I NEED a new job! : )
Nothing much to say… just enjoy reading…
Let's begin…
Mission 13 : Unexpected Twist,
Excerpts from Brimmierre's secret journal:
"We managed to defeat the enemy after much sacrifice. But why don't I feel like we won?"
／人◕ . ◕人＼
For a certain someone:
Fantasy pic : Guiche poses in DMC4 Nero's costume, leaning against a castle wall. On his back is the customized single edged sword Red Queen, his left hand holds the Blue Rose aiming at something off screen. In his right hand, he holds his rose wand towards his face in a dramatic fashion.
Though, one thing seems to be off, as Verdandi the mole, perched on his shoulder is trying to look badass, but ends up looking cute.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Dante sighed at the situation they're in. Not only is Wardes a traitor to his own country but a friggin' Devil?
Talk about bad luck.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Anyways, if you're wondering how Dante managed to find this place:
Hours Earlier,
In a field close to the Wales family chapel, Dante made camp of the area, staking the place out. Knowing full well that this is where the wedding would be held.
Dante summons the Golden Fleece, the mysterious, multi-purpose Devil Arm in cloth form.
Like a magician, he spreads the cloth over the grass, and quickly removed it revealing a healed and beautifully restored Fouquet, now taking back her given name Matilda, having tea. She's sitting on a chair next to a tea table laden with various teatime and finger foods.
No matter how many times Dante uses this legendary item from hell, it still surprises him.
"Oh, it's you." Matilda said nonchalantly,
"Wow, you're looking rather better." Dante whistled,
"If you're thinking I would thank you for saving me, you're wasting your time."
"I was hardly thinking about that. I just need information."
"On what?"
Dante takes the empty seat and faced the pretty thief.
"The one who set you free from the prison and hired you. "
Matilda falls silent as she stared at the teacup. Then she looked deeply into the devil hunter's eyes.
'Oh how lovely those eyes are' she couldn't help but think.
"I think you already know who that is, am I right?"
"I have my suspicions, I just need to be more sure, "the devil hunter stated, rubbing his chin with one hand.
"And by the looks of it, he made you a geas so you won't be able to turn stool pigeon on him."
That shocked Matilda, as she never even mentioned her condition to the devil hunter.
"Don't look surprised. Commoner I may be, but I had my share on having cases regarding magic and the supernatural stuff back in the day. Wait, did I just sound like an old man?"
That statement elicited a giggle from the former noblewoman.
"I wish I could help but, as you now know…" she began, and stared at the teacup.
"The geas will kill you once you reveal his name and his information. Yeah, got that covered." Dante said as he extends his right arm towards the former noblewoman's head and touched her forehead with his index finger. Glowing rune writings appeared on her forehead.
"Well, now this looks well made, but I could fix this one easy." Dante said with a flick of his finger he forced his own magic into the rune overriding the magic used to carve it in the first place, the glowing runes broke with a sound of glass breaking.
"Now, isn't that better?" Dante softly smiles at the young woman, who blushed at the touch of the snow-haired devil hunter.
"Y-yeah," she replied and took a draught of tea, looking a bit shyer than she did earlier.
"So, who was the guy?"
"He's been travelling with you guys all along, it is Wardes." Matilda confirms,
"Thought so," the devil hunter nodded.
"Do you know what the rest of his plans are?"
"Unfortunately I was just contracted to just distract you so he can make off with Valliere. Well, killing you guys would have been a bonus. Obviously, I failed." She shrugged saying in a way as if she was just telling a gossip.
Dante sighed, took a sack from his coat and gives it to the thief..ergo… ex-thief.
"What is this?"
"Just a little fee for your cooperation." Dante said as he tries a spot of tea, and found this one surprisingly good.
Matilda looks inside the sack, and finds that it contained an assortment of the finest jewels she had ever seen, so much that she could actually give up being a thief and live a quiet and peaceful life.
"W-why?" She stuttered "I mean, after all what I did to you…"
"Just take it Babe, I may have no idea of your past, but you seem like a good person after all."
"Oho, how sure are you that I am?" Matilda challenges the statement.
"You never actually killed any person since you started living like this. Besides that, I know a good person when I meet one. So just take it and start anew."
People called her terrible names and gave unsavoury rumors of her earlier escapades. But never had it mentioned her ever killing any of her victims.
"Are you sure of this? Letting me get away, the greatest thief in history of Halkeginia." She asks. And it seemed that her vision seems to be clouding. Though she may have long convinced herself that there are no longer people that would genuinely care for the likes of her but…
"Yeah."
Matilda's eyes widened at the how easily Dante just replied.
Silence,
"T-thank you," she mumbled.
"So, what are your plans after this?" Dante asked Matilda, who looked like she's on a verge of tears.
Matilda quickly recovers and looked back at the devil hunter. Suddenly , she finds the handsome devil hunter becoming more delectable.
"I'll be going back to my village at Saxe-Gotha to live with my sister, she takes care of an orphanage there. You should visit us sometime there. And maybe we could..." Matilda said as her voice turns sultry, and she began to move close to the handsome devil hunter; close enough for something to happen, and glides her index finger on his chest.
"Yeah, I just might take you up on that offer." Dante smiled, looking a bit interested at what Matilda might be insinuating.
Matilda blushed, especially to the fact that the devil hunter is not resisting in her advances at all.
"Aren't you asking me about Wardes anymore?"
"Nope, I guess I'll have to ask him the rest of it myself."
Matilda suddenly shivered as she remembered something,
"Dante, there's another thing you should know about that man."
Dante's eyes grew serious at the tone of her voice.
She's scared of the guy.
"He's not human."
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Okay, back to the horror that is the GriifinWardes;
Louise couldn't believe, she wouldn't want to believe it.
Louise looked in horror at the grotesque parody of a once noble creature in front of her.
What exacly is Wardes? Is this the true form of Wardes?
Her long time acquaintance and fiancé is this…thing?
What the heck? Was all that Wardes said to her, lies?
"Sorry Louise, but as your guardian being, I won't allow you to marry this guy." Dante said to the pinkette, who's still in shock at how this situation developed.
"I mean look at him…er…it." He continued pointing at the devil,
"W-why…" Louise tries to say something but failed to continue.
"Anyways, I'll explain later. Besides, I promised you that I will beat him up next time we fight, right?" Dante smiled and winks before taking a step forward.
Dante aims Ivory at the devil, "Since you're up and all. Mind if you answer some questions?"
The creature roars and slams its claws, sending tremors for 50 meters around, causing large amount of debris to fall all around them, and also most of them blocking the doors, effectively imprisoning them with the monster.
"I guess that's a 'no', huh?" Dante said, putting Rebellion on his back, with Derflinger,
"Hey, how about using me?" Derflinger asked
"Not this time."
Dante looks at the two Nobles behind him, "I suggest you guys take cover somewhere. This could get messy." He advised the Louise and Wales.
The two nobles need no more goading as they went behind the largest still standing pillar.
"Let's Rock!." Dante grins, draws Ebony and aims the double pistols at the devil.
The devil hunter wasted no time and begins relentlessly pumping lead at the devil, which as it roared, summons a powerful, continuous whirlwind, deflecting the bullets away from its body.
Dante, seeing that guns, won't do scratch, holsters them, cracked his knuckles as he declares, "As I remembered, I still owe you a match."
He makes a pose dramatically with Rebellion in front of him before suddenly rushed towards the GriffinWardes, in a speed much faster than he did when they first fought, a powerful lunge, and thrusts the sword with such power that the wind shield was temporarily dissipated.
Seizing the opportunity, Dante deals a dozen slashes and cuts using Rebellion, with each and every slash cuts through the devil.
But as Dante observed, as he cut, the creature's injuries seemed to heal almost instantaneously. He leaps ten feet away from the creature as the devil tries to maul him with its claws and reaffirms its windshield.
"Hm... Seems like we need to take this to another level then..."
GriffinWardes screeched in response, its powerful wings opened up and begins to fly, sending powerful gusts of wind around as it took the air. It then prepares to fire a ball of compressed wind from its beak.
As much as he wants to use his greater power, due to the presence of the nobles at the chapel, he just can't.
The backlash of the fight at that form will cause the building to be crushed, possibly injuring both Louise and Wales in the process.
For now, this will have to do.
"Let's get it on." Dante challenged as he took a stylish stance, points to the devil and snaps his fingers.
Red aura begins to emanate from the devil hunter as he unlocks just a bit of his true power, to the point that Dante pulses and glows with energy. When it suddenly dissipates, it becomes clear that Dante to have grown stronger than he is earlier, even the two bystanders could tell.
As the two Nobles looked on, Wales couldn't help but gaze at the devil hunter in awe as he asked, "Who is this man?"
Louise on the other hand, saw something else as Dante sort-of levelled up. Dante's image distorts, as another image, an ethereal form superimposes Dante. She could only describe it as…not human.
"What is that?" She gasped, as a powerful presence could be felt by the two nobles, forcing them down on their knees.
For your information:
Dante's current power is equal to his Devil Trigger when he was younger, might be even more so. But this is not a Devil Trigger, yet.
GriffinWardes fires a series of pressurized balls of wind at the devil hunter, more powerful versions of the wind mage spell Air Hammers, as Dante rolls left and right to avoid the shots, moving closer and closer to the devil, bidding his time.
Running along the chapel walls, pillars and ceiling, he continuously evades the attacks as he draws the creature away from the two humans. Dante finally dashed towards the devil, leaving a trail of afterimages and red magical circles in the air, and suddenly jumps over the creature. Using a series of magical seals, he jumps on them, sending him further skyward.
"Your wind shield has flaw."
A whirlwind shield has an opening above it.
Gunslingin',
Dante grins as he dives towards the GriffinWardes and draws Ebony and Ivory, aims downward and fires them while spinning like a drill, raining the devil with a hail of lead.
Taste the Rainstorm,
The devil roared as the bullets tore though its body, sending it falling back down to the floor with the force of the .45 caliber rounds.
"Nice work girls," Dante praised his guns, putting them away.
"Ass kicking time." Dante crows, his arms and legs suddenly get covered by the Devil Arm, Beowulf.
Gripping the Rebellion, Dante attacks with the Helm Breaker, hitting the devil squarely in the head, severely wounding it.
As blood gushes out of its head, it begins to heal itself; Dante lost no time as he lunges to the creature and,
"Blast Off!" Dante shouts as he swings Rebellion upwards, sending the GriffinWardes up into the air in High Time.
Dante follows the launched enemy in the air and slashes the devil repeatedly in an Aerial Rave. GriffinWardes screeches in pain, as Dante attacked inhumanely fast, more quickly than it healed itself.
"Come on, I still haven't worked up a sweat yet." Dante grins as he puts Rebellion in his back, and using Beowulf, he performed a series of downward kicks in mid-air that struck GriffinWardes with supersonic speeds, sending shockwaves all around the two, as they slowly descend to the ground.
Feel the sting of The Killer Bee.
GriffinWardes falls hard on the chapel floor, leaving a deep impression on the floor.
Dante lands on the floor, draws Rebellion and lunges forward and stabs the devil with the much stronger Stinger, with the force sending it slamming to the wall.
"Seriously, I can't even call this a workout." Dante acts disappointed, walking towards the devil, putting the Rebellion on his back.
Before the devil could react, Dante dashed towards it with a lunge using Beowulf's The Straight, and connects to the GriffinWardes' center. The wall behind it caves with the force of the punch.
The creature, grunts with the force driven to it and apparently loses its consciousness.
"Time to fry this bird." Dante said as he pulls back his right fist.
Dante then charges Beowulf with great amount of light energy to finish off the battle, but suddenly he stopped charging the devil arm and dismissed it. The ghostly image that only Louise could see, superimposing the devil hunter disappears, as well as the overwhelming pressure it seemed to emanate.
Louise and Wales, who watched the battle in awe at the skills of the devil hunter, suddenly snaps from their stupor.
Louise shouts at her summoned being as she runs toward him, "What the? What are you doing?"
／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼
-Interrogation –
Dante takes a closer look at the devil's face, "Hmm, seems like there's still a human in you."
Louise and Wales didn't know what Dante is talking about until they took another look at the devil that was once the pride of the Tristanian Army.
The GriffinWardes was unconsciously shedding tears. "Mo-ther." It groaned,
An eldritch light suddenly engulfs the creature and when it dissipated, it revealed an alive but immobilized Wardes due to damages he recieved,
"He's still alive?" Wales said, taking out his wand.
"He is?" Louise cried and suddenly hides behind the devil hunter
Wardes, groans as he regains his consciousness, "W-what happened?"
*Click*
Dante puts Ebony to the man's forehead, "As much as I'm concerned at how the hell did you manage to do that party trick, I would like to ask you what you are planning to do with Louise and Wales."
Wardes coughed out blood, as he tries to speak. There's no hope of escape for him after all.
"She has the power to help our organization to advance with our plans."
"The Reconquista, right?" Dante said,
Wardes coughed and tries to speak again,
"Yes, We were gathering allies for us to be put forth a crusade to take back the Holy Land from the elves."
"We already heard of that. What exactly do you want with Louise?" Wales asked
"She has the power of the Void. Though she may realize it or not."
"Void? The legendary element?" Wales looks at Louise, and seeing her expression...
"Is it true?"
Louise just looks down and nods.
Dante sighed, "Looks like the cat's out of the bag."
"Truth be told, I still have no idea what exactly does my element do, at least I can cast basic spells properly, but that's it." Louise explained.
Wardes turns to look at the pinkette smiling bitterly, "I apologize for trying to take you. I was desperate."
'Desperate?' Louise thought,
"You're also tasked on taking out the Prince besides taking Louise and the letter," Dante deduced as he removed the pistol from aiming to Wardes' forehead, stepping away.
Wardes nodded in admission.
"Why didn't you kill me?" Wardes asked as looked at the devil hunter intently,
"I made a point not to kill humans, I only kill devils."
"But I am a devil. The Griffin and I are two sides of the same creature. He contained most of my power while I took the human form."
'Talk about a split personality.' Dante thought as he spied something gleaming among Wardes' tattered clothes.
An ornate locket.
"Say what you like. But to me, you're still human." Dante said as he looked at the locket on Wardes person.
The locket was slightly open, revealing a small portrait of a beautiful lady with gorgeous golden locks. Her feature emanates strength, kindness and compassion, something that Dante is familiar of. And she definitely shares Wardes' looks.
'Not another Mama's Boy,' Dante thought but kept his stoic façade.
If he ever said that aloud, he'd just end up getting the jab right back at him.
Wardes was confused at the statement, "What do you mean…?"
"Because devils never cry." Dante answers as looked away...
Turning his attention back to Wardes' interrogation, he continued,
"And by the sound of it, I seemed that you don't have the same sentiments as the people you're with. What's the story?"
"I need to…" Wardes statement was cut off, as a powerful force struck the former magic knight.
"After all we planned to set this thing up for you." Someone else spoke out of thin air.
An ethereal blue epee sword stabs Wardes' chest. And holding the blade is a deep-blue cloaked figure. The figure's features are hidden by the hood, but its rather average-sized body seemed androgynous, could be a male or female.
The same figure that Louise saw in her dream, 'No, it can't be.'
'How the heck did he manage to evade my senses?' Dante thought.
The figure twists the sword, eliciting a cry of pain from the former griffin knight.
"We can't have a Judas in our midst now, can we?" The figure spoke with a distorted voice, putting a heavy boot on Wardes face,
*Bang*
Dante shoots the figure using Ebony, sending the figure flying ten feet away from Wardes,
Louise runs over to the injured man, monster or not, she still shared a history together.
"Lord Wardes!" she cried, as she tried to attend to him.
Wardes was unable to speak due to the fatal strike.
He extends his hand to the crying Louise to try to remove her tears.
"Please save my mother..." he managed to mumble before losing his last reserve of strength as he gives Louise his locket.
'My Louise, please don't cry anymore,' Was his last thought before losing his life, again.
Louise continued to cry, as she gripped the locket.
／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼
Dante kept his aim at the fallen figure.
"I know you're still alive."
A snicker came from the figure as it disappeared.
Louise and Wales were startled and turned their attention toward the figure and the events that come next.
And reappears and suddenly stabs Dante with a 12-foot, gigantic ghostly Bastard Sword to the stomach and pins him to the wall with a move similar to the Stinger, with a force enough to cause the wall behind Dante to form large spider web cracks.
Dante was surprised at how fast the figure moved, and was unable to retaliate.
Now Dante appeared motionless, stuck to the chapel wall like a pinned bug.
Louise is trembling at the sight, "DANTE, NOOOOOOOOO!" she screamed,
The entrance of a new player in the field is now complete.
"And now for the Prince," the figure said, and suddenly dashed towards the Nobles, producing another ethereal blade, this time, a single edged, long curved sword similar to the Japanese Nodachi.
Louise suddenly breaks to a run and stops in front of the Prince,
"You'll have to go through me before you can kill the prince." She growled, though her knees are shaking with fear.
The figure suddenly stops, as it saw Louise.
Still, the figure raised its sword, prepares to kill both of them in one stroke.
But for some strange reason, it seems hesitant as its eyes seemed to gaze at the pinkette's expression, completely resolved on protecting the Prince with her life.
A laugh emanated from Dante.
"Heh, It's been a while since I got hit like that," Dante's body begins to glow red once again.
Louise was shocked. She knew that Dante could heal fast, but not to this extent. As she looked on, it seemed that she could see Dante's image flicker once again, and an image superimposed on the devil hunter, a bit clearer than the last time, a ghostly image of a red, humanoid…creature, something that Louise saw in her dreams.
"Just what are you, Dante?" she muttered as she gazed on in fear and awe as Dante makes his move.
Dante grabs the ethereal sword's blade, and in one smooth move he breaks them, and as he did the whole weapon fades to thin air.
"Still hurts like hell though." Dante said, landing with on his feet looking no worse than when they arrived at Albion. And inexplicably, even his clothes didn't show any damage. The superimposing image dissipates.
"You're the first person I have ever known to have survived my Dainsleif's assault." The blue cloaked assassin said, cocking its head to the side.
"Shall we continue?" Dante said, as he suddenly disappears and reappears right behind the figure, with Rebellion raised for a Helm Breaker.
The blue cloaked figure turns to the devil hunter and as it did, fades like smoke, reappearing at the hole in the ceiling, and the Rebellion just strikes the chapel floor.
"Oh dear, it seems that I managed to eliminate only one of the targets. Let's postpone the match till next time. In the meantime, a large army will soon burst in. Hey! Can you hear the sound of horses' hooves and dragons' wings!" The figure said,
Indeed, one could hear the noise of cannons and sounds of fire magic explosions outside, as well as the roaring voices of nobles and soldiers mixed up in a battle.
"Who are you?" Wales managed to ask,
"Call me... Cobalt." The blue cloaked assassin said as it disappeared.
"Our first meeting was fun, I can't wait to see you again, Son of Sparda."
Throwing these last parting words, Cobalt disappeared through the hole in the wall.
Louise finally succumbs to shock and exhaustion and faints.
Dante ran up to Louise.
"Louise!"
Dante shook Louise trying to wake her up to no avail. Dante put his ear to Louise's chest.
Thump, thump, thump…
Hearing the faint heartbeat, he breathed out a sigh of relief. Louise was worn-out. Her mantle was torn, and her knees and cheek bruised from the backlash of the battle.
And there must be more bruises under the clothes, too.
Louise's hand was grasping her chest. Her breast pocket button came off, and one could see Henreitta's letter peeping out from the inside. It seemed that, even unconscious, Louise was still protecting the letter.
'Really, I am so glad you are alright.' Dante thought.
"Dante what are you planning to do now? The Eagle already left the port…" Wales asked
That's right. To save Louise, Dante didn't board the Eagle's deck.
"Is that so?"
"Can't you hear the shouts outside? Shit has already hit the fan." Derflinger said
Indeed, explosions and battle roars were getting closer and closer to the walls. It was only a matter of time before they would come bursting in here.
Wales now proceeds to walk out of the chapel though the hole Dante made during his fight against the devil Wardes.
"Are you sure about this?" Dante asks the Prince, who stopped and without looking back he tells him,
"Dante, Son of Sparda, I will put my trust in you that she will receive this."
Something flies towards the devil hunter, who reached out and caught it.
It was the Prince's ring.
"…Just tell her I love very much."
"You knew of Sparda?"
"The story has been passed amongst the family members about the Legendary Dark Knight. And that he fought valiantly in the struggle for Halkeginia's freedom, many, many years ago."
It seems like his father left an impression on these people.
Dante slowly shook his head, remembering their current mission, but as a man, he must honor the Prince's will. But at least he could try one more time,
"This will be one suicide mission for you."
The Prince with his back turned to the devil hunter, stopped and said,
"After what I have seen you do, and the fact that I actually saw how a legendary Dark Knight must have fought, I was actually inspired and challenged to show the world my resolve. And this might be the best and the only chance I could ever have."
"Are you really sure? You'll be facing a lot of them out there,"
"Doesn't matter. I have something that needs to be protected." The Prince said, and muttered under his breath, "My, Dearest Henrietta."
Dante was able to hear that one. Finally giving up with convincing the Prince to escape, he could only say,
"Give them hell out there."
"I will."
Wales then continued to walk on unflinchingly never looking back, until he disappears from Dante's sight.
'Seriously, he is one of the most stubborn men I have ever met.' Dante thought.
'To kick ass, or not to kick ass, that is the question.' He thought,
For as much as Dante wanted to join the fray, he promised himself not to kill humans, as much as possible.
Besides, as far as he knew, if he ever showed his abilities right here, Tristain might get involved. Based by experience, in wars like this, innocents will get inevitably involved.
And he still needs to get Louise out of here.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
As Dante plans an escape route, he was contemplating whether to follow the Prince, and drag him off if possible, or just let the Prince play Leonidas for the first and final time.
Suddenly, a group of soldiers appeared. The Reconquista.
"Death to the Royals!" was their battlecry as they rushed inside the chapel, to sack the place, in the guise of a crusadefor freedom.
What they saw is the snow haired man in a red flowing coat, rushing up to them in inhuman speeds...
Seconds later, they found themselves flying out of the building, before their consciousness falls into oblivion...
／人◕ . ◕人＼
With his frustration temporarily sated, Dante returns to pick Louise up, and then...
The ground, near the place where Louise was laid, rose up.
"What?"
Dante watched the ground.
"Is it an enemy? Digging under?" Derflinger asks,
He lowered Rebellion towards the hole, out of which a brown animal soon popped its head.
"Aaaaaaaan?"
Dante's eyebrow twitched,
Seriously...
And then that brown animal started groping Louise's body that was lying near sides.
"Verdandi, then that must mean..." Dante deadpanned, and soon enough from the same hole that Verdandi came out, Guiche's face appeared.
Hey! Verdandi! You can dig a hole anywhere! Good boy! Gu…."
Guiche turned his soil smeared face from Dante and noticed Louise lying nearby, then said pretending not to know.
"Ha! You! You are here!"
"W-what are you doing here!"
"Well, We decided to follow you. It is our duty as princess Henrietta's honor depends on it, right?"
"But this place is in the sky! How the heck did you get here!"
Then, near Guiche, Kirche's face popped out.
"Tabitha's Sylphid."
"Kirche?"
"We reached Albion successfully, but since it's a foreign country we didn't know where to go. But then, Verdandi started digging a hole all of sudden, so we followed him."
Meanwhile the huge mole was pressing his nose to the 'Ruby of Water' that was shining on Louise's finger. Guiche nodded.
"Indeed. He followed the smell of the ruby, and started digging a tunnel to here. My cute Verdandi, because of his love for jewels he was able to follow from La Rochelle and dug a hole to get here.
Dante shook his head in amazement. He surely, never expected to be saved by a mole.
Not that he could do it himself.
"Are you alright? By the way, darling, what are you doing here?" Kirche asked while wiping off the dirt from her face with a handkerchief.
Dante shrugged.
"Dear? Is something wrong dear?"
"We'll talk about it later! The enemy will burst in soon! Go!"
"Running away, and the mission? What about Viscount Wardes?"
"We have the letter! Wardes is dead! Return back now!"
"What? Well I do not understand it, but it seems everything ended already." Kirche said in nonchalant voice.
With Louise in his arms, Dante slowly made his way through the hole. He left Louise in Guiche's care and hurried back to get Wales.
However, Wales had long gone.
Dante, as much as he wanted to get that stupid prince, he still had to ensure the rest of the group with him safe.
'Damn it all..' Dante swore.
"What are you doing there Master! Please come back quickly!" Guiche called Dante back.
Dante looked at Wales' ring he gave Dante.
The ruby belonged to Albion's royal family.
Dante put it in his pocket.
"Brave stupid, bad ass prince… You won't be forgotten." Dante muttered.
"Defend the things you believe in, huh?" Dante said, looking intently at the hole in the wall where the Prince had disappeared, and dashed back to the hole.
The same moment Dante dove in the hole, the noble soldiers and mages broke through the door and jumped into the chapel.
The tunnel Verdandi dug ran right under the Albion's continent. So the moment Dante got out of the hole, there was nothing but clouds beneath, yet Sylphid successfully caught all four falling people and a mole.
The mole that the wind dragon caught with its mouth, let out a protesting cry.
"Please try to endure it, my cute Verdandi. Bear with it until we get off in Tristain again."
With powerful wing strokes, the wind dragon broke through the surrounding clouds and changed direction to the Magical Academy.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Dante, with Louise in his arms, looked up at the continent of Albion.
Clouded and empty, blue inside, the Albion continent disappeared. Though it was a short stay there, Dante had various things to remember, as the white country faded from view.
Dante watched Louise lying in his arms. Her white cheeks were dirty with blood and soil, yet even in this state, one could see her aristocratic features. There were two stripes from her eyes down her cheeks left by her tears.
Dante wiped Louise's face with his sleeve. He could not bear to see the face of his pretty cute contractor dirty.
Louise was still unconscious from the shock. Looking at Louise's face was somehow painful to Dante. "Dear Louise. The stupid girl Louise…"
Now Dante looked only at Louise's face pressed gently to his chest.
Meanwhile, Louise was absent-mindedly wandering in dream.
The dream in la Vallière's place, in her hometown.
A pond in a forgotten courtyard…
There a small boat was floating… Here Louise was lying down when facing difficulties. Louise always hid herself and slept there. Her world that no one else intruded in. Her secret place…
Louise's heart was in pain.
But Wardes didn't come here anymore. Gentle viscount Wardes, her childhood noble crush, her fiancé of marriage arranged by their fathers' mutual agreement…
Young Louise sobbed softly; there was no Wardes who would take her from her secret place anymore. He was a dirty betrayer that tried to murder the courageous prince, those kind hands belonged to a monster. But he might have reasons why…
Louise cried in her shallop.
But then, someone came.
"Is that you, Viscount?"
Louise asked in her dream. But she shook her head at once. No, the viscount didn't come here anymore. Then, who?
It was the boy she dreamed of often besides Dante. The one she apparently summoned as a familiar in her dreams. The sword was hanging on his back, when he without hesitation about getting wet stepped into the pond and approached Louise's shallop.
Who is this boy to her?
But Louise's heart throbbed.
The boy picked up Louise out of the shallop and held her in his arms.
"Have you been crying?"
The boy asked. Louise nodded childishly in her dream.
"Stop crying. Louise. My Louise."
Louise tried to get angry. This boy, how dare he call me 'My Louise'. She doesn't know him at all. But when she opened her mouth to scold him, her lips were closed again with a kiss. Though she wriggled in rage at first, the strength soon left her body.
Louise woke up on a wind dragon's back, in Dante's arms.
She became aware that she was held in Dante's arms. They were sitting near the wind-dragon's tail, and Dante sat there embracing her. She stared at his face from the side as it seemed like he didn't notice that she was awake.
Kirche, Tabitha, Guiche – all three of them, were sitting on the front of the wind dragon's back.
The wind was blowing against her cheeks.
"Aah, this isn't a dream."
Then…
"I survived."
Louise's mind was filled with feverish thoughts.
I was almost killed by that Wardes, but then Dante jumped in. Wardes became a monster, someone else tried to kill the Dante and the Prince. After that, though, I lost consciousness… Dante musths've won.
But only we survived, maybe the royal army was still defeated.
Wales died as well.
The happiness of surviving mixed with sadness almost made Louise cry. However, not wanting to cry in front of Dante, she closed her eyes.
She was also ashamed to say thank you. Though she could not understand why, she was comfortable with Kirche, Tabitha, Guiche – with all of them. But thanking Dante before everyone felt really embarrassing. Therefore, Louise decided to pretend she was sleeping.
Nevertheless, Louise still secretly watched him from the corner of her half-closed eyes.
The air dragon increased speed.
Strong wind hit her cheeks.
But that wind felt pleasant.
Her mind is in a swirl.
Traitor and a devil, Wardes.
His true reason of betrayal.
The blue-clad, mysterious assassin Cobalt.
Crown prince's inevitable death…
Noble union's 'Reconquista' victory…
Report to the Princess…
For various reasons, and while Louise felt sorry for them all, right now all Louise's thoughts were blown away by the wind.
After nearly escaping death, she wanted to savour the feeling of life for a while.
Like that, savouring the feeling of life without limits, while pretending to sleep…
Dante's face moved closer.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Dante's lips kissed Louise's forehead.
"Sleep well, princess." He said as he looked back to the floating Albion.
Strong wind hit Louise's cheeks, as Sylphid flew through the sky.
Something warm filled her heart, a heart that was wounded by sad events was healed. She felt like she's being watched over by a caring father.
Some time ago she was struggling violently against the feeling in her dream.
But at least for now she has Dante as family…
There's still time for true love...
The pleasant wind blew from a different world…
Resting her cheek against his chest, she silently fell asleep.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Tristain's Royal Palace was situated on the end of Bourdonne's Street. In front of the Royal Palace gates, members of the Mage Guards patrolled atop their magical steeds. The rumor that war was looming had begun spreading through the town two or three days ago. It was rumoured that the aristocrat faction that had conquered Albion, "Reconquista", was poised to invade Tristain.
Therefore, the mood of the soldiers who guarded the surroundings grew tenser. In the skies above the Royal Palace, magical beasts and ships alike were banned from flying, and people who passed the gates were thoroughly checked.
Even tailors, confectionery shop employers, and traders were stopped and inspected thoroughly at the gates, so as to prevent mages disguised through illusion, or people under the control of charming magic from getting through.
It was because it was under such circumstances, that when a wind dragon appeared in the skies above the Royal Palace, the garrison of Mage Guards grew alarmed.
The Mage Guards was composed of three corps, and each guarded the Royal Palace in turn. Whilst one was on duty, the others either rested or trained. Today, it was the Manticore Corps that was on duty. Riding atop their manticores, the nobles flew up and headed towards the wind dragon that had appeared above the Royal Palace. There were five figures on the wind dragon's back, as well as a huge mole that was held in between the dragon's mouth.
The Mage Guards warned them that this was a prohibited flight zone, yet the wind dragon, ignoring the warning, landed in the palace courtyards.
Atop was a blondish pink-haired beautiful girl, a tall lady with burning red hair, a blond boy, a small, petite girl with glasses and a boy with black hair. The boy carried a long sword over his shoulder.
The manticore guardsmen quickly surrounded the wind dragon and simultaneously drew their rapier-shaped wands, assuming a stance with spells at the ready. A strongly-built, rough-mustached commander, bellowed a warning at the suspicious intruders:
"Drop your wands!"
Instantly, the expressions of the intruders grew hostile, but the short blue-haired girl amongst them shook her head.
"Royal Palace."
The party nodded reluctantly, and as ordered, threw their wands to the ground.
"The skies above the Royal Palace is currently a prohibited flight zone. Didn't you know that?"
A girl with blondish pink hair lightly jumped off the dragon, and introduced herself in a firm voice:
"I am Duke de la Vallière's third daughter, Louise Françoise, not someone suspicious. I request an audience with her Highness, the princess."
The commander twisted his moustache as he watched the girl intently. He knew about the Vallière Duchy. After all, they were very renowned nobles.
The commander lowered his wand.
"You are Duke de la Vallière's third daughter?"
"Indeed."
Louise raised herself and stared straight into the commander's eyes.
"I see... I can see that you have your mother's eyes. Well, what is your purpose here?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you. It's a secret."
"Then I'll have to deny your request. To grant an audience without knowing your purpose, it's something you lose your head over!" The Commander replied worriedly.
"The secret itself is not something that can be told either." Dante calmly said, as he jumped off the wind dragon.
The commander looked over at Dante as he interjected. He had a young but strong face. Clothes that he had never seen before. Snow-white hair. Pale skin. Two large swords draped over his back.
He looked Dangerous.
Though it wasn't clear what country he was from, one thing was for certain – he wasn't a noble.
"What a rude commoner. That's not the way a servant should speak to a noble. Stay silent."
Dante narrowed his eyes, and turned to Louise. It was the commander's disdainful tone that infuriated him. He's a little bit on the short fuse end of his patience at the moment.
Louise understood what the devil hunter is insinuating as she saw a slight red tinge in her summoned being's eyes.
"You don't have to. I know you can best him just as you beat Wardes." Louise said, never mentioning that little fact that Wardes turned to an abomination and still defeated by Dante.
Overhearing their conversation, the commander's eyes widened. Wardes? Wardes, as in that viscount Wardes, the commander of the Griffin corps? Defeated? What's the meaning of this?
Shaking the concern aside, the commander raised his magic wand again.
"Who the hell are you people? Regardless, I cannot allow you to see Her Highness."
The commander spoke out in a hard tone. The situation was quickly getting out of hand. Louise stared at Dante.
"What?"
"It's because of you and your face that they think we are suspicious!"
"It's all because of that bearded man and his damn attitude!"
"Shut up. You should have just kept your mouth shut!"
Watching the strange scene ahead of him, the commander quickly seized the situation. The mage guards which had surrounded the party quickly raised their wands.
"Arrest them!"
Under the commander's order, the guardsmen/mages were about to begin their incantations when suddenly...
A person clad in a purple mantle appeared from the palace gates. Seeing Louise surrounded by the Mage Guards, she frantically ran over.
"Louise!"
Seeing the figure of Henrietta rushing over, Louise's face shined like a rose.
"Princess!"
Under the gazes of the Mage guards, the two embraced one another in a hug.
"Aah, you came back safely. I'm glad. Louise, Louise Françoise…"
"Princess..."
Louise's eyes began watering with tears.
"The letter... it is safe."
Reaching into her breast pocket, Louise gently pulled out the letter. Henrietta nodded and firmly grasped Louise's hands.
"You really are my best friend."
"Your words are too kind, Princess."
However, upon noticing the absence of Wales in the midst of the party, Henrietta's expression grew somber.
"As I thought... Prince Wales sacrificed himself for his kingdom."
Louise closed her eyes and nodded quietly.
"... But what about viscount Wardes? I don't see him, did he take another route? Or did he... perhaps... fall by the hands of the enemy? But if it was the viscount, shouldn't..."
Louise's face grew grim. With much difficulty, Dante explained to Henrietta.
"Wardes was a traitor, Princess."
"Traitor?"
A shadow crept upon Henrietta's face. Then, noticing the deep stares of the Mage Guards around them, Henrietta quickly explained.
"They are my guests, commander sir."
"I see."
Upon hearing this, the commander withdrew his wand, if somewhat unwillingly, and told his troops to do the same.
Henrietta turned to Louise again.
"What exactly happened on your trip? ... Anyway, let's withdraw to my room before we continue. The rest of you, please get some rest in the other rooms."
Leaving Kirche, Tabitha and Guiche in the waiting room, Henrietta brought Dante and Louise to her own room. Henrietta sat down on a small and delicate chair, her elbows placed upon the desk.
Louise explained the entire situation to Henrietta.
How Kirche and the others joined them en route.
How they took a ship to Albion, and its subsequent attack by pirates.
That the pirate leader was Crown Prince Wales.
How even though escape was offered to Prince Wales, he refused.
And how… because of the wedding with Wardes, they missed the ship.
That in the middle of the wedding Wardes suddenly showed his true colours… tried to kill Prince Wales and prepared to snatch the letter from Louise's hands... Dante appeared…
What Wardes turned into.
The battle between Dante and the creature.
The ambitions of 'Reconquista'… to unite all of Halkeginia, to the grand goal of liberating the Holy Lands from the Elves.
The true intentions of the deceased viscount.
And the arrival of the blue-cloaked assassin.
And lastly, Prince Wales' conviction.
However... with the alliance between Tristain and Germania now secure, Henrietta still mourned.
"That viscount was in league with the Reconquista… How can that be? To have a traitor within the midst of the Mage Guards..."
Gazing at the letter she herself wrote to Wales, tears built and streamed down her cheeks.
"Princess…"
Louise silently held Henrietta's hands.
"It's my fault. No matter how you put it, it was I who chose the traitor to be the messenger…"
Dante shook his head. He knows there might be underlying reasons to his actions.
"The Prince had already planned on staying in his kingdom. It was not Your Highness's fault."
"Louise, did he, at the very least, read my letter?"
Louise nodded.
"Yes, Princess. Prince Wales read Your Highness's letter."
"Then, Prince Wales didn't love me."
Henrietta sorrowfully shook her head.
"Then... even after you urged the Prince to escape?"
Henrietta nodded whilst gazing at the letter in sorrow.
Louise recalled Wales' words. He kept stubbornly telling her that "Henrietta didn't tell me to escape". It was just as Louise had thought - a lie.
"Ahh, with your death, there is no longer any hope. What about me, my lost love?"
／人◕ . ◕人＼
_Musical Interlude Begin_
(Music : Queen's " Love of my life.")
Love of my life - you've hurt me
You've broken my heart and now you leave me
Love of my life can't you see
Bring it back, bring it back
Don't take it away from me
Because you don't know -
What it means to me
Love of my life - don't leave me
You've stolen my love and now desert me
Love of my life can't you see
Bring it back, bring it back
Don't take it away from me
Because you don't know -
What it means to me
You will remember -
When this is blown over
And everything's all by the way -
When I grow older
I will be there at your side to remind you
How I still love you - I still love you
Ooooo
Hurry back - hurry back
Dont take it away from me
Because you don't know
What it means to me
Love of my life
Love of my life ...
Oooh, ooooh...
_Musical interlude ends_
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Henrietta muttered softly in her daze.
"Was honor more important than me?"
But Dante came to a different conclusion. Wales remained not because he was trying to protect his honor. Rather, Wales remained so as to not give Henrietta any trouble... and to show the traitors that the royal families of Halkeginia were certainly not to be trifled with.
"It isn't as you think, Princess. It was because he did not wish to give Tristain any troubles that he remained in that country. That is how I see it."
Henrietta looked up at Dante blankly.
"To not give me any trouble?"
"His escape, as the Prince said, would only have given a perfect excuse for traitors to invade your kingdom."
"Even if Prince Wales didn't flee here, they would still invade here given the chance. But, without a reason to invade, peace can be kept. At the cost of his life, he prevented the rise of war."
"... Even then, he still didn't want to give trouble. Surely..."
Henrietta, sighing deeply, looked outwards from the window.
Dante slowly repeated the words he had remembered.
"To fight with bravery, to die with courage. That... was what he asked me to say."
"He truly, madly, deeply loved you. Princess."
Henrietta replied with a cheerless smile. When a princess, as beautiful as the delicate rose, became like this, even the air itself grew heavy. Dante's heart ached at the sight.
Henrietta, resting her elbows on the table beside a beautifully engraved marble statue, questioned sadly.
"To fight with bravery, to die with courage. That's your privilege as men. But what of those who are left behind, what are they to do?"
Dante was struck silent. He had nothing to say. He who had no one to leave behind in the pursuit of his mission, he couldn't answer what nor how. He looked away.
"Princess… If only I had tried harder to convince Prince Wales..." Louise began,
Henrietta stood up and clasped the hand of the muttering Louise.
"It's all right, Louise. You splendidly accomplished your mission, retrieving the letter. You should not have to be worried about anything. Because I didn't ask you to tell him to escape."
Henrietta laughed with a smile.
"With the obstacle that could have broken the marriage removed, our country will be able to step into the alliance with Germania safely. In such a situation, Albion will not so easily invade us. The crisis has passed, Louise Françoise."
Henrietta said it as brightly as possible.
Louise took out from her pocket the Water Ruby which Henrietta had given her.
"Princess, here, I return this to you."
Henrietta shook her head.
"Please hold on to it. It's the least I can do to express my gratitude."
"I cannot dare to accept such a treasure."
"For such loyalty, an appropriate reward should be bestowed. It is all right, put it on."
Louise nodded and put it on her finger.
Upon seeing this, Dante remembered the ring he received from Prince Wales. Taking it from the breast pocket of his coat, he placed it onto Henrietta's hands.
"Princess, this, is a keepsake from the Prince Wales."
Accepting the ring, Henrietta gasped in astonishment.
"Isn't this the wind ruby? Did you get it from Prince Wales?"
"Yes. Before he left, he passed the ring to me; he said to give it to Your Highness."
Such was the nobility of the smile, which Dante was dumbstruck by its beauty, and could only stay silent.
If he had said it like that, maybe it would help heal the ache Henrietta held in her heart, however little it could be.
Henrietta put the Wind Ruby on her finger. Because it was for Wales, it was too large for Henrietta's fingers… But when Henrietta muttered the 'decreasing' spell, the ring became narrower and narrower, and soon fit the finger snugly.
Henrietta lovingly stroked the Wind Ruby. Turning towards Dante, she gave a shy smile.
"Thank you, kind guardian."
A sad smile filled with grief, yet also a smile of gratefulness towards Dante. Such was the nobility of the smile that Dante could only smile unsurely.
"That man, he had died bravely. Is that right?"
Dante nodded.
"Yes. It was so."
Henrietta, whilst staring at the shining Wind Ruby, declared softly.
"Then I… I will live bravely as well."
／人◕ . ◕人＼
On the flight from the Royal Palace to the Academy of Magic, Louise remained silent. No matter how much Kirche asked Louise and Dante as to the contents of the letter Wales had written, the two kept their lips sealed.
"Oi, c'mon, won't you at least tell me what the mission was? And to say that the Viscount was a traitor, it's all so mysterious."
Kirche looked at Dante with a feverish glance.
"However, darling attacked him?"
Dante, having glimpsed Louise's face, nodded:
"Yup, and he got killed in the fray…"
"Still, that's quite an achievement! Hey, what was that mission exactly?"
Dante looked away and began whistling. Louise was even more silent, and neither spoke.
Kirche puckered up her brows and turned to Guiche.
"Hey, Guiche!"
"What?"
With an artificial rose in his mouth, Guiche, who was spacing out, turned around.
"Do you know what was in the letter Princess Henrietta sent us to retrieve?"
Guiche closed his eyes saying:
"I do not know as well. Only Louise knows."
"Louise the Zero! Why don't you tell me? Hey, Tabitha! What do you think? Well, I think that I am held for an idiot!"
Kirche shook Tabitha, who was reading the book. As she was being shaken, her head followed suit and shook as well.
Because of all the shaking by Kirche, the wind dragon lost balance and slowed down suddenly. Guiche, who was sitting on its back, lost his balance and fell down. "Gyaaaaaa!" he screamed as he fell, but since it was Guiche, no one noticed. Mid-way, he pulled out his wand, and using "Levitation" floated down slowly, avoiding near-death.
Louise lost her balance as well, but Dante softly reached out and held her waist with his hand, supporting her body. Seeing the hand on her waist, Lousie blushed.
So after all, having felt the hand move around her waist, Louise shouted in an angry voice:
"T-to be so bold, I'm going to get angry!"
"You looked like you were going to fall over. Like Guiche." Dante replied, his face looking blank.
"It's all right, even if Guiche falls - it is only Guiche." Stated Louise still bewildered from before.
"T-that's, even if he falls he will be all right. It would be troublesome if you fell however, since you cannot use magic properly."
"You are just a magic partner, and you dare insult your master?"
Louise drew a sharp breath and quickly averted her gaze. However, she didn't seem angry.
"You are being too daring. Hum."
Though Louise grumbled and complained, she didn't try to shake off Dante's hand. On the contrary, she leaned her body closer, snuggling against him. Yet, her face still remained averted. Dante stole a quick glance at Louise's face.
Her white cheeks were faintly dyed with pink and she was slightly biting her lower lip. Though Henrietta was beautiful... Louise was still incredibly cute, he thought, but then again this is Louise, his ward. The hand on the waist pressed closer. And felt how her waist and thighs pressed further into him.
'Oi, oi, something's not right here.' Dante thought,
It was just as this was happening, that Kirche spun around and muttered softly.
"Since when did you become like this, you two?"
Louise, suddenly realising how things looked, blushed a furious red and sent the still confused Dante flying off with a push.
"Nothing happened! You idiot!"
"You stupid midget!"
Dante's cursing trailed behind as he fell, but before he smashed into the ground, Tabitha, who was reading a book, dully swung her hand, and put a 'Levitation' spell on Dante.
Dante landed gently onto the plains, and saw Guiche, who had fallen before, walking along the road on the grassy plain with an annoyed face.
Then Guiche stopped and addressed Dante in his usual snobbish manner.
"You fell too, right?"
Dante answered in a tired voice.
"I was pushed."
"T-they are not coming back, are they?"
Dante looked up into the sky. In the blue sky, the wind dragon quickly disappeared over the horizon.
"Nope…I don't think so."
"Well, let's walk then. Sigh, it'll take half a day on foot."
'Screw walking, we're riding.' Dante thought.
With a depressed look about him, Guiche started to walk. Dante was not sure why, but felt that the he was more impressed by him.
'He's getting tougher.'
"By the way, you… That, well… There's something I wanted to ask. Please tell me."
Guiche mumbled to Dante as he fiddled with the artificial rose.
"Huh?"
"Did Her Highness... well... have anything to say about me? Is it true, that she'll reward me after the mission, with the letter where the promised secret date is?"
For a moment, Dante felt pity for Guiche. Henrietta hadn't even mentioned the letter "G" from Guiche's name in their conversation.
"Let's go."
Dante, pretending he hadn't heard anything, summons the Sleipnir and takes the youth as a passenger, and drove off.
"Well, is the rumor true?"
"Just shut up, and let me drive."
"Wha-at, y-you, Her Highness, I..."
"I said..." Dante said in a rather threatening tone.
The boy clams up.
Under the warmth of the sun, the two kept on riding towards the Academy of Magic.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Let's see the aftermath...
Fortress of Newcastle, once known as a great stronghold, was now a tragic ruin. Though it withstood the despair, it became a disastrous scene.
The castle walls, having been repeatedly attacked by spells and cannon fire, were turned into a pile of rubble, and most corpses burnt beyond recognition were scattered around.
Though the siege was somewhat short, the rebels - no, because Albion lost its king and his only heir, the rebels 'Reconquista', became the new government in Albion - suffered damage that was impossible to imagine. Three hundred royal army soldiers for two thousand killed rebels. And four thousand wounded. Seeing these casualties, it was hard to understand whether it was a victory.
Because the fortress was located on the very edge of the floating continent, it was possible to attack it only from one direction. Before the 'Reconquista' forces managed to push away the guards, they were repeatedly shot with magic and cannon fire, receiving huge casualties.
However, they won by the force of numbers in the end. Once behind the castle walls the defense was fragile. The king's army mages were left to guard against soldiers. But the mages' numbers were insignificant to the 'Reconquista' soldiers; they were gradually killed and all fell, one by one.
Though the damage dealt to the enemy was great… the price was annihilation of the king's army. Literal annihilation. Because the royalists fought up to the last soldier.
On one particular note, though the leaders of Reconquista may try to say otherwise, whispers among the 'Reconquista' soldiers say that Prince Wales fought the hardest amongst them all, He was the first to fight the usurpers, and he was unbelievably the last to be killed among the 300 mage knights.
He fought to the point that many of the enemy soldiers thought that they were facing an Ancient Dragon.
When he was the last one standing amongst his comrades, Prince Wales had a long standoff with the horde of rebels, waiting for them to come at him as he stood there during the lull in battle, sword on one hand, wand on the other, steadily gazed like a watchful hawk at the scores of enemies while sporting a feral grin, challenging, daring anyone of them to come at the Prince.
He was said to have died as he had fought, standing on his own two feet. And the enemies never knew that he was already dead until ten hours later.
For generations to come, the feat of Prince Wales of Tudor became a shining example of manliness to those who wish to follow his example of beauty, nobility, honor, courage, and balls out badasstitude.
In a word, the final decisive battle of the civil war in Albion, siege of Newcastle's fortress, fighting against 100 times or larger opponent, in a battle with damage that was worth ten such armies… became a legend.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
"This is so Thermopylae. Without the overly muscled, bearded guys, who fought wearing nothing but underwear and capes. I gotta hand it to them; they still got the job done." Dante comments as he read the latest news from Albion, while he reclines on top of Louise's veranda wall.
"Why on Halkeginia would people fight in battle with just their underclothing? Are they crazy?" Derflinger asked after wriggling out of its sheath.
"I suppose they did it to prove how badass they are, who knows? I mean, back in the day, there's also this one guy who fought a monster barehanded and buck naked, and won."
"And I thought you're crazy." Derf said,
Silence
The devil hunter stares at the distance, as the twin moon travelled across the night sky. He reflects on the events surrounding the Albionian takeover, Wardes turning out to be a devil... or is he? What exactly happened to the noble's mother? And finally, that there is no mention of the assassin in blue, Cobalt, during the coup.
"I guess there are a lot of mysteries in this world than I realized." Dante said to Derflinger,
And for once the sword held its tongue, having nothing else to say.
"Umm, Dante,"
It was Louise, she approached the devil hunter somewhat hesitantly, looking at him intently. She was gripping Wardes' locket.
"I suppose you want answers," Dante said, looking a little more serious than usual.
Louise wordlessly nods.
"Are you sure?"
Louise looks up and gazed upon the eyes of the devil hunter.
"Yes."
Dante sighed, 'this is gonna be a long night.'
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
Louise just stood there, resolute.
Dante just smirks, 'Seems she has become braver, after we got back from Albion."
Dante, who hated long introductions, "Brace yourself at what you're about to see. Whatever we will discuss here should not leave this room, until I say it's alright."
"I swear to the Founder."
"Good,"
Dante steps back from Louise to the center of the room, he takes a deep breath.
Suddenly, a bright red light engulfs the devil hunter.
Louise shields her eyes with her arms, and waited for the light to dissipate.
When the light did disappear, Louise swallowed hard as she was suddenly assaulted by a presence unlike she ever felt before.
It exerted a greater pressure than she felt before; this is something that makes most warriors cower in fear, forcing her to fall down on her knees. She struggled to breathe as she tries her outmost best to look at her summoned being.
"I was kind of expecting that you'd faint instantly from this form's mere presence, looks like you've grown a lot tougher than you look." Dante's voice rang through her head, only it sounded distorted, more alien.
Louise looks up towards Dante, and almost screamed at what she saw.
"D-dante?" Louise squeaked, as her eyes widened at the sight.
Towering over her, a pair of glowing eyes can be seen.
That was the last thing she saw before, she lost consciousness.
／人◕ .◕人＼
Author's note:
Seriously? What the heck does this all mean?
Sorry for cheapening the battle, but it still seemed inappropriate for a full on DT at the time.
I suppose some of you might guess who the hell the cloaked fellow is.
PM me on it, if you wish...
Please review...
As for the grammatical errors, thanks for mentioning them, but please, pm me and point them out so it can be fixed as per your corrections...
As this is my first patchwork story published to on-line readers.
As I observed, the great authors of my favourite stories tend to have grammatical errors as well, but never took my enjoyment in reading their tales.
I suggest reading between the lines; you may never know what might pop up.
I Love As. : D
'till next time.
Coming up next, a boring revelation, and time for a Siesta... : )
Thank you for the continued patronage.