A Call Beyond

by Amygdala40

When Louise initially fails the Summoning Ritual she tries again, pleading internally for something, anything to answer her call. Her heartfelt plea reaches far out, even to the outer reaches of the Cosmos where the Great Ones reside. And the Great Ones are sympathetic in spirit…

8. Have Audience with Foul Spirit

A Call Beyond
Chapter Eight: Have Audience with Foul Spirit but pitiful, really

It was like a veil that had obscured her vision since forever was finally removed. Only to be replaced with a different veil. That was the closet metaphor Louise could think of to describe what she was seeing. And indeed, 'seeing' was without a doubt what she was currently doing. And yet it was different. Objects seemed non-congruent with their supposed shapes. Louise noticed the outline of the chair she had just been sitting on was bleeding on to what she assumed was the floor. Turning her head to where she knew her bed was, she saw only a slim, closed curve that still somehow vaguely belied the existence of a solid beneath. The ceiling seemed to stretch on without end in sight, and looking around, Louise was unable to locate the door to her room, nor the window. There was no present light source she could spot and yet the room looked to be lit by an omnipresent blue hue. All in all, it was a maddening experience that could only inspire, if not madness then surely nausea, were it not for one little thing. One minor, little, all-important detail.

Louise could see water. It was all around her flowing as clearly as she could remember. She could feel it too, of course. Its presence had been with her for what seemed like so long now, that she considered it an inseparable part of her. And now, just as she had wished, she could see it. With a joyous laugh, Louise called out to the surrounding waters. They responded, as they always did, but Louise noticed something new. Previously, she had only been able to properly see the waters once they materialized, perception being left to other senses. Yet now, she could see the still unmaterialized waters respond to her call. The way they moved towards her, gradually approached her, Louise could only think of the waters as acting curiously towards her. Was she being judged? She would not be found wanting! Louise straightened her posture, focusing all her minds on the waters which had by now completely encircled her. It was easier than ever, how could she think of anything else? So Louise simply stood there, patiently waiting for something to happen. And happen, things did. Louise noted the subtle change from what she would call 'curiosity' to 'acceptance'. Then suddenly, the waters enveloped her completely. Louise did not flinch, nor did she fear, she only let it happen. For a brief moment, it was exactly like being back in the dream. Louise did not realize how much she had missed it until this moment. Just as quickly, the moment passed and the waters materialized just like Louise had asked them to. Louise noted with interest how they changed from real to real, the process now visible to her. Her observation was cut short by a coughing fit that made Louise fall to her knees. Somehow, she must have imbibed some of the waters without realizing it. Louise tore off the blindfold, no longer being able to keep up with the bizarre surroundings, as she coughed her lungs out.

When it was over, Louise lay on the floor heaving slightly. She felt exhausted, she had a tremendous headache and her room was completely flooded, yet Louise had scarcely been happier in her whole life. She had been found worthy.

(***)

The academy maids had been surprisingly understanding once she had called them and explained the flooded state of her room due to her "experiments". They were now, presumably, hard at work trying to salvage her room and make it inhabitable again. For the time being, Louise had retreated to the library once more. Luckily, her notes had not gotten wet and it wasn't like she would need a place to lie down and sleep, at least not necessarily. All in all, it was only a minor hassle to Louise, who had much more important things on her mind.

Her headache had only marginally subsided, reminding Louise of the frailty of her own mind. Thinking back on what had transpired, she was torn between immense pride and slight disappointment. Some weeks ago, she had sworn that she would once more gaze upon the sea and now she had taken her first palpable step towards her goal, at a pace much faster than she had expected. She should feel nothing but pride and yet there was just that tinge of disappointment. Her vision had been so short. Louise sincerely doubted that the true form of reality was like that fever dream she had envisioned. Either, there was something not quite right with the 'Eye' rune, she had not used it properly or she had simply not been able to fully comprehend what she had been seeing. Louise thought all explanations were plausible but considered the last one to have been a deciding factor regardless of other causes. What would have happened had she not been in her room, but beneath the sky? Rubbing her hands against her aching temples, Louise shuddered.

Louise had not allowed the pain to go away, instead she welcomed it, embraced it, to keep her in check. She had done it again, been reckless to a fault and done exactly what Colbert had firmly warned her against: Experimented with unknown runes. This time, she had gotten away with only a headache, but next time there might be more serious consequences. Oh, and there would be a next time. All the headaches in the world would not have been enough to dissuade Louise from attempting to gain sight. Instead, she was just barely held back. It was the reason why shad not just ignored the pain; Louise did not trust herself to not immediately put on the blindfold again were she to 'recover' from the previous backlash. She would be patient for now, allow the headache to subside naturally and then run to Osmond and tell him that she had an experiment she wanted to try out. She would probably also have to wait for the morning. Begrudgingly, Louise made herself comfortable in the empty library and went to 'sleep'.

(***)

She was roused by a slap across her cheek. The stinging sensation brought her attention back to the present. Turning her eyes up, she saw Kirche looming over her, both hands on her hips and a pleased smile on her face.

"See? Told you that'd wake her up."

Louise blinked a few times just to ensure that what she was seeing was actually real. Having convinced herself, she mustered up a tone with just the right combination of sourly grumpiness and resignation.

"Good morning."

At least she hoped it was morning. She wasn't supposed to lose track of time like this. Had she somehow drifted off to sleep in the end? No, Louise was sure that she would be able to remember dreaming were that the case. Had she been completely lost in thought? She couldn't remember thinking of anything in particular. Perhaps she had spotted Kirche approaching her but had just subconsciously tuned her out. Louise decided that that was the most likely explanation. She rose from her seated position with a bit less vigor than her usual but luckily with much less stiffness in her legs than sitting still for an entire night usually allowed for. Spreading her arms wide, Louise addressed the redhead.

"So, what brings you to my abode?"

"Nothing, actually, I was just accompanying Tabby." Kirche took a step back and pointed to a table where, sure enough, Tabitha sat reading. "But you see, these two wanted a word with you. However, seeing as you were…unavailable they required my expertise in getting your attention. Which brings us to the now."

"So, in essence, you saw me resting peacefully and then went over to slap me."

It was not a question, rather it was an accusation. Louise rubbed her cheek for emphasis. It had long since stopped hurting, of course. Or had it? She suddenly considered. She had just tuned out the pain immediately. But was not feeling the pain the same as not being in pain, was pain a sensation separate from her perception of it? It was a fascinating question. So fascinating in fact, that it almost distracted Louise from noticing that Kirche had approached again, hand in a slap-ready pose.

"Don't you dare."

Kirche quickly retreated, suddenly the very image in innocence. "I was just looking out for your health, my dear. Wouldn't want you falling asleep in the library again."

"I was resting, not sleeping." Louise insisted. The subtle difference seemed entirely lost on her audience. "And, don't you have other places to be, Zerbst? I can't imagine a library having much to hold your interest." Louse emphasized her point with a 'shooing' motion of her hands. "Besides, I do believe that there are other people vying for my attention."

Louse finally turned to address the pair who supposedly had tried to seek her out from the start. It was none other than Montmorency and her fiancé Guiche. Louise noted that the blonde girl looked noticeably better off than when she last saw the pair, her hair once more styled in her signature drills. She also shifted between giving her slightly guilty looks and narrowing her eyes at Kirche, something which gave Louise a much better disposition regarding the girl already. Guiche, too, looked different from when Louise last saw him. He appeared neither the maddened, love-crazed man who had pursued Montmorency relentlessly, nor the slightly less maddened, slightly less love-crazed boy which had but looked at her once and found the love of his life. Instead, his posture and look gave off what Louise thought was supposed to be a determined demeanor, only slightly ruined by the longing glances he would cast at Montmorency every other second.

"So, you wanted a word with me?" Louise asked Montmorency, thinking her to be the saner of the two.

"Yes, that is right. Is there perhaps somewhere more private where we may speak?"

Louse looked around the library. It seemed pretty empty.

"Why not just talk here?"

Surprisingly, Montmorency shook her head determinedly. "This place will not do. You can never tell just who might be listening in. Please, will you perhaps invite us to your room?"

This time it was Louise's turn to shake her head. "Unfortunately, my room is unavailable at the moment. Partial flooding, you see." Louise saw no real reason to lie about it. "Perhaps we can use your room?"

"No!" Montmorency declared before hurriedly continuing. "My room is similarly…unavailable. As is regrettably the case with my Guiche's room. I suppose we will have to make do with this place". She finished with a dejected sigh.

Louise thought that all sounded rather suspicious but nodded along regardless. She was getting curious, now.

(***)

After scouring the library in an assuredly not subtle manner, they eventually came upon a secluded spot, a small corner with a table and a few chairs, surrounded by bookcases. Louise thought that if there had not already been nosey people trying to eavesdrop on their conversation before, they would be here now, considering Montmorency had just spent almost half an hour stomping about the library lamenting about the lack of any spots which were suitably 'private' for her. Louise didn't really care either way, so she neglected to mention any of this to the pair and instead just sat down around the small table.

"Now then. What matter warrants such secrecy?"

Montmorency gave a few suspicious looks to each side before answering.

"It is my Guiche. You remember his previous…condition, yes?" She shuddered slightly at the memory before Guiche place his hand on her shoulder and prompted her to continue. "He has been…regressing".

At that point, Montmorency sniffled slightly causing Guiche to take on the task of elaborating.

"I can't help it." He proclaimed. "I love her so much that it is consuming me! I try to hold back, for the sake of my beloved, but I fear that my passions may soon get the better of me. I can't allow that to happen!"

After delivering his speech, Guiche too, seemed to be at his wits end as he sought comfort in Montmorency's arms the two whispering to each other. Louise was not moved by the display. Nor was she particularly amused. These two really had a flair for the melodramatic that was quickly getting on her nerves. Their raw, unadulterated, excessive displays of emotions seemed somehow unreal to her. Louise couldn't entirely understand it. She understood the idea or romantic love, of course, albeit only in the abstract since she had never been in love herself, yet what she was witnessing seemed so different, so over the top that it actually made Louise doubt its authenticity. With a sigh, she dismissed her thoughts and addressed the pair still lost in each other's arms.

"I see. Then, do you need me to cast the calming spell again?"

Finally turning her attention back, Montmorency answered.

"Not exactly. You see, I am a water mage, my specialty being potion making. I believe I have found a recipe to a potion to help my Guiche, yet I lack the reagents. Together, we will journey to the great Lagdorian Lake to gather these. However, if his current state was to deteriorate then I would fear for my safety. So we would ask you to travel with us, so that you can cast your spell again should it prove necessary."

Louise quickly suppressed an incredulous look in favor of directing a more searching gaze at Montmorency. Did that girl just ask her to act as little more than a magic dispenser that they could bring along with them and use at their own convenience with a straight face? Yes, yes she did. Turning her look to Guiche, she found a similar lack of shame at the audacity of their 'request'. Louise wanted to give a one-word refusal and then just leave, seeing as she actually had much more important things to do but was tempted away from this course of action by the desire to know just far these two had been thinking.

"What is in it for me?" she asked instead.

Montmorency paused momentary, apparently not having expected that question. Louise suppressed a sigh.

"W-why you would gain the gratitude of House Montmorency and House Gramont, of course! And if needed, we would of course be willing to recompense you for your services."

Were they trying to buy her off now? A chuckle escaped Louise's lips. She supposed that outrage was the correct response in this situation, seeing as her own house of La Vallière was of higher rank than either of theirs, being a Ducal House, but she decided to ignore the faux pas.

"I see. What is it exactly you need from the Lagdorian Lake?"

This was the only part of the story Louise was missing. Once she had this detail, her curiosity would be sated and she could refuse to accompany them without regrets.

"Oh, so you agree to come with us? Good, I suppose I can tell you then." Montmorency managed to misinterpret the question spectacularly. "The lake is inhabited by a water spirit, you see. A powerful one. If I can acquire one of its tears, then I can brew a potion to help my Guiche."

Louise was about to ask the girl why she thought trying to get help from the notoriously unfriendly spirits of all things was a good idea, but the blonde went on.

"My family has a pact with it, so it is bound to answer my summons."

Leaving out only the bargaining part. Louise didn't know much about spirits but they were well regarded as being both hostile towards humans and incredibly stingy. Many a tale had been spun about incurring the wrath of spirits through mundane acts such as felling a tree, drinking water or starting a fire in an area a spirit considered 'theirs'. Louise doubted the authenticity of said stories seeing as they were old wives' tales used to frighten children, but reasoned that they must have stemmed from some nugget of truth. And yet, despite this, Louise suddenly found herself interested in the endeavor.

"I will agree to accompany you in the journey to the Lagdorian Lake and to utilize my magical expertise should such be warranted. However, I have one condition."

"Name it!" Guiche suddenly answered excitedly.

"I want to speak with the water spirit, first." Louise responded calmly.

Guiche had evidently not expected that and looked to Montmorency who seemed similarly baffled.

"I…suppose that I can accept that" she answered hesitantly. "Just be sure to be courteous towards it. We need to convince it to give us one of its tear, after all."

Louise nodded. "Good. When do we leave then?"

"We leave tomorrow at dawn!" came Guiche's response. Louise had little doubt that the moment was chosen for dramatic purposes rather than practical concerns. "On horseback, it should not take us longer than two days to get there, assuming the weather holds up."

A total of four days potentially wasted wasn't that bad. Louise nodded approvingly. The truth was that she was actually feeling a little excited. Having a chance to converse with a water spirit might prove a boon to her. Surely, a being so intimately connected with water would understand her? Louise found herself looking forward to the trip (a two day ride back-and-forth could hardly be called a 'journey') despite having to endure the company of Montmorency and Guiche.

She hurriedly said farewells and made to leave. She would need to gear up for the trip and secure herself a horse from the academy stables. She might need to get some rope also, just in case. But before all of that, she would need to go talk with Osmond. She didn't just want to see the water spirit. She wanted to see it.

(***)

"An experiment using one of the Founder's runes, you say? Interesting. I will call for Colbert, he will probably want to see this also."

Osmond had been nothing but forthcoming when she had approached him saying that she had something related to void magic she wished to try out. She had been led to a room in the academy that she previously had not known existed. Behind a heavy door unlocked with a key that Osmond brought with him, was a somewhat small square room, completely unfurnished and with just cold, stone walls to greet them. The only light source was the candle Osmond had also brought with him. As they entered the room, Louise noted symbols engraved on the walls.

"It is warded to limit to prevent the effects of spells from reaching the outside." Osmond explained. "Other teachers here and the occasional student is allowed the use of this room to practice particularly volatile spells. It should do just fine for our purposes. Assuming you don't plan to drown us all, of course." He finished cheerfully.

"Not at the moment, no." Louise confirmed, deadpan. There probably wasn't enough water present, anyway. "Although I can't ensure that there won't be any unintended side effects." She continued. Louise felt that she should warn them, just in case.

"Oh, you need not worry about that." Osmond answered easily. "What you call 'unintended side effects' are an inseparable part of any research progress. We will be here to ensure that you do not cause harm to the room or, more importantly to yourself."

At this moment, the stone drop opened again revealing the figure of Colbert.

"Greetings, Headmaster, Miss Valliére. Are we performing an experiment today?"

Louise nodded to confirm.

"Yes. I believe I have discovered a possible use for the rune of 'Eye' in a way related to void magic."

"Really, now? Fascinating. What do you believe its intended purpose to be?"

Louise paused to consider here words carefully.

"I believe it aids a void mage in visualizing their magic. I can't speak more of it, it was just a feeling I got from studying the rune."

"Many a discovery has been made from just a hunch." Osmond weighed in. "You were right to approach us immediately rather than attempting further research by yourself. Diving into the unknown can be dangerous."

Louis expertly suppressed a guilty expression from overtaking her face but chose not to suppress the accompanying guilty feelings. She was guilty, after all.

"The Headmaster is right, but I believe her to have grasped this point by now. Regardless, how do you plan to test your hypothesis, Miss Vallière?" Colbert asked.

Louise gladly allowed herself to be distracted by the question.

"I am not entirely sure about how the rune was intended to be used, however, I have come up with a safe way of testing it." Louise withdrew her blindfold from a pocket in her uniform. "I have engraved the rune unto this cloth which I will then simply wear to see what happens."

Colbert did not approve.

"Involving yourself in an experiment of an unknown rune like this is the exact opposite of safe, Miss Vallière. But, I suppose that if the rune does indeed work as you suspect, then there is no other way of testing it. Still, I will examine the rune, if you don't mind."

Louise handed the blindfold to Colbert who then withdrew his wand and pointed it at the cloth.

"Detect Magic."

A small pause followed.

"Hm, the rune is drawn correctly but the cloth does not seem to possess any innate magic. Occasionally, when a rune is engraved upon an object, the object will incorporate the rune's properties into its own. A process known as enchantment. Any such enchanted object is also called an artifact. These can be particularly dangerous to experiment with, but such does not seem to be the case here. Perhaps, it is safe after all."

Colbert then handed the blindfold to Osmond who cast a similar detection spell. The Headmaster must have arrived at the same conclusion as he quickly handed the blindfold back to Louise.

"Indeed, this cloth seems positively mundane. I will allow for the experiment to go through. We will simply be here to observe you, Miss Valliére, ready to step in should something occur. You just have to say the word. Otherwise, I suppose we shall pause the experiment regardless once five minutes have passed."

Louise liked the sound of that. Unless she accidently materialized some more water, there should be no indication of what she was experiencing. And having a time limit was probably a good idea, too. She had no idea how long she had kept the blindfold on during her first attempt at sight, but it had been for too long if the resulting headache was anything to go by. Louise took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself. Then, she put on the blindfold and once more opened her Eye.

(***)

The surroundings appeared stranger than she remembered, her memories proving incapable of fully retaining the bizarre nature of how the world around her looked. Louise unsuccessfully attempted to mentally close her eyes to shut it out. She didn't need to be reminded of how the square room was actually circular or how one wall ran parallel to the ceiling or how th- wait, was that a person? That couldn't be either Osmond or Colbert, it looked akin to a…

"No!"

Louise spoke out loud to distract herself. She quickly thought about how the two men in the room with her might react to such an outburst and raised her hand in an 'everything is fine' manner. Louise took another deep breath and finally managed to tear her attention away from the room itself in order to focus on the only redeemable aspect of this mess: The presence of water.

She saw it again, gently flowing all around the room, guided by unseen currents. She wanted to call out to the waters but held herself back. Previously, they waters had 'noticed' her when she reached for them. This time, she would just observe. She thought back to her distress just moments prior, how her warped perception had disturbed her so. She imagined no longer being disturbed by such sights, imagined what it would be like to gaze at the surroundings unperturbed. She could see it now, how the unrealized sensations flew from her and into the water, poisoning it, tainting its purity. And yet the sea accepted all, incorporating the foreign substance into itself before making it nothing.

How noble…

(***)

Louise was once more subject to a rude awakening of sorts as the blindfold was removed from her head. Surprised and thoroughly disoriented, she glanced wildly around the room before remembering where she was and who she was with.

"Everything all right, Miss Vallière?"

The voice could belong to either Osmond or Colbert, Louise wasn't quite sure.

"Yes." She answered regardless. "Was just feeling a tad of nausea. It is wearing off as we speak."

Indeed, Louise was quickly coming to her senses. No doubt aided by surroundings that actually made sense again.

"What happened, has it been five minutes?"

As usual, her perception of time had been sacrificed on the altar of research.

"It has." The voice Louise now recognized as belonging to Colbert confirmed. "Almost as soon you put the cloth over your eyes, you yelled 'No' but motioned with your hand to prevent us from interfering. For the remaining time, you've just been staring at a wall with a smile on your face."

That sounded about right. Placing a hand on her face Louise discovered that her features were indeed still locked in a grand smile. She gave off a laugh at that.

"I take it then, that the experiment was successful?" Colbert asked, a not unkind smile on his face.

Finally regaining control of her facial features, Louise answered.

"In a way, yes. It certainly did something but it wasn't exactly like I expected. Still, I wish to practice this some more."

"Before that, I would like to know what happened on your end."

Louise nodded but took some time to consider her words.

"Well, as you might know, most of my spells relate to water in some manner or other." All of them, in fact. "Specifically, I'm really good at conjuring or summoning water. When I wear the blindfold I can sort of make out where the water is, making summoning easier. The only unexpected part is that surrounding look really odd. Somewhat disturbing, but I just need to learn to ignore it. Apologies if this all sounds a little vague."

"Some runes are known to have subtle effects like that." Colbert said sagely.

The experience wasn't really what Louise would call 'subtle' at all, but she supposed that two an outside observer it might sound like the Eye only served to engage her imagination.

"Do you believe this rune to be directly connected to void magic, Miss Valliére?" Colbert suddenly asked.

"I'm not sure but I consider it to be likely."

Louise had started to develop her own theory on the nature of the Void. And if she was right, then the usage of this rune could be considered to a void mage what a wand is to a regular mage.

"In that case, I would like to try out the experiment for myself, if you don't mind."

Judging from his tone, his curiosity had been stoked. Seeing no real reason to refuse, she handed him the blindfold. He turned it around in his hands once more, examining it anew.

"Are you sure that when worn the 'Eye' should not point outwards?"

"Positive." She replied. ¨

She didn't expand on why she was positive but Colbert must have taken her word for it as he just nodded and walked into the center of the room, blindfold in hand.

"We shall use the same setup then. You get five minutes, Colbert." Osmond spoke up. "Miss Vallière, please stand back just in case."

"Of course."

Louise took a step back and watched in fascination as Colbert put on the blindfold. She really had no idea as to what would happen. Any worries not drowned out would have proven themselves to be ill-founded as, after putting on the blindfold, Colbert just looked around the room from various angles. After what she presumed to have been five minutes had passed, the Headmaster went and lightly tapped his shoulder. The man reacted immediately, taking off the blindfold and turning to face them, a small frown on his face.

"I didn't see anything like you described, Miss Vallière. As a matter of fact, I didn't see anything at all." The smile then returned in full force. "To think that this rune is so intimately connected to the Void. Fascinating! That certainly explains why its effect have never been properly documented. A remarkable discovery, Miss Vallière!"

Louise felt just a hint of pride at that.

"Then, can I continue to practice?"

(***)

She tried three more times before the headache kicked in again, prompting Louise to stop. She was also feeling a bit mentally exhausted. They had only been in the room for something resembling half an hour but to Louise it felt like a much longer amount of time had passed. She still hadn't gotten used to how the world looked and doubted she would anytime soon. So instead, she had practiced to completely ignore her surroundings and just focus on what was right in front of her. Her experience in simulating sleep came in handy for this and Louise had mentally congratulated herself for coming up with the idea. She had not been entirely successful, her headache a clear proof of that, but she had managed to make some progress. Still, it was a temporary measure until she could figure out if there was a better way to use 'Eye'. She hoped it would be enough to allow her to get a proper look at the water spirit when she met it. And that she would retain sufficient clarity to actually have a conversation with it. She thought her mind had drifted off a little more than usual lately. Most likely she was getting a little scatterbrained from all the things she had been doing lately. In that way, the trip to Lake Lagdoria might provide just the breathing room she needed. Speaking of, she still needed to pack. Thanking Osmond and Colbert for supervising her, she returned to her room.

It seemed that what could be done, had been done as there were no longer any academy personnel present. The floor was still a little damp, as was most of the furniture including the bed but luckily her wardrobe had protected her clothes. Besides some clean clothes, Louise wasn't sure what to pack. She had never been on a trip like this before without being accompanied by at least a few servants who would handle all the practical matters. Would they need to sleep underneath the open sky? She didn't have a bed roll so she just packed a dry blanket. She doubted she would be sleeping anyway. What about food? Pondering the degree to which Montmorency and Guiche had planned ahead for the trip, Louise quickly made the decision to go the academy kitchen and stock up on some provisions.

Having finished her packing Louise went to the stables in order to secure a horse. The academy freely offered the use of their horses to the nobles, so it was just a matter of making sure to reserve one. Louise had always liked riding, and yet it had been a while since she had last done so. She picked out a somewhat small mare which seemed friendly enough. With this, the last of her preparations were done, leaving Louise with little to do. By now, it was late afternoon with dinner being served in a few hours. Louise had planned to go to the library and possibly read up a little regarding spirits but ultimately decided against it. She would just let her mind rest for the time being. She passed the remaining hours of the day by just quietly contemplating the trip ahead.

(***)

The following day, Louise rose exactly at dawn. She did a final check of the contents of her pack; she seemed to have everything. Or, at the very least, if she had forgotten anything it would be due to forgetfulness and not negligence. Breakfast wasn't served at this hour, so Louise instead went to the kitchens directly to grab something to eat. On her way there she ran into Montmorency and Guiche who seemed to have gotten the same idea.

"Good Morning." Louise greeted the pair. "Have you finished your preparations?"

"Of course!" came Guiche's thundering response. "Today is the day ride into the unknown! A quest to seek an ancient spirit! All for the sake of my beloved!" he continued in a voice much too loud for how early in the morning it was.

"I see, that is good. Then, shall we depart?"

Louise carefully kept her tone neutral. The pair was already getting on her nerves. Fortunately, she could just let all of her irritation drift towards the sea. Otherwise, she would have begun to strongly reconsider going on this trip in the first place. But as it was, Louise was only bothered in the abstract sense of being bothered about needing to suppress being bothered, and so led the pair towards the stables. When they arrived, they found someone waiting for them. Louise sighed internally. She had expected something like this but hoped that her cynicism would prove to be unfounded. Of course, reality had a certain way of spitting in the face of such hopes. For what awaited them was not the stable hand with their horses ready, no, it was something much more sinister. It was the Red Menace.

"Heard you were planning an adventure like I wouldn't find out!" Kirche had a wide grin on her face and in general seemed enormously pleased with herself.

"Zerbst! What are you doing here?" Montmorency exclaimed, sounding vaguely offended.

Louise gladly allowed Montmorency to take on the most likely futile task of talking down Kirche and instead addressed the redhead's companion.

"Et tu, Tabitha?"

"Adventure." The small girl confirmed in her usual monotone.

"It can hardly be called an adventure." Louise tried to reason. "It's more like a leisure trip."

"And that's where you're wrong!" Kirche suddenly broke in, completely ignoring whatever Montmorency was trying to say to her. "It's an adventure when you want it to be. Life's an adventure when you want it to be!"

"Very inspiring." Louise commented. Tabitha nodded in agreement, apparently not noticing the sarcasm. "But if that's the case, why don't you go 'adventure' into a hovel or something."

"Oh, but it is all for the sake of you! You see, the roads are ever perilous, fraught with dangers! In a party of just three, with tw- a beautiful girl in it, who knows what threats you may face. But fret not! Tabitha and I have selflessly decided to travel with you and to ensure that no harm comes to any beautiful girls!"

Kirche finished her exclamation by striking a dramatic pose, in contrast to Tabitha, who didn't move. Guiche appeared to have eaten it up as he appeared terrified by what calamities might befall his beloved. Louise herself was at least somewhat impressed by Kirche's delivery, but Montmorency seemed to have none of it.

"Neither of you will be coming along and that's final! Vallière, you're her friend, talk her out of it."

Louise and Kirche simultaneously directed looks of scorn towards Montmorency at the accusation before snorting in unison. Louise then looked into Kirche's eyes. She recognized that look of stubbornness, daring her to try and talk her out of it. Louise instead chuckled slightly before addressing Montmorency, a resigned smile on her face.

"I'm afraid there's no stopping her once she gets like that. Kirche has always had a remarkable persistence to her."

Louise paused, thinking of a suitable comparison while Kirche nodded in confirmation of the given description.

"...like a rash that won't go away."

In fact, now that she thought about it, a rash was also red. Coincidence?

"Besides," Louise continued before Kirche could get a word in. "While I don't know the state of the roads, I do know that both Tabitha and Kirche are capable fighters. That they will ensure our safety is not just empty boasting."

Well, she didn't actually know Tabitha to be a capable fighter it was more of an assumption. One, she was really sure of. Almost an axiom, really.

"So, in short, they're coming with us whether we want to or not, might as well just let them protect us."

"Yes, that sounds just about right." Kirche said, the grin returning to her face. "Wouldn't you agree, Tabitha?"

The bluette responded immediately.

"Adventure."

(***)

They had been riding for the better part of half a day now. Tabitha had brought a horse but quickly left Kirche to drag to it along with them in favor of taking to the skies with her dragon. 'Scouting', she had claimed, although Louise personally thought it more likely that she had just wanted to get away from Montmorency and Guiche in order to get some peace and quiet. Louise couldn't blame her, the pair was being insufferable, once again. She couldn't really blame them either, she supposed. No doubt that this was a trying time for the two as well as their relationship. If only they weren't being so melodramatic about it, she might even have some sympathy for them. As such, Louise had just taken to ignoring everyone around her, little different from usual. Instead, she had focused on riding and the scenery. The wide road running intertwined between lush springtime plains held no particularly interesting sights save for the odd patch of blooming wildflowers. Once that had gotten old, it left Louise to only try to enjoy the sensation of riding. She did too, it had been a while after all. Yet, riding, especially on flat ground at a pace barely more than a trot, had a certain cyclical rhythm to it that made it difficult to not zone out. And so, Louise found it more and more difficult to suppress a certain desire which had been building ever since morning. She shook her head, trying to dismiss it form her mind. She dared not cast it to the sea and so she needed a series of more mundane distractions to keep her occupied. Of which she had now nearly run dry. It was necessary to employ her trump card.

"So, Kirche," she began, matching her pace to the redhead's. "What made you two really want to join us?"

Beyond serving as a distraction, Louise had genuinely been curious about this. She noticed that as soon as they left the academy, Kirche had been oddly serious. She rode expertly with one hand on the bridle of her horse the other on the bridle of Tabitha's. And her eyes were scanning the sides of the road with a trained look. Nevertheless, she focused some of her attention on Louse once she had processed the question.

"Believe me, it's really all for your sake." She said in a not joking tone for once, gesturing both towards Louise as well as Montmorency and Guiche who were riding together a little ahead of them. "Have you heard about the Gryson bandits?"

The name held no significance to Louise and so she shook her head.

"Figures. You really need to get out of the library more, you know. Or, maybe just stay there forever. The real world's a hard place, you know." Kirche admonished her before finishing with a weak laugh.

Louise frowned. "And I presume that at least part of said hardness is due to these 'Gryson' fellows?"

Kirche nodded. "Recently, there's been many tales of travelers around these parts being robbed by bandits. Even a few caravans with guards have been ambushed. The few survivors spoke of a particularly savage man calling himself Gryson leading the attacks." Louise noted that Kirche spoke the name with a great deal of distaste. "Tabitha and I have been trying to hunt them for a while, now."

That surprised Louise. "The two of you hunt bandits in your free time?"

"Among other things. We both share an adventurer's spirit, after all!" Kirche declared with a prideful smile. "But tracking these particular bastards down have proven difficult". She continued, the smile now gone.

Something clicked within Louise.

"Ahh, so that's why. You're using us as bait."

Louise could very well have spoken this accusation with a good deal of outrage but she instead simply stated it neutrally, as nothing more than an observation.

"Must you be so skeptical of my every action?" Kirche asked, ushering a dramatic sigh. "Those two," she paused to point at Montmorency and Guiche, "were going on this little trip regardless. And even with you here, none of you are experienced enough to defend yourselves against an ambush. You properly hadn't even thought of the possibility, had you?"

Louise shook her head again. She honestly hadn't.

"Which is why we decided to tag along. There's a very real risk of the Gryson bandits attacking an obvious party of nobles like this. Especially one that appears to be unguarded. Should they attack, however, we will protect you and take them down for good!"

Louise nodded to herself. A subtle, pragmatic, but ultimately well-meaning approach. Louise thought she could sense Tabitha's influence at work. Still, credit where credit was due.

"I see. Then, on behalf of the rest of the party, allow me to gratefully accept your assistance."

Kirche seemed to not have expected this response at all, if the look she gave Louise was anything to go by.

"What's the matter, little Louise?" She sounded genuinely concerned. "Did the stories of bad bandits scare you that badly? Don't worry, you're safe with me!"

Kirche looked at her with a strange smile. Like she was trying to reassure a little kid. Louise could only sigh.

"You have a remarkable talent of losing goodwill as fast as you can build it up." She responded dryly. "Though, if you will humor me for a moment, how exactly do you plan on keeping us safe? I didn't think you had any defensive spells in your arsenal."

"Defense is so overrated." Kirche lamented. "The best defense is a good offense, as they say!"

What a terrible attitude for a supposed guard to have.

Kirche went on to give a proper explanation. "Tabitha is flying overhead to scout for enemies. With luck, she'll see them long before they see us. Then, she'll signal me and we'll launch a preemptive strike."

"And what if she doesn't see them coming?" Louise asked the obvious question.

"She will." Kirche answered with a certain conviction in her voice. "But if worst comes to worst, just try to group together, Tabitha knows some good shield spells." She finished with a shrug.

It was a rather simple plan, Louise thought. But sometimes, simple might be better. She separated from Kirche and resumed riding in the middle of the party. Louise didn't doubt Tabitha's abilities, especially when Kirche seemed to have so much faith in them, yet she couldn't help but glance from side to side on the lookout for bandits. She deliberately chose not to suppress this small fit of paranoia. At least it gave her something to do.

(***)

When evening fell, they made camp. Or that is, Kirche and Tabitha made camp with experienced ease. They even had a small tent for two people with them, which they altruistically offered Montmorency and Guiche the use of. They also offered Louise a spare bed roll, seeing how she had only brought a blanket, but Louise declined stating that a blanket was sufficient.

With Kirche present, making a fire was not an issue, and the four of them sat together around the fire having a meal while Tabitha's dragon Sylphid tirelessly kept watch from the skies. No conversations were being had, but the mood was still pleasant enough. It would appear that Montmorency had warmed up to the last minute additions to their party once it came to light exactly how well prepared for just about everything the two seemed.

Eventually, once darkness properly settled, Sylphid landed and approached the camp. It was then that Louise noticed that the dragon was not alone, a certain salamander trod along with it.

"Sylphid's been ferrying Flame since he can't really keep up with a horse." Kirche explained.

The salamander in question huffed slightly, seemingly a bit insulted at being looked down upon. Kirche began patting it affectionately.

"However, Flame has the amazing ability to see or otherwise sense heat from far away. So we can all sleep soundly. With him keeping guard, nothing will be able to sneak up on us during the night. Isn't that right, my dear?"

Flame responded by breathing a flame that contorted into a hand giving what resembled a military salute. With that, both Tabitha and Kirche visibly relaxed and dropped most of their guard in favor of tending to her dragon in Tabitha's case or just lounging around the fire in Kirche's. Montmorency and Guiche too picked up on the mood and began further relaxing. Eventually the all sat around the fire again and the customary swapping of stories began. Even Tabitha anticipated and fun was had by all. Except Louise. She was currently in the middle of going crazy.

She looked towards the sky again for the hundredth time that day. It was right there. The great sea in the sky, whose presence she could sense, but whose view eluded her. It was right there. And now, she had the means to see it. She knew that she shouldn't, that she wasn't ready yet but the temptation had been building every moment she had been beneath the open sky. She was running out of ways to distract herself from the desire to just put on the blindfold and gaze at the sky, consequences be damned. What was the worst thing that could happen, really? Thinking about it, without any scenery to get into the way, it should be rather safe in fact. She would just take a short peek, then pull the blindfold off again. Finally coming to the conclusion that she was silly for worrying over something that was so obviously safe, Louise decided to just go through with it and retrieved her blanket before finding and nice spot where she could lie down and have an unobstructed view of the sky. She put on the blindfold.

For a single brilliant moment in time, Louise saw the sea of her dreams. She knew it to be far away, but just then, it had seemed so close. Looming just over her head, as if calling her. When consciousness left her, she had a smile on her face.

(***)

When Louise opened her eyes, there was water all around her. There was no doubt about it, she was back in the dream. But how? Louise had a bad feeling about it. She had probably passed out again. After all, that was how she had arrived here originally. Now that she thought about it, hadn't she then also caught the briefest glance of the sea? Louise began laughing loudly to herself. She had done it again; looked at something she was not yet ready to see, to understand in full. Still laughing, she shook her head in disbelief of her own arrogance. She had actually thought it would safe, deluded herself into thinking that she could just take a peek. At least she hadn't screamed her throat out this time. At least, hopefully not. That would probably not go over well with her travelling companions. Louise giggled again.

She just couldn't help it. Abashment at her own conceit. Dejection for her failure. No such feelings were present, instead she felt nothing but elation. To return to this place, to Louise, it was a dream come true in the most literal sense. She knew she couldn't stay here for long if she wanted to wake at a reasonable time yet she didn't want to leave just yet. She would take just a little time to celebrate her return from exile. That her return wasn't exactly triumphant, not even deliberate really, and that her exile was self-imposed didn't matter. She gathered all her feelings and imbued them in her words. The simplest, yet most fitting words she could think of.

"I'm home."

She saw her words ripple across the surface of the ocean, another drop in the bottomless depths. But, to her surprise, they did not sink to the bottom, did not disappear with the rest. The small ripples grew in size and became waves. Strong currents formed, pulling the waves inwards. Louise rose from her prone position and stood on the surface watching the spectacle with great interest and curiosity.

Curiosity turned to amazement and then to awe as she saw the waters converge, beginning to spiral upwards, beginning to take shape. No, she thought. Not to take shape. To assume a form. That which was depicted was an entity that had always been there, present but not visible. An entity that had now deigned to show itself to her. A Great One.

Kos.

As if reacting to her unvoiced thought, the amalgamation of water stopped its movement completely. Then, droplets of a distinctive dark red hue started falling, akin to layers being peeled off until finally what was within the cocoon was revealed.

Louise didn't know what to do. She just stood there staring, mesmerized. Was what she was seeing real? Was it her perception playing tricks on her? Or had the Great One appeared before exactly in the way Louise had wanted to perceive it. She wasn't quite sure, but really, did it matter? Perhaps it had appeared in such a way that Louise could perceive it. Even then, there were still part of the form hidden behind obscurity. But what she could see was enough. She could make out a face, a beautiful female face. Some parts like the eyes were either missing or obscured and yet Louise could easily discern the expression it made. It was a loving, maternal smile.

The Great One then moved a limb, one which closely resembled a long, slender human arm. The hand was held towards her, beckoning her to step forward. Louise immediately understood the meaning behind it.

"Why?" she managed to stammer out. Why would you do this for me?

The loving smile never faltered and the response entered directly into her head with the gentleness of an ocean breeze.

"Child."

(***)

Kirche woke early. Or rather, she woke early when compared to the rest of the party. She had woken exactly when she had planned to, at least if the faint light of dawn was anything to go by. She got out of her bedroll to do a few stretches. The chilly autumn wind didn't bite her, partly because she had gone to sleep still wearing most of her clothes in case of a nightly ambush but also due the fire which was still crackling. Flame had dutifully tended to it the entire night and even now, Kirche spotted her salamander in the midst of adding some extra kindling to the flames. Kirche walked over before sitting down around the fire and began patting her familiar.

"You have done well, Flame. Have some rest." She told it.

Flame took that to meaning he could curl up in her lap. Given his size, this was somewhat inconvenient for Kirche, especially considering she was supposed to start making breakfast, but she would bear the weight for a few moments. She had recently begun some muscle training exactly for this reason, after all.

Eventually, she gently pushed the large lizard off her and began preparing breakfast in earnest. Soon, she was joined by Tabitha who had a similar habit of waking early and the two managed to coax Montmorency and Guiche out of their tent. Kirche noted the somewhat embarrassed but also hungry looks they shared between each other, with great amusement. They really were too prudish for their own good. She began idly wondering when one of them would snap and which one it would be. Guiche had seemed more subdued ever since Louise cast her spell on him so her money was on Montmorency. Or, at least it would be if she could find someone willing to take the bet. Tabitha held no interest in such matters despite Kirche's best attempts at encouraging her so she would have to try and goad Louise into taking the bet.

Speaking off, that girl was so far the only thing about thing about this morning that was not going according to plan. They had now had breakfast, packed their things up and were ready to go. All except Louise because that girl was still sleeping. Kirche had initially just decided to let her continue to doze, thinking that the smell of food would lure her from sleep. How naïve she had been. Louise had not only not woken, she had proved impervious to any attempt at waking her. She just lay on her stupid blanket, with a piece of cloth tied around her eyes for some reason, and a silly grin on her face. Kirche had never before seen anyone appear so happy to be sleeping. Alternatively, she thought that grin might be an unconscious reaction from Louise, in response to their failed attempts at waking her, as if to spite them. Knowing Louise, that was definitely a possibility. She wanted to douse her with some cold water but with Louise, even that might not have any effect on her.

In the end, they decided to just take off regardless. They didn't want to just stay doing nothing but they couldn't exactly leave Louise behind either. Kirche had suggested to just tie the girl to her horse and be done with it, but Tabitha had implemented the more humane solution of using a levitation spell to just have Louise flowing gently though the air beside them. Tabitha had to ride with the rest of the party to maintain the spell, but it wouldn't be a particularly large drain on her willpower reserves and there was still her dragon familiar to keep watch from the skies. That then left Kirche with the job of keeping hold of Louise's horse as they somewhat slowly made their across the dirt road.

(***)

It was sometime during the afternoon that Kirche noticed that Louise began to stir. They briefly slowed down, allowing for a somewhat more gentle awakening than to be levitated through the air at the pace of a trot. Due to the cloth around her eyes, Kirche couldn't see exactly when she opened them but assumed the girl to be properly awake once she began humorously flailing about mid-air.

"So, Sleeping Beauty finally awakens?" Kirche etched some caustic sarcasm into her tone but realized too late that it could still be interpreted as a compliment.

"My, was I asleep for so long?"

Louise must have managed to pinpoint her voice as she looked directly at her. Kirche found it somewhat eerie how she couldn't see the pinkette's eyes, yet the girls smile and tone were the very image of serenity.

"You were! You wouldn't wake up in the morning and you've just slept all the way to now. Looked like you were having a grand time of it, too."

Kirche tried to sound accusatory but instead, a small giggle escaped Louise's lips.

"My sincerest apologies, I did not intend to bog down our travels. I simply had…pleasant dreams." She said, as if that explained anything, that serene smile still on her face.

"Well, what kind of dreams then?" Kirche asked, mostly in lieu of anything else to say.

"I dreamt of water." She stated simply.

Well, at least that made some sense.

"Ah, is that what they call it in Tristain?" Kirche asked, a knowing smirk on her face. "A good thing we didn't manage to wake you, then. I've had the occasional 'dream of water' myself and waking up prematurely can leave you quite unsatisfied."

Louise paused momentarily. If her eyes weren't covered, Kirche had the feeling she would be getting a blank look right about now. Even the girl's smile was gone.

"Oh, Kirche." The serene smile was back now. "I have no idea what you just alluded to, yet I can only assume that it is crude, vulgar and considering the subject matter, tantamount to blasphemy."

She paused for a moment and Kirche readied herself for the incoming rant.

"…But that is fine. That is who you are." Louise said instead, her smile now so wide it looked like it might jump off her face and go live a life of its own. "The sea will accept us all, just as we are. Even the lowest of low like yourself. Isn't it grand?"

Dumbfounded, Kirche did not know how to answer. Louise had apparently not expected one either as she immediately began giggling to herself.

"Ah, Tabitha?" Somehow, Louise managed to turn her head and look directly at the blue haired girl. "I trust it is you who have been levitating me this entire time."

Out of habit, Tabitha just nodded in response. Either able to see her in some fashion or just intuiting the answer, Louise went on.

"You have my thanks, yet it is no longer necessary. Please, release your spell."

To Kirche's great delight, Tabitha did as asked immediately. Yet, Louise did not fall to the ground as expected, she kept hovering.

"Kirche, please continue to take care of my horse."

She then laid down in mid-air and started drifting along the road, looking around the scenery, eyes still covered by cloth, and occasionally laughing quietly to herself.

Kirche knew of afterglow, but this was ridiculous.

(***)

As Louise continued to drift along the unseen current she began to consider just how fortunate she was. She had been granted another boon. Taught an important lesson. She had been shown the true meaning of acceptance.

She thought she had understood it, but realized now that she had only grasped it in the abstract. A process by which a feeling or sensation, when thrown into the sea, was made nothing. That was the sum total of her knowledge on the subject. She had intuitively understood that the sea would accept everything, but why? And how? She hadn't spared it a second thought. Only taken it as a self-evident truth and been thankful for it. Used it. But now, she understood.

To accept is to understand. To perceive, grasp and then relent. To accept is not to know. Louise had never known the feeling of romantic love, but she could understand it. And that was why she could accept it. That was why the sea could accept it. That was why the sea would accept everything, everything Louise could throw at it. Louise knew her own emotions, knew what sensation she could feel. And what was known to a human mind, surely would be trivial for a Great One to merely understand. And to understand was to be able to accept. And Louise had seen, had been shown, that the sea, that Kos was willing to accept all. And to be accepted by the sea means to become one with it, means to be a single part of an endless ocean. Means to become nothing.

Louise looked at the scenery through her blindfold once more. She didn't know what she was seeing. But she could understand it, to a degree. She knew she was looking at the world. And she understood that what the world was showing her was beyond her capabilities to comprehend. But she could admit to herself that she was seeing something. And just the abstract understanding that she was seeing something was enough for Louise to accept it. And then, she could throw it to the sea.

She laughed to herself again. It was quite funny, really. Louise looked once more to the scenery. All she saw was water.

(***)

"Vallière!"

Louise was broken out of her daydreams by a voice. Turning to look, she found an animated blob of water vying for her attention. Based on the shape, it was probably Montmorency. Louise briefly removed the blindfold to get a better look. Yup, it was Montmorency all right. Her hunch proven correct, Louise put the blindfold back on.

"Hey, don't just ignore me!" the blonde girl almost shrieked.

"I'm not ignoring you." Louise said in a placating manner.

"Then why did you cover your eyes and why are you lying down in the air in the first place?" Montmorency demanded.

"It's very comfortable." Louise answered, unsure of how else to phrase it. "Regardless, did you want to speak with me?"

"Yes! I've been wanting to speak with you since morning but you've just asleep this entire time. It's almost evening now!" Montmorency sounded almost amazed by it. "How can you possibly sleep that long?"

"Very easily." Louise answered after a moment.

She was enjoying watching the blonde girl's increasing exasperation. Such unneeded feelings. Should she just take them away? Wait a second, that was probably the exact reason why the girl was talking to her in the first place.

"Moving on, is this about Guiche, then?"

"Yes." Montmorency nodded, seriously. "You see, the two of us slept together in that tent last night."

Louise wasn't entirely sure how she should respond to that. Was Montmorency trying to brag?

"Congratulations, I suppose." She tried.

"No, not like that!" Montmorency quickly responded, her cheeks flushing red. "You spend too much time with that Zerbst woman! We just slept in close proximity to each other is all."

"I see. And then?"

"Well, I think he's been having trouble…holding back, since then. He tries! He tries so hard and it's all my fault. If only I never…"

Louise could tell she was about continue and tell her tale of woe, but she really wasn't all that interested so she interrupted the blonde.

"I see. I see. I shall cast the spell on him again, then."

She then quickly got up and began running alongside the current. Given that said current was already propelling her forward at approximately the same pace as the horses, this made her speed up quite a bit and she caught up to Guiche without issue.

"Hello." She stated clearly to prevent him from being surprised by her sudden appearance. It didn't work.

"Ah!" Guiche jolted and looked around. "Valliére?" he asked in apparent disbelief. "Why are you standing in mid-air and what's wrong with your eyes?"

Louise didn't feel the need to answer that a second time, so she didn't. Instead, she just took out her wand and pointed it at the confused boy.

"Wait! Are you going to cast that calming spell again? Please, let me brace myself." Guiche briefly let go of the reins to his horse so he could place his head in his hands. "To think I need a spell like this to prevent me from hurting my beloved. Like some sort of animal. What a disgrace I am."

He seemed genuinely depressed about the whole affair and Louise could sympathize with him to some degree. But then he seemed about to go on and tell his tale of woe. Louise was in a good mood, but not that good. She pointed her wand at him again and began to cast her spell.

It was easy now. Now that she understood acceptance. Because she could also understand his feelings, even if she had never experienced something similar herself. Previously, she had to gather the unmaterialized waters with great care, relying on her vague perception. Now, they were in plain sight and easily gathered at her beckoning. Previously, she had to use her own known feelings as a blueprint to get the waters to understand what feelings to accept. Now, she knew she just needed to understand the feelings to look for in order to imbue the waters with the purpose of accepting them. All in all, what before had been a challenging endeavor that had tested the limits of her control, was now as intuitive to her as any other spell. She sent the waters into his mind.

"Calm."

Louise held the spell for only a couple seconds, reasoning that he would soon be 'cured' anyway and so she needed only to lessen his 'symptoms' for the time being. That, and she was slightly worried that this time, the spell might really remove all traces of love the man felt for Montmorency. Once the spell was cast, Guiche seemed to be dazed for a moment and was about to fall off his horse when he recovered.

"How do you feel?" Louise asked, curious.

"I feel…different." Came the response. "I still love MonMon, of course I do. But it feels subdued somehow. At least I don't feel like jumping her anymore."

Louise thought Guiche looked at odds with himself, appearing to be very conflicted about how to think. She had not thought the blond to be the introspective sort, yet there he was, brow furrowed and deep in thought. Not looking at the road ahead at all. Louise could certainly also sympathize with that and so decided to offer some advice.

"You should not worry much over how you should feel in any given situation. Know, that there is always one willing to accept you for who you are."

A Great One, specifically. She gave Guiche a parting smile before she began walking off again. On the way she passed Montmorency and gave the girl a wave.

"He should be a lot calmer now." She said to the girl. "But I think he might need some time to sort out his feelings. Try giving him a little space before talking to him."

Louise thought self-reflection was a great thing and would encourage it where she saw it. Though it would appear that Montmorency did not agree.

"Don't tell me how to handle my relationship with my fiancé." She warned. "And since when are you a master of romance? I don't believe I have ever seen you involved with someone else."

Her good mood being rapidly drained by proximity to Montmorency, who seemed to want to dramatize anything and everything, Louise simply shrugged before moving on. In a way, the blonde was correct. Their relationship really wasn't any of her business. And she might even sympathize with Montmorency as a person under a lot of anxiety and stress right now who was just unduly lashing out. After all, she had been much the same the year prior. Still, that didn't mean she enjoyed dealing with emotional outbursts. So she wouldn't. Her advice was not wanted? Then it would not be given.

She continued walking on the unseen water back to where Kirche was still stringing her horse along. Successfully tuning out anything except water from her vision had done wonders to improve the length of time in which she could wear the blindfold without suffering a backlash. As long as she didn't look directly up, at least. But now, the familiar headache was returning and Louise decided that it would be time for her to take off the blindfold. A shame she couldn't utilize the unmaterialized waters like she had been without being able to see them. It really was quite comfortable and convenient to boot. She would have to make due with riding normally instead.

(***)

Due to their somewhat slower pace than the previous day, the party had not quite arrived by the Lagdorian Lake by the time it was evening. They would just have to make camp again and set out for the lake in the morning. Louise didn't mind the delay. First off, she couldn't really allow herself to, seeing as she was the primary cause of said delay. But she also didn't mind since she now had something to occupy her thoughts. The Great One, Kos had referred to her as "child". The idea has taken a while to fully think in. Still, she was not entirely sure of the implications.

For something so great, so superior, to recognize her was incredible. That it or she would recognize her as kin was unfathomable. Louise simply wasn't sure what to make of it. Perhaps it was meant in a way similar to a respected elder calling a grown man 'child' to bring attention to the vast difference in experience between them. Louise could at least understand that sentiment. But still she felt it was too familiar a way of referral. And there was also another possibility. One interpretation of the name, one aspect of the Great One that Louise called as Kos, was the term 'mother'. Everything originally stems from the ocean, perhaps the Great One considered all living beings as her children. But them why would she show herself to Louise, specifically? Louise did not have any answers but she hoped the water spirit of Lagdorian Lake might. She found herself greatly anticipating the meeting. Fetching her blanket, Louise lay down and went to 'sleep'.

(***)

The night went by and morning came, as mornings tend to do. Alerted by some nearby rustling, Louise rose and began making her way towards the ever crackling fire. Surprisingly, she found Kirche there, preparing what looked like to be a breakfast meal.

"Good morning." Louise greeted the redhead.

Kirche also seemed surprised at her presence.

"She lives!" she then sighed exaggeratedly. "What a shame. I was looking forward to throwing you in the lake to wake you up."

"Always a pleasure to ruin your day right from the get-go." Louise answered in a sing-song voice. "Are you making breakfast?"

"Indeed." Kirche nodded ceremoniously. "You did not have a chance to experience my spectacular cooking yesterday, but I trust that you shan't skimp out this time?" she finished by dramatically pointing a ladle at Louise.

"I shan't." Louise confirmed, striking an equally dramatic pose.

Well, 'spectacular' wasn't exactly how she would describe it, but Louise had to admit that Kirche's cooking was actually rather good. Most likely better than what she could have made. A hot meal was also a nice way to start a day. Fire magic might have its perks after all.

The two was quickly joined by Tabitha who greeted the both of them with a simple nod before sitting down and beginning to eat. A bit later, Guiche and Montmorency emerged from their tent, both looking somewhat haggard. It seemed the two either simultaneously had trouble falling asleep or else talked well into the night. Regardless, once the two had some food in their bellies, they lightened up significantly and looked happier than when she had last seen them the night before. Good for them.

(***)

They leisurely rode the remaining way to the Lagdorian Lake. It was quite vast, for a lake anyway, but Louise held some pretty lofty standards for what constituted 'large bodies of water' and so wasn't impressed. From where they approached it, the edge of the lake led to lush grasslands and they decided to let their horses free to graze, trusting the trained animals to not run away.

The five of them approached the lake with varying degrees of excitement. Louise was really looking forward to meeting the water spirit, Montmorency looked anxious, Guiche looked determined for some reason, Tabitha looked barely interested and Kirche looked straight up bored. Louise could almost feel the redhead's desire for things to go wrong, just to have something exciting happening, emanating off her.

"Well, here we are at last." Montmorency broke the silence. "I will call the water spirit, now."

"Remember that I shall have the opportunity to talk to it first." Louise said in case the blonde had forgotten.

"I remember, and in accordance with out agreement I shall allow you to." She pause for a moment. "Just, please be polite to it. I don't want to deal with an angry spirit."

"Don't worry." Louise answered easily. "I simply intend to ask it a few questions. I'll be on my best behavior."

Nodding, Montmorency began the ritual of calling the water spirit. It seemed to involve a lot of chanting although Louise highly doubted that all of it was necessary. Eventually, Montmorency pricked her finger with a knife she had brought and let a few drops of her blood spill out into the lake.

"I am of House Montmorency. By my blood and in the name of the pact, I call for you, Guardian of the Lake!"

She then stepped back allowing Louise to take center stage. Without hesitation, Louise put on her blindfold and the world disappeared, leaving only water.

She saw it then, at the heart of the lake. A rune. It was unexpected but not entirely surprising now that she thought of it. The rune didn't speak to her like others had, it seemed too faint. Yet with her Sight, Louise was able to make out its meaning. A long horizontal line representing the still surface with scattered vertical lines of different length to signify tides. Lake. That was undoubtedly the meaning and in a way, that rune was the lake. But she could make out something else from it. Something vague, not part of the original interpretation. To flow.

Louise's attention was then grabbed by movement of water. The few droplets of Montmorency's blood still rippled across the surface before it began bubbling. Louise noticed something emerging from the heart of the lake. Small currents going upwards that soon grew in strength before converging in a spiral. From it, the water spirit made its appearance.

Louise looked at in shock. She didn't know what to expect but it most certainly wasn't anything like this. Louise held a hand to her mouth to remind herself to breathe and to muffle any sounds that might escape. But it was too late, it had already begun. What else could she do? The water spirit was just so…looked just so…puny.

Louise began laughing hysterically.

"Hahahaha!" She tried to compose herself, but only managed to momentarily stifle her laughter to a series of giggles. Then she broke out laughing again. "Hahahaha!"

"Who…dares…"

The raspy, angry voice of the spirit rang out with surprising volume, but Louise was ready to respond in kind.

"Louise of the Great Deep Sea greets you, Lord of the Puddle!"

If she didn't have its attention before she certainly had gotten it now. It now assumed a shape similar to her own, except blobby and watery. Did it not even have a material form to call its own? Louise had to stop herself from beginning to laugh at it again.

"You…" It looked at her with a murderous stare. Then, some sort of realization must have dawned on it as the stare softened slightly into a merely hostile glare. "You. What do you want? Have you come to take what is mine?" it asked. "Look around." It gestured to the lake itself. "All you see is part of me, I will not give up anything. Go away."

Louise continued, unwaveringly.

"I had intended to ask you a few questions but I see know that you can't possibly have answers worth listening to. Instead, I guess I'll just ask you to hand over a tear. One on my friends need it."

Well, 'friend' was pushing it but the sentiment stood.

"No! Did you not hear? It is mine, all mine!" it screamed.

What an unreasonable fellow. And why did it think throwing a tantrum would intimidate her? Louise had had enough of this farce.

"Then I shall take it from you." She stated simply.

"No! I will not be robbed again!"

As if to accentuate its point, the waters of the lake began twisting into a violent maelstrom. The waters then aligned themselves, on the shore opposite them, seemingly gearing up to form a massive wave to drown them all. Louise found herself frowning deeply at the sight.

She couldn't understand it. Why did the waters move? To be a lake is to be still, static, yet as Louise peered at the waters of the lake she saw only 'flow'. Like a desire once repressed but now revitalized by the prospect of indulging in it. The water spirit was whipping up the waters into a frenzy, like a great storm had begun to ravage the lake. With a final raged glare directed at Louise, it directed the waters towards them.

Louise looked at the colossal crest that was approaching. She had had noticed a certain discontinuity between the water spirits commands and the actual waters' movement. Their movements was born, not from purpose, not from whatever the water spirit was trying to instill in them, but simply from the desire to flow. As the wave came ever closer, Louise realized what it meant.

Does the lake dream of being a river?

Louise smiled despite herself and despite death being just moments away. What a noble desire. To be a river is to flow, it is to eventually return to the sea. To think that the waters longed to return to the sea. Oh, Louise was familiar with such a desire. She could certainly understand it. She could certainly accept it.

As the waters reached the shore, Louise spread her arms in an awaiting embrace.

"I shall lead you back." She said quietly.

The smile still on her face, Louise watched with some sense of vicarious joy as the waters simply…vanished. They didn't disappear, of course, but whatever water would seek out her embrace would dematerialize. Soon, Louise found herself standing on a completely dry shore, looking at a lake now mostly bereft of water. And at the pitiful creature dwelling in it.

"Mercy!" It begged. "Mercy, child of Kos, mercy!"

"Of course."

Louise began slowly walking towards it. The waters retreated from her step, baring the lakebed to her. The water spirit, still stuck in a mockery of her own shape looked up to her with fearful eyes. Louise gently reached out a hand.

And crushed it.

Louise looked at the receding form of the water spirit. Or rather, she looked at the rune it had drawn power from. What a foul being, to use such a malicious way of attaining power. Such was its deception that even Louise had been fooled. To think she had misconstrued the meaning of 'Lake'. A wide horizontal flow, running across many shores. Clearly, it meant River. And a river could not be held captive in a mere pond forever. Louise looked down at her hand. The water spirit was almost gone, in fact, only a single fragment remained, firmly held in her grasp.

Louise turned back and addressed her companions.

"I have the tear."

(***)

Her companions, who had retreated away from the lake now approached her somewhat cautiously, words held back in favor of staring dumbfounded at her. Except Tabitha, who was just staring in her usual way. Eventually, the silence was broken by…laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

Loud laughter sounded across the flat landscape. Well, at least Louise wasn't the only one who had gotten a good laugh out of the whole ordeal.

"Don't worry she says, I'll be on my best behavior she says. Greetings, Lord of the Puddle she says!"

Kirche was completely beside herself. Whatever she originally had expected of the situation this outcome seemed to have exceeded her expectations. Louise had to agree with her. It was all pretty funny. But it was also somewhat of a missed opportunity.

"I meant it all at the time, you know. I really was planning to just have a polite conversation with it." Louise said, just to clarify that she hadn't been blatantly lying.

Kirche wasn't buying it. "Oh, of course you did. Sure changed your tune quickly though. I've never before seen someone ridicule a spirit and get away with it like that."

"Well, it was pretty pathetic. I mean did you see it?"

"Hey!" Montmorency broke in. "My family have had a pact with it and gotten valuable reagents through said pact across generations. And now it's all ruined thanks to you!"

"Your ancestors probably got swindled." Louise stated blandly.

Kirche began laughing again. When she stopped she had to wipe a tear from her eye.

"Oh, Louise. There's never quite a dull moment with you around is there? First you start sleeping in the air and next thing you're beating up spirits and what? Did you end up stealing its water or something?"

"I didn't steal it. I'm returning it to where it belongs." Louise explained.

"Stop, stop." Kirche held her hand up in front of her face. "No more, please. If I laugh more I might actually die."

Louise huffed in mock offense. She knew better than to expect Kirche to understand how she had helped the water. "You shouldn't have asked about it, then."

"That's all well and good but what are you going to do about the lack of water in the lake. Look, it's almost entirely drained." Guiche suddenly remarked.

Louise turned to him with a blank look. She failed to see how that was her problem.

"And how do you suppose that's got anything to with me?" she said as much.

She definitely wasn't going to return the water to the lake that was for sure. She had promised it to reunite it with the sea, after all. But her very noble motives seemed to have gone over Kirche's head as, against her better judgement, the redhead began laughing loudly again.

Louise sighed. All in all, this whole trip hadn't exactly worked out like she had hoped or even like she had expected. On one hand, Louise had acquired the tear of the water spirit, so the whole endeavor could be regarded as successful even if Montmorency was still currently fuming. She would come around in time. But on the other hand, Louise had looked forward to talking to a powerful being closely related to water and learn from it, which hadn't exactly panned out. Though on a third, metaphorical hand, she had been fortunate enough to communicate with an even more powerful being, much more intimately related to water than any spirit could dream of, to the point where even comparing the two was meaningless. And though that had raised more questions she desperately wanted answers to, she had also been taught an important lesson. A lesson she had taken to heart, one whose value was not in plain sight but instead was what allowed for plain sight in the first place. Just the thought of how long it would have taken her to learn that on her own made her want to say a prayer in thanks.

So in the end, while she hadn't gotten exactly what she had wanted, she had gotten more than she could have dreamed of, albeit it not by any direct consequence of the trip. But then again, if Kirche was to be believed, such was unmistakably the nature of an adventure. She could understand why Kirche and Tabitha seemed so fond of them. Maybe she should ask to go with them some other time, on a more 'proper' adventure. But for now, she wanted nothing more than to return to the school. Louise managed to suppress another small fit of giggles but not the manic smile that formed on her lips when she thought of just how beneficial her improved sight would be to her studies.

"I believe we are done here, then." She spoke up, addressing the entire party. "Let's head back."

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(***)

So how about that 'weekly updating schedule', eh? Well, for daring to tempt the Cosmos, I was punished by several time sinks rearing their ugly heads. But part was also just certain scenes of this chapter taking a really long time to write. I tend to be very particular with my formulations after all, thumbing through a thesaurus to find just the right word.

At any rate, setting a schedule was probably a bad idea in the first place. It's not like I was going to possibly compromise the quality of my story just to meet some arbitrary deadline anyway. So know that this story is very much alive and will be continually updated, just not at a set pace. Biweekly chapters might be likely, though. Also, before starting chapter nine, I intend to revisit chapter seven and improve some parts, using the feedback I've gotten on it.

Finally, guest reviewer Pac asked why Kirche didn't visit Louise in the infirmary during chapter six. The reason is simply that she didn't know Louise was there for the first days since Osmond tried to suppress information regarding the incident. But even when she found out Louise was involved through rumors, she couldn't visit her since Peltier didn't allow visitors. Otherwise, Henrietta would have visited every day.

Not to sound like a douche, but for small questions like that, it is easier to PM me on this site or leave a review as a user so i can respond directly to you in a timely fashion instead of eventually cluttering up the author's notes. That's all for now, see you next chapter.