Episode 19: Windermere

This is the first time Kazumi visited Windermere and while he knew it will be very different from Ragna, he didn't expect it to be this different. Thank goodness that he has his winter gear on or it won't be the Thanatos squadron that kills him but the cold weather will. It's very different from Ragna that has a tropical climate.

…Okay, he might be exaggerating things a bit since he could walk outside wearing only a shirt since he's actually used to cold climates but that doesn't mean he should like it. He'd had enough of cold climates in his time with Harvamal, especially since he's mainly posted in their main base, which is in the ice field.

They have arrived in Windermere not long ago and Aether had landed a short walk away from Castle Darwent. Kazumi and Keith waited for the others to disembark from the carrier. Alongside them are the other members of the Aerial Knights which had been reduced to four after Keith's presumed death though with his return their number had returned to five once again.

Finally Mikumo, Arad and Kaname came down from the carrier with Arad and Kaname flanking the Star Singer. It's certainly an odd feeling coming to Windermere once again when remembering what happened the last time they came, especially for Mikumo.

After several considerations, it has been decided that only Mikumo, Kazumi, Arad and Kaname will go to castle Darwent with the Aerial Knights while the rest stayed in Aether… or visit some of Freyja's acquaintances. Of course, one of the Aerial Knights had been assigned to keep watch over them and Bogue was the one who volunteered, much to Keith's own surprise, alongside Theo and Zao. The twins are snickering behind the hot headed Aerial Knight's back as they entered Aether.

"…what was that all about?"

Kazumi questioned nobody in particular. Nobody has an answer to his question and didn't think too much about it. Hermann, the remaining Aerial Knight, then guide them to castle Darwent together with Keith.

They can see castle Darwent not far ahead and then there is the gigantic form of of the ancient Protoculture battleship. Mikumo shivered when she saw the ancient ship, bringing back memories of the time she was captured by Roid. Then she felt a hand being placed on her shoulder and saw Kazumi behind her.

"It will be fine. I'm here for you."

He whispered to her. Mikumo smiled and they continue walking together in silence. The trip to castle Darwent continued for nearly an hour until finally they reached the entrance and was immediately guided to Heinz's room.

"We are glad to know that you survived, Lord White Knight. I'm sure His Majesty will be happy to see you again."

Hermann said to Keith once they arrived in front of Heinz's room. Keith lightly smiled and knocked on Heinz's door. Hearing Heinz telling him to enter, Keith entered alongside Mikumo and Kazumi while Arad and Kaname waited outside so as to not make Heinz's room crowded.

"Heinz."

Keith greeted with a bow with Kazumi and Mikumo following him as to show respect to a nation's sovereign. Heinz though did not care for such formality and got out from his bed and ran up to Keith to hug his brother.

"Big brother! You're really alive!"

Heinz thought that Keith had died in that final battle on Ragna. He had lost his unit and had no way to escape. There have been no contact from him or any kind of clue pointing to his survival. But he had miraculously survived. Heinz doesn't care how even if Keith will explain it later. He's just happy that he has his brother back, the only family he has left.

"I'm sorry for worrying you Heinz."

Keith returned the hug. After a while, Heinz finally let go of his brother and turn to Mikumo and Kazumi. Naturally, this is the first time the king of Windermere met the Bloodraven but not the first time he had met the Star Singer. The last time Heinz saw Mikumo was during the ceasefire negotiation but they have never really exchanged any words with each other.

"I have heard about a new crisis from my brother and that you, the people from Chaos, would like to use our library to find information on something. While I would like to grant this request since it came directly from big brother Keith, I would like to know what exactly is this crisis and what it is you are looking for."

Heinz said to them. As a sovereign he needs to know what is his resource being used for and why. Since it is an expected question, they began their explanation. Keith was the one who started explaining, beginning from how he survived the destruction of the shrine and how he received a vision of the future.

"…and that is how I found myself back in Ragna. I then took a boat to head back to the mainland and that was when I met Shinomiya and the Star Singer."

Heinz nodded, beginning to understand the situation. While time travel and a vision from the future would sound ridiculous to the masses, Heinz wouldn't dismiss such notion as easily after everything that happened.

"The Star Knight. First the Star Singer and now the Star Knight. I would guess that this Star Knight referred to the personal protector of the Star Singer in the distant past and now with the emergence of the new Star Singer, she will need to find her own knight."

"That is certainly the case, which is why we need to use Windermere's library to find out more about the Star Knight"

There is no more need for Heinz to think. He had already made his decision after he had heard the main points.

"I shall give all of you the permission to use what we have to find out more about this Star Knight and that includes boarding the Sigur Valenz."

"The Sigur Valenz, I see, that is where the Star Singer's shrine is located. Understood, Heinz, and thank you."

Heinz smiled after Keith thanked him.

"I'm just doing what needs to be done, big brother."


"So we got the permission to board Sigur Valenz huh?"

"Yes. King Heinz had ordered several of his people to assist us in our research. We will need their help to study the Star Singer's shrine. But before we get to that, we will search through the library first. Hopefully there is something there already so we don't have to spend too much time on research."

After their meeting with Heinz, Mikumo and Kazumi left and join up with Arad and Kaname who are waiting outside. Keith stayed with Heinz as it has been a while since they last saw each other so they want to spend some time together. Despite his cold exterior, Keith can be a dotting older brother when he is with Heinz.

Right now the party was led by Hermann towards the library. It's not far from Heinz room and as to be expected of a royal library, the size is enormous. Arad went to one of the shelves and opened the book. The book is written in traditional Windermerean language and he has no idea what's written on it.

"The books here are all written in traditional Windermerean language. I could help you translate them but it's probably better to call a translator to help us."

Hermann said. Kazumi shook his head, took out a reading glasses and put it on and picked up a book from a shelf he's been staring at.

"There's no need. Sir Hermann, you can help the major and Kaname. Me and Mikumo will look for the info ourselves."

Kazumi said, surprising Arad, Kaname, and Hermann.

"Does that glasses translate whatever you're reading into basic?"

Arad asked as Kazumi put the book back into its place and smiled.

"Nope. I can actually read and speak traditional Windermerean and so can Mikumo."

""Ehh?!""

Arad and Kaname are surprised, even Hermann is surprised that Kazumi can read Windermerean. But what's even more surprising to Arad and Kaname is that Mikumo too can read and speak Windermerean.

"I studied Windermerean after their declaration of war. I was interested in King Heinz's song of the wind and continue to study it even after the ceasefire. Kazumi knew several languages due to his 'position'."

Mikumo explained. The two then split up and began looking for books that would help them, leaving the surprised Arad and Kaname with Hermann. The two of them immediately recover from their surprise and together with Hermann they also began searching the library.

Kazumi headed to the section where research papers are kept. If there is any mention of the Star Singer or the Star Knight, it would be there.

Mikumo walked around while browsing through a few books at a moderate pace. While she could read Windermerean, and somehow she found it easy to learn, likely through her genetics, she is still not as completely fluent as someone who had learned the language for years. She had to slowly look through each books to understand their meaning. It took her about an hour to browse through twenty books or so.

"You didn't find anything?"

Mikumo look up from the book she's currently reading when she heard Kazumi's voice. She shook her head. There's no clue at all in the books she had gone through so far and judging from Kazumi's empty hands and his frown, he also didn't find anything.

"I've looked at some old documents but still didn't find anything. There are one or two vague references to the Star Singer but nothing about a Knight."

Kazumi sighs. The two of them then continue their search and stopped by a random aisle. It's a rather old and dusty one which means it has been a while since someone visited this particular aisle. Like with the other aisle, there is a sign that informs them what it contains.

"Folklores and legends?"

"…Kazumi, let's check this place."


-Space-

Up in space, a lone valkyrie in stealth mode hovers just outside of Windermere orbit. It is a black VF-29 with the emblem of a rose on its back, the personal unit of Thantatos squadron's commander, Mary. The masked woman simply floated just outside the Windermere's dimensional rift.

"It has been a while since I last used this system."

Mary flipped two switches up. While she said she had a trick to break through the dimensional rift around planet Windermere, she had never actually tested this for real. It's either this works or she dies and she's not really keen on dying yet but she has her mission. She took a deep breath as she's about to start her gamble.

Several years ago when the YF-30, the prototype for VF-31 was developed, the unit incorporates an improved version of the original YF-29's Fold Wave system called the Fold Dimensional Resonance system. It works by amplifying song energy, enabling the YF-30 to break through dense Fold Faults. While it is not exactly the same, the dimensional rift around Windermere is not so different from one. While there are still risks like the system might not work on other types of dimensional disturbance, it is worth a try. Plus the system installed in her craft is the prototype to an even greater upgrade to the Fold Dimensional Resonance system.

It is called the Diva Fold Resonator system and it is made especially for her and her unit.

Why is it made only for her and her unit? The reason is simple…

"It's time to settle this, Kazumi."

Mary once again took a deep breath… and she began to sing.


-Macross Styx-

Captain Joseph Omer sat waiting on his seat on the bridge of his Quarter-class Macross battleship. He had only just send off Mary not long ago and now he has nothing else to do but to wait in position.

"Captain, we got a defold reaction in front of us."

The operator, Casey, informed him. She brought up the main screen and everyone on the bridge saw a fold gate opening. It's a rather small one so it's definitely not a battleship. Judging by it's size, it is likely a single VF making a fold jump.

"Prepare to launch the fighters."

Joseph ordered. Casey nodded and order the pilots to prepare to scramble.

A second later, a valkyrie defolded. It is a VF-31S. Joseph raised an eyebrow when he saw the unit. It is not the unit itself that surprises him but its details. It has no insignia that specifies what unit it belongs and it is colored pitch black just like their own.

"Captain, the unknown 31S is hailing us from our personal channel."

"That means it's one of our own. Let it through."

Casey nodded and opened up communication with the new unit. The screen display the words 'Sound Only' so they cannot see the pilot's face. From the comms, a deep and distorted female voice was heard.

"Captain Joseph Omer, I have new orders coming from the Supreme Commander."


Sorry it takes a long time and it's not as long. It's hard to think up of something for a while and after several talks with my friends over at Spacebattles, I changed quite a bit of the future plot. I'm also busy with my new job and was too tired to write, though that can also be blamed on playing Super Robot Wars X. But now I'm here and the story goes on. Though by this point I'm wondering why I still put an AN here apart from habit. Anyway, Mikumo and Kazumi began finding out what they can about the Star Singer and her Knight which will be on the next episode. Mary also found a way through the dimensional rift and will face Kazumi soon enough and now the enemy supreme commander send out another one of his ace, this time in a 31S. The plot is thickening, it's so thick that I think the bloodflow to my brain got clogged... or it's just fatigue.

Anyway, I don't know if I can keep up a monthly update like I planned with my job and all but rest assured, this story will continue until it finishes and maybe even beyond that.

alexwu704: And now it's not just Mary that Kazumi has to worry about.

Ulises Samaniego Petrungaro: While I don't know how much I could trust google translate, I get the point that you're asking about more Mikumo x Kazumi moments. Don't worry, they will get their moments together.