Sorry for the wait,
Thanks for the comments,
And if you're still following this story, thanks for the patronage...I had fun in putting this together... hopefully you have fun reading this...as this might be the last stretch of this story.
For some fun ranting, in my part anyway...XD, Here goes...
For trolls out there, as much as I would like to ignore thee, but "You Mad Bro?"
Then again, it's not like they'll be reading this stuff anyway... Their hobbies are probably infuriating people,
Ahahahahahaha XD
Sorry to those I might offend, but it just had to be said...
As much as I wanted to say other stuff, but in the end, we all have to admit as fanfic writers; we're all basically ripping off our favourite anime/game/book/ other media characters and giving them a personality of our liking or even putting ourselves in their story, and a 'fresh' storyline, regardless of the said 'originality' of our storyline as we claim it to be.
Besides, this wouldn't be a Fanfiction if it's not based on either already established stories, characters or ideas. It so said in the rules and regulations.
On the grounds of the said copypasting, I vehemently deny to one lord's alleged source of the material in which I was said to have copied from. Since I have never known nor read the said fanfic before…
To those who have too much time to waste reading and saying stuff like originality of a storyline and dialogues, I applaud you for citing such far out notions such as "originality" in a fanfiction site.
Are you sure you're in the correct site?
*Grins while flashing a peace sign*
At least that's my POV.
Lines will tend to be similar since they are supposed to be based on the same/similar works of the original story.
Just to clear it up,
The dialogues here at most are based from the ZNT anime and manga, so there will be similarities, and then some thought bits of them came from Gintama...and my own thoughts in a given situation.
Gintama is an Awesome Anime, BTW, I highly recommend it...
Aside from the Hill of Swords, which I really, really adore, referenced and given homage here at one point. There might be others that I unintentionally include, so sorry; I haven't had any more time to read other fanfics as of late, since I have currently had my hands full with RL stuff, barely having enough time to do this little BS, pardon my French.
But thanks for the little heads-up to the rest of the fics I was supposedly ripping off, HoS aside. When I have the time, I guess I'll be reading them. Maybe.
The one thing that I will admit is that I'm currently following the original ZNT storyline; dialogues included from the anime, with a few added subtle elements from my favourite horror/adventure genres...and a little something of my own.
For trolls, "Urusai, TEME!"
You don't pay me to write stuff, Kunoyarou, but thanks for the critiques nonetheless.
As to how Dante is characterized:
The rest of Dante's characterization similarities to other fics is purely coincidental, as this is my vision of him, Quirky with a sense of justice, funny, moody, scary, but will always have a slight weakness to the opposite gender and the innocent and weak in particular, though he usually comes off as standoffish.
Read the DMC Light Novels for more info, Teme,
Characters aside, Sakata Gintoki and Toshiro Hijikata have similar characteristics, in the same show, right?
I'm getting out of topic here, but that's the point. There will be similarities in stories, but as the tale of the two story tellers would say...
"Let them finish the story. Then judge."
Geez, do I really have to justify this? Don't take stuff in-story seriously folks, it's all in the spirit of fun.
No profits here.
As I have stated a few chapters ago. If you like it, READ ON. If you don't, then "Flock Off, Featherface!"
Thus, and for a bunch of different reasons, I feel like giving a ()┌∩┐…
That's all the ranting I could do for now...
*Sigh*
*Grin*
Let's begin,
Mission 23: Truth in Falsehood
／人◕ .◕人＼
Fantasy Pic: a side profile of Prince Wales, as his shadow casts a Shark's head, the other pic is a man in armor, with a steel helmet shaped like a dog's head, wielding what appears to be a big-ass katana sword, as the blade casts a shadow of a lady."
Henrietta, nearly naked, was lying on her bed. The only thing she was wearing was a thin chemise. The room she was in belonged to her father, the deceased King, but she had begun to use it after becoming Queen.
Beside the enormous canopy-included bed was her father's favorite table. She quietly reached out with her hand and took the bottle of wine. Pouring it in her cup, she drank it all down in one gulp. Before, she usually lightly drank alcohol when she ate... but after becoming Queen, the amount she drank had increased.
To Henrietta, who was nothing but a flower ornament for the government, being asked for decisions was something she felt anxious about. Most resolutions were brought to her in a decided state, but even so, the one who gave approval of those was her. What was more, even though a state of reduced activity was being kept, the war was still going on.
Even though she was just an ornamental ruler, numerous responsibilities for her had already occurred. Henrietta was still handling that pressure.
She couldn't sleep without drinking.
She couldn't show this to her attendant court ladies or chamberlains, so she drank the hidden wine in the dead of night.
Once again, she poured wine into her cup.
'I might have drunk too much.' She thought drowsily through her intoxication.
She quietly chanted a rune and swung it down at the cup she had poured wine in.
Water overflowed from the tip of her wand and filled the cup. It was a spell to return water vapor in the air back into a fluid. It is a rudimentary spell of the Water-element.
The water overflowed and spilled out of the cup. Possibly because of her drunkenness, she couldn't control the amount she poured.
She drank it all.
Henrietta, whose cheeks were dyed pink in color, fell on her bed once again.
When she was drunk, what she remembered was... the fun days.
The glittering days.
The few times where she actually felt she was alive.
The short time of the summer when she was fourteen years-old.
The words she wanted to hear just once...
"Why did you not say it at that time?"
Henrietta asked, covering her face with her hands.
But, the person who would say it is no longer here.
Nowhere in this world.
She felt that victory might heal sadness.
She thought that the exhausting work of a queen might let her forget about it.
However, she couldn't forget.
Brilliant victories, words of praise, the shouts of the people who respect and love her for being a saint... cannot match that one word.
She unconsciously shed tears.
'Oh no,' she thought. Tomorrow's morning will be early.
There are negotiations with Germania's ambassador. To Tristain and Henrietta who wanted to end this foolish war as soon as possible, it was an important negotiation.
'I can't show them my face wet with tears. I can no longer show my weak side to anyone anymore.'
She wiped her tears. And when she reached out for her wine cup again...
There was a knock at the door.
'Who could it be so late at night? Did something troublesome come up again? It's annoying, but I can't ignore it. Albion might have dispatched their armada again.'
Henrietta put on her gown in a weary manner and asked from her bed.
"La Porte? Or are you the Cardinal? What's wrong, in this dead of the night?"
However, there was no reply. In exchange, there was another knock.
If it isn't the Grand Chamberlain or Cardinal, then just who is it?
"Who is it? Identify yourself. For people who visit the Queen's room so late at night, there is no way one cannot name themselves. Now, speak. Otherwise, I will call someone."
"It's me."
The moment those words entered her ears, Henrietta's facial expression disappeared.
"It seems I drank too much. This isn't good, to hear such hallucinations so clearly..."
Murmuring that, she placed her hands on her chest. But, the intense palpitation of her heart would not stop.
"It's me."
The familiar voice spoke, but to Henrietta, it is impossibility.
"It's me, Henrietta. Open this door."
The voice once more spoke, with urgency...
That did it,
In a speed she thought she never had out of weariness, Henrietta rushed over to the door.
"Prince Wales? No way. You should have died in battle..."
In a trembling voice, she said that.
"That's a mistake. And I am here, alive."
"That's a lie. A lie. How?"
"I had run away. The one that died... was my impersonator."
"That... Even though, the Ruby of Wind is..."
Henrietta checked the ring, a memento of Wales, which was on her finger.
"To deceive the enemy, you have to start with your allies, right? Well, it is understandable that you do not believe me. Then, I will let you hear the proof that I am me."
While trembling, Henrietta waited for Wales's words.
"In the night when wind blows."
The watchword she heard often at Ragdorian Lake.
Forgetting to even answer, Henrietta threw open the door.
The smile she had dreamed of many times stood there.
"Ooh, Prince Wales... You really are safe..."
What followed could not become words. Henrietta tightly hugged Wales's chest, and she placed her face there and sobbed.
Wales tenderly petted her head.
"You are the same as always, Henrietta. What a crybaby."
"That's because, I had completely thought you were dead... Why did you not visit sooner?"
"After losing, I escaped on a cruiser. I was hiding in Tristain's forest the whole time. I could not have the enemy finding my whereabouts, so I changed my location many times. I came to the lands of the castle you live in two days ago... It took time to investigate on when you would be alone. There is no way I could just stand in the waiting room as an audience in the daytime, right?"
Saying that, Wales smiled teasingly.
"As always, you are so mean. You don't understand... how much I grieved... how lonely I felt."
"I understand. That is why I came to see you."
For a while, Henrietta and Wales embraced each other.
"You can come to this castle as much as you want. Albion does not have the power to invade Tristain right now. After all, their reliable armada is gone. This castle is the safest place in Halkeginia. The enemy can not lay a single finger on you."
"It cannot be like that."
Wales smiled cheerfully.
"What do you plan to do?"
"I have to return to Albion."
"What a stupid thing! That is like pointlessly going to throw away the life you barely managed to keep!"
"Even so, I have to return. I have to liberate Albion from Reconquista's hands."
"What a joke!"
"It isn't a joke. For that reason, I came to meet you."
"Me?"
"Your powers are necessary in order to liberate Albion. There are cooperators in the country as well, but... Even more, I need a person I can trust. You will come with me, right?"
"No way... I am happy for those words, but that is impossible. I could have gone on such adventures when I was a princess, but I am now a queen. Whether I like it or not, the country and the people are placed on my shoulders. Please do not say such impossible things."
However, Wales would not give up. With even more zealous words, he tried to convince Henrietta.
"I know it is impossible. But, you are necessary for victory. In the middle of that lost battle, I realized it. About just how much I needed you. I need the "Saint" who will bring victory upon me and Albion."
Henrietta felt something hot welling inside her body. She was needed by her beloved person. Drunkenness and loneliness accelerated the urge welling inside her.
Even so, Henrietta desperately answered.
"Do not trouble me any more. Please wait, I will have people come and prepare a bed for you. Tomorrow, again, we can discuss this topic, slowly..."
Wales shook his head.
"We won't make it in time tomorrow."
Then, Wales easily said the words Henrietta had always wanted to hear.
"I love you, Henrietta. That's why, come with me."
Henrietta's heart started beating in the same rhythm as the times where she and Wales rendezvoused at Ragdorian Lake.
Slowly, Wales drew his lips near Henrietta. To Henrietta's lips that tried to say something, Wales' sealed it up.
In Henrietta's mind, she recalled all kinds of sweet memories.
Because of that, Henrietta did not notice the sleeping magic cast on her.
Still feeling happy, Henrietta fell into the world of sleep.
If only she had noticed the shadows that her beau cast, maybe she would think otherwise.
For the shadow that Prince Wales cast is anything but a human's.
／人◕ .◕人＼
Meanwhile, at the same time...
We find the two main characters relax on a bench, as she recalled the events surrounding the love potion incident.
"Haa, still, how nostalgic... That Ragdorian Lake."
"You've gone there before?"
"Yeah. When I was thirteen. There were occasions where I accompanied the Princess. An extremely grand garden party was opened... It was really lively and showy. It was fun."
Louise pulled at the bottom of her memories and began to talk.
"You know, that Ragdorian Lake was where Prince Wales and the Princess met. In the dead of night, the Princess told me 'I want to go out for a walk, so I need to sneak out of bed. I'm very sorry, but Louise, can you lay in the bed in my place?' and I acted as her substitute. Thinking about it now, that might have been when the two rendezvoused."
When Louise said that, a loud voice sounded from behind the bench. From the mole-dug hole Louise once used to watch over Siesta and Dante, Kirche's red hair poked out. Tabitha was beside her.
"That's it! I remember now! It was Prince Wales!"
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
"What! You two were eavesdropping?"
"Ehehe," Kirche crawled out of the hole while grinning.
"Iyaah, I wanted to see you two siblings reconcile with each other... The melodrama after you hit him so much. Then how scary Darling sounded when he said it was enough. Doesn't that seem interesting?"
"Like hell it would."
Dante scowled, while Louise blushed.
Kirche came up to the bench while nodding.
"That's right. I thought I saw his face somewhere before. Iyaah, so that's how it is. That was Albion's lady-killer, Prince Wales."
"Eh?" Dante and Louise shared a look of surprise as they stared at the Germanian girl.
Kirche had seen his face before during Germania's Emperor Inauguration Ceremony. At that time, he was sitting in a guest seat, brandishing his noble and charming smile around him.
She finally remembered just now, so Kirche was satisfied.
"What do you mean by 'That was Prince Wales'?"
Kirche explained to Dante and Louise. How they passed a group of people riding on horses while heading towards Ragdorian Lake. How she remembered seeing that face somewhere before but couldn't remember very well.
"But, I remember now. That was Prince Wales. There was an announcement that he died in battle, but he was alive?."
"That's impossible! That prince should have died!"
Kirche did not see Prince Wales die, so she had not actually felt his death firsthand. Therefore, she asked Dante in a joking manner.
"Oh? Is that so? Then, who did I see?"
"Didn't you mistake him for someone else?"
"There's no way I could mistake that handsome guy for someone else."
At that moment, something connected inside Dante's head. It seemed that was the same for Louise.
'Crap.' Dante thought,
The two looked at each other. The words that the Water Spirit said... There was a peculiar man named "Cromwell" in the group who stole the Ring of Andvari.
"The Ring of Andvari... So, Reconquista really did..."
"Hey, Kirche. Where was that group heading?"
Louise asked out of breath. Being pressured by the two's serious attitudes, Kirche answered.
"He passed us, so; let's see, towards the capital city, Tristain."
'Crap, this means trouble...' Dante thought, adjusting his gun holsters.
Before he knew it, Louise ran off. Dante chased after her.
"Wait! What's going on?"
Kirche was flustered.
"The Princess is in trouble!"
"Why-?"
"No time to explain,"
Kirche and Tabitha did not know about Wales and Henrietta's secret relationship, so they did not understand the meaning behind those words. But, bothered by Dante and Louise's unusual actions, Kirche and Tabitha followed them.
／人◕ .◕人＼
Riding Tabitha's wind dragon, Dante, Louise, Kirche and Tabitha herself, flew towards the royal palace, having left the Academy of Magic two hours ago. It was one hour after midnight.
The courtyard was in an uproar. Louise and Dante felt that their bad premonitions had come true. When the wind-dragon landed in the courtyard, it was instantly surrounded by the magic guardian troops.
The commander of Manticore Corps, loudly ordered.
"Hey you! The royal palace is off-limits now! Leave!"
However, he already recognized the group from sight. They were the same that came here right before the war against Albion started. The commander puckered up his brows.
"You again! You only come at troublesome times!"
Louise jumped down from a wind dragon. She had no time to play games of questions and answers with the captain of the guard. She asked in a breathless haste.
"The Princess! No, Her Majesty, is she alright?"
The courtyard was humming like a beehive. The nobles were carrying the shining magical wands, while solders – torches, looking for something. It was clear that something happened in the royal palace.
"I don't have to tell you anything, damned one. Leave at once."
Her face red with anger, Louise pulled out something from her pocket. It was the permit paper that Henrietta gave to Louise before.
"I am a court lady who is under immediate control of Her Majesty! In my hand I hold the permit papers signed by the Queen! I have the right to exercise Her Majesty's jurisdiction! I request an immediate explanation of the circumstances!"
The commander grabbed the permit papers from Louise's hands with blank surprise all over his face. They were indeed authentic permit papers signed by Henrietta that read - 'Louise Françoise Le Blanc De La Vallière is presented with the right of being a royal representative. Her demands must be granted." With the royal signature attached.
The commander stared with astonishment at Louise. Such a young girl… had such a document from Her Majesty.
He was a serviceman though. No matter how one looked, a superior officer was still a superior officer. Standing upright at once, he reported the situation concerning Her Majesty.
"Two hours ago, someone enticed Her Majesty away. One of the guards was knocked down as they escaped with horses. The griffon squad is chasing after them. We were searching around here to find some evidence."
Louise's complexion changed.
"Which way did they leave?"
"They went south over the highway. Apparently they escaped towards the district of La Rochelle. Without a doubt, Albion has a hand to this. Though the instruction to block the port was sent at once… Dragon Knight corps were almost annihilated in the last war. So the only way we can catch up with them are either by griffons or horses…"
Wind dragons are much lighter than griffons thus they normally would take the pursuit… but the way things were now - it iwas questionable whether it was possible to catch up. Louise jumped onto the wind dragon again.
"Hurry! The thief who kidnapped the princess escaped towards La Rochelle! We will be in serious trouble if we aren't able to catch up by the time the morning dawns!"
Everyone, hearing the circumstances, nodded, looking tense. Tabitha gave the orders to the wind dragon.
Sylphid flew up in the darkness of the night again. Louise shouted.
"Fly low! The enemy is riding a horse!"
Dante suddenly jumps off of the dragon, as he summons the Sleipnir,
"I'll go on ahead and cut them off," Dante said, while he gets on the motorcycle.
While they're still in mid air.
"A-alright."
The vehicle and the rider slam heavily on the ground, and quickly run off into the indicated direction.
The wind dragon kept on flying following the highway with a surprising swiftness.
It was a thick dark night, but even though one could not see even few steps ahead, the wind dragon kept on flying using its sharp nose, avoiding trees and buildings.
The griffon unit had split into two, one flew by griffon along the highway, the other rode on horses. It was to be expected as the Griffon Corps was the lightest of the three squads and they could see better at night. Therefore, it was chosen as the chasing unit. A lot of people in the squad were burning with anger. The enemy attacked the court under the cover of darkness. Even in their wildest dreams one could not imagine that someone would dare to attack the palace of the capital. Moreover, it was young queen Henrietta that was abducted, a successor of the throne. For magic knights that have been guardians of royal family there could not be a greater disgrace than this.
Griffons taking use of their wings and feet rushed forwards. Though the departure was delayed due to all the confusion, the enemy was still using horses. There was no reason they should not be able to catch up. The commander scolded the unit harshly.
"Run! Catch up with Her Majesty as soon as possible!"
One group of the Griffon unit dashed forward.
There was a big hustle between the Griffon units going ahead.
They might have found something. Under the commander's signal, a fire user went forward and launched a flame spell. It lit the highway 100 mails ahead, and one could see distant figures of the riders.
There were ten times as many of them.
The commander put on a brutal smile.
"First of all aim for the horses! Do not hurt Her Majesty!"
The Griffon Corps dashed forwards, launching one spell after another.
After the wall of spells rounded upon the enemies, the knights launched an attack in an instant.
The flame ball, the blade of wind, the spear of ice, all aimed at the horses that enemies rode on. Doh! Earth trembled, making horses fall one after another. The commander confirmed that Queen Henrietta, dressed in her white gown, was riding behind the first horse. In an emergency situation like this, he hesitated – it was necessary to retrieve Her Majesty without injuries. If she were to be injured, he would get some major scolding later.
After muttering an apology, the commander cast the wind spell, cutting the leg of the first horse off and throwing the Princess and the rider down to the ground.
Without mercy, the griffon squad surrounded the fallen enemy knights. The necks of the abductors were cut with wind blades and ice spears went through their hearts. The knight who was leading the run had his head cut of by the commander's wind blade, a deadly wound.
The match was decided in a moment.
When the commander nodded approvingly, the unit stopped.
Then he jumped down from his griffon, and the moment he approached the queen who fell into the grass…
Knights, who should have been dead, stood up one after another.
Griffon knights, who had relaxed their guard thinking that enemy was annihilated, were now caught by surprise by enemy magic.
"Ah!" groaned the commander trying to pull out his wand when his body was wrapped up by tornado.
Limbs were cut off by the tornado, finishing them off in a moment, as the knight who should have been finished by the commander stood up, with a clearly visible torn up wound in his neck, and smiled.
When Wales finally placed the wand to his side he approached the grass where Henrietta had fallen down.
Henrietta only now started to recover from the shock of being thrown to the grass. She watched Wales approach with disbelieving eyes.
"Lord Wales, you… what on earth?"
"Surprised?"
Henrietta pulled out her crystal wand that she always carried with herself and aimed it at Wales.
"Who are you?"
"I am Wales."
"Lies! You killed the magical knight corps…"
"You want to kill me? It is all right. Scoop me out with your magic. Pierce this heart of mine with it if you want."
Wales pointed at his chest. The hand gripping Henrietta's wand started to tremble.
The magic spell did not come out of her mouth. What came instead was a choked sob.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Trust me, Henrietta."
"But… but, this…"
"I will tell the reasons later. Many different circumstances are the cause of this. For now, come with me without asking."
"I-I do not understand. Why did you do these kind of things… What are you trying to do?"
Wales answered softly.
"You do not need to understand. You do not need to like oath, you just need to follow it. Do you remember? The words of the oath you said at the Ragdorian lake. Words you said before the water spirit."
"By no means could I forget. I will remember until the day I die."
"Please say it, Henrietta."
Henrietta said the oath word for word.
"...I, Henrietta, the princess of Tristain vows before the spirits of water that she will love Lord Wales for eternity."
"Only one thing changed now from the oath in the past. You are a queen now. However, does everything else remain unchanged? And will not change?"
Henrietta nodded. I always dreamt only about the day when Wales would hold me in his arms.
"Even though the way things are, the oath sworn before the water spirit cannot be broken. You only have to believe only in your own words. Please leave everything to me."
Each gentle word of Wales turned Henrietta more and more into a girl that did not know a thing. Henrietta kept nodding many times, just like a child. She was completely persuaded.
After that, Wales stood up and approached his knights. One could see open mortal wounds on their throats or chests.
However… ignoring them, they moved just like any living creature.
They went to check the fallen horses, yet, they all were dead.
Then they hid themselves in the tall grass, one after another disappearing from sight.
The line of the ambush.
Without words they and Wales formed a line of ambush, and stopped moving. Just like one living creature.
Dante came to the scene first, as the others flew on the wind dragon following the highway until they saw a tragic sight of corpses scattered around. The wind dragon stopped, and they jumped down. Not getting off, Tabitha looked around attentively.
"Princess."
Dante muttered. Burning corpses with their hands and feet cut off were laying around. Griffons and horses were lying in pools of their own blood. This must have been the griffon unit.
"There's someone alive!"
Dante and Louise ran towards Kirche's voice.
Despite a deep wound in his arm, someone survived.
"Are you all right?"
Louise now regretted not taking Montmorency with them. In cases of wounds, her water magic would be irreplaceable.
"I'm alright… And you are?"
"We, just like you, ran after the gang that kidnapped Her Majesty. What on earth happened to you?"
The knight answered in a shaky voice.
"They, their wounds were really fatal…"
"What?"
However, the knight could not tell anything else. Feeling secure now that help had come, he fainted.
Dante quickly summons the Golden Fleece and covers the soldier with it… and tries to look around for any more survivors… and found two more.
Dante suddenly felt a spike of…something in the air,
"Tabitha, Shield!" Dante shouts, taking Cerberus out as he slams the nunchuck to the ground, and created a wall of ice around the group.
At that moment, a magical attack was unleashed from all directions. Tabitha reacted in an instant as well. Expecting an attack beforehand, she created a wall of air above and let it fly down with her magic.
"Nice move, Tabitha," Dante praised the bluenette, who blushed slightly, and quickly recovers to concentrate with the current situation,
Out of the grass, shadows stood up, swaying in slow motion.
They were once dead Albion nobles now revived by Andvari's ring.
Kirche and Tabitha took a stance.
However, for some reason, the enemy didn't launch an attack any more. Tension started.
Then, Dante was astonished to find a well known shadow there.
"Crown Prince Wales!"
Still, he…
Wales, who was dead and was given a fake life from Cromwell using the Ring of Andvari, stolen from the water spirit, had abducted Henrietta.
Thinking so, Dante was getting angry at such unfair handiwork.
He gripped Rebellion on his shoulder while wielding pointing Ebony with his free hand. His eyes began to shine in amber light.
"Return the princess."
However, Wales didn't drop the smile.
"You are saying strong things. I cannot return her as she follows me on her own free-will."
"Is that so?"
Behind Wales back, Henrietta, dressed in the gown, appeared.
"Princess!"
Louise shouted.
"Please do not go there! That prince Wales is not the real Wales! It is a revenant of the prince, revived by Cromwell's hands with the Ring of Andvari!"
However, Henrietta didn't step forward. She just bit and tightened her shivering lips.
"…Princess?"
"See? Now then, how about a deal?"
"Deal?"
"That's right. Though we would like to quarrel here with you, we lost our horses. And traveling without horses through the night can be dangerous, so I would like to save as much magic as possible."
Tabitha chanted the spell.
'Windy Icicle' – attack spell by skillful Tabitha.
*BANG*
Right in the middle of his words the arrow of ice went through Wales' body along with a single bullet to the heart, courtesy of Dante.
However… surprisingly, Wales did not fall down and the wounds healed itself in another moment.
"It is useless. I cannot be damaged by your attacks."
Yet, even after seeing this, Henrietta's expression did not change.
"Look! It is not the prince! It is something else! Princess!"
However, Henrietta did not want to believe, and shook her head from right to left. Then said to Louise in a constrained voice.
"Please, Louise, put away the wand. Please do it for me. Please let us go."
"Princess? What are you saying? Princess! That thing is not Crown Prince Wales! Princess, you have been tricked!"
Henrietta gave a smile. A ghastly smile.
"I know that. In my room, when our lips met, I knew that 100 times over. However, still, I do not care. Louise, you haven't loved a person so strongly yet. When you really are in love you are willing to throw away everything. You want to follow him anywhere. Even if it is a lie. You cannot do anything else but believe. I swore, Louise. I made an oath before the water spirit saying 'I swear eternal love to Wales'. Even if the whole world says it is a lie, my feelings alone are not a lie. Therefore, let us go, Louise."
"Princess!"
"This is an order, Louise Françoise. My last one, from me to you. Please, step out of our way."
Louise's hand that was aiming the wand dropped down to her side. Understanding Henrietta's firm decision, she helplessly gave in. Why should she stop such said strong love…
The line of deceased people tried to pass through the dumbfounded Louise.
But, before them…
Dante, holding Rebellion, blocked the way.
He was terribly sad. He understood Henrietta's feelings, many times over.
But Dante's mind could not permit it. His mind screamed that he should not let it happen. Dante said in a voice that contained sadness and anger.
"Princess, if I am allowed to say, talking in one's sleep is not good."
His shoulders and body trembled.
"Passion, love, being together with a woman, not caring about anything else. Is such love true? It is just a mere blindness. Blood goes up to the head and one cannot think straight."
"Leave! It's an order!"
Henrietta shrieked with all her remaining dignity.
Dante plants Rebellion in front of him, showing no signs of moving…
"Unfortunately, I am not your subordinate. Your orders mean nothing to me. Even if you keep on ordering me… I won't listen. Rest assure, I will cut through that spell that binds you to 'that'."
It was Wales who moved first. Though he tried to utter a spell, Dante jumped at him.
However, a wall of water blew Dante off.
Though the devil hunter quickly recovers and lands on his feet, looking serious.
Petrified Henrietta, gripping the wand, trembled.
"I won't allow you to lay even a single finger on Wales."
The crushing wall of water moved to Dante again.
Dante's eyes narrowed.
However, the space in front of Henrietta exploded in the next moment. Henrietta was blown away.
Louise had cast an explosion spell.
"Even though you are a princess, I won't allow you to lay a single finger on Dante, either."
With her hair ruffled, Louise muttered in a shaking voice.
Due to this explosion, Tabitha and Kirche, who had been watching the scene in blank surprise, started chanting spells as well.
The fight started.
Dante kept on blocking the magic spells with his swords, in front of Louise.
Though the magic flitted around, no one was wounded seriously. Though Tabitha's and Kirche's unleashed magic was knocking down the enemies, the enemies themselves preserved their willpower, hoping to weaken them up little by little with dot spells.
However, the enemy's teamwork was skillful. Little by little, Dante and the others were cornered.
Before they realized it, Louise, Dante and the others were enclosed in a tight circle.
As much as Dante wishes to use Agni and Rudra now,
They were cornered in a defending position. The number of enemies was too great, thus there was no chance to attack.
Kirche released another fire ball, burning down a single mage.
"The flame is effective! It only has to burn!"
"Is that so…"Dante grinned, and turns to the group,
"At my signal, get down on the ground."
The noble ladies nodded.
As the circle of corpses are now closing in.
"NOW!"
The girls dropped down as the devil hunter glows golden and as Nova of raging inferno wiped out the surrounding corpse mages….
Dante is now wearing a pair of dragon head gauntlets, the Ifrit,
"Well, now that the corpse corps are fried, how about…"
However, heaven turned away from them.
Gradually, Tabitha noticed something wet hitting her cheek.
With a worried expression she looked up into the sky.
A huge cloud of rain segregated above them.
Rain that started as a light sprinkle, changed into a heavy pour soon.
Henrietta shouted.
"Throw your wands away! I do not want to kill you!"
"Just wake up, princess! Please!"
Louise shouted, but her voice was drowned by the sounds of the increasingly heavier raindrops
"Look! Rain! Rain! 'Water' spells will always win in the rain! Thanks to this rain, our victory was decided!"
"Is that so? As if the situation doesn't look bad already…"
Dante deadpanned.
Kirche, who was about to say that, nodded as if she were expressing her disappointment.
"Really, the Princess can cast a wall of water on us with this. My flame is worthless now. Tabitha's wind and even your fire gauntlets cannot damage them… Well, it is over. Defeat!"
Louise muttered in a constrained voice.
"Though I do not want this, let's run away. We cannot die here."
"But how can we run away? We are surrounded, aren't we?"
True enough, there are still remaining corpse mages around, keeping themselves as far away from Dante as possible without breaking their cordon.
No matter how many times Dante shoots them, they just stood in their posts like, er posts.
Everyone became silent.
Then Derflinger thoughtfully voiced out.
"Aah."
"What?"
"I recalled. They use a very nostalgic magic…"
"Yes?"
"When I saw the water spirit, it tickled something in the back of my mind… No, partner, sorry – I forgot. I recalled it!"
"What?"
"Their and our source is the same type of magic. Anyway, it is different from the base of your four great element system - magic of 'Life'"
"What? Legendary sword! Say something only if you have something useful to say! Rusty Blade!"
"The only rusty here is you. Though being a 'Void' user, firing 'Explosion' in rapid succession is foolish, I saw and remembered. Though that person might be very strong, the amount of willpower consumed is immense. Like today, launching huge ones like that may require a year to shoot again. We need different fireworks today."
"Well?"
"Turn the pages of the prayer book. Dear Brimierre, great mage. She sure has some perfect counter."
'She?' Dante thought, was the Founder actually a female?
Louise looked through pages, like she was told.
However, besides the 'Explosion' it was blank as usual.
"There isn't even written anything! White-on-white!"
"Turn further. If in need, you will be able to read."
Louise saw the page on which the letters were written.
It was written down in runes of an ancient language.
"…Dispel Magic?"
"That's right. 'Release'. The potion that you took a while ago is the reason why you can read it."
Henrietta sadly shook her head. Though she told Louise to run away, because of the rain, she didn't run away. Moreso, Louise stepped closer into the center of the tight circle.
Looking up, Henrietta began to utter an incantation.
'I do not want to kill if possible. However, if you keep on blocking my way…'
With Henrietta's cantrip aria, the raindrops began to harden.
One by one the ally mages had an armor of water hanging on them. The enemy's 'Flame' was sealed off with this.
In addition, Henrietta uttered another incantation.
Wales' spell joined with hers. Wales watched Henrietta, smiling coldly. Though she noticed the lack of warmth, Henrietta's heart still felt moistly hot.
They both were surrounded by the tornado of water.
'Water', 'Water', 'Water', and, 'Wind.', 'Wind', 'Wind'
The sixth power – water and wind
Triangle mages usually cannot make such strong spells as this. To say almost never, would not be an exaggeration. However, the chosen blood of the royal family enables it.
Only the royal family were able to do a hexagon spell.
Their combined spell increased to an impossible size.
Two triangles intertwined, creating a huge tornado of six.
The tornado was like a tsunami. If hit, it could even blow away a castle.
The sound of Louise's chanting mixed with the sound of rainfall.
Behind Dante's back, Louise's spell could be cast comfortably.
To Louise nothing was impossible today. She kept on concentrating her willpower while uttering sounds of ancient runes one after another with her mouth.
"What's wrong with this girl?"
Kirche asked with a smile.
"Aah, she's just acting like a legend for now." Dante grasped the sword and answered in a joking voice.
Hearing Louise casting a 'Void' spell gave him courage. Courage that allowed him to smile. Courage that can turn death into a joke.
"So. It is good and all. Yet if that 'Legend' doesn't leak something at least, we won't be able to win against that tornado."
The huge tornado of water whirling around Wales and Henrietta's grew rapidly.
Louise's silent chant continued still. As expected from 'Void'. It was as lengthy as one could be.
"This is bad. The other side is faster after all."
Derflinger muttered.
"What to do?" Kirche asked,
" It is your work to stop that tornado, Windálfr. Since Gandalfr is busy at the moment."
"Already on it."
Dante's eyebrow twitched. Wait. Did the sword just mention the Gandalfr?
"Hey Dante,"
"What?"
"Aren't you..?"
"Scared of such a huge tornado? Don't make me laugh."
"Your work is to attack the enemy, not to defend your master while the spell is chanted. Thiat is supposed to be your only work." Derflinger rattled,
"I can multi-task. Now do me a favor and shut up already."
Dante confidently strides to towards the two royal mages. As much as he wanted to rip and roar with his full power, he also knew that there is a chance that the power might go out of control if he ever unleashed a lot of it.
Hence, he's leaving this one to the diminutive mage. Besides, this is also a test of her mettle once more.
"I leave it to you," Kirche muttered.
Tabitha watched Dante's face.
"Easy victory."
Dante muttered, "Easy for you to say."
Wales and Henrietta's spell was completed. The huge tornado of undulating water flew towards Dante and the others. Though it was huge, it was also surprisingly fast.
It was like a castle of water. A castle of water that was swirling around viciously and trying to swallow them.
Grasping Derflinger and Rebellion, Dante dashed towards the tornado using dancer's steps and pushed Derflinger into the core of the rotating tornado of water and slammed Rebellion with the other hand to the ground for anchorage.
Though he was almost swallowed by the torrent, he stood firmly on his feet.
Pain assaulted his body. But with his demonic constitution, he manages to stand his ground.
The moment when everything seemed to be down to a standstill, Louise finished her spell.
Even though he could not hear a sound or see anything with the onrush of torrents of water, Dante could feel it.
"At last, that stupid midget got it right." Dante muttered and leaped away.
Before Louise's eyes, who completed her spell, a huge tornado raged. However, it didn't reach her. Dante stood in the middle of the tornado, and she could see him standing there like a red wall, shielding the rest from the onslaught of killing waves of water.
As if by a signal, Dante leaps out of the raging force of nature and gestures to the little mage, pointing at the massive waterfall, where one could see a small gap in it.
Louise grins. Through the gap she aimed her 'Dispel Magic' at the enemy.
Henrietta's surroundings turned into dazzling shining light.
With a thump the body of Wales, who stood next to her, crumbled to the ground. Though Henrietta tried to run up to him, she lost consciousness as completion of the spell took all of her willpower and she toppled to the ground.
All at once, she was wrapped in silence.
Unfortunately, she had no idea what came next...
／人◕ .◕人＼
"Is it over?" Louise, exhausted from the casting, looked at the fallen undead mages,
"As much as I wish to say so…" Kirche states, as she points at the corpse of the former Prince Wales,
An ominous voice emanated from the dead body, as it rose from the wet ground like a puppet on strings…
"I congratulate you, young mage, for breaking the spell of the Ring of Andvari. It seems like the reports of you having the power of the void be true," the inhuman voice said, in a voice that seemed to come from underwater…
"Void?" Kirche murmurs, "so that's why.."
*CLICK*
Dante is already beside the possessed corpse, with Ivory pressed to the former Prince's temple,
"Seriously, this again? How many of you devils are there in this world?"
A chilling laugh shook the corpse…
"Heheheheheh, More than you can handle, that I assure you."
"Wrong answer."
In an instant flash of movement, Dante slashed the dead Noble's body with Rebellion.
But instead of cutting the body in half, the blade just passes through the dead body, but in the process, an ethereal figure was thrown out 20 feet away from the corpse.
"Aaaarrggghhhhh, Curse you, Bastard of Sparda." The figure writhed, as it began to solidify, and became a lot more visible.
The rest of the young nobles were shocked at the turn of events.
"Another devil, I guessed that much, you're supposed to be the insurance should the operation got awry, right?" Dante scoffed, laying the slowly dying noble, and spreads the Golden Fleece on top of him and Henrietta.
'This might buy him some time,' Dante thought, he looks at the rest of the group,
"I suggest you guys to take Louise and those two to safety," he motioned to the other two fallen royals…
He stands up with a dark look on his face, and turns to the ethereal figure, which now in the form of a cloaked figure, with the image embroidered at the back of the cloak, of an ancient Roman symbol of Pisces, albeit reversed. At this point we call this one as Pisces.
"Time to take the trash out," Dante said as he draws Ebony and Ivory,
"Let's Rock."
Suddenly, a ethereal sword stabs right in front of Dante,
"Mind if I, 'Cut in'" a familiar voice spoke,
"Cobalt," Dante greets, "Nice to see you drop by,"
"Likewise, I'm sure." The figure in blue responded, with voice dripping with sarcasm,
"ENOUGH OF THIS," the Pisces growled, and with an outstretched hand, the figure summons a torrents of water, in the shape of ribbons, all aimed at the devil hunter.
Dante, with the skill of the Trickster, easily evades the attack, sending the water ribbons shredding the tree just behind Dante.
"Whoah, that was close," Dante said, as large number of ethereal daggers closed in on him at that moment, which he also evades by skilfully cartwheeling out of harms way, deflecting the rest of the daggers with a Prop Shredder with Rebellion.
Just as Cobalt was about to move in, a large scaled claw stops him, and throws Cobalt away like a rag doll.
"Get your own toy to play with, construct." it roared, it was the Pisces, whose form now begins to change, ripping the cloak apart in the process until…
In the figure's place is a 40 foot monstrous chimaera of sea creatures, mainly composed of a Megalodon for a head, Portuguese Man-o-War on its shoulders, Zebra Fish stingers arrayed on its back and a Stingray's tail. Four heavily muscled appendages ending with webbed claws, supported the creature as it stalked Dante, sending tremors as it took a step,
Meet Gigalodon, the Devil Sea Chimaera
"What in the world is that?" Kirche asked, as she hugged Tabitha for support.
"A Devil." Tabitha replied, as she whistled for Sylphid, which swooped down. Tabitha quickly herded the other two nobles on to the dragon, and through the levitation spell, she managed to bring Henrietta and still living Wales up to safety.
'Looks like they're safe,' Dante thought, upon seeing that his friends are no longer nearby, spotting them on top of the now flying Sylphid,
He then addresses the creature in front of him,
"Where were we? Oh, right. I was about to send your carcass back to where you came from. Provided you have a home address with you,"
Another pithy line….
The creature roars, maddened by the said line, and stomped towards Dante in surprising speed, aiming to ram Dante.
*SLAM*
The sound of the collision resounded through the forest…
As the dust clears, only one figure stood his ground,
It was Dante, who is currently giving his right arm a windup stretch,
While his opponent is thrown at least 50 meters from Dante, courtesy of one punch from Gilgamesh, is a set of gauntlets, greaves, mask, and back armor made of a devilish metal which absorbs organic material and transforms it to steel, and its techniques can be powered up by engaging the thrusters on the gauntlets and greaves. The gauntlets have small drills on each arm capable of extending during some attacks, while the greaves have small saws allowing Dante to cut through enemies with kicks.
Way too much information,
"Whoo. You sir, have a really hard face." Dante compliments the Gigalodon, which was shaking the cobwebs off its head, roars and launches a barrage of the spear length Zebra Fish Stingers from its back, aiming to impale the devil hunter, who immediately evades the series of attacks, even taking the time to shoot down other stingers, just because he can.
"Hey, do you have any other tricks aside from this? I'm getting sleepy here."
The Gigalodon launches another barrage of water ribbons along with the numerous Man-o-war tentacles to confuse Dante, which for the first part succeeds, as the stingers actually connect, causing the devil hunter to lose his rhythm, and falls down. And to add insult to injury, the beast lashes its Stingray tail, hitting Dante many times over before Dante recovers.
"Well now, you're pretty good, alrighty then, you dodge this…"
Dante sprays the chimaera with a rain of lead from the twin pistols, cutting off the Man-o-war tentacles off the beast. Another rain of bullets destroys the Man-o-War heads, disabling its ability to create water ribbons…
The beast roared in pain and frustration…
After seeing that the ranged attack is impossible to finish Dante, the Gigalodon tries its last tactic.
It launched itself to the air and for some magical ability, actually dove into the ground which the earth begins to act very much like water around the devil's body.
Then silence…
Dante strikes a pose, standing straight, with guns crossed over his chest, as he closed his eyes in deep concentration…
Louise, Tabitha and Kirche looked on nervously,
"How will Dante be able to defeat this one." Kirche asks no one in particular,
"D-don't worry about him, he won't lose." A tired Louise breathed, as she observes the battle.
"Faith." Tabitha said, as she tends to Henrietta, and the slowly dying prince Wales,
Suddenly, it happened, the earth below Dante explodes, as the Gigalodon launches itself from the ground, with its teeth filled maw wide open, ready to devour the devil hunter in one swift bite.
Unfortunately for him, Dante was ready, and jumps upwards to escapes the ambush, while shooting the creature with Ebony and Ivory. In one smooth move, he charges the Gilgamesh with magical energy, and launches a counter attack, with a supercharged Full House, a diving kick that slashes the beast open with the use of the spinning buzz saws on the greaves…
"And that's how you do it…"
Dante lands gracefully, dismissing the devil arm, as the defeated devil falls down with a thundering crash.
Dante walks to the defeated devil, it's not dead yet, but will never be able to move at all.
Interrogation time.
"Okay, let's try this one more time. Who are you and what are you planning to do with the Princess?"
With the heavily pressing aura of Dante pushing its will down, the devil actually began to spill its guts, figuratively, as its body is doing it, literally.
"We are the Twelve heraldsss of the True Creator of this world. The time is nigh for the Creator to take back what is hisss…"
'Not another Doomsday prophecy. Well, at least now we're going somewhere,' Dante thought, as he pressures the creature further to reveal their aim.
"What are you planning to do with the Princess?"
"Her blood holds the key for the Creator's return…"
"Who is this Creator?"
"You already know who he issss…"
The Gigalodon's remains explodes in a gory fashion as a thousand blades slashes the defeated devil to bits.
"That stupid blabbermouth," Cobalt spat, as he emerged from the wooded area where he was flung earlier.
Eyeing Dante, the cloaked figure tilted its head and said, "You still good for another round?"
Before Dante could reply, a black orb slams where Cobalt has stood earlier…
The black orb repeatedly slashed the trees before it disappeared in a flash, revealing that Cobalt has already disappeared.
Dante's eyes widened as he recognized the attack technique, but for some reason, the energy signature seems to be, different.
"It can't be…" and quickly turns his gaze to where the attack came from,
／人◕ .◕人＼
Standing on top of a tree is another figure wearing a blue parka and a white large stripe running in front and black pants and heavy leather shoes. He jumps and silently right in front of Dante, who remained standing as he observed the newcomer. His profile is hidden with a pitch black mask that is ornately shaped like a canine's face. His flowing, long dark hair spilling from the mask can be seen, indicating that this one is not a native of this world. He carried the sheathed sword across his shoulders, an Ōkatana which has a black scabbard with a pink ribbon tied around it with the blade's handle itself was wrapped in pink silk cloth with an intricate design of black silk covering the sides of the handle make a straight line to the guard while sheathed. It had several runic engravings located around its white handle and on the endpoint of its sheath.
'Another weird one appears.' Dante thought, and said aloud,
"Alright, who are you supposed to be?"
"Call me, Dog." The masked man said, extending a gloved hand towards Dante, whom he felt a certain aura of familiarity. "A friend."
"Sorry, I'm not the hand shaking kind…especially to those with weird masks." Dante said, as he had problems in his earlier days with masked, bandaged men.
The masked man looked crestfallen, but tries to salvage the situation, but found the already awkward meeting beyond repair.
Sighing, Dog spoke, "I guess this is my cue to go." And goes to leave,
"Damn this guy, for ruining my introduction." Dog murmurs as he turns his back on Dante,
"Hey, I can still hear you."
"Yeah, yeah…" Dog waved dismissively.
"This guy is even worse than Sparda." Dog continues to speak loudly, as he walks off.
At the mention of the name Sparda, Dante quickly turns to ask the man of his relation to Sparda, only to find that the masked man gone.
"Great, another mystery guy." Dante mused, as Sylphid lands behind him, along with the passengers…XD
／人◕ .◕人＼
Henrietta lost consciousness for a while, but she woke up to a voice calling her name.
Louise was peering at her worriedly.
The rain had stopped. The grass nearby was wet and enveloped by a cool atmosphere.
It was as if the violent battle just now was a lie, Henrietta thought.
However, it wasn't a lie. Wales' cold corpse was laying beside her. The other cold corpses were scattered around her. It was the end of the ones who were given fake life by Ring of Andvari. By Louise's "Dispel Magic", the fake life disappeared and they returned to their original forms, though Henrietta did not know the reason. It was just that, she felt that the things that needed to be had returned to where they should be. And, that was enough for now.
It seemed that even the Golden Fleece can't do anything at the moment...
She wanted to think it was a dream. But, everything was a nightmare-like reality. And she herself, had tried to throw away everything and surrender herself to that nightmare.
Henrietta covered her face with her hands. Right now, she had no right to cling to Wales' corpse. Much less did she have the face to look at the Louise in front of her, who had loved her since they were young.
"Just what have I done?"
"Have you woken up?"
Louise asked Henrietta in a sad and cold voice. There was no sign of anger. There were some things that needed to be thought about, but it was the usual Louise.
Henrietta nodded.
"What should I say to apologize to you? What should I say in order to ask for forgiveness from the people hurt by me? Please tell me, Louise."
"More importantly, the Princess's powers are needed."
Louise pointed to the arriving, wounded guards.
"What horrible injuries."
"They have been trying to protect her royal highness. Please heal them with your 'water'."
Henrietta nodded and chanted a rune. By the power of the royal family's wand that stored the power of "water", the troops' wounds started to close up. Their eyes widened when the realized that the one healing their wounds was Henrietta.
"I do not have any words of apology. Are there any other people injured?"
There were several other surviving nobles of the hippogriff squad. Henrietta healed their wounds one at a time.
Dante couldn't help at the moment as the Golden Fleece is currently supporting a certain patient.
And then... without caring about whether one was an ally or enemy, the corpses were carried into the shade of a tree. Even if the corpses were going to be buried later, they could not just leave them as they were.
Louise and the others... Even Kirche, even Tabitha, did not condemn Henrietta. Henrietta had been seeing a nightmare. A sweet and tempting dream. If they had to hate someone, it would be the person who gave Wales a fake life and took advantage of Henrietta's heart like this. It cannot be said that Henrietta was sinless herself, but it was also truth that there was an existence that profited from that sin.
Henrietta was trying to move Wales, who is covered with the Golden Fleece at the end.
At that time...
Henrietta saw something she couldn't believe at all.
Perhaps, Henrietta's sorrowful love had reached somewhere.
Maybe, someone softly, to heal her sin, softly tipped the scales of life.
When Henrietta touched Wales' cheek, his eyelids weakly opened.
"...Henrietta? Is it you?"
It was a weak and fading voice, but it was Wales' voice without a doubt. Henrietta's shoulders shook. If miracles existed in Halkeginia, times like this were definitely that.
That is because no one can explain the reason why the light of life that should have disappeared was given a mere glow. It is possible that when Louise's "Dispel Magic" blew away the fake life, Wales' barely remaining breath of life lit the fire.
It was possible that the feelings Henrietta felt for Wales called upon a whim from the gods. No one knows why. Just that, Wales opened his eyes. That was the truth.
"Lord Wales..."
Henrietta called her lover's name. She understood. The Wales this time was the true Wales. Not a puppet that moved with fake life, but the true him.
Tears flowed from Henrietta's eyes.
"What a thing. Just how long have I waited for this moment..."
The group rushed over with surprised faces.
The eyes of the group widened when they saw that Wales had opened his eyes.
At that moment, Henrietta saw that red stains were spreading over Wales' white shirt. The wound caused by dozens of attacks done in his person that were closed by the fake life had opened.
Panicking, Henrietta chanted a spell to close up the wound.
However... Cruelly so, Henrietta's magic did not work on that wound. Without the wound closing up, the stain of blood only grew bigger.
"Lord Wales, don't... No, why..."
"It's no use... Henrietta. This wound will no longer close. Bodies that have died once will no longer revive. I have probably only come back a bit, just a bit with Dante's assistance. Perhaps, this is the whim of the water spirit."
"Lord Wales, no, no... Do you plan to leave me alone again?"
"Henrietta. I have one last wish."
"Don't say something like 'last'."
"I want to go to that Ragdorian Lake, where I met you for the first time. There is something I want you to promise there."
Tabitha pulled along her wind dragon. Dante and Kirche set Wales on its back. Following that, Henrietta, who was riding on the wind dragon, placed Wales' head on her knees and supported his body to keep it from falling.
Carrying the group, the wind dragon soared up.
Aiming for Ragdorian Lake, the wind dragon flew straight towards it.
At Ragdorian Lake, Wales leaned his body on Henrietta as they walked on the shore. The sky was beginning to whiten. Morning was close.
"How nostalgic."
"Yes."
"When we first met, I thought you looked like a fairy. See, you were bathing around here."
Wales pointed to one spot. He probably could already no longer see. That spot was completely different from the one in Henrietta's memories.
However, Henrietta nodded. Desperately restraining herself from crying,
"Oh, you're as skilled as ever."
"At that time, this was what I thought. If we just threw everything away like this. Anywhere is fine. The location doesn't matter. It's enough to just have a small house with a garden. Aah, a flower bed is necessary. A flower bed for you to grow flowers in."
It was like power drained from Wales' legs every step he took.
"Hey, I always wanted to ask you. At that time, why did you not say those kind words? Why did you not tell me that you love me? I have always waited for those words."
Wales smiled.
"I could not speak those words, knowing it would make you unhappy."
"What are you saying? It was my joy to be loved by you."
Wales fell silent. Henrietta felt the life disappearing from her beloved Wales' body little by little. For him to have lasted so long could be called a miracle.
However, she couldn't cry. In the time remaining, she wanted to exchange words with him as much as possible. Even so, her voice was trembling.
Mustering his energy, Wales stated.
"Swear, Henrietta."
"I will swear about anything. What should I swear about? Please tell me."
"To forget me. Swear that you will forget me and find another man to love. I want to hear those words. At this Ragdorian Lake. In front of the water spirit, I want to hear you pledge that."
"Do not say the impossible. I cannot swear such a thing. There is no way I could swear a lie."
Henrietta froze in her track. Her shoulders were trembling.
"Please, Henrietta. Otherwise, my soul will probably wander for eternity. Do you want me to be unhappy?"
Henrietta shook her head.
"No. I definitely don't want to."
"There is no time. There, there is no time anymore. I am already... That's why, please..."
"Then, then swear. Swear that you love me. By now, you should be able to swear that, right? If you swear to that, then I will swear as well."
"I will."
Henrietta, with a sad expression, spoke the words of oath.
"...I swear. To forget about Lord Wales. And also, to find someone else to love."
Wales said in a satisfied manner, "Thank you."
"Next, is your turn. Please."
"I will. Bring me to the waterside."
Henrietta brought Wales to the waterside. The morning sun poked through the spaces between the tree, and with a beauty unthinkable in this world, the Ragdorian Lake glittered.
Their legs got soaked in water.
Henrietta gripped Wales' shoulders.
"Now, say it. To love me. It is fine for just this moment. I will embrace this moment for eternity. No matter what you say, I will embrace it. Got it?"
However, Wales did not reply.
"Lord Wales?"
Henrietta shook his shoulders. But, Wales had already died.
She slowly recalled the days here, where she met Wales for the first time.
As if to take each memory one by one from a treasure box and check it.
The fun and glittering days will no longer come.
The words of pledge exchanged at this lake, no longer can be protected.
"What a mean person."
Looking straight ahead, Henrietta whispered.
"To the end, you never spoke those words of oath."
Slowly, Henrietta closed her eyes.
From her closed eyelids, a line of tears flowed down her cheek.
Dante, who was watching over the two from the shade, was holding Louise's shoulders. Louise was quietly looking at Henrietta, killing her voice while crying.
While holding her shoulders, Dante thought.
'Was I right?'
At that time, would letting Henrietta go, like she said... be happier for her? Even if it was fake life, even if it was fake love... If the actual person believed it was real, isn't that fine itself?
While holding Louise's shoulders, who was crying like a child, Dante had continued to constantly think about that. What was right, and what was wrong... Even after this, there will probably be other things to make him worry, Dante thought faintly.
Even before this tragedy, there were many times where he was pressed to make a decision very much like this one.
It was hard.
That is the reason he mostly lived alone, so that no one else will get caught in the whirlwind of suffering, death and misery that his heritage passed to him.
Dante embraced Louise firmly.
At least, when that time comes once more... for he, himself, will not waver, as always, Dante reflected.
Henrietta laid Wales' corpse in the water.
Then she waved her wand slightly, and chanted a rune.
The lake water moved, slowly carrying Wales' body into the water, where it sank.
The water was ever so deeply transparent, and the sinking corpse of Wales could be seen clearly.
Even after she was unable to see Wales anymore, Henrietta remained still.
Even when the lake surface reflected the light of the sun and started scattering the seven prismatic colors of light around the area... Henrietta continued to look for eternity.
"Let's go, princess...he's already gone."
／人◕ .◕人＼
Sometime later, Dante returns to the Ragdorian Lake.
"Even if I said that, I just can't help but...Hey, Water Spirit!"
The water surface began to ripple in prismatic colors...
／人◕ .◕人＼
In another place in Halkeginia, Dog wanders through town in Tristain, and ends up looking at the towers of the Tristain Academy of Magic.
"Nostalgic, Isn't it… Louise." Dog spoke to no one in particular,
Or so it seems.
The Ōkatana that he carried hummed musically as if in response.
／人◕ .◕人＼
Author's afterword:
Need I say this again?
This story is labelled under Adventure/Humor, FYI.
Why so serious to bash, Teme?
Besides, as I stated over and over in the author's notes in past chapters; I'm not here for recognition. I'm just here to have fun in either puzzling, angering, and making people smile or laugh at what I put together.
Otherwise if fame is what I seek then I'll get serious, and work full time in this writing biz.
Then again, I lack interest to pursue this at the moment.
I just post this mashup tale for the fun of it.
So smile, grin and bear it.
Or have my username closed by the admin, your choice.
As I await the judgement of readers. I end this season, like so…
Pulling the plug is the only thing I could do for now as I…Declare this season, Complete…
As always thanks for the patronage guys... Till next time. I guess...
XD