A heated discussion was taking place in the commander's tent. "The Pope must be informed at once!"

The General Gramont shook his head. "We have more pressing matters Cardinal, that soldier suggested that this 'Order' is going to enact a hostile takeover."

"All the more reason that we should tell the Pope! The Inquisition must take action! These heathens must be destroyed!"

"Would it even matter?" All eyes turned to Henrietta. "You all saw how... How strong Louise was... If the other members of this 'Order' are just as powerful..." Her voice drifted away as her gaze turned toward the town where the soldiers of the Order we having what looked like a victory feast. "If their all as powerful as Louise... They would be able to crush all of Halkeginia with almost no effort."

The Cardinal scoffed. "They will try and they fail, we are mages. God is on our side."

"If what Cromwell just told me about the Valliere girl is true..." All eyes snapped to Agnes as she entered the tent, a horrified look on her face. "Then God is on their side..."

"And what did the traitor say for you to make such a heretical statement?"

"He said that she has made herself into her own familiar." The Cardinal opened his mouth to speak but Agnes continued before he could. "He said that she is the

Lífþrasir, the Heart of God. One of Brimir's familiars."

An hour later Henrietta and Agnes simply walked into the celebration and immediately noticed that not only were the soldiers of 'the Order' participating, but the people of Tarbes seemed to have joined in. And all of them seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves. Henrietta had seen Commoner celebrations before when she snuck out of the palace, but at those the Commoners all seemed to just be putting on a mask to hide sadness and anger. It had been why she had tried to crack down on the corrupt Nobles.

Everything went silent when Louise jumped onto a table that had been set up in the middle of the celebration. "Victory is ours this day! We have brought honor to the Gods and glory to the Order!" There were a few cheers but nothing major. The Apocalypse wasn't known for making speeches, so they wanted to see where this would go. "Our work however, is not finished, there is much more to be done. Tomorrow we begin our true mission, tomorrow more of our brothers and sisters will arrive. Tomorrow we shall gather the remains of the Armada and harvest them for materials and we will begin to build. The Order has come and peace will follow!"

There were more cheers and Louise raised her hand to silence them. "The people of Tarbes have joined us, they have seen the glory of the Order and most of them have abandoned the ways of Founderism. To those who have not, I have but one thing to say. You may keep your ways and continue your practices, you will not be treated differently, however attempting to force others back to Founderism will be met with swift punishment. For now..." She raised a tankard, filled to the brim with beer, and chugged it. When she finished she wiped her mouth with her arm and smiled. "It is time to celebrate! So eat, drink and fuck to your heart's content!" With her piece spoken Louise hopped off the table and walked over to the two of them, a smile on her face. "Hello Ann."

Henrietta stared at the woman who used to be her best friend. She was so different now and to be honest, it scared the Queen. "Louise... What happened to you?"

Louise's face turned serious. "Follow me." She turned on her heel and began walking, the two of them following, until they were in a secluded room in the village tavern. "So, what do you want to know?"

The flood gates opened, tears falling from the Queen's eyes. "I want to know everything! What happened to you? Where have you been? Did this 'Order' do anything to hurt you? What made you forsake the Founder? Are you really the Lífþrasir?"

Louise blinked. "Huh... I thought you'd ask about the Order's plans for Tristain or about the person who ordered D'Angleterre be burned."

"I will, but right now I need to know what has been happening to my best friend for almost ten years..."

Louise looked at the Queen and after a moment she looked at the ceiling, placing a finger to her chin. "Well... I can tell you how it started but that's it."

"That's fine for now."

"Well, it all started the day I tried to kill myself."

Ten years ago.

Louise stood up from her kneeling position in her room at the Tristain Academy of Magic. She had just finished praying to the Founder for forgiveness for what she was about to do. She walked over to her window and pushed it open. Most people would be terrified at the thought of what she was about to do, but not her. No, Louise was happy, because this was an end to it all. An end to all the pain and the failure and the depression. An end to the pressure her family placed on her and to the mockery from her classmates. And end to the explosions, the end of the Zero. She climbed onto the ledge of her window and looked down, suddenly hesitant to go through with it. Then the voices in her head started speaking. They spoke in soft, comforting whispers, telling her that it would only take a moment and then she would finally be happy. All she had to do was take a step. And as she lifted her foot to do so she smiled.

But then she felt a hand grip her shoulder and pull her back. Her eyes snapped open and she turned around to see a figure, clad in a black robe and wearing a mask that resembled a smiling man. He drew her into an embrace, reminding the girl her of the hugs Cattleya would give her. "Are you sure that this is the path you want to take?" Tears came to Louise's and she shook her head. "Then why did you try?"

"Because I can't think of anything else I can do! It hurts so much, I just want it to be over! I just want them to stop laughing at me! I-I-!"

"You want to be happy, to belong?" Louise couldn't buster words so she simply buried her face I the man's chest and nodded her head. "Then all you need to do is ask."

Louise was quiet for a moment, processing what he had just said. And then she spoke. "Please... Please, help me."

The man ran his hand through her hair and spoke in the voice of an angel. "The Order will do far more than just help you Louise. We will save you, and then we will help you see how wonderful you truly are." Those were the last words Louise heard before her world went black.