When she'd first learned Utsuho's skills, Louise had enjoyed some daydreams about showing everyone she wasn't a zero. That she was someone to be feared.

Now that she'd succeeded at that she found it wasn't as much fun as she'd imagined. Rumors that she had called down the Yatagarasu were all over Londinium. And now people whispered at her approach and servants quickly found excuses to leave the room. Especially if Utsuho was on her shoulder. Even Guiche was nervous and stiff around her these days.

"We'd probably be missing meals if Siesta wasn't around," Louise thought.

Utsuho rubbed her head against Louise's cheek. "Kirche would help. Or Tabitha. And if it came down to it I'd bring food from home."

She chuckled and pet the bird. Utsuho had missed the point, but the raven's support was appreciated. "If I had to rely on Kirche for food we'd have started at least two duels. Especially since I've learned some danmaku." Toning her spells down was still a massive pain, but her constant practice with Dispel and Illusion had boosted her control.

"If the duels are danmaku it's not a bad thing," Utsuho thought back. "It keeps things polite."

Louise sincerely doubted that it worked for humans, but pointing that out would only get her a lecture on why people should be more like ravens. Instead she ignored the fearful looks and headed to the rooms the Princess had made available to her.

"Siesta I'm b-mph!" Louise's greeting was stifled by a familiar set of breasts.

"Louiiiise~!" Kirche crooned happily. "Welcome back~!"

With practiced ease Louise slipped out of the embrace, forcibly ignoring how it tugged at Kirche's shirt. "Do you have to keep doing that?!"

"Of course I do! How else can I show my admiration for your power?" Kirche grinned and sat down on one of the couches. "You should really consider loosening up and accepting it."

Utsuho croaked mournfully and wandered off to glare at Flare. That had been the other downside of showing off. Unlike everyone else who was terrified, Kirche apparently found it irresistible. In fact Louise had a suspicious feeling that if the fiery woman had been more used to Utsuho's human form Kirche would be trying to seduce the raven as well. Which might explain why her familiar wasn't intervening as much.

Looking around she saw both Tabitha and Siesta were absent. "Did something happen while I was out?"

"Just caring for Sylphid," Kirche replied. "Tabitha offered Siesta some shed scales in exchange for helping with grooming."

Aha. Louise sighed and sat down opposite Kirche. "So Tabitha lured her away so we could talk. Nice of her I guess? Though I'm not sure why she's so willing to help you fail to seduce me now that you two are sleeping together."

Kirche looked surprised. "Hm, how did you know?"

"I have a brain." Louise had to admit Kirche was more discreet than usual, but it wasn't too hard to notice the two wandering off together. Or occasionally hear them through the thin walls of the various inns they'd quartered at. "Anyway you've got a girlfriend, and I'd hope you're bright enough to see Siesta and I are... well we will be dating as soon as people stop trying to murder us."

"So?" Kirche leaned back indolently. "Passion is to be shared. I'm sure you'd like to know how to properly treat Siesta when you finally start dating. And Tabitha would be relieved if I had more lovers I could trust."

Louise felt her face burning up. That Kirche was just... was just... "I don't get you! And apparently I don't get Tabitha either! Why would you want someone else to- urgh! And what's this trust nonsense?!"

Kirche sighed. "Come on Louise. Tabitha is a Chevallier. From Galleon. The same Galleon that ran in and joined this little war at the very end. The Galleon whose king is doing everything he can to turn the peace treaty into a diplomatic incident that leaves Albion a leaderless wreck."

"Princess Henrietta has said similar things," Louise replied. "But Tabitha is-"

"Tabitha has been warning us not to trust her since the start of this," Kirche snapped back. "Haven't you noticed?!"

If anyone else had accused her friend like that Louise would have got in a fight right then and there, but Kirche was closer to Tabitha then anyone. Louise took a deep breath and thought back. Sure Tabitha had always been trustworthy, but sometimes... She shook her head. "I still want to trust her. I believe she's a good person."

"When politics and family get involved, good can quickly take a back seat." Kirche's reply was the most depressed Louise had ever heard her.

Of course the moment was immediately replaced by her usual cheer. "Which is why we should all get to know each other better while we can. I'm sure Siesta will go along with it if you agree so-"

"Not a chance Kirche!" Louise flicked a danmaku bullet at the redhead who dodged with a fake pout. "I've got enough romantic questions already. I'm not interested in more before Siesta and I figure those out!"

"Something I suggest you do soon so you don't end up in limbo," Kirche replied. "Even if you won't listen to my other great ideas, listen to that one. Take her to a nice restaurant or something, soon."

Louise glared at the redhead, but she had to admit it was a good idea. "I'll ignore the rest of our conversation as thanks for that."

"Uh... I hate to interrupt you but we have problems," Utsuho thought over to her. "Someone summoned Momiji as a familiar. And Sanae's mad."

"WHAT?!"


Being the leader of the Queen's musketeers was both everything and nothing like what Agnes had imagined. For example she figured at some point the Queen would send her out on a clandestine mission to find and bring back a person of importance. However, she'd never have imagined the person she'd be bringing back would be some kind of demon from another world. And definitely not by using a magic pendulum.

It was hard to get over her distaste for magic, but the simple crystal on a string she was using to find 'youkai energy' was very different from those pampered nobles' tricks. And given how the tool had been as accurate as a well crafted compass, she had to appreciate the effectiveness.

Especially now that she'd been forced to leave the road. The forest here wasn't nearly as thick as the woods in Tristain. Albion forested heavily for their ships. But whatever she was looking for was well off the beaten path.

The sounds of kids playing were curious, but a village quickly came into view through the trees. She pocketed her pendulum, and carefully walked out of the woods and into the village proper.

The center square had about 15 kids, most under the age of 13 she'd guess, along with two older women. An elf in her late teens, and a white haired woman with wolf ears who looked like she was in her thirties. Both of them immediately looked up as she came into view. Not bad reflexes but it meant they'd be a little suspicious.

In this case casually revealing secrets was Agnes' go to plan. "Hoi! The queen sent me here to look for a wolf tengu, named Momiji. Suppose that'd be you miss?"

That got the attention of everyone, but the two women relaxed. "So she's officially taken the throne hm? Good." Momiji stood up. "And thank you for coming to find me. As you can see, I couldn't really make my presence known."

"If you're as skilled as I've heard it'd be a fun time." Having a blade master wandering around would help put the nobles in their place, even if it was messy. "But past is past. I've been asked to pick you up. Something about a massive diplomatic incident with your lover."

That drew a lot more attention, and got something like a blush on Momiji's cheeks. One of the boys tugged on her sleeve. "You're married miss Inubashiri?"

Tiffinia was wringing her hands. "Eh? You didn't say anything about stealing you away from your husband! Oh dear, what will he think..."

"I'm not married. And I didn't expect Sanae to react so fast." Momiji replied. Oh, a name eh? Well she'd have to press the fighter on that. Learning people's secrets probably wasn't a good habit Agnes admitted, but a useful one.

The wolf woman continued. "Anyway, as you can see we can't just pack up and leave the children unattended. Especially given the country was a warzone."

"Right." Agnes considered the kids. Shouldn't be too hard to get a wagon train to move them. "I'll gather up some transport to Londonium, and sort it all out with the queen. Maybe get you a better orphanage than a deserted city in the middle of nowhere."

"Is that alright?" Tiffinia chewed her lip. "I'm a half elf, and all the children are commoners."

"The queen doesn't care about that." Agnes grinned. "In fact she'll probably be pleased. Let her start up that school for young commoner mages she's been plotting." And if needed she'd twist some arms to get everything she promised. She wasn't going to leave any kids out in the cold.

"Thank you miss." Tiffinia walked to the kids. "Alright everyone, we've been given a great offer to find you all a school!"


Louise was kind of impressed at how quickly Tiffania adapted to being whisked to another world and surrounded by monsters. Maybe it had something to do with being considered a monster herself. Or maybe it was because Sanae's jealousy let the half elf focus on something a little more concrete. The green haired woman had attached herself to Momiji's side, and glared at Tiffania for a good while before giving her full attention to her paramour.

Either way Satori and Marisa had convened what Louise could only call a magician's council. Alice, Mai, and Patchouli were projecting in, and this time Princess Henrietta and Agnes were in attendance.

"So I believe we can all confirm that Miss Tiffania is a Void user," Henrietta said. "I hate to pry but I must ask if you are related to Albion's royal family?"

Tiffania slowly nodded. "My father was the king's brother." Louise almost sighed at the continued foibles of royalty. Satori was gonna have so much fun taunting her about that. Then again she didn't remember if the man had been married. Maybe it had been a secret marriage. Well that was fine.

"Makes some sense," Marisa said. "Your powers are bloodline related. And given the way there's a lot of inherent spells in the bloodline I'd bet the original void master tied the skill more strongly to his kids."

"A primitive version of magic crests perhaps," Patchouli said. "Useless for real practitioners, but they were popular in Europe for a bit."

Louise shook her head. "Void magic can do that?" Messing with your own bloodline seemed like a terrible idea.

"It can tamper with people's memories," Alice replied. "Altering a bloodline is much easier. People avoid those types of spells because of the stakes, not the difficulty."

Tiffania looked worried. "Are you saying my memory spell is dangerous? I was just copying the tune I heard from my father's music box..."

"Messing with people's minds is always dangerous," Satori replied. "It's safer when I do it because I am completely in tune with the ability. I imagine that musical magic is a well crafted spell that covers for your lack of knowledge. It would be more dangerous had you crafted it yourself."

"It was probably an heirloom, like the Founder's Prayer book," Henrietta said. "I imagine Brimir himself devised that spell." Tiffania relaxed.

Momiji leaned back in her chair. "So based on this, it seems likely there's two more Void users. One for each royal family."

"Germania's royal family isn't descended from the founder," Louise informed her. One of the reasons the country was considered a little barbaric.

Siesta blinked. "But one of the requirements to be pope is they have to carry the holy bloodline. Perhaps-"

Henrietta raised an eyebrow. "I'll look up the records on the papal lineage. It's possible Siesta's assumption is correct. Which means Romalia, or at least the church, has had void users for some time."

"Well for now we should probably deal with the void magicians we have in front of us," Alice said. "Momiji did you get any runes when you finalized the familiar ritual?"

The wolf woman rolled up her sleeves, showing a set of strange runic markings. "Yes. And they glow whenever I wield something created to serve as a weapon."

That was an odd phrasing, Louise thought. "How do you know it's based on what the creator wanted it to be? Did it not work for a ceremonial blade or something?"

"A warrior is a weapon. Anything they hold can be used to kill." Tiffania shivered at the wolf woman's declaration. "If it were based on my beliefs it would always be active. After that I tested with items that can easily be considered lethal like cooking knives."

"Gandalfer, the sword of God," Mai said. "A weapon to defend the caster."

"Useful," Marisa said. "Especially since you all seem to take time to throw out a spell."

Henrietta folded her hands. "Which brings us to the next question. Tiffania do you want to keep Momiji here as your familiar?"

"Shouldn't we be asking Momiji if she wants to be a familiar first?" Sanae snapped.

Tiffania flinched and shook her head. "Honestly, no." She bowed to Momiji. "I have to thank you for saving us that night, but I don't want to keep you here against your will. And I definitely don't want a person as a familiar." That seemed to calm Sanae's wrath.

"While I appreciate the sentiment there's something else to consider." Momiji gave Sanae's arm a squeeze. "I have an interest in your world. And it would be easier for me to act if I had a human anchoring me."

"But I'm not a human," Tiffania said, her hand moving to her pointed ears.

Marisa chuckled. "By that she means you're not a youkai. We're not used to non-humanoids who aren't youkai."

Sanae had her own question. "What do you need to do in that world? Utsuho can take care of both those kids."

"I want to look over the battlefield. It's the first war I've been in with open magic usage," Momiji said.

Louise noticed Satori's eye narrow and put two and two together. "You also want to stab Wardes for ruining our first plan don't you."

"Yes," Momiji admitted without a hint of shame.

"I suppose I can't complain. But if I catch him first, too bad." Lousie had her own score to settle.

"As much as I approve of the sentiment, I imagine he has long fled. For now Tiffania, I'd like to offer you enrollment in the magic academy. It will allow you to stay near the children you've been helping, keep you safe from troublemakers, and let you meet some friends your age. Since you need a familiar to attend, we can leave Momiji to play the part while you're attending." She looked over at the Gensoukyo mages. "It will also allow our friends here to find a safe way of breaking the familiar bond. As the only way I know how to break it is death."

Tiffania thought for a moment and nodded. "That seems fair. After all I do owe Momiji for saving my life. If just leaving the familiar bond up for a few years is what she needs I can hardly refuse."

"I've already thought of a few ways to break that familiar bond safely, but I suppose we can research something that anyone could do. Who knows, might be useful in the future," Marisa said.

"I guess I'm going back to school," Louise muttered. She had mixed feelings about that. It seemed weird to go from an all out war to just spell work again. On the other hand she could do with a little less excitement and people trying to kill her.

"We'll also get to go back to more useful political studies as well," Satori added to her thoughts.

Louise sighed. And that was sure to suck. Maybe she could sneak out with Siesta and go on a date at the hot springs or something.


And with ideas of our heroines taking a well deserved break before going to school, I shall take my own break. I hope writing... well anything becomes fun again for me, but for now I can place this in a good place where the audience can enjoy their own headcanons.