.
"SUB-LEADER LOOK OUT!" One conscripts yells out on her when suddenly she saw one of the gargoyles manage to get close and now was going to grab her. Louise widened her eyes in horror as she then closes her eyes after expecting the predicament that she will get caught or killed by this strange flying creatures. She has in no time to react because it was too sudden and had no chance to avoid it. While accepting her fate she suddenly remembered Saito in flash and also with a sudden sound of metal slicing through a rock. Louise slowly open her eyes and the person she was thinking recently appeared in front of her.
"Saito..." Louise mutters his name.
"Always a damsel in distress partner. I thought your better than this. Where all those training exercises I taught you go?" Saito said onto her which the girl's expression changed into a pouting one. Around them the shinobi units also jump in action also providing assistance for the exhausted conscripts.
"I-its not like that, I was j-just caught off guard that's all!" Louise reasoned in defense which Saito just... oh well buy it.
"Yeah, yeah sure." Saito just waved it away.
"HEY!" Louise just continued pouting at her familiar's demeanor although she can't help but think back why she suddenly thinks about him always like this, as if she has fal- no that couldn't be right, RIGHT?! She brushes off that kind of thought and returned back to reality.
"No time for this we have some pressing issues in hand now partner." Saito reminded her as he also unsheathes his beam katana along with Derflinger.
"Hey Derf this are golems right, can you perhaps locate where its caster is. That mage was not that far from here I suppose." Saito asked his sentient sword about the summoner of this gargoyles while he started to sliced another gargoyle golem.
"I could sense the magical signatures based on the glowing purple runes etch on their chest because of being unique and I manage to locate a bit of the casters location though." Derflinger explained but not quite accurately pinpoint where its exact location.
"So where is it?" Saito asked still slicing through enemies.
"I sense the source was just outside the palace." Derflinger answered.
"Is that so? Alright then..." Saito stops engaging and let his shinobis deal with it while he pull out his radio and contact someone.
"Hello there, Zaric gives me permission to put you under my command and now I have something I want you to do..." Saito calls out someone on the radio and give some orders to whoever that person is on the other line.
(Outside The Palace Vicinity)
Sheffield launches an attack when she finally saw the target. She knows it would not be easy capturing her but she never thought that it would be this hard. This red armed people was so resilient and didn't even falter against the horde she sends. They stand remained their ground even against overwhelming odds thanks to those rapid firing muskets. This muskets was so terrifying that it takes so long before it reloads, spewing countless bullets in just short of time. Now it is even more troublesome to get her when her familiar arrives and makes everything more difficult for Sheffield. The fighting skills of this man was not to be scoffed at and was also unique in a different way.
"Maybe I should send more golems against them?" As she was considering sending out more the second reinforcement arrives at the scene courtesy of another conscript unit and The Valliere couple entered the fray.
"Screw this, now its impossible to get her with this many annoyance." Sheffield was about to abandon her side mission when she suddenly felt a cold chill. Her instincts suddenly screamed danger when she immediately Dodge on the side evading a sharp bullet that grazed her shoulder but she still received a serious damage. Sheffield stumbled from her flying familiar. She lost her balance and she fell down from the sky.
"Tch, not even clean shot. Though I commend her for her luck of escaping my kill." The sniper who shot Sheffield that reveals to be a woman wearing a red beret and a black uniform with a skimpy black shorts holding a high powered Dragonuv sniper rifle commented in displeasure. Still, she praises her for dodging her shot nonetheless. Looks like their enemies has some strong sense to spell out the danger around them. At the same time the golems that Sheffield summoned crumbled into pieces.
"Is it over?" The Duke asked in surprise after seeing the golems dissipated.
"I think it is." Duchess Karin replied uncertainly.
"Report." Saito on the other called out his unit.
" Commander, everything is clear in this end. The only remaining enemy now is the one on the courtyard." His shinobi unit reported.
" I see. Alright let's start clearing this area before we proceed." Saito orders his men to clear the vicinity first before they go. Then his attention averted to Louise who is now currently being scolded by her mother. Being amused by the sight he decided to let it be as it was. He has it some other things needed to do.
(At The Palace Courtyard)
"Gughh, not yet...I'm not still giving up yet!" Menneville being battered enough in their duel standing his knees with lot burn marks in his body. It is clear that he's beaten up by the professor.
"Give up now Menneville, you have no chance to win against me. You should surrender yourself peacefully since you have no chance of escaping even if you win. I have no intention to kill you otherwise." Colbert give his final ultimatum to his former comrade turned brigand. Wanted to see if there still some chance to convince him.
"Give up, surrender...? To hell with that! I've waited so long for this moment and I have no intention of giving up!" Menneville still defiant as ever attempted to cast another magic spell from his staff.
"So it is then..." Colbert disappointedly sigh at this. Looks like Menneville leave him no choice. Colbert cast his own fire spell with an intent to end him. Seemingly leaving him no options but to stained his hands all over again. Menneville is a dangerous threat so his must be eliminated before he could cause any harm.
"THIS IS THE END CAPTAIN!" Menneville yelled as her release his ultimate spell.
"HAAAAAHH!" Professor Colbert unleashes his own fire spell in response.
Two streams of intense fire clashes at each other causing everyone to cover their faces at the impact but seeing the flames pushed back by another they already know who is the victor. Menneville sees his spell being pushed back to him he screamed in horror.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Consumed in flames Colbert can't help but look in sorrow as Menneville's figure slowly disappears in the fire.
"Its over now." Colbert muttered, he has no intentions to dwell in the past anymore but still everything is yet to be settled. He needs to face the person that he committed a sin in the past and see where is this going.
(A Ramdom Alley Somewhere In Tristainia)
"Uughh, blast it! What in the world was that?!" Sheffield emerges at the alleyways holding her injured shoulder was in a complete dilemma. She has no idea what hit her that cause her to fall but luckily she manages to survives.
"Looks like your in a bad shape. Need some hands?" A random voice suddenly spokes out of nowhere that makes her alerted. From the shadows of the alleyways a mysterious man in cloak appears accompanied with others that suddenly appears around effectively surrounding her.
'They already found me?!' Sheffield was currently in shock thinking that this people possibly sent from the palace to look for her.
"How about this miss, we will treat your wounds thoroughly but in exchange you'll gonna come with us peacefully and tell us everything you know." The man who appears to be there leaser makes a proposal.
"If your so wise I think you should accept our kind offer to you if you still care for your life." The cloaked man said as his men positioned themselves around her preventing any possible escape that she will pull. A brief pause occurs when all of a sudden Sheffield let out a soft laugh that eventually broke out into a mad laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The mysterious hooded people around her looks at her ridiculously as if she was out of her mind and went crazy.
"FOOLS!" She shouted suddenly and a burst of purple light blinded the entire area that makes them covered their eyes. Then the next thing happens is Sheffield was now being sucked to a portal.
"WHAT THE-" The leader exclaimed and tries to catch her but it was already too late. Sheffield is gone along with the portal.
"Sir she's gone..." One of his men speaks as they all recovered from the flash. This group was the allies spy group that was currently spectating the recent events at the palace from distance.
"Seems like it. Its such a letdown that we didn't see that coming." The spy leader said in dismay.
"Sir I think we should leave now. The authorities might be coming here searching for her, we will be caught here if we stays any longer." The other one suggested as the soviets or the imperials might send some people here to investigate.
"Yes, alright team leaves move out." The spy leader ordered his men retreat as they all disappear back from the alleys.
TO BE CONTINUED...
SHOOT this is the longest chapter I've written so far. Sorry if it takes long to finish this. Anyways here is the extra for you so thank you for reading this chapter readers!
EXTRAS
(Louise Private Mansion, Tristain)
Another day, another hectic paperwork. For Saito, nothing is change in this kind of routine. Being tasked as the intelligence gatherer surely is a tiring duty. Apparently not all day is boring as their is someone giving the mood of the day...or worse.
"SAITOOO!" A familiar pink haired girl voice rangs out and the door from the study room slams open.
"I cooked something for you!" Louise enters the room holding a pot.
'No, please not again." Saito dreaded in thought as what kind of horrible cooking it is this time. Every time she cooks it turns out into something inedible. Thats why he forbid her to enter the kitchen and cook but this annoying little partner of his is really persistent and insisted that her house her rules. If she wants to cook for him since this is all she can for him then he cannot say no to her. In the end Saito reluctantly backed down, he knows how stubborn Louise and she will do anything that would make her feel useful.
"Hey, what's with that reaction?! I promise you it would be different this time!" Louise assured as she place the pot into the table.
"I'm sure you're gonna like it since its a food from your homeland!" Louise stated and she proudly opens the pot.
"TADAAA!"
She opens it and what appears to be inside the pot is a hot steam ramen. Saito was surprised from what he saw. It is indeed a ramen and looks like an edible one. A soothing delicious smell of aroma arose from it and nothing out of ordinary like the first previous dishes she cooks, she really keeps getting better on the bright side. Looking at it he can't help but praise Louise for a job well done this time.
"Seems like you decently did cook and actual food this time huh." Saito commended in amusement, never though after some trials and errors his partner manage to do a proper cooking.
"See I told you, I followed the instructions from your book properly and come up with my own specialty!" Louise boasted proudly.
"I see-wait...your own specialty?" Saito asked in skeptically.
" Yes, I read that ramen has many versions so I decided to create my own and I call it Sweet Fruity Ramen!" Louise proudly explained and presented her own version that what she thought as a masterpiece. Saito sweatdrops from the name he heard. Something is wrong with that name and he hopes that it's not what he think it is. Using a pair of chopsticks that was already provided by Louise he checks the contents of the said ramen and mortified from what he saw.
'Ah gods, that's why she called it fruity.' He thought in horror after seeing a sliced piece of apple mixed in instead of vegetables and not only the apple but some strawberries as well. There is also a piece of cherry as its topping. What is this, a soup of fruitcake tart?! The ingredients of an actual ramen is here indeed but some foods was mixed that didn't supposed to be in here and it was the fruits.
"Saito, is something wrong?" Louise asked in trepidation, thinking if she somewhat messed up again. Saito just sighs and massage his temples. Well at least this time all of the things that mixed in was actually can be eaten so that's an okay on him unlike last time she tries something that ends up either burnt, raw or something isn't supposed to be in a food and at worse could be poisonous. Although the taste of this ramen would be awfully not what a ramen should be taste like.
"Yeah but still be can eaten. Just next time do not include fruits if you cook something on fire." Saito reminded.
"Ah i-is that so, I thought mixing it with fruits will be good." Louise hung her head low, she messed up again. But on the positive side at least she kept learning.
"Alright thank you for the tip and next time I'll do it perfectly!" Louise then lift her spirits again with determination.
"Maybe in my next dish a pair of fish would be suffice if I make this fish cake next!" Louise with motivation stated her next course which cause Saito to foresee a bad premonition.
" WAIT NO, I mean your not going to bake an actual fish isn't it?" Saito asked in worry. If that's the case then it will be far more worse.
"Eh, it's not suppose to be it?" Louise asked in question. Oh no, seems Louise common sense is the problem here. He really needed to teach her some knowledge instead of just train her physical body. Saito decided to adjust the schedule for her personal study from now on.
Hope you guys enjoy reading this chapter and the next chapter of this would be battle oriented one so see you guys in the next one!
Next chapter: Battle for Albion
