The day Louise was gone amongst them. The night they thought could be perfect but turned out to be miserable.
Ever since that day, they seemed to forget what 'rest' and 'stop' means. They've keenly searched every town, every village, every nation, and every kingdom they could look for. But there was no Louise. Sweat and blood were what they wasted, willingness and belief that Louise will be found, but willingness cannot also find her. Falling down on the ground, kissing the dirty mud every time they face danger, their clothes being torn apart, bruise marks and daily wounds, all of these suffering were nothing compared to the suffering they will carry in their hearts if they do not even try searching for their friend who had given them so much memories to remember. Siesta and Tabitha have somehow lost hope that they will still find their vanished friend. They received a letter from Henrietta that she had sent her guards to find Louise, but until now, nothing. It was like searching for a lost wind. It was hell.
Saito walked staggered through the hallway, his head looking downwards, earlier, he bumped almost ten students. Turning three corridors, he managed to get up, but he was not allowed yet to go on and search for Louise. He became somewhat oblivious, longing for the girl who always gave him headaches and stomach pain. He smiled expecting out of the blue that Louise might come and shout at him to do her laundry.
"Hey idiot servant!" he heard a familiar echoing voice. He immediately raised his head.
"Louise?" he shouted, he stood sturdy; turning sideways, "Louise!" he ran straight forward to the hallway and turned to the next corridor, "Louise!"
He fell down, exhausting his currently unsteady body, but he pushed himself to stand up even though his body cannot react anymore, he was shaking. "Lou… Louise…"
No matter how much he calls for her name, neither how much he desires for her, nor how much he struggles to find her, Tabitha's premonition might be right. Forever… Lost to us…? Like Hell! He thought.
When he felt a little better, he realized he was in front of Louise's room, looking under the door, he did not think of anything, when he felt like he can stand up again, he held the doorknob to support him in standing, he stood silent for a minute in front of the door, breathing heavily. He turned the doorknob, and the door noisily creaked open, obvious that it was not opened for a long time. Dusts and cobwebs welcomed him, the curtains were still, like they were before, he turned the lights on, and he glanced at the bed where Louise would always lie. And the floor, where he always slept.
He opened the closet, he coughed, her clothes and uniform were all gone. He felt enraged, at the same time, out of strength.
"A-Ah, S-Saito, so it's you, I thought someone sneaked in," Siesta came inside, hearing the door creak and loud thumps of feet called her attention.
"I'm sorry Siesta, for disturbing you, I'll get out right away," he said, not facing her.
"A-About Ms. Louise, is there any news from her?"
"None. But I assure you, we will find her, no matter what the consequences, or obstacles-"he caught a glimpse at a hidden picture frame inside the drawer, light reflected on the light pink eyes of a girl. "-… I will find her"
Siesta was surprised with what he said. This was her first time seeing Saito fired up with rage eyes and willing heart, him being too much serious than usual. She realized just how much important Louise is to him that he would face all kinds of danger to retrieve her. She clenched her chest, hopeless to see Louise again, and hopeless to win Saito's affection. She shook her head, no time for thinking things about love right now! She thought.
"I wish you all good luck," she said and hurriedly hugged Saito tightly, "Please find Ms. Louise as soon as possible,"
He smiled and nodded.
Meanwhile in Tabitha's room, she was practicing some rewind spells to wind back what happened a year ago, she insists to herself that she had experienced something before Louise disappeared. Sand was all she can remember.
"Runes of time I gather thee, open up the past that had flee-" a small piece of paper glowed bright green, with symbols of ancient writings circling around it, as she recites the spell, every symbol chronologically lights up with different sparklers, "-Tell me the mystery, that the one that can tell is thee, éclairer le passé dans ma mémoire,"
All the symbols lit up, she opened her eyes and tapped the symbols with her staff.
"Show . . ." she mumbled. The paper glowed even more that it astounded her. All of a sudden, a black shadow covered up the paper, she was surprised, and the paper turned into piles of ashes that the wind blew. The symbols one by one disappear.
"A blocking spell . . ." she muttered. A powerful one, she thought.
. . . .
"Well, I've got to go back now, maybe they're already searching for me," Saito said, who was already waving goodbye to Siesta, she waved back. After a few minutes, he was already out of sight
Siesta's eyes became hollow, the curtains behind her flowed rowdily, she turned around.
"Reports…?" said a man wearing a traveler's cloak with his face covered with his hood, he was floating outside the window, a bright circle was surrounding him for him to become invisible.
"The boy's condition shows that he will not be allowed to get out of Tristain Academy yet, my lord. You will have all the time you will need to have Lou-"Siesta reported in a robotic tone.
"That's all I need to know" the man interrupted, and looked at the sky. "Do not let them know your true identity,"
"Yes, my lord," Siesta, who does not seem to be Siesta, bowed down in a kneeling position.
"Her birth is coming near," the man muttered and flew away from the academy.