The Immortal of Zero

Chapter VII: Meet Wardes... wait, is he that important if he's like that?

After Kai had extracted Derflinger from the Armory, and enhance the weapons within, he had stored the enchanted void sword within the Gate of Babylon. He had been impressed that it has the capacity to strengthen by absorbing the magic being cast to it. Derflinger said that it has been almost a century since he was last used, explaining the rusty form he had now. But that isn't the situation why Kai regretted putting him inside. The only thing that bothering him is that the Gandalfr and Derflinger had a mental connection to maintain the bond between weapon and wielder. And the consequence is-

'WILL YOU ALL GIVE IT A REST' yelled Kai in his mind for the umpteenth time.

'Lighten up partner... Those scimitars are real interesting to talk to.' replied Derflinger from inside the Gate. Kai groaned; of all the talking weapons he could choose to talk to, the damn sword had to pick Agni & Rudra, also known as the Demon Element Brothers.

'Yes master. We had a nice chat with the new weapon.' said Agni, the Firebrand side of the two.

'Yes, a nice chat.' added Rudra, the Windmaker of the two.

'Would those two SHUT UP! They're driving the rest of us crazy, and now, this idiotic sword makes it even worse!' roared Ifrit the gauntlets. If he had a full form, he would've pummeled the two scimitars to pieces.

'Even I can't rest, knowing those two would wake up the entire arsenal.' sighed Alastor the bastard sword. 'I would've thought I could rest now, after Gilgamesh gave the Gate to you, Master, but why would those two be included?'

'Because, they have the ability to combine the Fire and Wind attacks, like a certain Devil Hunter I once knew.' he cringed. 'Agni! Rudra!'

'Yes Master' quipped the two scimitars.

'If you two don't keep down your voices, I swear I'm going to put the two of you in the nearest trash disposal!' warned Kai. He felt the two blades shiver with fright.

'You're so hard on them.' said Derflinger.

'You have no idea.' sighed Kai. 'Cerberus, can you freeze the two idiots? Make sure they won't make a hell of a noise. The last thing I would hear, is that those two having an argument.' he added, referring to the ice-based tripartite nunchaku.

'If course, young master. It is my duty, since Dante has given me to you.' said Cerberus quietly, though he can still hear him through Derflinger. He then felt a sudden chill, meaning the deed is done. Since Dante had given up almost all his Devil Arms to the Ministry; except for Rebellion, Force Edge - Sparda, and Kalina Ann (Lady won't give up her weapon, no matter how hard Arthur tried.), Gilgamesh had stored the Devil Arms into his Gate of Babylon for safekeeping. And now, Kai had inherited the ability.

"What's wrong Kai? You looked furious for some reason." asked Louise, a minute later, when she saw Kai's expression. She was wearing a nightgown from last night.

"I'm fine." he muttered, looking away. He wouldn't want her to worry about him because of a small problem.

"By the way, where did you put Derflinger?" he said, looking for the rusty sword. She could have swore he took the sword after getting permission from the Princess herself.

"Inside."

Louise was curious after this word, then she remembered Gate of Babylon. "He's inside that...that glowing...thing?" she spluttered, pointing at him in a accusatory-like way.

"I would not know where to put such a sword in your room, so I put it inside the Gate of Babylon." 'To my expense.' thought Kai. He knew the ice surrounding the two swords would not hold, even if Cerberus had help with the other Ice-based weapons inside the Gate.

"Ok.. There's no stand for the sword in my room anyway, since you put that other sword in there. So I won't complain about Derflinger in there." shrugged Louise. "Come on, we better get ready for class." she added, before changing into her school uniform. Kai was used to this, he just looked out the window instead of going outside her room.

A young maid came in to get Louise's laundry, as the young sorceress went to her class; Kai said he won't join her for today, since he got bored just being a sit-in on Mr. Colbert's class, who was teaching Alchemy. He then saw the young maid looking at her with a blush on her face. When she saw him looking at her, she just took the laundry then dashed out the door. Kai scratched his head. "I wonder who that is?" He yawned, before standing up, and walking out of the room.

At the courtyard, he spotted Sylphid was laying down on the grass; her Mistress also attending class. He went to the bored-looking dragon. "Hello, my young familiar friend. How are you?" He smiled, stroking the dragon's forehead with his gloved hand. The dragon purred in reply. "You must be real bored without your Master to accompany you." The dragon nodded at his words. "Why don't I accompany you in her stead. I also could use the company." He smiled again, as the dragon let's her head up, then rests it at his lap, after he sat down beside the dragon.

"Isn't this a odd, but welcoming sight?"

Kai and Sylphid raised their heads and looked around, to see a middle-aged man looking at them with a smile on his face. He had a a slight curl in his grey hair, grey eyes, and a moustache, giving him an image of a fatherly look. He was wearing a green cloak over his emerald tunic and black pants. He also had a bowler hat the same color as his emerald tunic. By the look of the surroundings, only he was looking at them.

"Hello there." said the man, walking towards them, still having that smile on his face. "I am looking for Ms. Valliére. Can you guide me to her?"

"And you are...? I apologize. I do not know your name, and it would be bad manners to be left unknown." replied Kai, his eyebrows raised.

"I'm sorry. My name is Viscount Wardes, Captain of Her Highness's Griffin Knights. I am here to visit my fiancée." said the man, laughing heartily.

"Fiancée? I have never heard the Mistress say such a thing. You are sure of your words?" sighed Kai, standing up to face him.

"Mistress? So you're the famous familiar Louise had summoned. Yes, I am her fiancée." replied Wardes, almost itching to get his wand out.

"I see. But before I accompany you to her, would you mind not to get that wand out and point it to me?" said Kai, making Wardes flinch in alarm. "You don't want to go to her in pieces." Wardes froze at this statement, then laughed as though Kai just told him a joke.

"Hahaha, that was a good joke." chuckled Wardes, patting Kai's shoulder. "Please, lead the way."

As they walked towards the classroom where Louise is, Kai felt that this Wardes can't be trusted. He had experienced traitors and backstabbers before, and to no feat he had identified that Wardes had an ulterior motive, because of his 'smile'. 'I have a feeling that this guy's title as Captain of the Griffin Knights, hide something more sinister. That fake smile he had, and that sense of hostility I felt from him, is proof enough that this man is dangerous for Louise. I must sever the bonds but I can't hurt her for it. I need to find a way to catch him in the act.' He thought, as they went through the hallways.

'You're right about it Master. Even if I am a backstabber, there's no way that I'm that low.' said Nevan the Lightning Guitar, from inside the Gate.

'Thanks, Nevan.' replied Kai. Of all the talking weapons he had in there, only Alastor, Yamato, and Nevan are the most cunning and intelligent of them all. And thanks to Derflinger's mental connection with him, the enchanted sword had become like a mental two-way radio for him, having the advantages of advices and hints, as well as dangers. They had arrived at the classroom, only to find it empty. "Maybe the Mistress is back in her room." said Kai thoughtfully.

"Maybe I can go there on my own." said Wardes. This snapped Kai's attention to him. There was no way he would let this man would meet Louise alone.

"I will come with you."

"I appreciate the offer but I can get there without getting lost. I am her fiancée after all." he retorted, his annoyance barely visible.

"And I am her familiar. And about that threat earlier, I AM serious about it." said Kai, in a glacial voice. As he walked away, Wardes just stood there, trying to comprehend what just happened, before his legs lost their strength.

'How can a familiar like him overpower me with only his presence? I should be the stronger one because of my authority! Unless... N-no, that's impossible!' thought Wardes. Even if he's thinking it, he couldn't get the trembling out of his voice. He then stood up, before going to Louise's room.

When he got there, he had heard a flustered girl's voice, meaning that she heard the news that he had visited, and to his dismay, Kai's voice, who was only giving his reports to her. Then Kai's voice stopped when Wardes stopped by the doorway, which was still closed.

"It seems that your 'guest has arrived, Mistress." said Kai's voice, in an icy tone. Wardes knocked kon the door, and it opened on the other side. He was greeted by a sight that suggested he should've wore a thicker suit than his uniform. The whole room was metaphorically frozen, Kai had opened the door with a cold indifference, and Louise just stood there, gaping at the fact that the Head of the Griffin Knights had visit her.

"Hello Louise. I am glad that you are well." He mustered a smile, despite the cold expression coming from the familiar. That snapped the pink-haired mage from her stupor, before she hugged the middle-aged Knight. He laughed at this, but shuts up quickly, because of Kai staring at him with his cold, mismatched eyes.

"Wardes! What brings you here? I thought you were helping the Kingdom." asked Louise, unaffected by her familiar's freezing killer intent on her 'fiancé'

"I came to visit you of course. How can I perform my duties, if I do not know my wife-to-be's well being?" said Wardes. "Come, let's take a walk outside." He gestured outside of her room.

Soon, the three of them were walking through the hallways towards Vestri Court. Wardes was busy telling the pink-haired mage of his duty and adventures, from catching potential thieves, to defending the castle from incoming attacks from rival kingdoms, while holding her hand. Kai was just behind them, hearing every word the Captain said.

'If one word of all that is true, then I'd eat my sword. Especially that dragon-slaying part... no originality in telling a lie.' Kai snorted. He had been suspicious of the man for a while now. 'This fiancée business, despite the huge age-gap, means it's arranged. And knowing how Mistress acts, it's from her father. I would have a word with that man.'

They have arrived at Vestri Court, where they have seen Guiche flirting with another girl, with Montmorency out of sight(He had came to respect the girl, for her ability to whip Guiche into shape, to his entertainment.), Tabitha reading one of her books, her dragon familiar sleeping beside the petite mage, and a young maid, who was busy hanging the laundry of the mages and the staff.

"So, do you have any thought about the marriage we're having at Albion?" asked Wardes in a smile, after they had sat down on a soft patch of earth.

"M-m-m-marriage? Viscount Wardes, y-y-you know t-that I'm not of legal age yet!" spluttered Louise, her face beet red.

"Mistress is right, Viscount. You don't want to be seen as a Pedophile now, would you?" said Kai, in a bored voice. This snapped Wardes to his direction, his smile vanished quickly.

"And what do you mean by that, commoner? You dare to interrupt us!" snapped Wardes, spit almost flying from his mouth.

"Did I remember telling you that 'Commoner' is not my profession?" replied Kai, is eyebrow raised.

"Really? Then what are you?" retorted Wardes, a tick mark appearing in his head.

"I am Kaizer von Deathstone, Immortal Devil Knight of Parallel Worlds. Apprentice and Husband of the Dark Evangel." said Kai, staring straight into Wardes' eyes. The Griffin Knight Captain wasn't intimidated by his words, but when he heard the Dark Evangel's name, he paled.

"D-d-dark Evangel? You're her husband? Inconceivable!" stammered Wardes, now letting go of Louise's hand, and backing away from the familiar as fast as he can.

"Oh yes.." Kai smiled evilly, which sent shivers up Wardes' spine. "And before you start shooting your mouth off, make sure you respect the person you're talking to. You will never know what status your audience has, and death would be the least of your problems." At this, Wardes ran off. Louise turned to her familiar.

"Why did you do that? Do you have any idea how important he is?" snapped Louise, but fell silent at Kai's ice-cold look.

"If he's really that important, I apologize for-" he then took one last look at the direction where Wardes escaped his cold stare. "- scaring off your *ahem*-" he then looked at his mistress. "-fiancée. However! He's not worthy if he's a coward." he cleared his throat at this.

Louise stared at the direction that Wardes ran off to, looking worried. Deciding that it's not going to change, or him returning, she decided to ask her familiar something.

"Is it really true that the Dark Evangel is your wife?"

"Yes." said Kai, looking at the sky, lost in thought.