Cromwell sat at his desk. Looking out the window he smiled.
"Such a relaxed atmosphere. Are you truly so relaxed when going against him?" Came the voice from a cloaked figure that slipped into the room without his notice.
"It is alright. Unlike Wardes, I pay attention to when you speak. I have set a plan in motion to use what you have given us. This Zero that you warned us of caught us by surprise, but with your wisdom and the assistance you have given us, there is nothing that can not be accomplished."
"When did I ever say that? It took a full year of constant fighting before he finally collapsed last time. That was against countless legions that this world does not have. The only person who can fight him is myself, but my master has given me express orders not to become involved directly." She sighed, and complained regretfully, "And it would have been so much fun, just like all of the other times we fought. Oh well, nothing can be done about it now. Just remember, follow the plans that I have given you and you will be fine. That's all you need to do. Do not allow your forces to face Zero in combat. Understand?"
Cromwell nodded and smiled."For all you have done to assist us in reclaiming the true world of the founder, I will follow your instructions. As I said, I heed your warnings for I am no fool. The plan that I have set up is to derail the war before it has a chance to start."
"It seems not all of you are worthless." The cloaked figure said and let herself out quietly.
***Break****
In the town of Rosais, which was roughly two days horse ride from the capital of Albion, a group of dangerous looking men were moving in the direction of the port.
It included a man with a big patch of burn scars on the side of his face… A squad led by Menvil. The leather coats they wore were filled with stains, showing what experienced mercenaries they were. Under the coat, each of them were probably holding onto their weapons. As to what their weapons were, it was really hard to guess from a glance.
"Boss…" one of the underlings said cautiously.
Right at that moment, moving opposite the direction Menvil's squad was traveling in, a large group of trolls appeared. Even though their numbers weren't great, they were known to possess a strong desire for battle. War between humans was not their concern, at least for political reasons. The trolls would be able to use their clubs to beat their most hated humans into human paste as much as they wanted, and they'd be given food and new weapons in exchange! Because of this they participated in this war along side the more regular troops. Indeed, they made for reliable comrades, because they stayed bought. Because of their huge size, they were very useful in a siege. Yet they always acted arrogantly and almighty no matter where they went, so human soldiers hated them, be the ally or enemy. And they always defied orders and acted on their own. Most commanding officers couldn't handle their temperament. The people moving through the streets hurried out of their way, letting this group of trolls pass, all except for one group.
The trolls gave off a voice like a tsunami from their thick, rough throats, looking at the humans running and hiding at their feet. They opened their mouths wide, their breathing sounded like a gigantic bellows moving up and down. They were mocking all those small and helpless humans. The group of trolls stopped in their tracks. That was because a human stood in their path, the group led by Menvil. That there was a human brave enough to stand in their path, the trolls found it hard to believe.
"What is that bunch of useless things nagging about?" Menvil asked, looking disgusted. Standing beside him, a man with piercing eyes spoke up to report to their leader.
"They are saying 'move aside'."
Menvil ordered his subordinate who could understand Troll language, "Tell them, this land belongs to humans."
His subordinate said a few lines in Troll language. Once the sentence left his mouth, the Trolls agitatedly raised their spiked hammers in their hands.
There was a piece of metal even larger than a cannonball at the tip of the spiked hammer, something so strong it could probably even smash a solid castle wall in one blow. To be hit directly by that thing, a human stood no chance of survival.
"Hey, just what did you say to them?" Menvil asked with an amused look on his face.
"Err… Buru, Shubu, Toru, Uuru… Oh shit, I made a mistake. This is the worst insult possible, I am sorry. My apologies sir." he said, laughter evident in his voice.
"So, that's the reason." Menvil replied, rolling his eyes.
One of the furious Trolls aimed at the group and sent his spiked hammer crashing down.
Menvil used his left hand to lift his coat taking out the weapon inside; it was a long, coarse metal rod. He used his right hand to hold the metal rod, waving it lightly. And then he chanted a spell. A sheet of flames flew off from the metal rod and wrapped around the Troll's right arm that was holding the spiked hammer. In the blink of an eye, that flame melted the Troll's arm together with the spiked hammer. The metal pieces that were heated red flew off in all directions, but the man beside Menvil carried out a spell-chant, and used Wind magic. A small tornado engulfed the molten metal, and wrapped it onto the faces of the Trolls. The red metal scorched their skins and they gave off painful screams as the fire emerging from the tip of the leader's wand became even stronger. Their surroundings became a sea of flames just like that. The smell of burnt Trolls spread around. Under the light from the flames, Menvil revealed a cruel smile. He stared straight at the Trolls that were rolling around in pain. Several minutes later, Menvil and gang stepped onto the carbonized Trolls and moved on.
"Oh my, what an unbearable stench." One of the group members complained.
"What are you talking about?" Menvil replied, his voice sounding oddly content. "This sweet scent of a living thing burnt to the very end… Is something normal perfume cannot compare with… The best smell there can be."
Stunned, the normal travelers shivered as they watched how the Trolls were burned. The Trolls' bodies were mixed with melted metal. To have the heat to melt the steel weapons was truly an incredible feat. "Who are those people...? This is steel. To not even need a wind box or stove to melt them…" one man wondered.
***Break***
It was mid morning, and the population of the school was out in the various courtyards of the academy. It was this morning that all the male nobles who would be pressed into service for the military were to head off for their training before their deployment and possible death in Albion.
"Oh, my dear Montmorency, I shall miss you," Guiche said, large tears in his eyes.
"Why do you have to go?" Montmorency demanded. She was but one of many girls who were currently dealing with the objects of their affection going off to fight, and possibly die in a war with Albion.
"Well, you see, I am from a military family. I must go to battle, for the honor of my family," Guiche said, regret in his voice.
"Oh, so that's it," Montmorency said in a deadpan. After a few moments she shook her head. "Promise me you'll be safe. Please?"
"Ah, of course my dearest Montmorency. I couldn't hold you above all others forever if I were to die." Guiche said, a smile on his face as he looked into her eyes.
"Guiche..." Montmorency murmured as she grabbed ahold of him and cried.
***Break***
Two days later at the Academy of Magic, a group of riders appeared. Entering through the gates were Agnes' musketeers. The girls who had stayed behind in the school were surprised by the appearance of the Princess' troops. Old Osmand, the school headmaster, came out to meet Agnes. "Welcome, Musketeer Commander Agnes. What brings you here?"
"Just doing my work, thank you for come down to meet someone as lowly as myself." she replied.
Old Osmand muttered something in his beard. She probably came here to take the remaining female pupils for military training. Last night he had received a report. Apparently, Henrietta's royal government recruited a majority of nobles for war. The way it turned out - schoolgirls were also to be recruited as preliminary officers, if the officers were consumed in the Albion war. Old Osmand doubted the methods of the royal government. This was why he did not take part in the ceremony at La Rochelle, inducting the trainee officers before they went off to obtain their training. The schoolgirls attendance was similarly prohibited too. As a result, the Royal government decided to stimulate things by itself. He shook his head, then looked at the musketeer again"Even though this war is inhuman?"
"The royal government at this moment is calling this war an 'All-out war'."
"All-out war. There is no plausible name to call it. The war that takes women and young girls, what kind of righteousness could it ever have?"
Agnes watched Osmand with cold eyes. "Then what righteousness does a war where only noble men and soldiers die have?"
Old Osmand was at a loss for words.
"Death is equal. It does not discriminate between women or children. The only thing that death understands is living and dead. Once you are dead it doesn't matter. When you are living, it will claim you. There is no other discrimination." Agnes determinedly headed towards the tower.
***Break***
At that moment, the classes were continuing in Kirche's and Montmorency's classrooms. Because the male teachers went to war, the number of classes had decreased drastically, "However, there is an exception." Kirche muttered watching a man fully engaged in teaching. It was Colbert. He keeps teaching as always. The school girl could not bring herself to keep her calm at all.
"And look! Because of the flame's high temperature the color brightens." He was roasting a metal stick on an open flame. The heated stick was bent as he continued to explain, "Well, there are a lot of metals that cannot be manipulated if the flame is not hot enough. Therefore, when using 'Fire', controlling the flame's temperature is fundamental."
Montmorency suddenly raised her hand. "Do you have a question, Miss Montmorency?"
Montmorency stood up. "The country is in the middle of a war. How… can you teach classes with such a carefree attitude?"
"Leave your worries at the door, when you are in school... I am your teacher, and you are my student." Colbert settled down, and answered without changing the intonation.
"But… all of our classmates… even the teachers, face the war." she insisted.
"And your point is? We should learn even more, because it is a time of war. To use it in war, it is necessary to learn to use 'Fire' for destruction. Study now, so you will have something to share with the boys who return from the war."
Colbert said and looked around the classroom.
"You are just afraid of war," Kirche declared in a slightly thready voice.
"Indeed." nodded Colbert. "I'm afraid of war. I am a coward." From the schoolgirls throats escaped gasps of amazement. "However, I feel no guilt." When Colbert clearly asserted it, a group of people rudely barged into the classroom. It was Agnes and her musketeers. They were wearing chain armor, and long swords with pistols at their waists. The schoolgirls got slightly noisy, seeing women entering in such exaggerated attire. "Y-y-you, w-what…"
Agnes, completely ignoring Colbert, ordered the students. "I am Her Majesty's musketeer. I order you all in the name of Her Majesty to discontinue all classes from this point. Dress up and line up in the courtyard."
"What? Discontinue the class? Don't joke around."
After Colbert's words, Agnes turned her head, "This is an order."
Schoolgirls began to stand up grumbling. Colbert blocked Agnes' way in panic. "Hey! hey!. The class is not over yet!"
"It's a direct order from Her Majesty. Haven't you heard me?" Agnes said in an unpleasant voice.
"Following Her Majesty orders, I am teaching right now. 15 more minutes, the time given to me by Her Majesty to make the student learn. It cannot be ordered by you. All of you! Return to your seats! For another 15 minutes I will teach! You can go playing war games after that!"
Agnes pulled out her sword and pointed it at Colbert's throat. "War game you say. Are you going against us? Sir, this is not for a mage to decide, do not go too far."
Watching the sword pointing to his throat, Colbert broke into a cold sweat.
"So, what the hell is going on here?" Zero asked as he walked through the door, sporting his usual civilian outfit. He wasn't going to be in class today, but hearing the commotion as Agnes had arrived, he decided to check in. He understood all too well, when he saw Agnes with her sword at Colbert's throat.
"You?" Agnes demanded, as she turned to face Zero.
"Holding an unarmed man at sword point in a school? You are aware if you don't put your weapon away I'll make you put it away, right?" Zero asked, his voice cold, his eyes hard.
"Unarmed? He is a magician with the affinity for fire wielding a wand, that is not unarmed! Besides that, this is an order from her Majesty!" Agnes said with an air of authority.
"So? Why should I care? If the girls need to learn about war, that's fine. But I hardly think interrupting a lesson because you hate mages is appropriate. So come down off whatever power trip you're having. Besides, you initially said it was your order. You're just using your ability to make orders in the name of the queen for your own petty reasons." Zero replied, his arms crossed across his chest, his cold stare causing Agnes to flinch momentarily.
"He is a Fire user! They always reek of a burnt smell, an unpleasant scent that wafts from under the robe. How can anyone stand mages, specially the ones that use Fire? I know you're not a mage, so why are you siding with him?" She demanded, her sword breaking the skin on Colbert's neck slightly with her outburst. Colbert's legs began to tremble. He had to support his back against the wall.
"Agnes, you have five seconds to calm the hell down before I act. You know what I'm capable of, and I'll put you down. Considering you just drew the blood of a teacher I don't know if you'll be getting back up." Zero stated coldly, as he took a step forward. Zero's form blurred momentarily and he was in his armor once again, Derflinger held in a relaxed guard.
"I agree with partner on this. What's the big deal about letting these girls have few few minutes of learning. Who knows, as mages it might be useful for them in combat. I know Bri-" Derflinger said in an easy tone of voice before Zero forceably held the sword's mouth shut.
"Partner, what did we talk about concerning the B-word?" Zero asked him. He really didn't want to have a religious thing brought into an already volatile situation. His memory of history was very clear on that. Religion plus stressful situation plus weapons equals bad times.
"Ah. True. I see what you mean. Its still true. Mages are their minds. While they need to be strong enough to endure the rigors of the battlefield, their strength only gets them so far."
Agnes looked Zero and his sword, then at the trembling Colbert as if looking at garbage, and walked away, placing her sword back into its sheath. "You're not even worth the effort, coward."
"Well, continue class Colbert." Zero said from the door, leaning against it, with his left foot resting against the frame.
"Ah... Y-yes. Where was I?" Colbert wondered, as the very smells that the woman mentioned floated up from long suppressed memories. He absently reached up and touched the barely bleeding scratch.
***Break***
The next morning, the war games started in earnest. The girls were forced to take up long staves with padded ends. After much complaining, they were intimidated by the lead musketeer into doing what they were told. Most of the girls were hopeless with these kinds of things though, so the progress was slow.
"You, familiar!" yelled a green haired musketeer, who had walked up to Zero who was lazily resting against a wall. "You think you can take it easy when everyone else is preparing for war?"
"Yeah. I do actually. Not like anyone can stand up to my skills anyhow. Wouldn't do to either improve myself or my sparing partners."
"Spoken like a true noble. I know your secret. You can't fight without a weapon. And it has to be made as a weapon, isn't that true?"
Zero looked at her coldly. "How do you know so much about me?" he had to wonder how she knew about the rune. She hadn't figured out that he was a weapon, but the information that she had was too much. The only person...
"Its simple, the Queen told Commander Agnes about you. Apparently she was expecting trouble from you. With your reaction to my commander earlier, I have to say she was quite right on her judgement."
"Whatever," Zero said as he closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall. He was surprised when he felt the tip of a wooden blade hit him in the stomach. "What the hell?" He demanded.
"What? I am simply trying to motivate a shameful member of the nobility. You wouldn't even go off to war with the rest of the men," She said, a smile on her face.
"Actually, I was told that I'd be meeting up with them at a later point. Shows how much you're really trusted huh?" Zero said, as he looked up at her with a smirk. "But then, you are just a grunt after all."
The green haired woman glared at him, and tossed the wooden sword at him. "Lets see how good you are in a fight where you can't use your powers!"
"Fine, fine. Don't cry to me if you get hurt," Zero said as he stood up. He lazily twirled the blade, making a show of toying with it. "I'll even let you attack first."
"Cocky, aren't you? Don't underestimate us because we're commoners!" She said, as she swung her own wooden blade at Zero. She gasped in surprise as he caught the wooden blade in his left hand, and snapped it. She felt a heavy impact to her stomach, then his sword was held against her throat as she was pushed to the ground after she had been doubled over.
"First lesson. Don't piss me off. Second Lesson, don't telegraph your damned movements. Your feet told me exactly where you were going before you probably knew. Third lesson, get rid of that pride you have until you actually have something to back it up with." Zero said as he looked at her. She had known far too much. He'd have to watch her. Even the princess didn't know the way the rune on his hand actually was supposed to work. But if she was a spy, better one he knew than one he didn't. "Now, if you'd be so kind, leave me to my nap and go torture those noble girls, because they're the only ones you can bully. But realize, I'm here to watch you. If you guys do anything to hurt them, or misuse your authority, I'll step in. And you won't like that. Clear?" he looked at her, the seemingly harmless wooden sword was pressing harder against her.
"Crystal," She said, swallowing hard. She hadn't expected this level of strength from him. She had been told it was the power of the Gandalfr that had allowed him to kill so many.
"Partner, I think she gets it. Take the toy away from her throat." Derflinger spoke up from his back.
"Yeah, yeah. I get it." Zero said, as he moved away from her, and sat back against the wall again, his eyes deceptively closed.
The woman looked at him, and walked away in anger.
***Break***
Zero walked down the stairs leading to the lab. The practice had been called a lite while ago, but something just didn't sit right. That woman had seemed suspicious. IT looked like she was analyzing everything. Now that was a good thing for any soldier to do, but along with the information she should not have had access to, he was concerned. As he entered the lab proper he called out"Hey Roll,"
"Yes Zero?" Roll replied, not looking up from what she was working on.
"I'm gonna bring Louise and Cattelya here for tonight." He said.
"Hmm, is she alright?" Roll asked, wondering if Cattleya's condition was backsliding.
"Yeah. Someone said some things that are fairly suspicious. With what Louise is, I want her to be in a safe place. I just have a bad feeling. And if we bring Cattelya down here as well, it will be easy. Its almost impossible to get in here without knowing how." Zero said, a smile on his face.
"I suppose that wouldn't hurt. We could make a night of it..." Roll said, wondering what Zero was hiding from her.
***Break***
That night the Musketeers Corps assigned two musketeer crew members to an artillery tower to watch over the cannon.
That was the greatest number of military troops that the army could allow to stand as sentinels.
Something moved under the moonlight.
The older member of the two squat down in silence, and unwrapped gun powder and bullets from small paper bags.
Another musketeer, following her partner's movements, also loaded her musket with gunpowder.
And when she looked carefully… she saw something moving in the darkness.
But before she could open her mouth, both guards' throats were cut by Wind magic.
Two bodies were caught before hitting the ground. Not making any noise, Menvil laid the musketeers on the ground.
"Women. Still young, what a shame." One assassin informed Menvil with a smile.
"There is no place for old courtesy, men or women have to be treated the same." Another said.
Menvil smiled rapaciously. "Equally when death is given."
"Only the nobles' children should not be killed. They must be taken as hostages." said the first.
"Apart from them, I can kill everyone else?" Menvil muttered in a happy voice while fiddling with his cane, .
One member took out the map. It was the map of the school. It was covered with a special cloth that didn't leak out light, but slightly illuminated the map itself.
Looking at the corpses of the guards, one member muttered. "Guards only armed with guns."
"How many mages are there? Not counting the regular musketeers."
The member who was studying the map informed Menvil. "Commander, there are three targets. This tower, the dormitory tower and the tower nearside."
Menvil handed down the orders quickly. "I'll take the dormitory tower. Jean, Ludwig, Germain, Attas – you four together with Giovanni take this tower. Celestin and the rest take the last one."
The mages nodded.
***Break***
Tabitha woke up. She cocked her head to the side, listening for a moment. There were strange sounds coming from the courtyard. After thinking for a moment, she decided to wake Kirche up after all. She went out of her room and headed to Kirche's room downstairs. After she knocked against the door, Kirche, dressed only in a thin nightgown on her bare skin and still rubbing her eyes, appeared.
"You what… it's too early… even the sun hasn't started to rise yet."
"Strange sounds," was all she said.
Kirche closed her eyes. Kirche felt her salamander, Flame, beating against the window.
"You too?" The moment Kirche opened her eyes again, her sleepiness was gone.
Kirche hastily began putting clothes on.
The moment when she took her wand, the sound of a breaking door echoed.
Kirche and Tabitha looked at each other.
"Retreat," Tabitha murmured.
"Agreed." Kirche said as she nodded. Not knowing the enemies number or location, you have to pull back to recover. It was one of the basic tenants of war.
Kirche and Tabitha jumped down from the window and hid themselves in the bushes and from there watched what was happening around them. It was getting brighter - the sun started rising.
***Break***
At that time Agnes woke up in her bedroom and grabbed the sword placed at the bedside.
Pulling it out from its sheath, she waited at the door.
It was the second floor of the artillery tower. This room was always used as a warehouse and was only recently made into a bedroom. In all, twelve members lived here. They all resided in the room next door. Agnes noticed the mirror placed in the center of the room. It was the "Liar's Mirror". The ugly made into beautiful, the beautiful into ugly – everything was turned upside down by the mirror. Agnes tried to not look at the mirror while setting the trap.
***Break***
Four people led by the mercenary mage Celestin went up a spiral staircase to the second floor of the artillery tower. They queued at the two doors. Two men were positioned at each door while another one waited in the hall. The doors were kicked open at the same time. In the middle of one of the rooms a handsome mage set up his wand.
Alarmed, the mages started to chant their spells in unison. Their conflicting spells passed each other, and with his heart pierced by an ice spear, Celestin fell on the floor.
Agnes, who hid herself behind the door, noticed the success of her plan.
Celestin mistook his own reflection in the "Liar's Mirror", which was placed here by Agnes, for an enemy and released a spell which was reflected by the mirror and pierced his own chest. Agnes felt gratitude to Celestin who was foolish enough to shoot himself with his own spell reflected by the mirror. Another assassin, hastily flounced into the room but his throat was cut deeply from the side by Agnes's sword, and he fell down. Then, her musketeers jumped into the room.
"Commander Agnes! Are you all right?"
She nodded answering their question. "I'm all right."
"Two people stole into our room. However, we finished them…"
Two people in my room. Two people in the next one. Four people in total…Apparently these thieves crept into the artillery tower to kill them off…"Albion's dogs." Muttered Agnes, quickly understanding where they came from. The squad only consisted of mages. It was impossible to mistake them for simple thieves. They must be mercenaries employed by Albion... Then, Agnes became worried about the situation outside. Right now, there were only schoolgirls left in the academy, minus the old man, the coward, and Zero. She hoped that he wouldn't do anything rash... "In two minutes I want you fully armored and following me," Agnes ordered her subordinates.
***Break***
Menvil took over the women's dormitory without any issue. The noble daughters were so frightened by his invasion that they showed no real resistance. He took all the schoolgirls' wands and herded them, still dressed in their nightgowns, to the dining hall where he confined them. There were approximately ninety people.
During that, his partners from the other tower joined him. Seeing the academy's headmaster Old Osmand being one of the captives put a smile on Menvil's face. Menvil now gathered all captives in the dining hall and tied their hands behind their backs. Thanks to the magic spell that someone recited, the rope moved and twined around their wrists by itself. All the teachers and students were female and were trembling.
Menvil sweetly muttered to everyone,"Calm down, if none of you try to stand out or make noise and if you do what you are told to, no one will get hurt."
Someone began to weep.
"Silence!" However, the schoolgirl didn't stop crying. Menvil came closer and pointed his cane at her."Do you like cinders?" The words were not a direct threat, but it could be understood as one. The schoolgirl stopped crying.
Osmand opened his mouth. "Hey you."
"What?"
"Don't use violence against women. Albion wants us as hostages, right? To use us as additional cards in negotiations, right?"
"How do you know?"
"Experienced guys from far away barge in here – it's easy to see what you came here for. Not for the riches for sure. So, be more patient."
"Old man, and what value do you have?"
The mercenaries laughed loudly.
"How important is one old man to the future of a country? Consider that before you speak."
When Osmand ducked his head, the intruders started to look around Alvíss Dining Hall.
One could clearly read, "I don't want to be here," on the mages faces.
"Old man, are these all the members of the academy?"
Osmand nodded. "That's right. That's all of them."
Then the mercenaries noticed that their comrades had not returned from the artillery tower. Are they taking their time? No, he shook his head. The longer it takes, the more chances for the enemy to get reinforcements. And they should be aware of that. Therefore, Menvil ramified.
From outside the dining hall a voice was heard.
"Those that shut themselves up in the dining hall! Listen! We are her Majesty's musketeers!"
Menvil and others looked at each other. Apparently Celestin failed. However none of the mercenaries changed their complexion. A single mercenary glared at Osmand. "Hey hey. Didn't you say 'That's all of them'?"
"Musketeers are not part of the staff," Osmand said calmly.
With a smile on his lips, Menvil stepped to the doors to negotiate with the musketeers outside the dining room.
Agnes hid herself behind the tower staircase landing. She had already driven one group of commoner staff away from the courtyard so that they would not get too involved with the incident. As of now there was no sign of Zero, which she was thankful for. She would show the princess how little he was needed.
The morning sun had not yet risen fully.
At the door of the dining hall a tightfisted mage appeared. The moonlight from a gap in the clouds lit his figure.
Agnes held her finger on the trigger, while aiming her pistol at the mage.
"We are Her Majesty's musketeers! One battalion of our troops has you and your damned accomplices surrounded! Release the hostages!" Agnes' "one battalion of troops" was a bluff. In reality, there were only about ten people. She had lost two in the invasion of their rooms. From the dining hall she heard voices laughing hard.
"We couldn't care less about a single battalion of musketeers!"
"These musketeers have killed four of your partners already. If you'll surrender peacefully we'll spare your lives."
"Surrender? Isn't it the time to start negotiations now? Well, call Henrietta here."
"Her Majesty?"
"Indeed. And for the time being, promise to withdraw the soldiers heading to Albion. My client seems to hate the thought of your soldiers dirtying the country's land with their shoes. Usually the army wouldn't turn back because of a hostage. However... because they had taken ninety children of various nobles hostage, it might be a different matter. The invasion troop's withdrawal was a real possibility. My responsibility. Agnes bit her lower lip. She tried to concentrate herself – A blunder is a blunder. The court people - they are still my responsibility.
One musketeer whispered into Agnes's ear."We could send a courier to the capital and ask for reinforcements."
"It is useless. It doesn't matter how many soldiers we have, as long as they hold hostages."
Seeing such a consultation, Menvil shouted. "Hey, remember. Whenever you call a new soldier, one hostage is killed. The only ones you can invite here are the the Cardinal or Henrietta. Clear?"
Agnes said nothing.
Then, Menvil shouted again. "Decide it in five minutes. Call Henrietta or not. If there is no answer after five minutes, one hostage will be killed every passing minute."
Another musketeer poked Agnes. "Commander Agnes..."
Agnes painfully tightened her lips. That moment…
A voice sounded from behind."Commander."
Turning around she saw Colbert standing and staring with surprise at Alvíss Dining Hall.
"Do not get involved," Agnes said, trying to cover Colbert with herself.
"You'll be caught." Colbert replied.
"If you cared so much, then why didn't you protect your students?" Agnes asked, her voice dripping with venom.
"My laboratory isn't in the tower. I fell asleep there. What happened?"
Agnes got angry at Colbert's seemingly carefree attitude. "Can't you see? Your students were captured by Albion's henchmen."
Colbert looked over her shoulder and, once he noticed the mage standing in front of the dining hall, his face turned pale.
"Enough already. Go back." Annoyed, she sent Colbert off.
"Miss Musketeer." She was called from behind again. This time it was Kirche and Tabitha, who stood in the shadows smiling.
"Aren't you students? Thank goodness you are all right."
"Hey, we have a good plan…"
"Plan?"
"Yeah. Right now you can't reject any help."
"And what is that plan?"
Kirche and Tabitha explained their plan to Agnes.
Agnes, after listening to it, laughed. "Sounds fun to me."
"How about it? That's the only plan we have."
Colbert who heard the plan opposed to it. "It is too dangerous. The enemy is a mercenary. You can't be seriously thinking that such cheap tricks will work."
"No one cares about your opinion, teacher." Kirche said, not trying to hide her contempt.
"I do," Said a familiar and cocky voice from behind them.
Agnes stopped paying attention to Colbert altogether, as Zero walked out, a suit of bulkier black armor encasing him.
"They do not know about your existence. The key here is surprise." Colbert said as he looked at Zero.
"Exactly. For a military man, you sure do make a good teacher, huh Colbert?" Zero asked, as he smiled.
"Military?" Kirche demanded.
"What, you can't tell the signs of a trained soldier? Isn't that one of your family's specialties? Although just because he's a soldier doesn't mean he wants to kill. He came to that realization, and stepped down from that role. Just like someone else I know. Isn't that right?" Zero asked, although nobody present seemed to be the one he addressed with his final question.
"Cowards..." Kirche said darkly.
"You call X a coward again, and I will never forgive you," Zero said, his eyes suddenly black. Kirche turned her head away, unable to take his glare. He looked at Colbert. "Go with whatever plan you want. I"ll be there to act at the appropriate time. With our Data network I told you about, I've finally got the ability to use something I've not touched in a long time. You'll see the 'Dark Hold' and with it, I can probably minimize the casualties on their side."
"I'm glad," Colbert said with a smile.
"Its not out of mercy. Information is what we're interested in, not mercy. That is what we're out to get from them Colbert. They will end up dead if I have to do it myself. The moment that they decided that killing children for political gain was alright they were already dead, as far as I'm concerned. Its just an oversight by death that they've not been removed yet, and I fully intend to correct that." Zero said, as he disappeared.
***Break***
Menvil sat on a chair looking at the pocket watch on the table. "Five minutes passed."
Hearing that, the students shuddered. If there were no words from Agnes about calling Henrietta after five minutes, Menvil said he would kill one of them.
"Don't hold a grudge against me," Menvil said, pulling out his cane.
"Take me instead." Osmand muttered, but Menvil shook his head.
"You are necessary as a key in negotiation. Hey, who will it be? You choose." An indescribably cruel question. No one answered in shock. "Understood. Then I will choose. Do not hold a grudge."
But the moment when Menvil said that… A small paper balloon flew into the dining hall. Once all of their eyes were focused on it, the paper balloon exploded with a very loud bang. With it, yellow blinding phosphorus flew out of the balloon.
It was directed to fly into the dining hall by Tabitha's Wind and was lit up by Kirche's Fire magic. The schoolgirls screamed. Those mages that looked at it directly were now holding their faces. Then Kirche, Tabitha, and the musketeers with muskets prepared broke into the room. The strategy seemed to be successful. But…A storm of fire bullets flew up aimed at Kirche.
Kirche, who had lowered her guard thinking about the apparent success, fired her own fire bombs at it. In such violent flames, the gunpowder of a nearby musketeer's gun exploded. A flash of black and the woman's body was rolling to a rest roughly fifteen feet from the detonation. Kirche tried to stand up but did not notice the spell aimed at her. A fire bomb exploded in front of her belly, and she received the full force of the shock wave from a close distance, knocking her outside. Wrapped in flames, it was an effective attack. It takes time for flame to burn ... but an explosion gives an instant impact. Opposite to burning slowly. She saw Tabitha staggering trying to stand up. But then another shock wave hit her head, and she fell onto the ground again. Menvil showed up from the white smoke.
She needed to cast a spell, but she couldn't find her wand! Then she noticed one lying on the ground. She reached for it, trying to pick it up but he stepped on it Menvil towered above Kirche, looking down on her. "Too bad… Light bombs only blinds one's eyes…" Menvil said while smiling.
That moment Kirche noticed, Menvil's eyeballs were not moving at all. "Your…eyes."
Menvil extended his fingers towards one eye. And took it out. It was an artificial eye. "Not only were my eyelids burnt, but my eyes as well. I can't see the light."
"H-how…" she stammered in disbelief.
But Menvil moved as if he was able to see. "A snake finds its prey by temperature." Menvil laughed. "I'm a Fire user, thus I am very sensitive to temperature. Distance, position - one can know everything in full detail by knowing how high or low the temperature is. You can even recognize different people by knowing their temperature."
Kirche's hair stood up on her head from is this man…
"Are you scared? Afraid?" Menvil laughed. "When one's feelings turn in turmoil, one's temperature changes as well. Temperature changes tell a lot of things about one's thoughts." Menvil's nostrils widened upon taking a full inhalation of the scent. "I want to smell."
"Eh?"
"The aroma of you burnt, I want to smell it."
Kirche trembled. For the first time in her life she felt pure fear. The fear that made a Queen of Fire whisper "No…" like a small girl. However, Menvil just gave an anxious smile and said.
"How would you like to burn? There are many different ways of burning. You have an affinity for fire. Your heat is wonderful, but this time you will be the one to burn."
Not willing to see it coming, Kirche closed her eyes. Menvil put out his cane, but the moment when flames started gathering around Kirche… The flame was pushed back by another. Once Kirche cracked her eyes open, she saw Colbert standing next to her, with a wand in his hand.
"…Mister?"
With an ice-cold face, Colbert muttered. "Get away from my students."
As if noticing something, Menvil looked up.
"Ooh, you… You! You! You!" With a joyful expression on his face, Menvil roared. He started laughing madly. "Is my temperature sense tricking me? You! Colbert it's you! I've missed you! It's Colbert's voice!"
Colbert's expression did not change. He stubbornly stared at Menvil.
"It's me! Have you forgotten? It's Commander Menvil! Aaah! So long ago! Such a nostalgic feeling!" Menvil spread out his arms and shouted happily.
Colbert puckered up his brows. That face had something dark in it. "You…"
"How many years passed since our last meeting? Oh my Captain! Twenty-years! That's right! Twenty long years!"
A number of students whispered among themselves, trying to figure out what this meant.
"How can this be Captain? You are a teacher now? Isn't it funny? You - a teacher! What precisely do you teach? You who were named 'The Flame Serpent'… Ha, ha, ha!" Menvil shouted with a maniacal laugh, then his face turned to Kirche. "I will explain the reality of this situation to you. This man here is a flame user that was called 'The Flame Serpent' before. He was a commander of the special troops… Women or children – he did not care, he burned them all completely."
Kirche stared at Colbert.
"And he was the man… who took my eyes! A man who's flame was hotter than any others!"
Colbert was emanating something aura around him felt very different from his own people, even Kirche's Zerbst lineage, never engaged in such atrocities. After all, those were nobles' duels. The air that Colbert emanated today was different. If you touch me – you'll burn. You'll burn and die. The smell of burning flesh, the smell of death seemed to emanate from him. From the tip of Colbert's casually thrust out wand, a huge snake of flame, that looked too big for the delicate wand, sprang out. The snake bit the wand of one mage, who had silently started to chant a spell. The wand turned to ashes in an instant. Colbert smiled. It was a cold smile without feelings, like a reptile's. Colbert asked Kirche who stared at him in shock."Miss Zerbst. Do you remember the Fire element's characteristics?"
From the edge of a bitten lip, a stream of blood blood, like flame, like Colbert's mantle."…fire's characteristics are zeal and destruction."
"Fire's zeal and purpose is solely destruction. That's what you think. Twenty years ago I thought so too." Colbert muttered in an unusual voice."However, it is as you say."
The moon hid behind a cloud surroundings turned black as if painted by a dark brush. A fight in the dark is difficult for an ordinary man. Because one cannot see his opponent.
However, for the blinded Fire user there is no light to begin with, thus darkness was not a handicap at all. Menvil shouted while gripping his cane and preparing a spell. "20 years ago my flame was defeated. It was because of immaturity. However, it is different now. With time I became much stronger. Though I lost light, I gained a stronger Fire senses and the my nerves became twice as strong. Now I can detect even the most subtle changes in the air!"
"Take your friend and run away from here." Colbert said without looking away from Menvil.
Kirche nodded, and supporting Tabitha, tried to run away. However, the mage that lurked in the dining hall shot an ice arrow aimed at their backs.
Another flash of darkness that immediately disappeared shattered the arrow, and suddenly, the mercenaries were falling, some incapacitated, others dead.
"What the hell is going on?" Demanded Menvil as the last of his men went down.
"Its simple. You lost." A voice said from behind him, as both of the man's arms were removed eliciting a scream from him. "Without your arms, you can't hold a wand. Without a wand, you can't use magic. Without your magic we can hold you and get the information we need."
"You'll get nothing from me." Menvil said, his voice defiant
"Oh, we'll get something from you. Or from your men."
"Hah, then you're just like me."
"No, I have my own set of rules. You decided to try and harm these children. That trumps everything. You will die for that, I promise. The only thing that will be decided by you is if it will be clean, or painful." Zero said coldly as he slammed his sword into the back of the man's skull, knocking him unconscious. As the man in front of him fell, the others saw him in his bulkier black armor, murder written on his features.
Agnes walked up to Colbert, her sword drawn. "You… You are the leader of the Magical Research Experimental Group platoon? You damaged the royal list of military material in storage?"
Colbert nodded.
"I will tell you who I am. I am D'Angleterre's survivor."
"… I see." Colbert replied, his voice sounding resigned.
"Why was my hometown destroyed? Answer me."
Colbert answered looking down."…the order."
"Order?"
"…it was reported that an epidemic occurred there. To prevent it from spreading we were told to burn it. We burned it reluctantly."
"Idiot you expect me to believe that? That is a lie." she replied viciously.
"…Ha ha, afterwards, I learned about that too. In short it was the 'New Religion Hunt.' I am tormented by the guilt every day. It was… like Menvil said. Women, children - I burned them all. The memory still haunts me. I left the army. I swore… not to use Fire for destruction again."
"…but those feelings didn't stop your hand?"
Colbert shook his head. "No. I couldn't bring myself to stand by that oath with my students in danger."
"Please stop it!" Kirche said as she stood in front of Colbert.
"Get away! I was living for this day! Twenty years! Twenty years I have waited for this day!"
"Please. Please stop." Kirche begged. She had misjudged the teacher who had saved her. Something inside her knew that if the woman attacked, he wouldn't fight back. She couldn't let that happen.
"Get away!"
Agnes and Kirche glared at each other. The moment when tension in the air was about to break loose…
Kirche grabbed Colbert's wrist and pushed him back. "Get away I said!" Kirche answered in a stone-like voice
"Stop joking! I don't want to hurt you but I will if you do not get out of my way!"
"Stop this stupidity, now," came a familiar voice, as Zero appeared between the three.
"You can't stop me!" She said, her eyes nearly mad.
"Can't? I'm pretty certain you don't know what I can or can't do. But that doesn't matter. I see it in your eyes. You have no regret for the deaths on your hands. That's why I believe in him. For whatever sins he has, he has remorse, he has guilt. That makes him more human than either of us can ever be. If you wish to kill him, you must go through me. I do not wish for battle, I do not wish for death... I hate them really... But power brings battle. I accept that. I know that if I wield my power for those who are better than me. For people who can create in this world... Then what I endure will be worth it. It is your choice Agnes." Zero said, holding Derflinger at ready, with his saber drawn in his left hand. His rune was shining, giving a contrast to the green glow his saber was releasing into the night.
"He took everything from me!" She screamed at him.
"She is right. It was my fault. I didn't question. I didn't ask. This is all my fault..." Colbert said from behind Kirche and Zero. "I will give you my life." he walked past them both and stood face to face with her. "Take my head, but in return, once you have your vengeance, put your sword and gun away for good. Do not lose your humanity. Believe me, I know what it is like. With each person that dies, a part of you will die. And no matter what you wish to do, you will never be able to atone. If you will promise me this, I will gladly let you kill me. It is the least I can do, considering I couldn't even keep my oath to you."
"You dare? I owe you nothing!" Agnes screamed as she swung her sword, looking to separate his head from his body. She was surprised when Colbert was thrown a few feet landing face down on the ground, and Zero's sword had intercepted the blade. "You, always getting in my way! You took Richmon from me! And now you stand in the way of my vengeance on him? You heard him, he killed my village! Women, children! Young and old!"
"And?" Zero asked, as he returned her gaze. His left hand idly tapped the handle of his recently stored saber.
"He deserves to die!" Agnes shouted.
"He's a good guy. Very few of my users have been as good as him, and I've had too many to remember in my six-thousand years. Mistakes happen." Deflinger replied "I never understand why you humans get so worked up over them."
"What did you say?" Agnes demanded, shouting at the sword, pushing her own at it, almost seeming like she was trying to wound the piece of metal.
Zero sighed. "Partner, don't ever try to market your people skills. I can only see that ending badly."
"What, its true! If you didn't agree with me you'd have let her kill him," He replied
"You say that, Derf, but you have to have a little more tact about it. Listen Agnes, here is my thoughts on the matter. He followed his orders, trusting that the people above him were truthful to him. Humans have such a wonderful weakness to things like plagues. While it might be viewed as evil, on a numerical scale... What is the life of a village, to half the population of the country? Where I come from, whole continents have had their populations reduced to half or less because of them. A horrible order, but sometimes people will weigh things differently. He didn't take joy in the killing. He didn't find glee in it. He simply did it so that he could save the greater number of people." Zero said as he returned the glare Agnes was giving him.
"You think that justifies this?" she demanded
"Agnes, let us say that you had a village. And you were ordered to at range, kill the people in the village, because there was a pandemic, and the people were trying to flee the illness, and were risking carrying it to other cities, more populated and with more commerce. With roads to follow and more people to infect. Would you allow the deaths of so many to come because you wouldn't raze the village?"
Agnes glared at him. "Defending one such as him! You dare to think he deserves it? Why else would he offer his life if he didn't truly deserve this fate?"
"Because, he feels responsible for you. Because of his own faith in the people above him, you paid. Because he didn't know, you became the way you are. He was willing to die to ease your heart. He was willing to die to end the killing. You called him a coward. But would you be willing to stand before someone and honestly tell them its okay if they kill you? That you are sorry and accept the punishment?"
Agnes looked at the fallen man. She noticed a familiar ugly neck. The same that..."Oh, founder... why? Why is it you?"
"What?" Zero asked, confused by the sudden distress Agnes was showing.
"You! You're the one who saved me! Why? Why would you do such a thing? You killed them all, so why save me?" She screamed, but he didn't answer. Her eyes widened in shock.
"He's not going to answer. I knocked him out. Not safe to leave someone who's offering to die awake and in range of a sword."
"You..." Agnes looked at Colbert. "Why? Why would you do this? Why would you save me?"
"Probably because, he knew that there had been a mistake or something. If you were the only one he found, he saved you because he knew he was wrong, and it was all he could do." Zero said
Agnes turned to face Zero. "You don't know anything! How could you understand?"
"I know many things Agnes. While not the same, because of manipulations I've killed people that didn't deserve to die. I fought people that were good people. Because of another's plans the love of my life died fighting against me in a meaningless battle that could have destroyed my world. You have someone, who would be willing to sacrifice his life for you. Do you understand that? He's willing to die for you. He's done his best to atone for what he did. And once he broke his word to himself, to not use fire magic to fight he was willing to die. Wake the hell up and realize it. He's suffered for twenty years. But unlike you, he has done everything he could to influence the world in a positive way. To try and prevent that type of thing from happening again in his own way. He may be a bit odd, but he cares!" Zero shouted, not giving Agnes time to get a word in. He continued to close the distance as he spoke until he was face to face with her. "He would die for you. That wasn't a bluff." he finished in a serious tone.
Agnes looked at Zero's face. Tears started streaming down her face. Her sword dropped from her hand. "Its not fair. Why couldn't he have been like that mercenary? Why?"
Zero just shook his head. "Agnes, if you really want to make a difference, work towards the same thing Colbert is working towards."
"And what the hell is that?" she demanded through her tears.
"A world without war. A world without war is probably impossible, but as long as you don't give up, and keep moving forward... You never know what might be in store for the future." Zero said in a wistful tone.
"That's just useless idealistic nonsense!"
"You're right. It probably is. But is trying to be the worst humanity has to offer going to make this a better world?" Zero asked as he stared at her.
Agnes couldn't answer, as she stared at the body of the man she hated more than anyone. At the man who had saved her life.
***Author's notes***
Dark Hold: An ability that freezes enemies on the screen. This is a complete bullshit ability that can't be justified... Until I thought "Well how could you MAKE this justified?" The way I've figured for it to work here, is the data network. The network is simple, it can turn things into energy/data and reroute it allowing for near instant transport. Dark Hold requires you to either slow everything down, or simply move incredibly fast. What moves faster than solid matter? Energy. Dark hold simply turns Zero into a Semi broken down energy state. This allows him to move at previously impossible speeds, where everyone else seems like they are standing still. And being in a semi energy state, he doesn't have to worry about the possible friction or sonic booms that might come from moving at such insane speeds. And now you know. And knowing is 1/4th the battle. The other 3/4's are blue lasers, red lasers, and not hitting anyone at all. Yes, GI Joe lied.
And Derflinger FINALLY got his revenge on Zero speaking for him back during the whole Count Mott thing. Took him a while, but he's been bitching about it this whole time.
Been a while, but since I've had some people asking about things or point out things that they feel is wrong, time for another longer A/N section.
1)While the initial Zero in the first chapters fits mostly from the Mega Man Zero version of Zero, There were times when his particular "shards" started to have different influences on him. This effected his personality and in some cases his rationality. I did this to create a link to Zero in all of his renditions, because all of them are rather enjoyable characters in their own rights when you take into account their beliefs. MMX Zero had his banter and more humanizing tragedies, which was always fun. MMZ had his get things done and protect the resistance. He was fighting AGAINST the humans in this. The main reason he didn't kill humans left and right is because they never took up arms. He only took up arms against those who did. If a human pointed a gun at any of the resistance, I find it very hard to believe Zero would have let them just kill the people he was trying to protect because the ones with a gun were human. The major problem here, is that humans before the ZX series were rather slow and weak, making them a liability. The major "exception" to this rule was the final boss of Z4, but that exception had the fact that it was dangerous, so it fought. So, Zero killing humans, we'll all have to agree to disagree. He doesn't care who the enemy is. He'll terminate it, that is the biggest sticking point from his MMZ personality that is still there. His second biggest point from that is something that I view to be mainly from his interactions with a little girl at the resistance base who saw far too much war and pain in her short time. Don't fuck with children. You do, you'll end up with a broken wrist. Or armless. Or armless and tortured.
2) for the "Omega" use, that was actually intended to be a hint, because there was only one time Zero could be said to not have his limiters active, and that was when he was killing the Maverick hunters who came before Sigma. This was an attempted allusion to the "True" Zero that Wily built as the first "Shard" that didn't get integrated experiencing a rush of power that he hadn't felt in a long time. This was one of the hints that the shards were becoming active and actually integrating the way they were originally supposed to, and that his current body had been changing to meet the demand Zero had been putting on it. This also hinted that the runes were causing his body to change at an even more alarming rate than beforehand. Sorry if this was a bit too cryptic, do not want it to be misunderstood.
3) Why no flash backs for MMZ timeline? Here is the question. Why didn't Saito have flash backs about home? At first, he remembered his mother a few times. After that, nothing, nothing at all. The reason he could remember his X memories were because of the pain destruction and tragedy inherent to them. The MMZ memories are of people still alive and well. Reasons to go back, instead of reasons to protect this world. While the rune failed to make Zero subservient it worked perfectly on repressing memories of home that would have made him WANT to go home because it did that in a more subtle and less obvious fashion. Thought it was clear on that.
4). As for Zero's Cyber elf... Three people have figured it out in some way shape or form, only one person has figured it out perfectly. The rest of you will have to wait or figure it out yourselves. Put a guess in reviews. Would like to see what people think they've figured out.
5). This was never about showing how cool or awesome Zero is and how he could take on a world by himself. This was taking a wounded warrior who did nothing but fight until he destroyed himself(on multiple occasions) and see his reactions to an actual peace time situation, and what type of effects that could have on him. Then take that peaceful situation and replace it with imminent war. If this was a somehow "lets make a god out of Zero", a bunch of the characters in this would have stayed the same, and Zero would be able to destroy the whole damned world with 0 resistance from anyone.
6) There have been changes to the story line, but not all of them are very large. Most of the early ones were only small, but with each successive change more and more things happen. Zero didn't stay as commander of the Maverick hunters for very long because he was not one to get too much into the long term planning. If there was a threat he'd go and deal with it then and there. His time in the Shinobi Unit was far more, in my opinion, in line with his personality. If this was an X or Axl story, a great many things would have happened, but Zero isn't that type of personality. X or Axl would go out and try and find ways to save the world for their own reasons. X would do it because he wishes to be a force of peace. So he would become a scientist and try and help out. Axl would try and save the world because he's more or less an attention whore, which isn't meant to be an insult. He's the kid of the team and really under appreciated. Zero is more apathetic in that regard until you give him a reason to act. Once you give him that reason to act may god have mercy on your soul, because Zero will not.
7) This was not calling other people stupid for having trouble thinking of Zero as a non human. He says himself that he is not human many times, although while still getting a feel for the area he doesn't do it quite so much as he might. The reason behind people having trouble with this is simple. They can't comprehend. Yes he can do all those amazing things, but they also discount Saito's actions against Guiche, they write off for the most part, his capability to capture Fouquet pretty much by himself. The ability to have at decent duel with a Square mage as someone who barely knew how to use his powers. If you are wearing a weird armor/clothing hybrid, don't have a cape, a wand, or any trappings of nobility why would a group of people who view themselves as above the 'common' man consider you anything BUT? They'd just attribute whatever weird traits you have to the Rune you possess on the whole. Zero has made little secret about his past, but to a group of people who just can't understand it, knowing about it does little to nothing. Outside the small group of people that he's given enough information to understand about him, who would know what a reploid is? And is Zero going to take the time to explain to everyone what it is? Not on screen certainly. I did enough of those conversations, and even then they felt redundant. Cattleya's was one of the last. The simplest way of explaining this, have a micro-biologist go back to ancient Egypt or something else BC. Have them explain how the world REALLY works, and see how well that works. It wouldn't. If they weren't killed outright, they'd just be dismissed because what they describe is just so improbable to them.
8) As for Louise being less tsundare in this series than in the main one, its simple. Saito does a lot of really stupid shit, mainly because he's a teenage guy, who's probably not the smartest person in the world. Combine this with some bad luck, and a few choice comments and you have someone who tends to increase her insecurity, rather than try and get rid of it as Zero has. Aside from when she pushed him too far a few times he's been supportive of her. Louise's tsundare traits all stem from insecurity issues. Remove those, and get someone who supports you and isn't drawn as much to large boobs, and you have a much happier flat chested summoner. Also, never say that around a female mage, as Zero does. He only got away with it because he's Zero.