Author's Note: Ok, so here's Chapter 22. This will be the last scheduled release of the year, as I have to focus on Christmas and everything that involves, not to mention catch up on my writing.

Merry X-Mas and a Happy New Year when it comes, ladies and gentlemen.

Beta'd by BigCC

Read, Review and check out my other stories!

Disclaimer: I do not own Familiar of Zero.

"Saito" -Talking

'Louise' -Thinking/ Human-Human Telepathy

"Explosion!" -Spell

:Master: -Master/Familiar Telepathy

Chapter 22: Spiritual Problems Part 3

Shore of Lake Lagdorian, Tristain

"So then, let me get this straight." Saito said, one eyebrow twitching in agitation. "Tabitha here is a Chevalier of the Gallian Crown and has been ordered to 'deal' with the Water Spirit in order to stop it from continuing to flood the surrounding lands. And you, Miss von Zerbst, did not like the idea of your friend facing such a threat along, so you chose to sneak out and accompany her. Does that sum everything up?"

"Yes." Tabitha agreed. The petite bluenette was sitting on the opposite side of a campfire to Saito, with the redheaded Kirche sat next to her. Guiche, Montmorency and Louise were sitting next to Saito.

"An excellent summation, Professor." Kirche agreed cheerfully.

"And neither of you has any idea why the Water Spirit is expanding its waters?" Montmorency asked intently. The blonde ringlette was still very much displeased with finding out that her friends had been attempting to kill what was, more or less, her family's patron deity.

"Sorry, but no." the Germanian girl shook her head. "None of the information Tabitha was given said anything about why the Water Spirit is doing this; just that it started about approximately four days ago and hasn't stopped since."

"Why is the Gallian King ordering operations in Tristain?" Saito asked with narrowed eyes. Something about this entire situation just seemed entirely off. "It's none of his business what happens in this country."

"Weaken Tristain's Water Mages." Tabitha answered simply.

"Makes sense." The Onmyōji frowned, nodding tersely. Even Saito had heard of Joseph of Gallia's empire building ambitions. If what Montmorency had mentioned about the prominence of the Spirit of Lake Lagordian was even close to being true, then killing it would have severe repercussions. Contracts were greatly affected by the strength of the entity being contracted with, and from what he'd seen so far, the Water Spirt was an old and powerful one, perhaps even as old as a full millennia. With that kind of power, even a partial-contract would be a great boon, but the inverse would be equally as dire.

If the Spirit were to be killed and its contracts suddenly severed, the backlash would severely weaken every mage who'd contracted with her, affecting each mage in greater increments by the longer the contract had been in place. While it likely wouldn't kill any of the mages involved (unlike a full contract would with a spirit of this power), it would irreparably damage their ability to wield Water Magic. Considering that Water Mages seemed to be an important part in nearly every area of Tristain's military, it would be a sore loss and a bitter blow.

"OK then." Montmorency said with not a little anger in her voice. "I'll ignore that fact that the two of you attacked my family's patron spirit and simply ask if you absolutely have to kill the Water Spirit in order to fulfil Tabitha's mission?"

"The order was to 'do whatever it takes' in order to 'quell the rampaging spirit' and return the Lake to its previous borders." Kirche said in a placating tone, doing her best to calm her friend down. "We had no idea what to do, so we just went for the simplest way."

"Without thinking about the consequences it would hold for everyone else involved." Saito stated bluntly, causing Kirche to flinch. Tabitha merely continued to stare blankly up at him. Sighing, the young Onmyōji began to rise to his feet. "I do believe that another chat with the Water Spirit is in order. Hopefully we can resolve this without getting us all killed."

As the rest of the group rose as well, Saito began to massage his temples; knowing that this entire endeavour was getting complicated to the point of ridiculousness. A Chevalier, or any knight really, had to obey the orders of their liege lord, but still…there was just something that the Japanese boy did not like about the fact that a girl as young as Tabitha had been ordered to fight a who-knows-how-old Elemental Spirit by herself, no less.

Tabitha may be immensely talented and powerful, far more than she ever let on if Saito's bets were right, but she was still a single girl facing against what was essentially a lesser deity.

It took a little while for Montmorency to call forth the Water Spirit again once they group walked back to the initial location, but once the watery shape of the Spirit reappeared, things started to get interesting.

"Brave One, Lonely One…why are the attackers standing beside you?" the Water Spirit asked after a brief moment studying the newest members of their little party.

"They are my classmates, Great Spirit." Montmorency replied nervously. "My companions and I captured them and ascertained that the reason they are here is because you have been expanding your waters. Might I ask why you have been doing this?"

"A precious item of mine was stolen from me, Lonely One." The Water Spirit responded softly. "To retrieve it, I shall have my waters envelop the lands until it is mine once more."

Saito gulped at this. The fact that the Water Spirit was convinced she could accomplish this spoke a lot about her power and age. The longer that an Elemental existed, the more power they accumulated and the stronger they became. To even have a belief that she'd be capable of eventually flooding the entirety of the surrounding lands beneath her waters meant she had to have existed for at least two millennia.

"Great Spirit, what if the thief who stole your precious item has taken it to the flying island of Albion?" Montmorency asked, her voice quavering slightly.

This made the Elemental tilt her head in consideration. "I had not considered that, Lonely One." She admitted. "But that which keeps the land of Albion afloat will fail eventually and time is not the same for one such as I as it might be for one such as you. If it should be many centuries from now or a mere year, I shall have what is mine returned."

Saito had to bite his tongue to keep from groaning aloud. That…That was such a typical plan for entities like Elementals.

Let time be your agent, for beings possessing both immortality and a near-unending patience like that Earth and Water Elementals it was a simple, accurate, and effective philosophy. Saito had been taught that the term 'taking the long view' was taken to a whole other level by the likes of Elves and Elementals, but this was ridiculous.

"Great Spirit, might I suggest a compromise?" the onmyōji offered carefully, stepping forward to offer the Spirt another bow of his own. "Your plan is indeed feasible, but if we knew who had taken your treasure, as well as what it was, it might be possible for your property to be returned in less than a century."

"Hooh…so you propose to act as my agent in this matter, in exchange for my aid with the Lonely One's request and returning my waters to their previous boundaries, is it?" the Water Spirit deduced. She examined Saito for a moment before something seemed to catch her interest. "Brave One, reveal thine left hand."

Blinking in surprise, Saito obeyed, showing his rune to the Elemental.

"Ahhh…so the Left Hand of God, Gandálfr, truly walks among us once more." The Water Spirit breathed. "As it is you who asks for my forbearance, as well as one of my contractors, I shall trust you in this matter, Gandálfr."

Everyone else looked between Saito and the Water Spirit in confusion at how…respectful…the Elemental had become of the surprised Onmyōji.

In short order, the Water Spirit bestowed a portion of itself into a large flask that Montmorency had prepared previously for the Tear.

"Gandálfr, the ones who took my treasure were three in number and all I know of them are their names." The Elemental stated. "The names were Cromwell, Wardes and Matilda."

Suppressing a sudden surge of anger at one of those names in particular, Saito offered the Spirit a respectful bow. "Two of those names are known to me. They are traitors to the Kingdom of Tristain and have caused havoc in the capital just recently. I am uncertain about the third, but presume him to be a member of the Reconquista, who seek to overthrow the Royal Families of the kingdoms, and even now wages war against the Kingdom of Albion. Now we have a target and a general location, all we need is a description of the treasure itself and we shall be ready to set forth and retrieve it."

"What was stolen from me was a magical ring, the Ring of Andvari." The Water Spirit stated. "It is a silver ring set with a single large purple stone. It possesses many powers that can be easily abused by the short-sighted creatures that are humans, including mental domination, the ability to imbue water with spells and even revive and puppet the dead. Gandálfr, this ring must not be allowed to be wielded by those who would abuse its powers."

"I swear that your treasure will be returned to you as swiftly as possible." Saito promised, and he truly meant it. That was one powerful ring! Even if the whole 'bring back the dead' thing was only a poor seeming, it was an amazingly powerful magic item. He did not want anyone that Wardes worked for to have it and it would likely be safest with the Elemental and far from mortal hands.

Nodding, the figure of the Water spirit turned to Montmorency. "Lonely One, you have impressed me sufficiently to be granted a full contract with me. Do you accept?"

The blond was positively floored by the Elemental's words, so much so that it took her a couple of tries to stammer out an affirmative.

The rest were asked to leave eyesight and earshot, as the Ceremony for a Full Contract was an immensely personal and private matter for both parties. As they walked away, Kirche hitched an eyebrow at Louise's position of hugging Saito and glaring at her. "Do I want to know about why Louise is like that?"

"Mon-mon was stupid with a potion." Saito answered with an eye-roll. "A Love Potion, to be exact."

"And she gave it to Louise?!" the redhead asked in disbelief.

"No, she intended it to be given to Guiche here in an attempt to curve his…promiscuous streak, but Louise grabbed it and drank it before she could do so." The onmyōji cringed. "Princess Henrietta was not happy."

Kirche winced. "I can imagine. You'll have to tell me why Montmorency isn't clapped in irons right now."

"Well, let's see…" Saito started. Louise glared between the two of them jealously. It was going to be a LONG night for a certain Onmyōji.

The Next Morning

Princess Henrietta's Suite, Tristain Academy of Magic

"I bid you good morning, Your Grace." Henrietta greeted the highest representative of the Church of Brimir in her kingdom with a surprisingly cool tone of voice.

Bishop Madolene, who was dressed in the traditional solemn black and cream apparel of a Bishop in his Church, winced. He was a man approaching his mid-sixties and had served as the Head of the Tristainian branch of the Church of Brimir for twenty years, almost. His Bishopric was small, yes, but he was proud of how hard-working and loyal the Tristainian people were and he was in fact one of the few clergymen to be reappointed to their country of origin upon rising to the rank of Bishop. He had always had a good relationship with the Royal Family, but he could guess exactly why the Crown Princess was not happy with him.

"Princess Henrietta." He replied in his normal soothing tone. "I trust you are well after that…invasion…a few days ago?"

"Thanks to the staff of the Academy and Louise, I am unharmed." The purplette replied indifferently before unbending enough to ask, "I trust that no member of the clergy was attacked during the incident?"

"No, we were most fortunate in that regard." Madolene replied. "Neither the intruder, nor the rampaging dragons harmed a member of the Church to the best of my knowledge. General Bowachi's men are to thank for that, I think."

Henrietta concealed a slight grimace. General Bowachi was currently the only general in all of Tristain that she was certain was loyal to the Crown, but he could be a bit too merciless to both enemy and ally for her liking. "Yes, well…the fact is that the cause for the Dragons' rampage was a traitor to the crown, Your Grace. I am officially asking for the Holy Cee to excommunicate former Viscount Wardes for his actions and intents."

That made the Bishop's eyes widen slightly. "Wardes is a traitor?!" He had heard reports of it, of course, but hearing it from the Princess was a sad confirmation.

"He is, from both his actions and his own words." The Princess said, one fist clenched tightly. "He was utterly unrepentant, almost proudly defiant, about his true loyalties. He has been stripped of his status as a Noble, his lands, monies and Army Rank have been confiscated and this is simply another way I am driving the point home to him that betraying Tristain is a bad idea. I am also placing a sizeable bounty on his head, from my own coffers."

Outwardly, the bishop merely nodded his understand, while internally he was making a rather large mental memo to never truly anger Princess Henrietta. It was becoming quite obvious to everyone that the young heiress to the throne was hiding a great deal of steel beneath her soft veneer.

"Very well, Your Highness." Madolene offered graciously. "I shall send a request to His Holiness upon my return to the Cathedral."

"Thank you." Henrietta inclined her head to him in gratitude. "The other matter which I wished to discuss with you is regarding the Founder's Prayer Book."

'As I expected.' Madolene thought with a sigh. He really couldn't put it off any longer; by both tradition and law, Princess Henrietta was fully correct that Louise de la Vallière was entitled to bear the Kingdom's relic of the Founder as its Void Mage. The odd thing was, a request for him to prevaricate on the subject had arrived from His Holiness the Pope a short while after he had sent the supposedly pro-forma request to hand it over to the girl.

Thanks to that, the relationship between Church and State in Tristain was now somewhat rocky, a state which the Bishop was not pleased about.

"I understand your need for it, your highness, but such a holy item should not be bandied around so easily." He said with practice assurance in his voice. "His Holiness has asked for additional time to consider the matter."

"By both law and tradition, there is no precedent for even His Holiness the Pope to deny access to the Prayer Book to one who is qualified to carry it." The de-facto ruler of Tristain pointed out. "My patience, Your Grace, is approaching its limits. You have until this time next week to persuade His Holiness to allow Louise to take the Prayer Book. Should that time run out, I shall be sending Agnès to the Cathedral to take it."

Bishop Madolene sucked in a shocked breath at her words. One simply did not just threaten the Church like that! By tradition and law, no armed soldiery save for the Papal Guard were permitted to enter a church save for invitation from the sitting Bishop. By threatening to have the Musketeer Captain enter his cathedral, the seat of the Church's power in Tristain, Henrietta was all but declaring that she would not be bound by the strictures of the church, like that impudent man Joseph of Gallia. He rarely ever allowed his Bishop into his castle, let alone listened to his council!

Henrietta offered the man a cold smile. "After all, if Mother Church is not bound by its own laws and traditions, I do not see why I should be bound by such."

"I shall…endeavour to persuade His Holiness regarding the merits of your case, Your Highness." Madolene managed to get out before excusing himself to do so.

"That was well done, girl." Emereldas said as the succubus dispelled her invisibility spell. "You had him coming and going between worry and shame."

"Shame?" Henrietta raised an eyebrow. She knew that the Succubus could view the desires of humans due to her nature and other emotions via various transformations she had access to, but the Bishop hadn't seemed to be ashamed to her just now.

"From what I could tell, he is being pressured by someone above him in rank to deny you access to the Prayer Book." Saito's Protective Demon explained. "He is ashamed that he is not doing what he is supposed to be doing and handing it over to you to give to the pink-haired girl."

"I see." The Princess looked thoughtful. "Thank you for your council, Emereldas."

"I had nothing better to do." The succubus shrugged eloquently. "All of my preparations to ascend to the Ninth Circle and my Avanta Ceremony are completed, and going with my master while dealing with an ancient Water Spirit would have been foolish. Helping you is simply a way to stay occupied while we await his return."

"Quite." Henrietta said dryly. "Can I ask you something? Your parents were half-doppelganger and half-onimodoki, if memory serves, granting you the abilities of both. What is the difference between them and you?"

"An interesting question." Emereldas smirked. "A Doppelganger, a pure-blooded one anyway, has the ability to shapeshift into another monster or into a human and use its abilities, albeit to a slightly weakened degree, so long as it has physically touched its target beforehand. An Onimodoki has no need to touch anyone in order to take on their appearance, but in exchange they have no ability to copy their target's abilities and powers though. My parents had watered-down versions of their respective parent's powers, but in me, there was…a mutation."

"Mutation?" the Princess blinked.

"Yes. A succubus or incubus at Circle 4 or higher has the ability to shapeshift to match their target's desired partner." The succubus explained. "Just the appearance and voice, with a few instincts thrown in to help them act as the perfect bedmate. In my parents, their non-succubus/incubus blood didn't interact much with their demon side, but in me, with three different shapeshifting abilities, they merged together. I have all of their strengths and none of their weaknesses; I can take the appearance of another that I have seen or touched, and I can even shapeshift portions of my body into the parts of different creatures to gain their abilities. And, unlike a regular Doppelganger, my mimicry is perfect, thanks to the Onimodoki blood within me. It has greatly helped me in my meteoric rise to Demon of the Ninth Circle."

"That's…amazing." Henrietta breathed.

"Why thank you." Emereldas smirked. "Succubae and Incubae usually don't try to rise above Circle 5, becoming Nightwalkers or Nightstalkers respectively. My personal ambitions make me a bit of an odd duck in that regard."

"Why do you want to become such a high-ranking demon?" the Princess had to wonder.

"Emancipation." Emereldas replied. "Once I am both a Ninth Circle Demon and an Avanta, no one in Pandemonium will have the ability to give me orders. It is why the path to becoming an Avanta is made so difficult by the Lords of Pandemonium; they don't like having demons that they cannot control. There have never been more than twenty demons that have underdone the Avanta Ceremony in existence at one time, and there is only ever one per demonic race. I will be the first Succubus to gain white wings since Lilith herself."

"So the only person who will be able to give you orders will be Professor Saito?" Henrietta asked.

"Oh yes." The Sex Demon almost purred in satisfaction at the mention of her master. "I cannot wait to bear a Cambion for him."

"Cambion?" the princess didn't know what that was, but Emereldas soon enlightened her.

"A child between a succubus or incubus and a human." Emereldas smirked at the blush Henrietta had on her cheeks. "The child will likely be female, as I am the one who shall bear it, but a boy isn't out of the question entirely considering my dear master's potential. Cambion have the beauty and inhuman strength and resilience of their demonic parents and the mortal magic ability if the father or mother is a mage. I will have to teach them control above all else though. Cambion usually lack restraint until they are past their teens."

"And…you wish to have Professor Saito father a child with you?" Henrietta asked, face still pink form embarrassment.

"I do." The Succubus smiled softly, making Henrietta's heart skip a beat. "I could tell that he was perfect for me, both as a master and as a potential mate, as soon as we completed our contract."

"I envy you that." a downcast Henrietta sighed. "I must make a marriage of state to protect my kingdom and harden my heart against love…"

"I can see that an Incubus would have a hard time seducing you my dear; your desires are all wrapped around one man, but you are locking your feelings down regarding him for the sake of your honour and duty." Emereldas observed casually, making the Princess freeze, her heart in her throat.

"Y-you know…?" she whispered in shock.

"Only an image in my mind of his appearance." The Succubus answered gently. "You have remarkably good taste, in regards to his appearance if nothing else. You should not have to deny yourself for the sake of your kingdom."

"Life isn't fair." Henriette answered with a sigh. "And please, tell no one, not even Professor Saito, about who you saw in my heart. It can never be, not anymore."

"I cannot lie to my master but I will not offer it unless he asks for the information specifically. Since I doubt that he will ever ask about whom you desire most, the point is a moot one at best." Emereldas offered. "Speaking of my master, he is almost halfway back to the Academy. I would suspect that he has succeeded in acquiring the ingredient to free that girl of that love potion."

"Thank goodness." Henrietta smiled brightly, this good news sweeping away the remnants of her shock regarding Emereldas' ability to see her love's image. "Now Louise can get turned back to normal."

"Thank the Pit for that. I was getting irritated seeing that girl hanging over my master like that." the succubus growled, remembered anger and jealousy washing over her again at the memory.

"You do recall that Louise has almost no say about what she does under the influence of the love potion?" Henrietta reminded her.

"I know. That doesn't mean I have to like it when she's rubbing herself over my master like a dog in heat!" Emereldas answered in aggravation. "I'm a succubus for the love of all things unholy, so why am I jealous over a little virgin girl who I could enslave with a touch of my finger? Grrr…!"

Seeing someone like Emereldas, who was usually very calm and compose, look so frustrated was so funny that Henrietta giggled, making the succubus pout slightly.

That only caused her to giggle more; a pouting demon was really something you had to see to believe.

Later

Louise and Saito's Suite

After getting Louise to drink the potion, and having Henrietta calm her down before she exploded in rage, the pinkette retreated underneath her bedsheets, utterly mortified by her actions while under the effects of Afrotisiac.

"Let me die~!" she wailed. "I can't be a bride anymore!"

"Overreaction much?" Kirche said with a suppressed giggle.

"I don't think she's ever had to deal with anything quite as humiliating as that dratted love potion before." Saito said dryly, shaking his head tiredly. "My easily-embarrassed master here goes through several phases with things like this; first, anger, which dear Miss Montmorency has already kindly taken the brunt of for us. Currently, she's in the second stage, embarrassment. The next one will be melancholy, which will be the opportune moment for her childhood friend to move in and snap her out of it."

"I shall do my best." Henrietta smiled as Guiche comforted his girlfriend. Montmorency was still twitching slightly from almost being blown to kingdom come by an absolutely furious Louise a few minutes previously. Something that the blond Noble girl hadn't known was that the person who drank the love potion would still have a fragment of their normal mind-set observing the actions their infatuated mind and body were taking, as well as what was said around them. Thus, when Louise was back to normal, she went right after the one she perceived to be responsible for her previous condition. It had taken a lot of fast-talking on the Princess' part, as well as a direct order to put her wand down, to get Louise back under control and prevent the entire Academy from being reduced to rubble by the pinkette's embarrassed rage.

Standing in the corner of the room, watching the group silently, was Tabitha. Her eyes flicked between Louise, Montmorency and Saito with clockwork regularity, even as her mind went over how she was going to report this to her uncle…Joseph of Gallia.

She had no choice but to obey him, as he could have her mother, her poor, insane mother, killed at his whim. She had lost her father as a child during the Gallian Civil War, and her mother had gone insane from that accursed poison a few years later. She knew for a fact that he was trying to kill her; one did not send a girl barely over the age of twelve to face monsters atop a blizzard-infested mountain, to give an example of the type of missions she'd been forced to undertake, if one did not want said girl dead.

Tabitha's…or rather, Charlotte Hélène d'Orléans' continued existence must be akin to an amusing fighting dog that continued to inexplicably survive against all odds to her uncle.

'Perhaps Professor Saito, with his different system of magic, knows of a way to cure my mother.' She thought quietly. She didn't dare attempt to do anything though. Joseph likely had spies watching her every move, even within the Academy walls. Merely speaking to him openly about her true identity would doom her mother.

But, if nothing else, Tabitha, the Chevalier de Norfatul, was both stubborn and patient. Eventually, she would find a way to cure her mother. Eventually, she would expose her uncle for the real person he was to the whole world.

Eventually, she would bring justice upon him, and his subordinate, Sheffield.

Until that day came, she would watch, wait and learn, as always.

SLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLS

Next Chapter: To Albion: Wardes' Scheme!

SLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLSLS