Chapter 10
Although dawn had just broken, Guiche and Louise had already started preparing the saddles for their horses. Slung over Zero's back was Derflinger. Because of its length, it could not be attached to the waist. "Zero, are you sure you don't want to use a horse? This is going to be a much longer run than the one to town."
"I'd be a burden on the animal. I can run" Zero stated. He was much heavier than someone of his size should be, and he didn't want to abuse an animal with no real reason.
Louise was dressed in her academy uniform, the only difference was that she now wore horse riding boots instead of shoes. Judging from that, it looked like a great deal of time would be spent riding the horse.
Just before setting off, Guiche spoke rather awkwardly. "I have a request..."
"What is it that you want?" Zero wondered, sounding annoyed. To him, the jury was still out on weather or not he liked the kid or not.
"I wish to bring my familiar along."
"Do you have a familiar in the first place?" Zero asked
"Of course I do. All magicians have one."
Louise and Zero looked at each other, then looked at Guiche again.
"Where's your familiar now?"
"Here." Guiche replied while pointing to the ground.
"But there's nothing on the ground," Louise said.
Guiche responded by tapping his feet on the ground. Just then, a giant brown creature popped out of the ground.
"Beldandy! Oh, my cute Beldandy!"
Zero, dumbfounded, asked, "Why did we want a giant mole again?"
"This is my cute little familiar Beldandy." Guiche said proudly, "Yes. Ahh... My Beldandy, you look so cute from any angle I look. Have you eaten your meal of earthworms before you arrived here?"
The gigantic mole hummed happily in response.
"Really? That's wonderful!" Guiche said while rubbing cheek to cheek with his familiar.
"Actually... I don't think that you could bring it along with us..." Zero said.
"That's right Guiche. That creature moves underground right?"
"That's right. Even though it's slightly bigger that usual, Beldandy is still a mole all right." Louise agreed.
"How are we going to bring it along? We're all riding on horses. Well, except for Zero anyhow" Louise said in perturbed fashion. This just seemed like it would slow her down on the mission to help the princess.
"That's all right. Beldandy moves along quickly underground. Am I right, Beldandy?
The gigantic mole nodded in agreement.
"But we're going to Albion! We can't bring creatures that move underground!." Louise explained.
Guiche, upon hearing that, knelt onto the ground and replied, "I cannot bear the separation with my dear Beldandy... Oh! The pain..."
At the same time, the giant mole seemed to pick up some scent from its nose and drew nearer and nearer to Louise.
"What is this stupid mole trying to do!"
"Like master, like familiar. They both share the same interest – girls." Zero said, stifling a laugh..
"Stop! Stop this right now!" Louise said, her arms flailing comically.
The giant mole knocked Louise off her feet and started sniffing all over her.
"Ah! Watch where you're sniffing! Stop it!"
Louise being constantly poked by the giant mole's nose, started to roll all over the ground. All that rolling disheveled her clothes and exposed her underwear. Louise was starting to get very annoyed...
"Ah... How beautiful is the scene of a giant mole teasing a damsel."
"Might wanna call your familiar off. I don't know about you, but I really don't want to be blown up later." Zero said, seriously.
Both Zero and Guiche nodded in unison.
"Stop blabbering nonsense over there, you oafs! Come over and help me quickly! Ahh!"
The giant mole saw the ring at Louise's right hand and started pecking it with its nose.
"You insolent mole! Don't use your nose to sniff at the ring the highness has bestowed to me!."
"I see now. It's the ring. Beldandy loves jewels."
"Such an irritating pest!"
"Please don't call Beldandy an irritating pest. It's because of me that Beldandy searches for precious stones and jewels. For an Earth magician, there's nothing more helpful than this."
Just as Louise was preparing to blow her top, a sudden gust of wind came out of nowhere and blew away Beldandy.
"Who is that!" Guiche shouted agitatedly.
A rather stout looking noble wearing a feathered cap appeared out of the faint daylight behind him. Zero looked rather surprised. "Its you."
"What have you done to my Beldandy!" Guiche hastily took out his rose shaped wand but the noble wearing the feathered cap was faster. Before Guiche could cast any spell, his wand was already out of his hand.
"I'm not your enemy. I'm under the orders of the highness to accompany you on your journey. The princess is worried about just having you few going to Albion, but then again sending a whole troop of soldiers with you will be too conspicuous. Therefore, I was appointed to accompany you all on this journey." The noble said while taking off his feather cap and bowing.
"I'm the captain of the Griffin Knights, Viscount Wardes."
The grumbling Guiche quickly shut his mouth. For most of the nobles, Guiche included, being able to join the Griffin Knights meant great prestige.
Wardes looked at Guiche and spoke apologetically. "Sorry for what I did to your familiar. I couldn't stand watching my fiance being harassed."
"What!"
Zero was shocked. "Fiance?"
"This majestic looking noble is Louise' fiance?"
"Lord Wardes..." Louise spoke in a trembling voice after standing up.
"It's been such a long time. My Louise, my dear Louise."
Zero couldn't help but wonder what was wrong wtih this world. He looked old enough to be her father, he thought to himself.
Wardes approached Louise and with a beaming smile on his face, carried Louise up.
"It's really been such a long time." Louise said with her face turning red with embarrassment.
"Still as light as ever. Just like a feather."
"Viscount... please don't be like this... There are people over here..."
Wardes, who placed Louise back down and replaced his hat said, "Care to introduce your companions to me?"
"Erm... That is Guiche de Gramont and my familiar, Zero." said Louise while pointing at them while she was introducing them to Wardes. Guiche who did not dare look at Wardes directly, lowered his head. Zero just looked at him with an unwelcoming stare.
Wardes said with a rather surprised look on his face, "Are you Louise' familiar? This is the first time I've seen a human being a familiar."
"Yeah, stay around me you'll see lots of things you've never seen before" Zero said, meeting his gaze.
"Thank you for taking such good care of my fiance."
"Didn't do it for you." Zero said,"I did it because nobody else gave a damn enough about her to help her. If you did, you might have been there to protect her."
"Alas, my duty as a knight, keeps me away from my fair Louise. I am glad that someone else has stood in my stead to protect her" Wardes said, as he looked Zero up and down.
Zero took the opportunity to size up Wardes. He was indeed handsome. Even though Guiche could also be considered handsome, he was always making a fool out of himself and making irrational decisions. He could even rub his own cheek with a giant mole. Wardes had looks, and his eyes were keen, sharp, and to Zero dead.
In addition he had a muscular and well built body. Zero had originally thought that all male magicians would have a body like Guiche or Count Mott, but he was proven wrong. Wardes would be fairly hard for a normal person to put down in hand to hand combat, but Zero didn't feel threatened by that.
"What's wrong? Are you having doubts about this trip? There's nothing to be afraid of! Aren't you the one who caught Fouquet of the Crumbling Earth? With your courage alone, nothing is impossible." Wardes gave him a broad smile.
Zero looked at the man, and could tell that smile was forced. "Courage alone does nothing. Without the power or skill to subdue or kill your enemies, courage is just a way to get to your own destruction quicker"
"Hmm. I suppose you are correct. But defeating a triangle mage with but a sword. One must have power or skill in spades to do that"
"Perhaps it was just luck" Zero answered back.
Louise, not able to calm down due to Wardes' appearance, was feeling restless with anxiety.
Wardes gave a whistle, and a griffin appeared out from the morning clouds. He had climbed to the back of the griffin with grace, and then extended a hand to Louise. "Come over, my Louise."
Louise lowered her head in hesitation and bashfulness, just like a girl who is in love. This pissed Zero off for some reason.
Louise, who was still hesitating, was suddenly carried up the griffin by Wardes.
With one hand on the reins and his wand in the other, Wardes shouted, "Well everybody, onwards!"
"Guiche, i guess you'll handle her reins for the horse."
"Excuse me, familiar, but aren't you going to ride a horse? It will be far slower if we have to keep at a walk" Wardes told him, puzzlement in his voice.
The one sincere thing I've heard him say, and its a way to look down on me,"Yes, I know, but you can't really force the horses to run too fast for to long. Although i suppose if we ran with them for a little while it wouldn't be too bad" Zero took off down the road, going about four times what he knew the horses could comfortably go, much to the shock of all but Louise.
"Is he really human?" Wardes asked, as he looked down at Louise. The only response he got was a shrug.
The griffin moved forward. Following behind it were Guiche, looking full of admiration for Wardes; trying to keep a handle on the second horse he was leading. .
***Break***
From the headmaster's office window, Henrietta was watching Zero and group departing for Albion. She was concerned since it appeared Zero would be walking. As she saw his burst of speed, followed by the cocky stance he held when he turned around to get the others to follow, she smiled. Something told her that Zero would be alright. She closed her eyes, starting to praying...
"Founder Brimir, please grant them protection throughout their journey..."
Next to her was Headmaster Osmand trimming his nasal hair.
"You aren't going to see them off, headmaster Osmand?"
"No, as you can see, I'm busy trimming my nasal hair, your highness."
Henrietta shook her head in disapproval.
Just then, someone knocked at the door.
"Enter," said the headmaster.
Mr. Colbert entered room with an anxious look on his face.
"Bad news! Headmaster!"
"You say that quite often. What seems to be the problem now?"
"From the news that I've heard from the castle guards, Fouquet has escaped!"
"Hmm..." said Osmand while stroking his beard.
"According to the guard who was on duty that time, some noble knocked him out using wind magic. The person used the opportunity that most of the manpower was diverted to protect the princess to help Fouquet escape! This means that someone inside is a spy! Isn't that bad news?"
Henrietta's face turned pale upon hearing the news.
Headmaster Osmand made a gesture to Mr. Colbert asking him to leave.
"Okay. Okay. We'll hear further details from you later."
After Mr. Colbert left, Henrietta placed her hands on the table and sighed deeply.
"We have a spy in our midst. This must be the doings of the Albion nobility!"
"Maybe it is... OUCH!" said the headmaster while trimming his nasal hair. Henrietta looked at him helplessly.
"How can you still be so relaxed? The future of Tristain is at stake!"
"The opponent has already made his move. All we can do now is to wait, isn't it?"
"Even so..."
"It's all right. If it's him, he'll be able to cope with any problems they'll face during their journey. I think you'll be quite surprised at just what that boy is capable of." The headmaster said, his voice sounding slightly heavy. He had seen the power that Zero had wielded as he scryed the fight between Mott and him. If one could call such a one-sided beating a fight at all.
"The person you're speaking of is Guiche? Or Viscount Wardes?"
The headmaster shook his head.
"Don't tell me that person is Louise's familiar. How could that be possible? Isn't he just a commoner?"
"Your highness, have you heard of the story of Founder Brimir before?"
"I have read most of the story..."
The headmaster smiled and replied, "Then, do you know about Gandálfr?"
"Isn't that Founder Brimir's strongest familiar? Don't tell me..."
"That boy is very powerful. He has the capability to move beyond speeds that can be seen easily, and has access to two very powerful weapons. He also holds the legendary runes of the Gandálfr and furthermore, he comes from another world different from ours. Unfortunately, he comes from a troubled past. All I've been able to get from him, is that he's been trained since birth to be a warrior. A weapon actually. Without a weapon he can activate the runes on his hands. I'd not wish to face him in battle...I'm uncertain if anything less than an army would be able to stop him. But enough of that." The old man said, ending his serious contemplation as he went back to trimming his nasal hairs. At this point of time, Headmaster Osmand felt that he had already divulged too much. Regarding the secret of "Gandálfr" he always wanted to keep that to himself. Although he trusted Henrietta, he did not want the Royal family to know about it yet.
"Another world?"
"That's right. He comes from a world different from Halkeginia. Or I should say, from a place not on Halkeginia. I have always believed that this youth from another world will succeed. That's also the reason that I'm so carefree even during these perilous times."
"Another world different from Halkeginia really exists..."
Henrietta gazed far away. The sensation of the youth's lip still lingered on Henrietta's lips. Touching her lips with her fingertips, she closed her eyes, smiled and said,
"Let me pray then, for the breeze that comes from another world."
***Break***
It would take two days to reach Port City La Rochelle by horse from Tristain. The port city is situated on a deep and narrow gorge and because of this, it has a small population of three hundred. As La Rochelle is the gateway to Albion, the number of travelers is ten times more than the local population.
Boulders could be seen on both sides of the narrow mountain pathway. People had carved holes in the boulders, turning them into taverns and shops. Although the buildings look ordinary, upon closer inspection one can realize that all of them are carved out of a single rock, a feat done by Square ranked earth mages.
On the narrow street, it appeared to be dark even though it was afternoon due to the gorges blocking the sunlight. If one made a turn on the street, they could see an even narrower street leading to a bar.
On the signboard resembling a keg of wine, the shop's name was written – "Golden Wine Barrel Bar". However, nothing in the shop resembled its name; the shop was dilapidated like an abandoned house. Piles of ruined chairs could be seen piling next to the door.
Most of the patrons were gangsters and mercenaries. When drunk, they would often fight over the smallest of things like staring incidents or minor squabbles.
Whenever they'd fight, they would fight with their weapons. Therefore, it was common to see people dead or seriously injured inside the bar. The shopkeeper, not wanting to see any more injuries and deaths, put up a notice inside the shop.
"Please use the chairs when you fight in here."
From the notice, the customers could feel the shopkeeper's helplessness. So they started to use the chairs instead of their weapons when fighting each other. Even though there were still injuries, no one was killed anymore. From then on, chairs that were destroyed during fights got piled next to the door.
Today, the "Golden Wine Barrel Bar" is filled with patrons as usual. Almost all the patrons are mercenaries returning from Albion.
"The king of Albion is finished!" One said
"Don't that means that they're going to start a republic soon?" asked another.
"If so, let us offer a toast to the republic!" a third cheered.
The people offering toasts to themselves were formerly mercenaries hired by the royalist to fight along side with them. However, faced with the imminent defeat of their clients, they all decided to retreat back here. This was not considered to be a dishonorable act. As mercenaries, they valued their lives more than their beliefs, and so they are not obliged to fight to their death for their clients.
As they were drinking, the bar's door opened. A rather tall lady had entered the bar. The hood the lady had worn covered most of her face except the lower part of her face. However, from just the lower part of her face one can already be sure about her beauty. As it was rare for such an attractive lady to come to such a place alone, all eyes on the bar were already on her.
The lady, unfazed by all the eyes staring at her, ordered some wine and food and sat on a table in a corner of the bar. After the food was served, she promptly paid up.
"That... That's a lot of money. Is it really all right?"
"That includes lodging. Do you have any empty rooms?"
An elegant voice replied. The shopkeeper nodded his head and left her table. Several of the male patrons looked at each other and approached her table.
"Excuse me miss, it's dangerous for you to be here alone."
"That's right! There are lots of dangerous characters around. Don't worry though, we'll be here to protect you."
With a vile smile on his face, one of them lifted up the lady's hood. Whistles and catcalls could be heard once the hood was removed. The lady was quite a beauty, with her large eyes and elegant nose.
This beautiful lady is none other than Fouquet of the crumbling earth.
"She's really top notch! Look at her skin! It's as white as ivory!"
Another patron attempted to lift up her chin with his arm, but his hand was pushed away by Fouquet. Fouquet gave a faint smile. Another male patron immediately stood up, took out his dagger and placed it on Fouquet's face.
"Aren't chairs supposed to be used instead of weapons at this joint?"
"This is only to frighten you. Chairs can't intimidate anybody right? Don't act so innocent anymore, aren't you here to look for company? We'll keep you company then."
Even with the dagger pointed on her face, Fouquet showed no fear. With a slight movement, she reached for a wand.
In a instant, she chanted her incantations. With that, the dagger that the man held turned into earth and settled onto the table.
"She's.. she's a noble!"
The men immediately backed away from her. As Fouquet was not wearing a cloak, none of them knew that she was a magician.
"Even though I'm a magician, I'm not a noble," Fouquet said nonchalantly. "Most of you are mercenaries right?"
The male patrons looked at each other. If she was not a noble, their lives would not be endangered. If they had done that to a noble, they would be killed without any qualms.
"Yes... And you are...?" a veteran of the group replied.
"It doesn't matter. In short, I'm here to hire all of you."
"All of us?"
The mercenaries looked at Fouquet with a puzzled look on their face.
"What's with the expression? Is it really that weird for me to employ mercenaries?"
"No. That's not what I meant. You have gold, don't you?"
Fouquet placed a bag full of gold onto the table. After inspecting the contents of the bag, the veteran said, "Wow..."
The bar's door opened again. This time, a man wearing a white mask had entered the bar. He was the same man who had helped Fouquet escape from prison.
"Well, aren't you early."
Fouquet seeing that man, gave a low "Hmm" as a reply.
The mercenaries, seeing that man's peculiar dressing, were all quite surprised. "They have started on their journey," the masked man said.
"I have done what you had told me to and hired all these men."
The man in the white mask gave a once over at the mercenaries that Fouquet had hired.
"All of you were formerly employed by the Albion royalist. Am I right?"
"That was until last month," one of the mercenaries replied with glee.
"But the soon to be defeated royalist aren't our employers anymore." another affirmed.
The mercenaries laughed in unison. The man in the white mask laughed as well.
"I'll fulfill all your monetary desires. However, I'm not like the soon to be defeated royalists, if anyone dares to run away from battle, I'll kill him myself."
***Break***
Since departing from the magical academy, Wardes' griffin had been endlessly moving towards their destination. Even though Guiche had already changed both mounts twice, Wardes' griffin just like its master, appeared to be tireless.
"Hold on, isn't the pace too fast for us?" Louise, who was on Wardes' griffin, asked. Over the duration of the journey, Louise spoke in a more informal manner to Wardes than when they were reunited. But that was also partly due to the Viscount's request.
"Guiche is already on the brink of exhaustion."
"What of Zero?" Wardes asked, as he looked at the unusual young man, who had easily kept pace with the horses. How had that boy kept going at that pace? Every once in a while he'd turn around and jog backwards, as if mocking Wardes, with the excuse of 'breaking the tedium'.
"I'm fine. If we need to pick up this pace, it would help though. I'm getting kinda bored and this is an important mission right?" Zero asked,
Wardes turned back and looked at Guiche. Just like Louise had said, he held both reins of the horses tightly, and looked to be close to the point of exhaustion.
"But I had originally planned to journey to port city La Rochelle without stopping..."
"That would be difficult, it would take two days to reach by horse."
"If that's the case, why don't we just leave them behind?" Wardes said,"If we do, we shall arrive there far more swiftly."
"If that's the case, shouldn't I have left you behind? I could probably have been there already if i ran, even if i had to carry Louise." Zero said simply
"A good boast," Wardes said, "You have my respect for your endurance and capabilities, but to think that you could match the speed of my Griffin in flight is folly."
"Aren't we in this together? Furthermore, a magician should not abandon her familiar..." Louise said slowly.
"You seem protective of them both. Which one is your sweetheart?"
Louise's face immediately turned red and replied, "What... What sweetheart!"
"That sets my heart at ease. If my fiance tells me that she already has a sweetheart, I would die of a broken heart," replied Wardes with a smile.
"But that was only something that our parents had agreed on."
"Then, do you dislike me, my small and dainty Louise?"
"Please, I'm not young anymore," Louise replied, pouting.
"But in my eyes, you're forever that small and dainty Louise."
Louise remembered that dream that she'd had a few days back, where she was back in the courtyard of her home, la Vallière.
The secret boat on the forgotten lake...
Whenever she was throwing a tantrum there, Wardes would always be there to pacify her.
The marriage that was decided by her parents.
The betrothal that was decided since youth. The one that she would be married to. Her fiancé.
At that time, she still did not fully understand what was going on. She only knew that, so long as she was with the man she had admired, she would be happy.
But now, she finally understood everything. She would be married to Wardes.
"I don't dislike you," Louise replied with a tinge of embarrassment.
"That's wonderful, in other words, you like me?"
Wardes gently hugged Louise's shoulders.
"I have never forgotten about you even after all this time. Do you still remember? After my father's death during the lancer campaign?"
Louise nodded her head.
Wardes began to reminisce and narrated to Louise about the past.
"My mother had passed away earlier, I inherited my father's estate and title. Wanting to make a name for myself, I went to the capital. Fortunately, the highness had a deep impression of my father who had perished in the battlefield, I was incorporated into the Griffin Knights. I had entered the Griffin Knights as a trainee, training was tough then.
"From then on, you seldom went back to your estate again," replied Louise while closing her eyes. She too seemed to be immersed in her memories.
"My house and estate were cared for by butler Galgann while I put all my effort serving the nation. After so long, I finally made a name for myself, accomplishing what I had decided upon leaving my homeland."
"What was that you have decided upon?"
"To ask your hand for marriage once I have made a name for myself."
"You're kidding right, Viscount? You're so popular among the girls, you have no need to honor your promise to such a failure like me." Louise said, looking away from him. About Wardes' betrothal. Louise had cleanly forgotten it until she had that dream a few days back. The bridal pact to Wardes was all but a fleeting dream. In her opinion, it was only a agreement made on a whim.
After Wardes had left his estate ten years ago, Louise had never seen him again. Wardes had already become part of her distant memory. Distant memories had suddenly become reality.
"This journey is a good chance for us to regain those feelings we had when you were young," Wardes said with a gentle and calm tone.
Louise thought to herself, do I really love Wardes?
Even though she did not dislike him and she did admire him when she was young, that was all in the past.
Suddenly faced with a fiancé and probably marriage, she did not know what to do. Furthermore, they had been apart for so many years, she did not really know whether if she still had any feelings for him.
Louise turned her head and looked behind.
She saw Zero assisting Guiche onto her unused horse, helping to rotate the animals to give them a rest. For such a jerk of a familiar, he sure was caring. In his own stupid way, she thought after that, her face heating.
"We have already been on these horses for nearly a whole day, doesn't he get tired? Are those griffin knights monsters?" Guiche asked as the horse he was on trotted a little faster than his previous mount, moving him back and forth.
"He's nothing special. He is just more used to this than you. Don't worry so much." Zero said,"You've held on a lot longer than i thought ya would kid." He glared at Viscount, silently trying to figure out why he didn't like the man.
Guiche, looking at Zero in such a state, began teasing him. "Heh heh... Don't tell me you're jealous?" Guiche said with a snicker.
"Ah! What are you implying?"
"I guessed it correctly, didn't I?" Guiche laughed even harder.
"Shut your mouth, mole boy!" Zero said, his eyes narrowed
"Mwahaha... You actually carried a love for your master that would never flower? To tell you honestly, love between people of different status will only result in tragedy."
"Stop talking nonsense!." Zero spat back. 'Sometimes I just wanna punch him in the face' Zero thought acidly.
Guiche suddenly looked to the front and exclaimed, "Look! They're kissing!"
Zero, shocked, immediately turned to the front. However, Wardes and Louise did not kiss.
He then looked again at Guiche. Guiche was barely controlling his laughter.
"Very funny!" Zero said, "See if I help you next time you need to change mounts!"
"Hey! If you guys continue fighting, I'll have to leave you both behind!" Wardes shouted.
Zero glared at him, his irritation at the prick finally hitting a breaking point. Zero said "I'd like to see you try!", sprinting past Wardes leaving a trail of red and black after images as he quickly outpaced the griffin, leaving Wardes to gape at the incredible speed that was displayed. After he had finished running to prove his point, Zero sat by the side of the road, looking down at the outskirts of La Rachoelle. Forty minutes later, he heard the sounds of people and horses. "Damn, they made good time" Zero thought, then he realized, this wasn't Wardes or any of the others. Way too many, and he heard the sounds of weapons. An ambush?
"You guys got the pitch for the torches ready? We need to illuminate the the valley so we can get a clear shot of who we kill. Don't kill the pink haired girl, or the grey haired man on the griffin. Anyone else who's with em, fill em full of arrows!"
Zero silently followed the band of mercenaries, and saw them moving to take the high ground. Ensuring Louise was riding with him, and the mercenaries not targeting him. Zero had dealt with betrayal all too often. Now he knew why he had disliked that man from the start. He draw his buster out, and readied his saber. He watched the scouts go out and waited. After a half hour they returned
"They're coming. They're about five minutes away. They didn't detect us. But there was only one person aside from the people we're not supposed to shoot" One of the scouts said.
"What? we were told there would be a minimum of two. Damn it, did something happen?" said the man who seemed to be running the show.
Zero started charging his buster. As he felt it hit its peak, he aimed at the leader, and fired. A short, clipped scream, and the sound of sizzling flesh was all that was heard, as the leader had his torso blown to pieces, and two of his flunkies fell to the ground beside him.
"Derk is down! What the hell! Nobles!" one of the closer mercenaries shouted.
"You should be so lucky" Zero said as he stood up, his Saber in hand lighting the night. "You plan an ambush against my team? I don't remember the last time I spared anyone who did that"
"What? Who are you?" demanded another of the mercenaries.
Zero gripped the saber tightly, and his runes began to glow,"You may call me Zero for whatever is left of your short life" He ran forward, firing multiple buster shots with his left hand, striking out at any of the bandits he got close to with his saber. After a few seconds, the mercenaries were running and screaming. Nodding to himself, he stopped chasing, and fired only a few more buster shots. He heard the sound of wings beating, and looked up, to see Sylphid carrying Tabitha and Kirche, who were looking down at the carnage blow them. "Little late to the party" Zero called up to them.
Sylphid landed near him, and let them off.
"Dead" Tabitha said, as she looked at all the bodies.
"What was that all about Zero! We saw you appear, and attack these men!" Kirche looked at the carnage. While some had gotten away, all those that Zero had struck were dead. It really was true then, Zero was a warrior unmatched. He didn't even look remorseful for what he did.
"They were planning on ambushing us. They had orders not to harm Wardes or his fiance... Louise." Zero said. "They also knew how many people we would have. Makes you wonder how they had such good information."
"Traitor" Tabitha said silently.
"Same conclusion as me. You're pretty smart. You're way too serious though. I'm betting you could be cuter than Louise if ya smiled some" Zero said as he laid a hand on her head. She blushed but just stood there
"But who?" Kirche wondered.
"Had to be Wardes" Zero said simply.
"But how can that be?" Kirche demanded,"He's a noble, a Tristanian mage knight!"
"I've seen people turn traitor in any organization Kirche. Some even are traitors before they join" He said,"And believe me. There has been something about him this whole time that's seemed off. He was trying to get rid of me and Guiche from the start."
"Plan?" Tabitha asked quietly.
"Hmm. I think I got a good one. Isn't it amazing, just how powerful you two are?" Zero said, looking at them, his eyes going wide in wonder. "With your amazing magic and beautiful dragon?"
"I see" Tabitha said, then nodded.
"I don't get it,"Kirche said, "what's this plan, and what does our magic have to do with it?"
"You guys dealt with those bandits all by yourselves. I merely tracked them for a little bit. I heard some interesting things. I won't say anything, but just enough to give Wardes a little to worry about. He'll consider me less of a threat that way. Because you two did all the work, and managed to stop those evil mercenaries from harming our good friends Louise and Guiche. I can barely contain my admiration for two such beautiful, noble and powerful ladies" Zero finished, bowing deeply to Tabitha and Kirche.
"Oh, I get it. But isn't it a little dangerous?" Kirche asked.
"Not in the least. As long as he doesn't think too much of my combat skills, I can probably kill Wardes in one swing, especially if he has no idea of my true capabilities." Zero stated confidently. Suddenly he cocked his head, hearing the sound of two horses and a griffin. Nodding to the Tabitha and Kirche, he asked, "Shall we?" as he jumped down into the Ravine, making a rather large amount of noise, and a crater as he landed on one knee.
"Zero!" Louise yelled, as she saw her familiar jump down to the ground only thirty feet ahead of us.
"Ah, I'd thought you'd deserted us," Wardes said coldly. He knew that this was where the ambush was to happen. "What have you been doing?"
"Ah, not much. I was a bit bored, so I ran here ahead of you. Then I heard a rather large amount of men moving around. Horses, weapons. that sorta thing." Zero said conversationally.
"Oh? Bandits?" He asked, his eyebrow raising.
"No, seemed more like mercenaries. Well informed mercenaries I must say. They had their targets picked out fairly well" Zero said, a small smirk on his face as he met the Viscount's eyes.
"You don't say. What happened to them"
"Ah, I was planning to attack them and cause confusion when they attacked the rest of you, but thankfully some friends showed up and took the matter out of my lowly hands" Zero said, not sounding the least bit humble.
"Zero! We're landing!" Kirche shouted as she and Tabitha descended on the back of the dragon Sylphid. "Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Louise too jumped down from Wardes' griffin and replied, "What do you mean sorry to keep you waiting! Why are you here in the first place?"
"Not to help you in any case. When I saw you leaving the academy on the horse in the morning, I quickly woke up Tabitha and followed you all the way here."
Kirche pointed at Tabitha, from the looks of it she was woken up from her sleep; she was still wearing her pajamas. But she didn't seem to mind at all, and was still reading a book.
"Zerbst! Listen to me, we're on a secret mission given to us by her highness!"
"Secret mission? You should have said so earlier! How would I know if you did not tell me about it? Anyways, be thankful to me, for I have apprehended the people who wanted to ambush you!"
"Where are they?" Guiche asked curiously.
"Up there. Unfortunately..." Kirche paused for a moment,"they didn't appear willing to surrender..."
Louise, crossing her arms, gave a vicious stare at Kirche. She knew that the girl wouldn't kill so callously. She then looked at Zero.
"Don't be mistaken! I'm not here to assist you. Am I right?" Kirche said loudly to Louise, when she noticed that she wasn't really buying her story.
"Thank you for coming to our aid, but we do not need any more people to slow us down" Wardes said simply.
"Ah, is that any way for a noble to speak to someone who prevented them, and perhaps their fiance from coming to harm? And here I thought you mage knights were supposed to be the highest order of nobles?" Zero asked smoothly, knowing his barb would hit the prick.
"Ah, you do have a point. I do believe I have been too rude. Your forgiveness M'lady" he said, offering her a small bow
Kirche took a closer look at Wardes, she did not realize it before, but Wardes' eyes showed no emotion at all. Just like ice. She shuddered at just the feeling they gave her. She then looked at Zero. "Actually, I'm here because I'm worried for my beloved!"
"I'm so sorry for neglecting you at the ball. You must be angry, right?" Kirche said while pushing Zero's face into her breasts. "Please forgive me!""
Louise bit her lips, wanting to tell Kirche off. She could not tolerate Kirche for seducing her familiar.
Just then, Wardes gently placed his hands on Louise's shoulder. Wardes looked at Louise lovingly and gave her a smile.
"Viscount..."
Wardes effortlessly mounted back to the top of his griffin, carrying Louise up with him. He then announced to everyone, "We'll spend the night at La Rochelle, tomorrow we will take the first ship to Albion at the break of dawn."
Kirche went up to the spare horse, and mounted herself regally. Guiche also mounted back to his horse. As for Tabitha, she was still reading her book on her wind dragon.
When the port came back into view, Zero asked suddenly. "Why is a port built on top of a mountain?"
Hearing Zero asking, Guiche replied sarcastically "Don't tell me that you don't even know where Albion is?"
"Not a clue."
"Really?" Guiche replied with laughter.
"I have no common knowledge of this world and please don't assume that I do."
"Its simple. Albion is a floating continent. Its a place of beauty and nobility. One can only get there by taking an airship. And an Airship port would be best suited to be at the highest area you can find, correct?"
"I suppose that makes some sense" Zero admitted. Looking at the city that glowed softly in the night, he had to admit it was a rather nice sight.
***Author's notes***
The reason behind the actions Zero took last chapter, and the fact that he simply turned his head with the kick, was fairly simple. She was pissing him off with the way she was talking to him about it. And he decided rather than scare the nice princess, he'd simply do everything in his power to embarrass his 'master'. The major difference is, Saito was an idiot about it. Zero was just an asshole. Two separate avenues of attack, with fairly similar results. And the reason he didn't catch the kick in mid-air? Why. It wasn't a threat too him at all. Bare minimum he was probably just impressed at how she managed to do it. And it wasn't really her being totally unreasonable. He knew that this would be her reaction, so he knew what was coming.
Also based on the over emotional thing with the princess and Louise, its how nobles are. And childhood friends. They exaggerate a lot
updates may be slower in a few updates, seeing as I'm only on chapter 15, and i like to give myself a buffer, and the ability to rewrite what i need to if i decide a plot point needs to change.
No EX skills on Zero. You'll see what he has as replacement for that soon. I don't think anyone will be disappointed with the capabilities it can give him if he works with it.
Zero: But come on! They're super powered! I could blow up the whole god damned world!
Yeah, Zero, you're really not giving me any reasons to give them to you. Just saying.
Zero: You suck.
I swear to god I'll force you to watch spider man 3 if you don't shut up
Zero: I'll be good! Wait, aren't there laws against that?
Yeah, you mean the same laws that prevent people from cutting off hands?
Zero: Touche. Well guess that ends this argument.
It sure does. Enjoy the story, and tell me what i mess up!