Is this the last Roar?
No clue…
I need a new job!
Rejoice! As the New Chapter Has just arrived, Hot from the oven...
Yeah right...
Let's begin…
Mission 18: The Void Awakens
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Fantasy pic : Two at the price of one: Dante stands in a church-like place, behind him is a large stained glass window, which seems to feature an angel with its wings spread out, Dante is blocking the view, making the angel wings the only visible part. He's flipping the bird at the viewer while he grins with his right hand holds Ivory, aiming it to the viewer, gangsta style. Half of the pic features Cobalt, crouching on top of a gothic building in the rain, under the darkened hood, only the glowing red light of his left eye could be seen.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
After the rather shocking starting scene to the young readers' from the last chapter, how about this one then?
Let's take a break for a while as we look into someone's love story in the past…
The Ragdorian Lake in between the Kingdoms of Tristain and Gallia was one of Halkeginia's most beautiful places. It spanned across six hundred square kilometers and its width could be compared to that of the distance of Tristania, the capital of Tristain, from the Academy of Magic. The lake was located on relatively high ground, and was as beautiful as if it were a painting. The lush green of the forests woven with the clear water of the lake was a masterpiece which couldn't have possibly been made by a god carelessly waving his shovel around.
However, that lake was not something humans owned. It was a place inhabited by the water spirits, who were the original inhabitants of Halkeginia. It was the paradise of the water spirits who had a much longer history than the humans. The water spirits had made a castle and town at the bottom of the lake and developed their own culture and kingdom. It was said that those who saw it, no matter how evil they were, would turn over a new leaf.
These water spirits were called the spirits of oath and it was said that oaths made by them would never be broken. That being said… the water spirits, who were said to surpass the beauty of the woven colors of the forest, the sky and the lake, rarely appeared in front of humans. Tens of years ago, they had appeared once to renew their oath with the royal family of Tristain, but since then, they had not come up from the depths of the lake. Which is why, even though it was said that "oaths made by them would never be broken", it was an extremely difficult task to prove it.
The first time Henrietta and Wales met was at that Ragdorian Lake. It was three years ago… Celebrating the Queen Marianne's birthday, the Kingdom of Tristain invited guests from each nation and held a large garden party at the Ragdorian Lake. The nobles and royals invited from all over Halkeginia - the Kingdom of Albion, the Kingdom of Gallia, and the empire of Germania, gathered at the lake all dressed up and socialized to their hearts content. Fireworks of magic were set off and under a large tent, a ball was held throughout the night with the world's finest food and wine prepared.
On the night at the end of the first week, as the celebrations were half over, the fourteen year old Henrietta left her tent and made her way to the shore of the lake without any attendants or guards. She was tired of the celebrations, which seemed to stretch on. The days had been packed with events, such as feasts, dance balls, poetry recitals… She was already fed up with all the greetings and flattery. She wanted to be alone and take in some fresh air.
She had passed through the area where the tents and buildings stood with her face hidden under a large hood and had made her way to the quiet bank side. The moon shone brightly, creating an illusionary atmosphere. Captivated by the sight, Henrietta simply stared at the river, which reflected the dazzling bright moon. It seemed that just being captivated by the sight did not satisfy her. Henrietta looked around her. After checking that no one was around, she boldly slipped off her dress. With a mischievous smile arising on her beautiful face, she slowly made her way into the water.
The cool water enveloped her body. It was just the beginning of summer, so the coolness felt pleasant in the warm night. She would be scolded if she were to be found in such a place by the chamberlain La Porte, but she had endured the constrained garden party for so long. I'll be forgiven for something like this, Henrietta whispered as she began to swim out. After swimming for a while, she suddenly sensed someone on the bank side. Henrietta's face became red and she hid her body with her hands.
"Who is it?"
The figure did not reply. Who could it be? The annoying chamberlain La Porte? Her friend who was one year younger than her, Louise Françoise? However she had snuck out of the tent without any of them noticing. Becoming uneasy, she demanded for the person's identity.
"Insolence. Name yourself." Her panicking voice reached the bank side.
"I'm no one suspicious. I was only out for a stroll. Why are you out here swimming at a time like this?"
Henrietta was offended by his composed manner, even though he had been watching her swim all this time.
"I asked for your name didn't I? Even though it may not look like it, I am the princess of a certain country. Before things turn ugly, state your name and leave."
Hearing this, the figure was taken aback.
"A princess? Could it be, Henrietta?"
Henrietta was surprised at the absence of the address of 'princess'. There were only five people gathered at the lake who could address her in such a manner. It would be unbelievable insolence if he weren't one of those five people.
"Who are you?"
Henrietta had taken off the mask of a princess and questioned the figure in the voice of a frightened girl.
The figure laughed. Being laughed at, Henrietta blushed.
"It's me Henrietta, Wales. Wales from Albion. Your cousin!"
"Wales..? You mean, Prince Wales?"
Prince Wales. The crown prince of Albion. They had never met before, but she of course knew of his name. The eldest son of the brother of her late father. She blushed even more deeply.
"I arrived here tonight with my father. I thought I'd just have a glimpse at the Ragdorian Lake because it's so famous. Sorry for scaring you."
"Geez, I can't believe you."
With her clothes on, Henrietta turned towards Wales.
"You can turn around now"
Wales had turned away while Henrietta was changing. At the instant he turned around, something ran across Henrietta's spine for the first time in her life. Her body, cold from the lake became hot as though a fire had scorched her. She shyly smiled at his gallant looks. It seemed as though Wales had felt the same sensation as Henrietta.
"I'm surprised. You've grown beautiful, Henrietta…"
The astonished prince drew out moving words from his mouth.
"I-I haven't at all…" Looking downwards, Henrietta couldn't lift her face.
"I didn't mean to surprise you. I was just taking a stroll and I heard some splashing… When I came here, I realized someone was swimming. Sorry. I couldn't help but gaze."
Truth be told, he's basically peeping anyway.
The lucky bastard.
"Why were you gazing?"
'Coz you're hot, why not?' the prince thought, playfully.
"Aren't the water spirits that live in this lake drawn to the moonlight? I wished to see them just once. The beauty of the water spirits are said to put the two moons into shame." he said aloud,
Henrietta smiled.
"Sorry that it was me then"
Scratching his cheek in an embarrassed fashion, he earnestly said: "Not at all. I haven't seen a water spirit before but…"
"But?"
"You are more beautiful. More beautiful than a water spirit."
Embarrassed, Henrietta hid her face.
"People from Albion are so good at jokes."
"I-It's not a joke! I'm a prince you know. I haven't told a lie, not even once! I really think you are more beautiful" Replied Wales, panicking.
Henrietta's pulse hastened as though a spell had been cast on her. The cousin in front of her… A prince from another country, whom she only knew the name of. The boring garden party, had suddenly become beautifully colorful whilst they stood before the sparkling Ragdorian Lake.
Their relationship grew quite intimate although it didn't take that much time. They understood each other's feelings just by looking at each other's eyes and they also understood well that their time together was limited. At every night of the garden party, Wales and Henrietta would meet by the lake. Henrietta would hide her face with a large hood, and Wales would use a phantom mask which was used in the masked ball. The signal of their rendezvous was the sound of a small stone thrown into the lake. The person who had arrived first would reveal themselves from the thicket from which they were hiding, and after checking no one was around, they would use a password.
After Wales said "On the night the wind blows", Henrietta would reply with "an oath of the water I pledge."
On a particular day, the two were walking by the lake holding hands.
"You were pretty late Henrietta, I almost became tired of waiting"
"Sorry. The feast just stretched on. I'm so sick of drunk ramblings already."
"But… Is it really alright for you to sneak away like that every night?"
Henrietta giggled at Wales worried look.
"It's alright. I'm using a decoy"
"A decoy! That's something pretty serious."
"It's not that big of a deal. That friend of mine you saw with me at lunch the other day…"
"You mean that skinny girl with long hair?"
Wales tilted his head. The girl that would follow Henrietta around and play with her. He was so captivated by Henrietta that he couldn't really recall her look. However, he did vaguely remember her hair color.
"Yes. She dresses up like me, and then goes into my bed for me. The blanket covers her right to the tip of her head so even if anyone stands beside the bed, they can't see her face."
"But, isn't her hair color different to yours? If I remember correctly, hers is pink while yours is…"
Wales brushed Henrietta's hair with his hand.
"A beautiful chestnut color. That would be a fairly bad decoy."
"I've concocted a special magic hair dye. But, I feel a bit guilty. I didn't actually say that I was meeting you. She thinks that I am just out for a stroll."
"You're so cunning!" Wales said while laughing.
"Shh! don't laugh so loud. We don't know if anyone is listening."
"No one is going to be here listening at this hour of the night except for the water spirits. Ah, I want to see them at least once. I wonder what kind of beauty makes the moon jealous."
Pouting her lips, she replied to her lover with a troubling tone
"Oh, I see now. So you didn't actually want to meet with me. You just wanted to see the water spirit, and have me tag along."
Wales suddenly stopped and grasped Henrietta's cheeks gently in both his hands and approached her lips. Henrietta was surprised, but soon closed her eyes. Their lips pressed together. After a while, Wales moved his face away.
"I love you, Henrietta."
"I also love you." Henrietta whispered, blushing furiously.
A tinge of loneliness was reflected in Wales' eyes. While he was entranced by the idea of their love, a composed part of his mind also imagined its conclusion. Their status did not allow them to be with each other. If anyone knew about their relationship… they probably wouldn't even be allowed to see each other in formal events. It was a part of being a princess and a prince.
Wales began to speak, trying to brighten the atmosphere.
"Hahaha… We've both been born with troubling destinies haven't we. Most of the time we've spent together has been at night, with a disguise! It would be good, at least just once, if I could walk by this lake with just you and the sun."
Henrietta closed her eyes and slowly nestled against his chest.
"Then make an oath."
"An oath?"
"Yes. The water spirits living here are also known as the 'spirits of oath'. Oaths made before them are said to be unbreakable." whispered the fourteen year old Henrietta while she hid her face.
"It's a superstition. Just an old folk's tale"
"Even if it's a superstition, I believe it. If by believing, it will grant me my oath, then I will believe forever. Forever…"
A tear dropped from her eyelashes and rolled down on her cheek. Wales gently stroked Henrietta's cheek.
"I love you, Henrietta, because you love me so much. So don't cry like that. The river will overflow with your tears. The people gathered here will drown you know."
"You probably don't know how much I love you. The more serious I get the more you tease me."
"Don't be like that Henrietta"
Lifting the hem of her skirt, Henrietta made her way into the water.
"The princess of Tristain Henrietta vows before the spirits of water that she will love Prince Wales for eternity."
"You're next Wales. Make an oath like I just did."
Wales entered the water and embraced Henrietta. Henrietta clung to his shoulder.
"Wales?"
"Your feet will get cold."
"I don't mind. Rather than that, I made an oath that I will love you forever. Make an oath as well."
"Unbreakable oaths are just a superstition."
"Are you saying that you will have a change of heart?"
Wales went silent for a while, deep in thought.
With a gentle expression, he cast his oath into the lake.
"The prince of Albion, Wales, vows before the water spirits that he will one day walk on this Ragdorian Lake with princess Henrietta and the sun, hand in hand."
"I made the oath."
Henrietta buried her face into Wales' chest and whispered quietly to herself.
"…So you won't vow to love me?"
The surface of the lake twinkled with light. Then after a while the lake was once again engulfed in silence.
The two looked at each other.
Was it the moon light, or was it the spirits of the water accepting their oaths, they didn't know… but nestling against each other they continued to gaze at the beautiful lake of Ragdorian.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
News of the declaration of war had reached the Tristain Academy of Magic the following day. Contact had been delayed due to the chaos in the palace.
Louise, along with Dante, were waiting at the entrance of the Academy of Magic for a carriage from the palace. The carriage was to take them to Germania. However, only a breathless messenger arrived at the academy that hazy morning.
The messenger asked them where Osman's room was, and dashed away quickly after receiving the answer. The unusual scene caused Louise and Dante to look at each other. Sensing something had happened in the palace, the two of them rushed after the messenger.
Osman was occupied with the preparations for the wedding ceremony. He would be leaving the academy for a week and so he was organizing various documents and packing his luggage.
A loud knock came at the door.
"Who is it?"
The messenger from the palace burst into the room before Osman had finished talking.
"Reporting from the palace! Albion has declared war on Tristain! The princess' wedding has been postponed until further notice! Soldiers are currently heading towards La Rochelle! For safety reasons an order was issued stating that all students and staff are to be confined to the castle!"
Osman's face grew pale.
'Crap.' The old man thought, taking a line from the devil hunter's vocabulary.
"A declaration of war? There's going to be a battle?"
"Yes! Enemy forces have set up camp in the fields of Tarbes and are glaring at our forces nearby La Rochelle."
"The Albion forces must be very strong."
The messenger replied sorrowfully.
"The enemy forces are a dozen in number led by a huge warship called the Lexington. The total number of troops is estimated to be around three thousand. Our main fleet has already been destroyed and counting all our troops, we only have around two thousand. We weren't prepared for a war, so that was all we could field. However, the worst is that they have complete aerial dominance. Our troops will surely be decimated by their cannons."
"What's the current situation?"
"The enemy dragoons are setting fire to the village of Tarbes… We requested aid from Germania, but they say the soonest they can arrive is in three weeks…"
Osman sighed and said, "… They're planning to abandon us. During that period, Tristain's towns will fall readily into the hands of the enemy."
With her ears pressed against the door of the principal's room and Dante leaning against the nearby wall, Louise and Dante looked at each other. Louise's face had become pale at the mention of war,the invasion of Tarbes. Isn't that Siesta's village?
Dante dashed off. Louise panicked and followed him.
Dante reached the courtyard and started climbing into the Biplane. Louise hugged his waist from behind.
"Where are you going?"
"To Tarbes." Dante replied his eyes glowing balefully blue.
"Why?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to go save them."
Louise grabbed his arm, as the devil hunter tried to shake him off, but she firmly clung on.
"You can't! It's a war! Even if you went, it wouldn't make a difference!"
Though she said that, she knew that Dante has enough power to destroy an entire army.
"You do realize who I am, right? The enemy is attacking with those airships right? Well, this baby can fly too. Besides that, I'll figure something out along the way."
"What can you do with a toy like this?"
"This isn't a toy."
"He said that Tristain's fleet had been wiped out didn't he?"
Dante slowly patted Louise on the head and spoke in a low voice.
"It might not amount to anything. But…"
"But what?"
"I don't fully understand why I got here. Maybe it was just an accident, or maybe its fate. If I were just a normal, regular person, I wouldn't have thought of going to save them. But it's different. I have the power to do so. I might be able to save them. I can perhaps save Siesta, her family… and those villagers."
Dante remembered the times that he should have saved people but couldn't because of his powerlessness. Now he can do something, this is one of his driving forces behind his campaign during the years he had been devil-hunting, besides the revenge thing.
"But..." Louise tries to object,
"I know how worried you are about this. I'll be fine, thanks for caring." Dante gives a brotherly grin to the pinkette.
Louise's face turned red.
"I'm not from this world. But you guys took care of me during my stay here. I don't necessarily have to care what happens to this world, but I want to at least protect the people who have treated me. Well, if I couldn't protect the rest of the people." Dante states,
This statement reminded her of her mother's tales of Sparda.
'Taking up his sword, Sparda fights to protect the innocent.'
Louise's face started to distort as she tried to hold back her tears.
"If you die, what will I do…? No… I, if you die…"
"I won't die. I will come back. If I die, I won't be able to protect you right?"
Louise thought for a while in a cute pose, and then she said,
"I'm going as well."
"No. You're staying here."
"No, I'm going as well."
"You can't."
Dante separated himself from Louise and climbed into the cockpit from the wing.
Suddenly he realized.
How on earth will he be to lift the plane in such a short strip?
Dante left Louise there and rushed off to Colbert's laboratory. With her fists tightly clenched, she groaned.
'Why was he so stubborn! Even though I said it would be dangerous…' Louise bit her lip and held back her tears. Nothing would come from crying.
She forgot the fact that Dante is basically immortal.
Louise looked at the Biplane as if asking it.
As if the inanimate object could reply.
"What chance does this thing have of winning against Albion's forces!" she asks herself,
After a while, as Dante checked the Academy Dorms for Colbert, he remembered that he forgot to ask where Colbert's room is.
But then again, why would a guy be asking other people, where another guy's room, in the middle of the night?
Since he had no one else to ask for assistance, a crazy idea hit him.
Louise was nowhere to be seen. He was relieved. If Louise had pleaded top go with him, things would be a bit harder for the devil hunter to move about.
Dante sat in the cockpit and performed the necessary operations to start the engine. The engine started with a loud noise and the propellers started to spin.
He checked the gauges, everything was normal. He checked the machine guns in front of him. Bullets were loaded. The machine guns on the wings were also loaded.
Dante grins...
Releasing the brakes, the Biplane started moving. He looked to the front and headed in the direction of the best take-off spot. "Austri" was not a small courtyard but it was a bit short for a runway.
He relaxed the pressure on the brake. He opened the cowl flaps and adjusted the propeller's pitch lever. using a magic of sorts, he put it in place. He further released the brakes and he pushed the throttle lever down, using the same method to keep it down.
Dante then leaps out of the Biplane.
Dante grins at the thought.
Grabbing the underside of the plane with his right hand, he lifts the running plane like it was just a a toy.
"What the," Derflinger wriggled out of his scabbard to comment, "What the heck are you doing?"
"Runway's too short for the plane to takeoff." Dante simply explained
"Is that so?" the sword said, noting that since this is Dante, he tends to do crazy stuff.
Then realized something...
"Are you crazy? If you're throwing the flying machine, who's flying it afterwards?" the sword blurts out,
"That would be you, at least for the moment." Dante replied,
With an idea like this. if the sword had a hand, he would have done a facepalm...
Anyone who would have seen the devil hunter at that moment, lifting a huge ass plane, they would be totally be shocked.
Positioning the plane in a position that projected 45 degree angle, Dante aims the plane similar to how a quarterback would throw a football.
"18, 23, hut...hut...hut" Dante randomly spouted stuff that is akin to a quarterback giving orders,
"Here we go."
Like a coiled spring, Dante throws the Biplane like a football, which accelerated forward with great force.
"Derf, now!"
"I officially hate you." the sword mutters.
The sword somehow pushed the control stick slightly forward with his wriggling, perfectly. The Karnival was gliding. It approached the academy's walls. Dante smirked.
"Let's go!" Dante sang, as he Air Tricked into the plane, and got in the pilot's seat, and closed the canopy.
Just as they were about to hit the wall, he pulled the control stick.
"Yee-haw!" he crowed,
The Karnival flew up in an instant. Grazing the wall slightly, the Biplane flew in the air. He retracted the landing gear. The indicator light, bottom left from the gauges turned from green to red.
The Biplane continued to ascend. Dante looked at the plane in a relieved expression.
"Well, for an old relic, you sure can fly." He commented.
"Wow! It's flying! This is pretty interesting!" Derflinger said excitedly.
"Of course it is. It was made to fly."
Under the bright sun, the Karnival once more split the winds, and rose up into the sky of another world.
"Whoohooo!" Dante shouts, feeling the wind on his face.
The fire consuming Tarbes had calmed but the area had changed into a cruel battlefield. Battalions had been assembled in the field and were awaiting the moment they would clash with Tristain troops in the port city La Rochelle. Protecting them above were the Lexington's dragons. The Tristain dragoons would attack sporadically, but they had all been forced to retreat.
Before the battle, Albion's command decided that they would use the cannons of the warships to deal with the Tristain troops. And so, the fleet prepared its cannons.
One dragoon on the lookout above Tarbes noticed an enemy dragoon was approaching from above, about two thousand five hundred meters away. The dragoon had the dragon cry out, alerting the others that an enemy was approaching.
Dante looked out from the windshield and saw Tarbes below him. There was no trace of that simple, beautiful village he had seen before. The houses were scorched with black smoke rising from them. He clenched his teeth. He remembered how recently he and Siesta were looking out at the field. Siesta's words replayed in his head.
"Isn't this field beautiful? This is what I wanted to show Dante."
A dragoon unit breathed fire at the forest located at the outskirts of the village. The forest was instantly set ablaze.
Dante bit his lip. He could taste the blood in his mouth.
"I will stop this." He said in a low voice.
Dante pushed the control stick to the bottom left while pressing the throttle firmly. The Karnival started to swoop down towards Tarbes.
"What could one dragoon possibly do?" muttered the ascending dragoons as they prepared to attack.
However, it had an unusual figure. It had two pairs of horizontal wings stretched out, one on top of the other, connected by cables to each other, as if the wings were fixed and didn't flap. It also made a thunderous roar they had never heard of before.
Did such a dragon exist in Halkeginia?
However… no matter what dragon it was, it would be finished off with a single breath from the Albion fire dragons, just like the rest. When its wings were burnt it would probably go down. Using this strategy, they had already killed two of Tristain's dragoons.
"This is the third," said a dragoon awaiting the descending enemy, with the corner of his mouth bending into a smile.
He was surprised. It was fast.
Faster than any dragon.
Panicking, the dragoon made the dragon breathe fire. At that moment, the wing of the descending enemy flashed. Countless number of shining white things were flying towards him. Large holes appeared on the wings and the body of the dragon. A round entered the dragon's mouth. A fire dragon has pockets of oil for strong combustion in its throat. The autocannon shells caught one of the oil pockets. The fire dragon exploded.
Slipping by the dragon that had exploded in midair, Dante continued to descend in the Karnival. The fighter's machine gun range was tens of times than that of the dragon's breaths. Letting his rage take control of him, he fired the pair of 20mm autocannon shells and the 7.7mm machine gun on both wings at the dragoons.
Four more dragons fluttered in the skies above the village. They had seen the dragon which exploded from the enemy's attack. The attack wasn't a breath.
Which meant that it was probably a magic based attack. Whatever attack it may have been, one dragoon alone can't do anything. Three dragoons ascended to attack.
"Three more are coming from the bottom left," said Derflinger in his usual tone.
Three dragoons were spread out below him and ascending.
"Don't get hit by their breath. You'll get burnt to ashes in an instant."
Dante nodded. He did a hundred and eighty degrees turn above the dragoons. Drawing a path similar to spiraling down a funnel in a bottle, he ended up behind the dragoons. The dragoons couldn't catch up. The speed of the fire dragons was about 150km/hr. The Biplane's speed was close to 400km/hr., much faster than a regular biplane.
Then again, this is Dante flying the damn thing.
To Dante, this was like attacking shooting fish in the barrel.
Well, more like shooting fish in a coma.
Dante has no time to think of fair play as to lives are at state here.
By the time the panicking dragoons had turned around, they had already been clearly targeted. Dante readied the pointer on the glass pane of the sighting device and pressed the throttle lever's fire button.
With a dull sound followed by the shaking of the plane, the autocannons on both wings opened fire. The wings of the fire dragons broke, and they went spiraling down.
In the next instant, Dante had put his foot down on the right foot bar and glided the Karnival, taking aim at the next dragon. Dante fired again. Taking numerous hits from the autocannons on its torso, the fire dragon shrieked in pain and dropped towards the ground.
He took careful note of not hitting the mages riding the creatures.
At least he knew that these guys are hardasses and could cast a 'Float' Spell should they ever fall down.
When the third had suddenly dived in an attempt to escape, the 7.7mm machine gun filled its body with punctured holes. The fire dragon died and dropped straight down.
Dante quickly made the airplane ascend, controlling the plane naturally. He switched the velocity level to high. Against dragons, the Karnival which had a reciprocating engine; had the most advantage at those speeds. As the Biplane descended, the velocity would increase. The first thing to do was to control the area above the enemy. With his earlier experience with piloting, he maneuvered the Biplane like a veteran.
Derflinger, who was looking out for him, told him his next target.
Dante still wondered how the damn sword was able to see, though it seems to have no signs of eyes indicated in any of its parts.
Just as he was about direct the plane there, he heard a voice behind him.
"T-T-T-That's incredible! These Albion dragons are reputed to be unrivaled yet they're dropping like flies!"
Startled, Dante looked backwards. Louise's head popped out from the passenger seat behind Dante.
Seem like Louise had slipped in.
'Crap.'
"You were here all this time! Get off!"
"There's no way I can get off now!"
"Oh, right."
Louise's hands held the Founder's Prayer Book. It seems like she didn't go anywhere like he had thought and instead slipped inside the plane.
"It's dangerous! You idiot!"
Louise firmly wrung his neck.
"Don't forget!"
"You. Are. My. Summoned Being. So. Don't. Just. Go. Do. What. You. Want! I. Will. Not. Forgive. You. Understand!"
As the engine drowned out her voice, she shouted in his ears.
"I'm your master! If the master doesn't lead the way, then the familiar won't listen! And I would hate that!"
Dante drooped his shoulders, sighing heavily.
It seems that saying things like "It's dangerous, don't come" had absolutely no effect on Louise.
"What happens if you die?"
"Then try harder! Even if you or I die, I will still find some way to kill you!" She shouted at Dante with her eyes open.
Dante felt a headache coming from the absurd things coming out of her mouth.
"Partner, sorry for interrupting but…"
"What?"
"Ten from the right have just arrived."
The fire dragon's breath came flying to them. At that instant, he pushed the control stick quickly to the left. The plane rolled and dodged the breath of the dragon. Louise fell down in the plane with a small cry.
"Control it more elegantly!"
Dante shouted, "Don't say ridiculous things!", and made the plane descend. The dragoons couldn't follow his movements. Taking advantage of this moment, he made the plane ascend, and at its peak he turned it around. With the sun behind him, he descended again. Aiming at the dragoons who were chasing him before, he fired the autocannons and the machine guns at them.
Louise, who had fallen down in the plane, was about to cry from the terror. "Perhaps I really shouldn't have come?" Her fear asked her. She bit her lip and grasped the Founder's Prayer Book tightly. Didn't I sneak on because I couldn't let Dante die? Hey, don't pretend as if you're fighting alone, I'm also fighting!
Even so, she couldn't do anything. It was always like this, but this time she felt a tinge of regret.
But nevertheless, losing to your fear won't accomplish anything.
She searched her pockets for the Water Ruby ring Henrietta gave her, and put it on. She grasped that finger tightly.
"Princess, please protect us…" she whispered.
She patted the Founder's Prayer Book in her right hand softly.
In the end, she hadn't finished the edict. She cursed her own lack of poetic talent. She was hoping to think of the edict on the carriage to Germania.
'That's right. I was going to go to Henrietta's wedding ceremony. I was waiting outside the academy's gates for the carriage to arrive. I then learned war had broken out. Destiny is a cynical thing.'
She opened the Founder's Prayer Book while muttering to herself. She was planning to pray to the Founder for their safety. She opened the book and flipped to a random page. The Water Ruby and the Founder's Prayer Book suddenly shone, taking Louise by surprise.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
"They got… wiped out? In only twelve minutes they got wiped out?"
Sir Johnston, the supreme commander of the invasion force, who was on the afterdeck of the flagship, Lexington, looking over the preparations of the bombardment attack with the ship's cannons, turned pale at the report.
"How many enemy units were there? A hundred? Tristain has that many dragoons left?"
"Sir. A-According to the report, only one."
"A single unit?"
Johnston stood motionless with a dumbfounded expression. He threw his hat to the ground.
"Nonsense! Twenty dragoons taken out by a single enemy unit? Surely you jest!"
Frightened at the supreme commander's attitude, the messenger took a step back.
"According to the report, the enemy dragoon had incredible speed and agility, and also had strong, long ranged, magic based attacks. Our units were killed one by one…"
Johnston grabbed the messenger.
"What about Cobalt? Cobalt, who was given command of the dragoons, what about him? What happened to that cocky bastard? Was he also killed?"
"The Master Cobalt's wind dragon was not included in the list of casualties. But… it seems like he wasn't seen around…"
"So he betrayed us! Or otherwise he was too much of a coward! Whichever it was, we can't trust him…"
Quietly reaching out his hands, Bowood said, "Reacting like that in front of all the soldiers will lower their morale, commander in chief."
Enraged, Johnston took his anger out on Bowood.
"What are you saying? It's your fault that the dragoons got wiped out! Your lack of competence was just asking for our precious dragoons to be destroyed! I will report this to His Excellency. I will report it!" Johnston yelled as he reached out to grab Bowood.
Bowood drew his wand and jabbed Johnston's stomach. The white of his eyes showing, Johnston fainted to the ground. He ordered the soldiers to carry him away.
'Should have just made him sleep in the first place,' Bowood thought.
Noise apart from that of explosions and cannons only agitated the troops. A single decision could be the difference between victory and defeat, especially during battle.
Bowood turned to the messenger who was staring at him with a worried expression. He spoke with a calm, composed voice.
"Even though the dragoon force has been wiped out, the Lexington is still undamaged. Also, Cobalt has probably devised a plan. Don't worry about it; just put effort in what you're doing."
"A single unit killing twenty units? A hero, eh…" Bowood whispered.
But at most a hero. And thus only an individual. No matter how much power an individual holds, there'll be things he can change and things he can't change.
"And this ship is the latter," Bowood whispered.
He issued orders.
"Advance the entire fleet. Prepare the left cannons."
After a while, far away, at the other end of the field of Tarbes, the battle array of Tristain's troops, situated in La Rochelle, which was a natural stronghold due to the mountains around it, could be seen.
"All fleets advance slowly. Ship to starboard."
The fleet turned so that the Tristain forces would be facing their left side.
"Fire the left cannons. Continue firing until further orders."
"Upper part and the lower part, prepare the right cannons. Use grapeshot."
Five hundred meters in front of the Tristain troops crowded within La Rochelle, the enemy force could be seen. It had the three colored Reconquista flag, and was approaching quietly. Having never actually seen an enemy before, Henrietta, mounted on a unicorn, was shaking. She closed her eyes to offer a prayer so that the soldiers around her wouldn't see her shaking in fear.
But… her fear did not stop so easily.
Henrietta looked up at the large enemy fleet and turned pale. It was Albion's fleet. The side of the fleet flashed. It was enemy fire. The cannon shells accelerated by gravity were flying towards Tristain's troops.
Impact.
Hundred of cannon shells dropped down on the troops in La Rochelle. Rocks, horses and people were thrown together, sent flying through the air. The troops were trying to flee from the overwhelming might before them. The place was drowned by the sound of thunderous roars.
"Calm down! Everyone calm down!" Henrietta shouted, driven by her fear.
Mazarin whispered in Henrietta's ear.
"You need to calm down first. If the general is distraught, there'll be chaos in the blink of an eye."
Mazarin quickly whispered to the generals nearby. While Tristain was a small country, it was one filled with history. Its history included many righteous nobles. Of all the Halkaganian nations, the Tristain army had the highest percentage of mages within its ranks.
By Mazarin's command, the nobles created barriers of air within the openings of the mountains. The shells would hit them and break. But some of the shells got through. Screams could be heard with rocks and blood scattering.
"As soon as the enemy stops their bombardment, they will most likely stage an all out assault. There's no other way but to face them," whispered Mazarin.
"Is there a chance of being victorious?"
Mazarin noticed that the soldiers were starting to tremble before the enemy bombardment. They had advanced with great vigor but… there are limits to people's courage. He did not want to tell the truth to the princess who had made him remember something he had forgotten.
"We're evenly matched."
Impact. The ground below them shook like an earthquake.
Marzarin sorrowfully understood the situation.
Three thousand strong troops formed the enemy's numbers, while their forces, crumbling from the bombardment, only numbered two thousand.
They had no chance.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Louise looked at the letters that appeared in the light.
It was… written in ancient runes. As Louise took lessons seriously, she could read the ancient language.
Louise chased the letters in the light.
Foreword.
Henceforth, I shall record the truth I know. All materials in the world are comprised of fine grains. The four branches intervene with these fine grains and apply an influence, which transform them into spells. This was how "Fire", "Water", "Wind" and "Earth" became.
Louise was filled with curiosity. With an impatient feeling, she turned the page.
The gods bestowed upon me a greater strength. The fine grains, which the four branches bore influence over, are comprised of even finer grains. The power bestowed upon me by the gods, does not belong to any of the four. The branch I wield intervenes with even finer grains and applies an influence, transforming them into spells. A Zero that belongs to neither of the four. This so-called Zero is "Void". I name the Zero the gods have bestowed upon me "Void".
"The branch of Void… that's my affinity?"
Whispering to herself, Louise turned the page. Her pulse was racing.
Dante, who had wiped out the dragoon fleet, looked over the sky. Above the fields, he spotted the large warship between the gaps of the clouds, far away. Below that ship, was the port city La Rochelle.
"Partner, that's the head. No matter how many small fry you take down, if you don't take it down… nothing will change…"
"I know."
"It's impossible."
Dante remained silent and opened the throttle of the Karnival. It was at full boost. The Biplane ascended towards the large warship.
"It's impossible, partner. No matter how much you try, it is impossible."
Derflinger, who had evaluated the power difference, told Dante in his usual tone. However, Dante did not respond.
"I understand… but your partner is a crazy bastard." The devil hunter finally replied,
Dante brought the Biplane closer.
The right side of the ship shone. Aimed at Dante's Biplane, something was flying towards him. They were countless numbers of lead bullets. They pierced the plane with holes while shaking it. Breaking the windshield, a shard grazed Dante's cheek. A trickle of blood ran down his face, and quickly healed.
"Don't go near it! They're using grapeshot!" yelled Derflinger.
Dante made the Biplane do a sudden dive, avoiding the second round of fire.
"Damn, they put small bullets in those large cannons!"
Dante bit his lip.
He couldn't even get close to the ship, much less sink it.
He could have done better if Louise didn't come along for the ride.
With Pandora, this would be an easy task.
But with its power, the enemy would be wiped out.
Then again, enemies they may be but they are still humans.
"Screw this."
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Behind the seat, Louise had lost herself in reading the Founder's Prayer book. The thunderous noises did not reach her ears. She could only hear her own pulse getting louder and louder.
The one who is able to read this, will inherit my deeds, thoughts and objectives. They will become the bearer of this power. Be mindful, wielder of this power. For my brethren and I, who have died unfulfilled, you should strive towards retaking the "Holy Lands" stolen by the enemy. "Void" is powerful. Yet, the incantations are of great length and consume much energy. Take heed, incantator. At times, your life will diminish depending on the power. Thus, I choose the reader of this book. Even when one not qualified wears the ring, they cannot open this book. Only when the chosen reader wears a ring of "The four branches" can they open this book.
Brimir Ru Rumiru Yuru Viri Vee Varutori
Following, are my recordings of the "Void" spells I used. The first step of the very beginning. "Explosion".
A spell in the ancient language followed after that. Dumbfounded, Louise whispered, "Founder Brimir, aren't you forgetting something? If I wasn't wearing this ring, I wouldn't be able to read the Founder's Prayer Book right? The stuff about the chosen reader… and the "take heed" section has no meaning then."
And then she realized. Chosen reader… that means…
'I'm the chosen reader?'
'I don't really understand but… I can read the words. If I can read it, I can probably perform this spell written here.'
Louise remembered, before Dante solved the first part of her problem, how every time she recited an incantation, an explosion would result.
'That's… in other words, that's the "Void" written about here?'
When she thought about it, before Dante, no one could tell her the reason why she made things explode. Her parents, her sisters, and her teachers… her friends as well… they only laughed at her for being a "failure". They didn't think anything of the explosions.
'Perhaps I really am the chosen reader.'
'I can't really believe it, but I perhaps am the chosen reader.'
'This might be worth trying out.'
And also… There's nothing else to fall back on now.
She was calm and cool. The runes she had just looked at were on the tip of her tongue as if they had greeted one another many times.
Like the lullabies she had heard in the past, the spell's tune was somewhat similar.
'I'm going to try it.'
Louise stood up.
From the passenger seat, she started making her way to the front through the small hole behind the pilot's seat.
"What are you doing? Just stay still! Argh! I can't see in front of me! Hey!"
Like a snake, she slipped through with the gap with her small body. She made her way to the front of the seat, where Dante was sitting. She sat her small bottom down in between Dante's widened legs.
"…I can't believe it but… I can't really say it but… I might have been chosen. This could be some mistake though." Louise muttered.
"Hah?"
"Just listen to me. Fly near the warship. It might just be a hoax… but trying it out is better than not doing anything. Besides, there's no other way to sink that warship…. The only way is for me to do it. I understand. I'll try it."
Dante was dumbfounded by Louise's ramble to herself.
"Are you alright? You've finally gone crazy from being scared?"
Louise shouted at Dante.
"I told you to go near it didn't I? I'm your master! Familiars obey their master's orders obediently!"
"Oh, so I'm a familiar now?"
It was useless to oppose Louise when she used that threatening attitude.
"Girls..." The devil hunter can't help but comment.
Dante reluctantly approached the large warship.
An peal of gunfire from the Airship's cannons,
The grapeshot flew towards them. Going around to the left side would probably have the same result. The ship also had cannons sticking out from the bottom as well. The Lexington was like a porcupine with cannons.
"What are you doing?"
"It's impossible! I can't get near it!"
As if suddenly thinking of something, Derflinger opened its mouth.
"Partner, go straight above the ship."
"Eh?"
"There's a blind spot there. It's where the cannons can't reach."
Dante rose above the Lexington like he was told.
Louise straddled Dante's shoulders. She opened the canopy. A strong wind blew across her face.
"Hey what are you doing? Close it!"
"Until I give you the signal, keep circling around here."
Louise took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
Then, as if she were flaring up, she opened her eyes and started to read the runes written in the Founder's Prayer Book.
She read the spell amongst the roar of the engine. Dante was circling above the Lexington in the Biplane like he was told.
It was at that moment.
"Partner, behind you!"
Quickly looking behind, a dragoon could be seen flying towards them like a gale.
It was Cobalt.
Mounted on top of the wind dragon, Cobalt grinned. He had been hidden amongst the clouds above the Lexington, waiting for his chance to strike. So this was the mysterious dragoon who had crushed all the fire dragons. Cobalt didn't have much chance of winning if he faced him front on.
Which is why he had to aim for a weak spot.
His plan hinged on the warship. The enemy's aim would definitely be this warship. And if he was a skilled enemy, he would be able to find its blind spot. Thus, hiding nearby and waiting was the best option. Cobalt' prediction was right.
His target started to dive.
I see… he avoided the fire dragons like that.
But, my wind dragon's speed is greater than that of the fire dragons.
Cobalt steadily shortened the distance separating them.
With deep interest, he looked at the Biplane.
It's not a dragon. That's… not something made from Halkeginia's logic… the "Holy Lands"?
He saw a familiar face, with pinkish blond hair, inside the cockpit. The grin on Cobalt' face grew larger.
'So it's you…'
Then the one controlling the psuedo-dragon would be…
His left arm throbbed.
His wind dragon's breath wasn't of any use, but he had his powerful spells. Gripping the reins with his right hand, a slight glow could be seen through it, Cobalt summons an array of ethereal long bladed spears with the single, express purpose; to skewer their targets.
He lets them fly.
Dante couldn't lose the dragon that was following them. With Louise riding his shoulders, Dante was beginning to feel frustrated.
"Dammit." He inwardly swears,
He set the throttle to minimum and opened all the flaps. As if something had grabbed the Biplane, its speed dropped.
He pushed the control stick to the bottom left. At the same time, he stepped on the foot bar. The vivid earth and sky rotated before them.
The Biplane had disappeared from Cobalt' sight, who had just finished casting the spears, and missed their targets. He looked around him restlessly. They weren't anywhere to be seen. However, sensing a tinge of a murderous intent from behind , Cobalt' turned around. The Biplane was smoothly spiraling down as if tracing a path inside a bottle. It quickly got behind Cobalt' wind dragon. Followed by a bright light, the machine gun bullets tore through the wind dragon, which had thinner scales than the fire dragons. Cobalt was hit in the shoulder and back and his face distorted in pain. The wind dragon gave out a shriek. As if slowly gliding down, the dragon Cobalt rode crashed to the ground.
"As much as I would like to have a match with you dude, I don't have the time just yet."
Dante ascended the Biplane once more. Even while he did those maneuvers Louise straddled onto Dante's shoulders firmly. Then again, Louise was very skilled at horse riding. Louise continued her incantation in a low voice.
'What the heck is she doing?' Dante thought.
Then a realization hit him.
'Shit, Don't tell me.'
"Eoruu Suunu Firu Yarunsakusa"
A rhythm had started pulsating through Louise. She felt as though knew the rhythm from somewhere. With every word of the incantation, the rhythm grew stronger. It sharpened her senses, while not a single noise around reached her ears. It was as if something within her body was born, and was searching for a destination… Louise remembered what she was told once.
'When you recite an incantation of your own branch, a feeling similar to what she was feeling would be felt. Is it really what I'm feeling? Me, who has always been despised for being a zero. Me, who was said to have no talent in magic by teachers, parents, sisters and students. Is this the real me?'
"Osu Suunu Uryu Ru Rado"
She could feel a wave being born inside of her, slowly swelling.
"Beoozusu Yuru Suvyueru Kano Oshera"
The wave inside her, searching for a destination, went berserk. Louise gave Dante a signal with her leg. Dante nodded and pushed the control stick down. The Biplane began to swoop down at the Lexington below them. Opening her eyes, she timed her incantation.
' legendary branch of magic, I wonder how powerful it is?' Dante reflected
No one knows.
'Of course, there'd be no reason I'd know. This was supposedly beyond legendary.'
"Jera Isa Unjyuu Hagaru Beookun Iru…"
After the long incantation, the spell was complete. At that moment, Louise understood the power of the spell. It would swallow everyone.
Every person in her vision would be swallowed by her spell. There were two options. Kill, or don't kill. What was she meant to destroy? With the winds blowing against her face, she looked down.
So much power.
At that moment, she became a being akin to a god.
And this fact doesn't escape the devil hunter, as the same power nearly overwhelms his own.
A large warship appeared before her eyes. The Lexington. Following her impulse, she aimed at a single point and swung her wand down.
"Explosion!"
An unbelievable scene unfolded before Henrietta's eyes. The warship that had been bombarding them… A ball of light had appeared in the sky.
It was like a smaller version of the sun, and it expanded. And… it swallowed it. It had swallowed the warship in the sky. The light continued to expand until it was all she could see. There was complete silence.
Henrietta suddenly closed her eyes on impulse. The light of the sphere was so intense that anyone would think that their eyes would burn from staring at it.
And then… after the light had faded, the whole fleet was on fire. The fleet led by the Lexington had all their sails and decks burning. As if it were a lie, the head of the fleet that had been tormenting the Tristain troops, sank to the ground.
A tremor in the earth could be felt. The fleet had come crashing down. Henrietta was dumbfounded. Complete silence overcame them. Everyone stared at the unbelievable scene.
The first one to come to his senses was Cardinal Mazarin. He was looking at the silvery wings, shining under the sun in the sky. It was Dante's Karnival.
Mazarin cried out, "People! Look! The enemy fleet has been destroyed by the legendary Phoenix!"
"Phoenix? The immortal bird?"
A commotion spread through the troops.
"Look at that bird flying in the sky! That's the legendary bird that's said to come at Tristain's hour of need! The Phoenix! The Founder have blessed us!"
Shouts of joy could be heard everywhere.
"Long live Tristain! Long live the Phoenix!"
Henrietta asked Mazarin quietly, "Cardinal, the Phoenix… was it the truth? I haven't heard of anything called the legendary Phoenix…"
Mazarin mischievously smiled, and shrugged.
"It's a big lie. But, everyone's sense of judgement is lost at the moment. They can't believe the scene they saw. Neither can I. However, the truth is that there was an unfamiliar bird fluttering about after the enemy fleet had fallen. There was no choice but to use it."
"Hah…"
"What? No one cares if what I said was the truth or a lie. What they do care about is whether they're dead or alive. In other words, victory or defeat."
Mazarin peered into the princess's eyes.
"You must use everything that you can use. It's one of the basics of politics and war. Remember it well, Princess. Because from today onwards, you are the ruler of Tristain."
Henrietta nodded. It was just as the Cardinal had said. The thinking… could come later.
"The enemy's morale will be low and they will no doubt be trying to flee. Their supporting fleet is now gone. There's not a better chance to strike."
"Yes."
"Princess. Shall we go forwards to victory?" asked Mazarin.
Henrietta nodded strongly once again. She held up her shining crystal wand.
"All troops, charge! Royal troops, follow me!"
As the rest of the troops followed suit to attack…not noticing what happened to the plane next.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
Tired, Louise cuddled with Dante.
"Hey Louise."
"Hm?" replied Louise, absentmindedly.
He patted Louise gently on the head.
A feeling of fatigue overcame her. But this was a nice tired feeling. It was fatigue that came with the satisfaction of accomplishing something.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah."
"Is that what I think it is?"
"It's a Void Spell."
"Is that so?"
'That is some powerful stuff' Dante thought,
"I'll explain later. I'm tired."
Dante nodded and smiled. He patted Louise gently on the head.
Below them, the Tristain troops had just charged at the Albion forces. The vigor of the Tristain troops was obvious even to a novice. It was vigor that even would triumph against enemies that outnumbered them.
"Yeah, later is fine."
Suddenly, an ethereal blue spear pierces the biplane,
Then another,
Then another,
And another…
'Cobalt.'
Dante frantically shields the unconscious Louise as the Karnival starts to fall from the sky…
And finally the biplane finally breaks from the impacts made by the spears.
Cobalt could be seen as he appears to have magically produced a massive ethereal dragon. From both heavily bandaged hands, glowing lights could be seen peeking through. As well as his head.
"Danteeee!" Cobalt shouts, as he goads the magically produced creature into a sweeping attack.
Forcing Dante to separate from his charge.
"LOUISE!" Dante shouts to the falling unconscious form.
The cloaked assassin flinched upon hearing Dante shout.
But a jolt puts the assassin's thoughts in line.
"Time for you to go now… son of Sparda." Cobalt coldly said as he creates a massive bunch of bladed weapons, all aimed at Dante.
He launches the weapons all at once, in a speed that surpasses bullets.
Unfortunately, the falling Louise is in the path of the blades as well…
"Crap!"
Dante draws Ebony and Ivory to deflect them all…
But due to the huge number of the projectiles… it seems impossible,
He needs a Devil Arm,
Then Dante heard a voice in his mind,
"Only when I fall shall I rise…"
A bright white light covers the devil hunters as the ethereal spears tried to enter the ball of light,
Only to be destroyed.
As the light fades, a figure could be seen.
A winged man.
It was Dante, holding a still unconscious Louise in his arms.
He is held aloft by a pair of white, gold trimmed steel-like wings.
And he's wearing a bird themed, beautifully ornamented gold trimmed white breastplate, clawed gauntlets and greaves made of organic metal.
Meet one of the old Devil Arms,
The Icarus.
Cobalt was undaunted by the turn of events as he prepares a new wave of a variety of blades to cast, but stops…
Looking at the still form of Dante's contractor, then at the falling wreckages that was once the pride of Albion,
Cobalt sighs and said, "Well now. It seemed that Cromwell's plan has been foiled. I suppose, this calls for a tactical retreat…"
"Hey, wait a minute! We're not finished yet!" Dante tries to call the assassin, as he disappears like a fog, fading from existence, as well as the ethereal creature that he's riding.
"Don't worry, we'll have our rematch soon." Cobalt's voice echoed, leaving the frustrated Dante,
"Cobalt…"
Looking at the scorched and blackened village, Dante wondered if Siesta was alright.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
That evening… With her siblings, Siesta timidly came out of the forest. News that the Albion troops had been defeated reached the village people who had taken shelter in the forest.
Albion's troops were crushed by Tristain's charge, and many had surrendered. Well, there weren't any Albion soldiers strutting along the village around noon. The angry bellows, the clash of arms and the explosions had ended. Black smoke rose from the field, but the battle had ended.
A thunderous noise could be heard in the skies above. After looking up, a familiar object was flying in the sky. It was the "Dragon's Raiment". Siesta's face brightened.
Dante restored Icarus into Karnival's form.
There's no need to scare the villages even further with its monstrous version,
When the Karnival landed on the field, Dante opened the canopy. Someone from the forest, south of the village, came running towards him. It was Siesta. Dante jumped off the Biplane and ran towards her.
Louise watched Dante as he was running off and sighed. "Well, I guess it's good that that girl is still alive, but couldn't he spend more time consoling me? The spell just then… "Explosion" of the Void magic branch. It seems like it didn't happen. Perhaps it doesn't feel real because it was Void magic. As the chosen "User of Void magic"? Is there some misunderstanding? But it explained how I was able to give Dante the legendary Windálfr familiar powers. There are lots of legends, aren't there," she whispered.
"In any case, it'll probably be busy from here on. I really feel as if this didn't happen… and I can't believe that I'm the one mentioned in the legend…" Louise sighed. If this were a dream, I would be so relieved. But I've decided not to think too much about it. I should learn from that idiot familiar of mine. Although he's the legendary familiar, he doesn't seem like it at all. But perhaps that is for the best. Anyway, this "legend" stuff is too much for me.
"Hey, legendary mage."
"What, legendary sword?"
Derflinger had called out to Louise in a teasing tone.
"It's okay to be stubborn… but if you don't go after him, Dante might get taken by that village girl."
Louise's cheeks went red.
"I don't mind."
"Really?" whispered Derflinger.
Giving a cry of frustration Louise hopped out of the cockpit and chased after Dante. Derflinger watched Louise's running figure and said in large voice.
"And she even understands that she's the one mentioned in the legend… Perhaps her older brother of sorts is more important to her. Humans around this age are beyond help."
The Founder's Prayer Book, the Void magic branch… they completely left Louise's mind for the time being.
'If I don't go after Dante, he'll be gone somewhere.'
'If I don't open my eyes wide and run, I'll be left behind.'
'But, if it's going to be like that… I'll just continue chasing him.'
'I'll chase him wherever he goes… and when he turns around, I'll hit him good.'
"That's a good little sister," Derflinger snickers.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
In the distance another figure watched the fiasco…
Dressed in strange, dark tight-fitting clothes that seemed to blend in the surrounding environment, the figure observed as he smokes a lit cigarette.
He then turns around after a while and walks away…
"Looks like I'm not needed after all." he states sadly, retying his black bandanna as his hair is being messed up by the wind.
Then the figure stops and wonders…
'Why the heck am I here, anyway?' he thought, scratching his head, as he sat on a man-sized box which inexplicably appeared beside him.
Suddenly, the veiled woman appears in front of the man, as she casts a spell or something, making the confused man disappear.
"Wait-" was all the man could utter…
Silence.
The veiled lady looks around, and shrugs.
"Don't mind him, he's just looking for screentime." She said and grins at no one in particular.
／人◕ . ◕人＼
What do you think…?
With this tale,'s chapter, I begin to ask myself
Shall I continue?
After publishing the Chapter with the H part… I'm not too sure…
Please do review..
Could I ask you guys if you have a job to work part-time? XD
Thanks for the patronage...
Laters...