11: Sacrifice
Louise and I were sent on a few missions for the Tristain army. Most of them involved using Louise's new void spell, illusion, to trick the Albion army into retreating. These spells were usually large and definitely took their toll on Louise.
Speaking of whom, I had been doing my best to avoid her for two reasons. First was because of the boat incident. If I tried to talk about it, I know that only awkwardness would ensue. I really just tried to forget about the whole incident. Maybe Louise had another potion, or was drunk? I just couldn't see her doing something like that the way she usually was. The very thought of it almost scared me.
Second was Saxe-Gotha. The army of 70,000 would invade, I'd drug Louise to keep her from going, then I'd fight and die. It wasn't something I was looking forward too, and I was deep in thought about it almost every day. I was mostly trying to think of a way to break it to Louise without worrying her. Last time, Montmorency told me that Louise nearly killed herself out of despair. I needed to come up with a way of avoiding that.
The whole ordeal depressed me to no end. People started to take notice and asked what was wrong. I just put on a brave face, lied through my teeth, and changed the subject. Louise actually tried to ask me what was wrong. I told her nothing was wrong and continued about my business. I couldn't tell her. Not yet. I just didn't know how. I did, however, thank her for her concern about my well being.
*Scene Break*
It had been a few weeks since the homecoming. Missions continued as usual, and we even got to see Julio! I hate that guy. He's like if someone fused Wardes and Guiche back when he was a snobbish jerk. I kept as far away from him as possible.
It was the week of the Advent Festival. A truce had been called for the celebration, and everyone was happy for it. I stayed in my emo state of mind. The fact that this would only end in death made the whole cheerful event seem downright cruel. I decided I desperately needed a drink. Maybe a nice several bottles of wine could get my mind off of everything. I headed towards the nearest bar and took a seat.
"Saito?" I turn at the sound of my name and see Guiche.
"Guiche! What are you doing here?" I ask him, trying to sound happier than I really am. To be honest, seeing a friendly, familiar face really did wonders for my mood.
"I am enlisted as one of the soldiers for the army! I have already helped win several battles and have even won a medal!" He said, showing the medal that hung from his chest. "Siesta's around here too somewhere," he said looking around. As he said that, she popped out from behind some people and ran up to me.
"Saito!" she said, hugging me almost to death.
Then two more familiar faces pop up. One was a girl who looked a little like Siesta, but was taller and she went by the name of Jessica. The other was Scarron. I really don't want to describe him in detail.
Jessica and Scarron were Siesta's cousin and uncle, respectively. They ran an inn back in Tristain that Louise and I stayed at for a bit when on a mission to gather information for the princess. The two of them were really nice people who helped us get some of the information we needed. Seeing them here actually did help my mood a bit.
"Saito!" cried Jessica, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm helping out the army. Louise is here too. She decided to stay back at the room we have though." I told them.
"Why don't you go get her and bring her here? I'd love to see little Louise again!" says Scarron.
I ponder for a moment, then nod. "That sounds good. You guys wait here, I'll be back in a minute." I stand up, and head for the inn.
*Scene Break*
I got back to the inn we were staying at, and was about to open the door when a feeling of dread came over me. I remember something really horrible happening on the other side of this door. I just couldn't remember what. I ignore my instincts and open the door. And I'm immediately greeted by the sight of Louise, dressed up in a fur bikini and wearing cat ears and a tail.
She looks at me embarrassed and says, "Saito's been feeling depressed, so to cheer you up, for today, I'll be your familiar."
Oh, is my inner monologue's clever response. The sight in front of me is too adorable to bear. My nose starts bleeding, and I pass out right then and there.
I wake up on the bed with Louise looking at me worried, thankfully she's wearing actual clothes now.
"Well, here we are again," I mutter while I sit up.
"S-sorry. I might have overdone it." Louise says while blushing. I make a mental note to give that sentence the understatement of the eternity award later.
"Now, please tell me someone persuaded you to do that and you didn't come up with that of your own accord." I say pleadingly.
She nods. "You're sword gives stupid advice. I asked him if he knew why you were looking so down and he didn't know. I asked him if he knew anyway to cheer you up and he suggested this. I still don't know why I agreed."
"Well, thanks for the effort. I actually do feel a lot better now that some of the pressure's off. Oh! Scarron, Jessica, Siesta and Guiche are waiting at that bar down the street. You should go meet them." I tell her.
She perks up at that. "Really?"
"Yep. You should go talk to them. If you don't mind, I think I'll get some rest here."
She nods and heads out the door.
"Hey Louise?"
She turns around.
"Just to let you know, you looked absolutely adorable in that cat costume." I tell her.
Her face is a mix of anger, embarrassment and happiness, for some odd reason. She closes the door behind her. I wait a bit to make sure she's gone. I head over to the desk in the room, grab a piece of paper and start writing. I write down just what exactly is making me depressed and what to do. I put it in my pocket planning on giving it to Louise later. After I give her the sleeping potion or course.
You might want to try a different draft. This one seems a bit too cryptic. 'Yeah, but I don't know if i'm going to survive. For all I know Tiffania's already used up her magic healing ring.' You don't know that. 'Which is exactly why I wrote the letter the way I did.'
I sleep in the bed for a while and after some time, Louise comes back.
"How'd it go?" I ask her, turning over so I can see her. Her face is a little red, and she sways a little when she moves. I guess she had a few drinks with them.
"Good," she hands me a small brown box. "Siesta said give that to you. She said you'd know what to do with it." I open the box, and inside is the vial of sleeping potion I'd been counting on. I stuff the vial in my pocket for later and throw the box into a corner. Louise notices how late it actually is, strips down to just her panties, throws her clothes into the far corner of the room and crawls into bed.
"Louise, any particular reason you aren't wearing your night clothes?" I ask, trying not to think of how Louise is right next to me wearing only her panties. I already had one near death nasal explosion today, I didn't need another one, especially not on the bed.
"It's too hoooot." I guess she had a few too many drinks considering it was snowing outside. I bet your really happy now, eh Saito? 'Shut up.'
"Saito, can I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Why you so depressed recently?" Apparently the alcohol has taken away her ability to form simple sentences correctly.
"That depends, how drunk are you?" If she was really drunk, I could tell her the meaning of life and she would forget about it in a few minutes.
"Pretty drunk." Clearly.
"Fine, this war has just been depressing me." I don't take the chance that she's only tipsy and knows my plan, "People are just fighting and dying and nothing is getting better, only worse. The whole concept of wars just depresses me." That part's the absolute truth.
Louise snuggles up to me and wraps her arm around me. I'm not going to have to repeat what I did during the potion incident am I?
"I don't like it when your depressed. You don't seem you when you're like this. Get better soon," then she falls asleep.
I think about what she said and it almost depresses me even more. Get better soon. Yeah, dying makes everyone feel better. Still, I can't deny how happy it makes me feel that Louise really seems to worry about me. Eventually, despite my thoughts about the war, I fall asleep.
*Scene Break*
Louise was treated to quite a sight when she woke up. She was in nothing but her panties with her arms wrapped around me. Again. You just love forcing Louise into situations like this, don't you? 'Never once has it been through my actions that she decided to do this!' My inner monologue is really annoying at times.
"W-what do you think you're doing!" She kicks me, waking me up, and I fall off the bed.
"This one, I can actually explain." I tell her nervously. Nothing like a solid kick to the back to start your morning. I get up and stretch out my back to make sure nothing's broken before turning to her. Luckily, she's already managed to get dressed. Great job Louise, record time.
"You see, after I told you to go see Guiche, Siesta and everyone, you came home rather drunk. I do mean drunk."
She blushes. "I d-don't remember much of last night. I guess I did have a few to many drinks at the bar with them." She hangs her head in shame.
"It happens to everyone. Anyway, if I were you, and you knew what I knew, I'd be more worried about tonight." I probably shouldn't even tell her this, but she needs something to take her mind off of the cat costume and the hangover.
"What do you mean?" Apparently the people of this world all share the remarkable ability to sober up instantly after something catches their interest. I tuck that information away for later use.
"Well, without spoiling too much, this war's almost over. Tonight's the final nail in the coffin." MY coffin to be exact, but I don't bother telling her. Why are you so depressed about this? My inner monologue asks me. Yeah, you die, but it's not like it's permanent. Maybe not, but it still hurts me and everyone I know.
Louise perks up at the news that the war's almost over. Finally we can have some peace and her familiar can stop being so depressed!
"Really?"
"Yeah, but it's not a pretty end. Not at all."
She doesn't look happy about that, but she definitely seems ecstatic at the news that the war is nearly through.
"Well," she begins, "Since we don't have anything to do today, want to go out on the town?"
I blink. Did Louise just ask me on a date? I mean it's happened before, but it's still quite shocking.
I smile at her, "Of course I would."
*Scene Break*
The date was wonderful. Louise was dressed in a black dress with a matching black beret. She looked absolutely adorable in it. The plan for today was to forget all about the war and enjoy ourselves at the advent festival.
We visited all the game booths, looked at all the shopping areas, and even went and saw a play. I got a little bored and fell asleep halfway through so I don't remember much. When I woke up, Louise was asleep and leaning against my shoulder so I guess she didn't think to highly of it either.
Basically, it was a fun, normal date. Almost nothing could have made the day bad. Emphasis on almost.
*Scene Break*
It started a few hours after lunch. After drinking some water from the wells, soldiers went crazy and started attacking the villagers. Panic, riots and violence were everywhere, it was complete chaos.
When I first saw signs of the outbreak, I grabbed Louise by her arm and led her away. I made my destination the shipping port near the church. There weren't any wells near there so it should be safe. When we got there, we both sat down to catch our breath.
"Saito, what's going on?" Louise asks me, the fear in her voice obvious.
I decide to respond honestly. No point hiding anything now is there? "They're being mind controlled. A parasite in the water if I remember correctly."
Before Louise can respond, an owl flies in and gives her a letter. She opens it, read through it, and her face becomes deadly serious. I knew this was going to happen.
"Louise, what's in that letter?"
"Albion broke the treaty. They're sending an army of 70,000 over here, where most of our army is stationed." Every word she says hits me in the gut as I remember last time. I just can't get past this battle can I? "They want me to go to a hill and use my magic to slow them down. Retreat is not an option."
"You're going to do it, aren't you?" I ask her sadly. She nods her head.
"They just gave you suicidal orders!" I scream at her. This whole war thing has really given me some built up rage, so I guess that's what I'm releasing now. "You're just going to go there and die? What about everyone? What about all our friends? What are they going to do when you're dead?"
Louise's eyes start to water a little bit. "What will happen if I don't stall them? If I don't do anything, they will all die! Do you want that? Do you want them to die so I can live?" Tears start pouring down her eyes.
I sigh, this is an argument I already know I can't win. "I guess you're right." I grab a bottle of wine from one of the shipping crates near by. "Than let's have one last drink. It's a tradition in my world to have a last drink with someone before separating. Think of it as my last request to you."
She looks to her left at the church, blushes and looks down again. "T-then I have a request as well."
I try to remember what her request was, but no such luck. With everything that's happened so far can you really blame me for forgetting a minor detail like that?
"Go ahead, what's your request?"
"W-would you marry me?" I nearly drop the bottle right then and there. So much for a minor detail.
"R-right! It would definitely suck to die before getting married, even if I am the only one available."
She shakes her head. "No, I really do want to marry you. Not just because there's no one else here." Then I do drop the bottle. Luckily the thing's pretty sturdy so it doesn't even crack. Well she's convinced she's going to die. No point in her hiding anything, is there? I pick the bottle up, my brain still reeling.
"S-sure. Whatever you want."
*Scene Break*
Now I remember. This was her request last time as well. It was as shocking then as it was know. I pour the wine into the two glasses near the alter. I look over and see Louise kneeling near a statue of Brimir, praying. I reach into my pocket, take out the bottle Siesta gave me, and pour the contents into one of the glasses. Let's hope this stuff works.
Louise finishes up and walks back over to me.
I clear my throat in an attempt to also try to clear away my nervousness. I doesn't work. I hand Louise the glass with the potion in it, and I take my own glass. We both down the wine in a few seconds, and set the glasses on the table. Now I just had to buy time.
"So, how does this work? Do we just hold hands, say a vow, kiss and be done with it?"
Louise blushes. "I-I don't know. That sounds good enough though." She grabs a hold of my hand.
"Louise, I love you, and I'm glad I met you. That's why It's even worse having to got through with this again."
Louise blushes, "I'm glad I met you too. I didn't like you at first, you were just some commoner. But now, I wouldn't have picked any other familiar. Saito?"
"Yes?"
"I-I lo-"
Then the potion takes affect. Perfect timing, as always. She collapses and I grab her before she hits the ground. I take my note to her from my pocket and place it in her shirt pocket. I give her one last kiss goodbye before picking her up and walking out of the chapel, fighting back tears at having to relieve this moment. It sucked enough the first time, having to do it over again was like reopening an old wound with the intent of pouring salt in it.
"Saito?" I see Guiche once I step out of the chapel.
"Thank god it's you and not Julio." There are not enough words to describe how much I hate Julio, so I'm really glad it's Guiche that shows up instead.
"Why's Louise asleep? Shouldn't she be going to stall the army?" he seems both confused and worried.
I hand Louise over to him. "Get her on the ship. Make sure she escapes."
"What about you?" Now he just sounds worried.
"I'm off to entertain an army." I tell him, before marching off towards the hill where the battle will begin.
Then I remember something. "Oh, and Guiche?"
"Yes, Saito?"
"Tell Louise to check her pockets when she wakes up."
He nods, and I continue marching.
*Scene Break*
I reach the hill that serves as my starting point. I sit down, draw Derflinger and place him next to me.
"Derflinger?"
"Yes partner?"
"This is going to suck, isn't it?"
He chuckles "Not going to lie, yes it is. Remember this partner, you volunteered. You could have escaped and been done with it, but you volunteered."
"It was either her or me, and I'm not letting her die."
"Heh, wise words partner. Be on your guard, looks like the army's coming."
I look forward and sure enough, he's right. All 70,000 are marching towards me. This is going to be fun.
"Hey Derf, see if you can remember any useful abilities that might help us out."
"No guarantees, but I'll try."
I smile and grab Derflinger. Then I charge straight towards the 70,000.
It was easy at first, they were too surprised by the fact that there was only one person, and that my speed was so incredible. I jumped right into the fray and began slashing. I aimed for the arms or legs while slashing. I didn't want to kill anyone, I just needed to slow them down long enough for everyone to escape. The army did most of my work for me, friendly fire and all.
I run towards one soldier, drop to my knees and give a quick slice. I was aiming for his stomach, but was a little too low. Oh well, you only need one to have kids right? He falls to his knees and I use his head like a springboard to gain some height. I land on top of one guy whose buddy tries to hit me with his axe. I dodge, but the axe grazes my arm.
Then the mages start firing. I use Derflinger to absorb most of the spells but he can't absorb them all. My right arm gets hit by a fireball and instantly is in great pain. I charge a line of mages and they fire some more fire at me. I absorb enough to only get singed and use Derflinger to break the wands. I notice a hail of arrows coming for me and I try to dodge back, but there are a lot of arrows. I use my Gandalfar speed to move Derflinger to block the arrows, but a few still get past. One grazes my left shoulder, another implants itself in my other shoulder. I pull it out and continue fighting.
Arrows, spells and blades keep coming, and I try to fend them all off. However I'm definitely near my end. I can already feel the injuries catching up and my consciousness slipping away. I see the Commander of the platoon and decide to at least take him out, throw everyone into confusion. I leap towards him and slice, aiming at his neck. Derflinger is about to make contact with his neck, and then I black out.
*Louise POV*
When I woke up I was on a boat. I looked around and saw some townsfolk and people who looked like soldiers. "We must be escaping Albion," I thought to myself. "Wait, I need to stall the army!"
"Ah! You're awake, Louise." I turned and saw Guiche with Siesta, Scarron and Jessica.
"What am I doing here? I need to be back there holding off the army!" I turned around with the intent of running and heading back to hold off the enemy, but Guiche put a hand on my shoulder.
"Let me answer your question, with a question. Where's Saito?" Guiche asked, his voice sounding sad.
My face paled when I realized what he was implying.
Siesta gasped and put her hands to her mouth. "L-Louise, you don't know where Saito is?"
I already knew, and my eyes got watery, but I wanted, no NEEDED, confirmation. "Guiche, where is Saito?" I wasn't angry, or even worried. I was just scared.
"He put you to sleep and put you in my care to make sure you escaped safely while he went off to delay the approaching army." Guiche looked down, saddened.
I fell to my knees and tears began to fall. "No. No! No! He didn't! He wouldn't! That means..."
"I'm sorry Louise, he's probably already gone."
My tears went from a light rain to a steady flow of water in that moment. I ran to the edge of the ship and grabbed onto the railing. "Saito! Saito!"
I tried to jump over the railing, but Scarron grabbed me.
"Let me go! I'm going to help Saito!" I continued yelling at them and crying. Eventually, my energy gone, I slumped onto my knees. Guiche and Scarron were the only ones there. Siesta ran off after Guiche said that Saito was most likely dead, and Jessica chased after her.
"One last thing," Guiche said, trying to console me, "he asked me to tell you to check your pockets."
The only thing I did to acknowledge that I heard him was to reach into my shirt pocket. I pulled out a piece of paper and looked at it. Eventually, tears began to run again. Guiche and Scarron decided it would be better for me to be by myself for a while. Clutching the letter to my chest, I laid down on the floor and went to sleep, desperately wishing for the day Saito would return to me.