Author's Notes:

Hey guys! I was going to put off writing this chapter today, but I decided that since I didn't have too much going on, I could squeeze it into my schedule. Hopefully, that doesn't affect quality. So without further ado, enjoy chapter 26!

Chapter 26: Uncertainty

"The current Gandalfr?" Helen said. "I suppose that explains why you have that ancient weapon."

"How are you still drawing your power from Gandalfr?" Sasha asked quietly.

"What do you mean?" Saito asked.

"A few months ago, I became unable to access his strength. I do not know why." She said.

Saito remained confused for a while. For several minutes, he combed his mind trying to find any information that would help him. Finally, it dawned on him.

"I believe it is because I became Gandalfr twice." He said.

The four leaders at the table looked confused. As far as their knowledge went, it should be impossible for someone to become Gandalfr twice.

"Allow me to explain." Saito said. "I was transported to this world about two and a half years ago in my time. For two years, I remained in Halkeginia and helped several people. However, about half a year ago, I was somehow transported back to my world. Not through a Void mage's world door, but by something else. I had no memory of what brought me back. After looking for clues for a little while, it seemed that not only was I transported to my world, but I was also transported back in time."

Saito noticed Sasha's face change a little when he mentioned time, but it quickly returned to normal, making Saito confident that she knew something.

"I knew that I would be transported back to Halkeginia, so I waited. When I eventually got back, I made a contract again with my master, Louise." He continued. "I thought that the Gandalfr rune would appear on some other part of my body, but instead, my arm became gruesomely injured. Strange runes appeared on it as well."

"These runes." Sasha said. "Let us see them."

Rather hesitantly, Saito took off his coat and shirt, revealing his scarred body and the runes on his arm. They all looked at his arm, with their faces looking very grim. It made him feel uncomfortable, but he didn't say anything. Eventually, Sasha signaled for him to put his shirt and coat back on.

"I suppose that explains your body." She said. "You do not look human, after all."

She then looked at Louise, who was cowering behind Saito. "You must be his master. Louise, was it?"

Louise nodded. "I-It's a pleasure to meet you." She said, frightened.

"You need not fear me. Human's current perception of Elves is wrong. Your relationship with your familiar seems to be quite a close one." She said. "Are you, perhaps, in love?"

Louise's face flushed red with embarrassment.

"Sasha, these people seem tired." Eres said. "Perhaps we should wait until they rest before questioning them further."

"Yes, you're right." She replied. "I am simply interested in them. Helen, perhaps you can provide them living quarters?"

Helen nodded. "Very well. Come with me." She said.

She stood up, towering above everyone in the room. She seemed to glide towards them, making her seem like a goast.

"Please follow me." She said.

They walked out of the room, following her though the large door, which closed softly behind them. She led them through several hallways before reaching a large door. When she opened it, they saw several large buildings, each of which was built with a different style.

As they walked through the streets of the town, Saito and Louise identified all four races which Gandalfr told Saito about, along with some that they didn't know. Everyone on the streets stared at them, some of them with eyes filled with hate.

Terrified of what might happen if they were to lose each other, Saito held onto Louise. They walked through the town for several minutes before reaching its edge. Stretching before them was the ice lake that surrounded the town.

There were several carriages on which were pulled by large, wolf like dogs. They were modified with skid instead of wheels to be pulled on ice. Helen gestured for them to get into one. They were carried on the ice for several minutes until the carriages stopped on the bank of a beach. A large palace carved into a cliff face overlooked the beach.

A statue of a four winged man was mounted in front of its gate. When they arrived inside, seven tall women came towards them. They all had two wings of varying colors. They wore black skirts and had their hair cut to shoulder length.

"Welcome home, Ms. Helen." They said. "What is your wis-"

They stopped when they noticed Saito and Louise. Quickly, each of them pulled daggers from underneath their clothes. Saito jumped in front of Louise, ready to protect her if need be.

"Stand down." Helen said. "These are guests. You will keep them comfortable."

"But, Madame Helen," One of them said. "They're humans!"

"These humans are our guests." Helen said calmly, spreading her wings to intimidate them into backing down.

"Yes ma'am." They finally said, putting their weapons away and bowing.

"I must discuss this matter with the other representatives. Until I return, you are to cater to their every need. Understood?" She said.

"Yes ma'am." They all replied.

"Good." She said. She looked back down at Saito and Louise. "I do apologize about that. Please, enjoy my home in my absence."

She left them inside the house and closed the door behind her. Saito felt uncomfortable being left alone with them, but the maids were all bowing towards him. Saito looked at Louise and then back at the maids.

"Would you please make Louise some food?" He asked. "She has not eaten since this morning and it is already midnight."

"As you wish, human." They said.

They walked off into one of the hallways. Soon, the aroma of cooking food was filling the room. Saito lifted Louise through the palace. It only had two stories, but extended very deep into the cliff. He eventually found a bedroom on the second story. It was carved directly into the Earth, with the walls made of smoothed out rock.

An unusually large bed was set at the end of the ovular room. It was white and looked very plush. Two sofas sat on either side of the room, accompanied by two nightstands that sat on the side of the bed. A door on the left side of the room led into a large bathroom. It had a massive tub that was carved from stone, as well as several luxurious toiletries.

Saito laid Louise down on the bed and sat down next to her. "You should sleep after you eat." He said. "It's not healthy for you to have stayed awake for so long."

She nodded and laid her head on his lap. "Do you think we're safe here?" She asked.

"I have no idea. It's obvious that the people here don't like us." He said. "I can't say I blame them."

"Yeah." She replied. "It looks like Brimir wasn't entirely successful."

"Looks like it." Saito said. "I don't know what to tell them. There's no way they could ever trust us."

"That doesn't mean we shouldn't try to improve how they look at us." She replied.

"We shouldn't go out of our way to do so, though." Saito said. "It would look too forced. We should just let things happen normally."

At this time, six of the twelve winged women walked into their room holding several large trays of delicious looking food. Most of it was fish based, with a variety of grains, vegetables, and even fruits to go along with it.

They laid the trays of food around Saito and Louise on the bed and then bowed. "Is there anything else you need, humans?" One of them said.

"That will be all. Thank you very much." Saito said.

They bowed low and left the room. Saito could see the disgust they felt for him on their faces. As precaution, he smelled the food, making sure there was no poison in it. When he gave it the all clear, Louise immediately began eating.

For several hours, they merrily ate together, telling jokes and laughing. Eventually, they finished the large feast. Almost immediately, Louise fell asleep. Saito picked up all of the dishes and went to the kitchen. All of the maids were standing there in a line, awaiting his next orders.

"You don't have to do anything." He said. "The food you made was really good. Thanks."

"You're welcome, human." They all said, looking down at the ground.

"You can call me by my name, you know." He told them.

"That would be disrespectful, human. Although, I suppose a human would not know of things such as respect." One of them said.

Saito sighed and left the dishes in the sink. He went back up to the second floor and laid in bed with Louise. A little bit of food was stuck to her lip, so Saito gently pushed it off of her. He eventually fell asleep, as the warmth from her body comforted him into unconsciousness.

Saito was woken up a few hours later. The sun had risen, and the sound of songbirds was in the air. He was repeatedly poked by something. He slowly opened his eyes to see one of the maids poking him with a stick.

"What's wrong?" Saito asked, sleepily.

"Madame Helen is here to see you. Please leave this girl here. You must meet with the Kingdom's representatives." She said.

Saito seemed extremely hesitant to leave Louise alone. He gently nudged her awake. She lazily opened her eyes and looked at him, obviously irritated that she was woken up.

"What's wrong, Saito." She asked.

"We have to go." Saito said, quietly.

"Eh? Fine…" She replied. She felt too lazy to have an argument with him.

They got dressed in clothes that were laid out for them while their coronation ones were washed. Saito's were simple, consisting of a long sleeved black shirt and grey pants. Louise's were just as simple, as she only wore a simple, long pink dress. They were led downstairs, where Helen was waiting for them.

"Good morning. I hope this day finds you well." She said, giving them a sincere smile.

"Yes it does. Thank you for keeping us." Louise said.

"I am afraid I must take Mr. Hiraga away to meet with the others." She said to Louise.

"I would rather she come with me." Saito said.

Helen looked at Louise for several seconds. After a while, her expression changed into one of 'of course!'.

"Ah, now I see why you would rather she be with you so much." She said. "However, now I am even more convinced that she must stay here."

Saito wanted to argue, but also somewhat confused as to what she meant. He was going to argue, but Louise gave him a look to reassure him that she'd be fine. He gave her a long kiss, as if to make himself believe that she was right.

"I'll be back soon." He said.

She nodded and kissed him back, after which she returned to her room upstairs. Saito turned back towards Helen. She had a wide smile on her face, which made Saito feel rather uncomfortable.

"Why're you smiling at me?" He asked.

"You two are just adorable." She replied. "Now, let's get going."

Without giving Saito a chance to respond, she walked outside to the carriage that was waiting for them. They travelled back to what Helen told Saito was the 'Parliament Building', the place that Saito and Louise were taken when they arrived.

They walked into the room that contained the crescent table. All three of the representatives that Saito had met before were sitting in the room behind the table. A chair was set for him in front of them. He took a seat, letting his tail rest on the ground.

"How can I help you?" He asked.

"Hiraga Saito," Sasha said. "We asked you here to discuss the runes which have shown themselves on your arm, as well as your status as Gandalfr."

"I understand." He replied. "What would you like me to tell you?"

"Well first," Orlan said. "do you know of the location of the other void mage?"

"Yes." Saito said. "One is the current Queen of Gallia's identical twin, Josette. Another is a blonde elf named Tiffania. She resides in Albion. The other is Vittorio, the pope of Romalia."

"I see." Eres said. "Explain for us the human's political situation."

"The countries that Sasha's sons created are all currently allied." He said. "However, there is a very powerful militaristic nation in the east that threatens war at the moment."

"Interesting. Thank you for informing us. It's good to know that Sasha's work was not in vain." Helen said. "Now, about the runes on your arm. You say they were caused by 'absorbing' Gandalfr."

"Yes." Saito replied.

"I assume, then, that that is why your body has changed as it has." Orlan said.

Saito nodded.

"Are you aware of the ancient myth of Soren, he who controls all reality?" Sasha asked.

"Yes." Saito said. "I was informed that these runes were similar to the ones that were shown in a story book, but we weren't able to find anything else related to it."

"Well, that myth is not a myth." She said. "He exisists."

A feeling of fear shot into his heart, so much so that he couldn't say anything.

"However, he also has a counterpart." Sasha continued. "Tempus, he who controls all of time."

"Time?" Saito said.

"Yes. Even long ago in Brimir's age, they were thought of as myths and legends." She said. "However, your story gives us more evidence to believe they are real. You see, there is no magic available to mortals like us that is capable of altering the flow of time."

"Which means that it could only be the work of a deity." Saito said.

"Yes." She replied. "Although we don't know for sure if this is true, it is the most logical explanation as of now."

"I see." Saito said. "Have you been able to find anything out recently?"

"No. You see, most evidence that would lead us to a conclusion most likely resides in the human world." Eres said. "Because of our…past disagreements with humanity, going to their world is out of the question."

"You adorn yourself with a crown." Orlan said. "Are you a king?"

"I was recently made king of a small land." Saito said.

"Size does not matter. Perhaps you can help us." Orlan replied.

"How could I possibly help you?" Saito asked.

"A King, no matter how small his land, always hold a high amount of authority." Eres said. "We would greatly appreciate it if you were to help us."

"Why do you want to find out if those gods exist anyway?" Saito asked.

"We want to be sure of their existence before humans are." Helen said. "If there were a way to harness this power, we must find out about it before humanity."

"If you do find that they exist in one hundred percent certainty, and if you do manage to harness that power, what will you do with it?" Saito asked.

"If you fear us exacting revenge on humanity, we can assure you that we do not plan any such thing." Helen said. "We do not expect you to answer immediately, so while you think, please feel free to do as you please."

"Okay. I'll think it over." He said.

They all left the room at the same time. Helen, Eres, and Orlan went separate ways to fulfill whatever duties they had, while Sasha and Saito went on a walk. When he walked on the streets with her, people did not stare at him as they had before. Their eyes were fixated on Sasha. She was, of course, very beautiful, but their eyes seemed to admire something else about her.

"I do not like being stared at like this." She said.

"I'd have thought that after how long you've been alive, you'd be used to it." He replied.

"Not at all. Let's go somewhere more private." She said.

They walked towards the mountain chain that watched over the series of lakes and towns. Eventually, she led Saito to a small wood log cabin. It was cozy inside and had several items of food and drinks in the cabinets.

"Is this your house?" Saito asked.

"Yes." She replied. "I've never been one for extravagance. So tell me, how does a familiar become a king?"

"That's a really long story. I just did a lot of stuff to gain favor with Tristain's queen." He replied.

"So Tristain has a Queen now? How fascinating." She said as she made them tea. "So, is the girl with pink hair your queen?"

"You're too direct." Saito replied, quickly turning red in embarrassment. "We're not married yet."

"Oh? My apologies." She said as she served him tea.

"We are engaged, but with the way the world is now, we decided to wait until things settle down." He said, as he sipped the tea. It had a strong, wood aroma that he had never smelled before, but was very tasty.

"She is a good girl. I do find it strange that you would make her pregnant before you have been wed, but I suppose times change." She said, nonchalantly.

"What?" Saito said. "What do you mean 'make her pregnant'?"

"Did you not know?" She asked.

Saito became extremely pale almost instantly. Inside, he told himself that it must be a lie. Repeatedly, he told himself that it wasn't true. For several minutes, he remained motionless. Sasha didn't seem to care about this, as she just kept sipping her tea.

Every single day since the first time he had sex with her, he had checked to make sure she wasn't pregnant. So how could Sasha possibly believe otherwise? This thought reassured him. It was impossible for Louise to be pregnant.

Author's Notes:

I'm going to be honest, I was not planning to drop that bomb this early. I just felt like I really wanted to write it so…yeah. The chapter itself is kind of short, so I apologize about that. Either way, I hope you enjoyed it. See ya next time! There also may be another chapter today, so look out for that!