I don't own Zero no Tsukaima

AN : Been awhile, I was meaning to post a chapter on New Year's specifically about Saito's New Year's traditions with his family, but time got away from me. Instead I'll try to get a Valentines one. Either way, this chapter will show how useful Dispel can be, and how dangerous it is.

Really, I got the idea for most of this stuff while I've been studying archaeology, anthropology, and a bit of history on how architecture has changed. Then I thought how Architecture would evolve in a world filled with magic enchantments that could, say, replace a pillar, or basic supports to hold things up. Magic being used in construction is most clearly shown in the port city of La Rochelle, with building being carved out of a single rock.

Either way, here's the new chapter, now to answer some reviews!

GrumpyGrue, revenge

Atrile, I wasn't completely satisfied with it either. It was mostly just a long fight scene, with a little insight into Saito's family.

talesfanjmf, thank you

mr I hate znt nobles kill em, it was supposed to make you feel like it was wrong.

You will fear my laser face, it did come out of nowhere, and your comment is fantastic, I'm using it.

NeoNazo356, Saito set down his rifle, the rifle that Sasaki made. I didn't flat out say it last chapter, but Siesta used that rifle.

Guest, I'm glad that it's worse than you thought.

Reaper7, I was going for awesome with heaping helping of "Oh shit that's bad."

Oblivionknight7, more like when he's fixed.

xArtehx, there will be more consequences than that.

Some Random Tosser, Thanks for giving my story a chance, I'm glad you liked it. It's great for my already bloated ego. PM me with any corrections of the bad grammar or spelling errors.

Lazurman, Love potions are essentially items that mindf*cks a person.

Ryu Gabriev, the rising aggression is a plot point, I'm glad you noticed it. Just remember how the Gandàlfr runes work. Also, I'll look at your story when I get a chance. Just read your review tonight.

JadeiteAX, yeah, I understand what you mean with the anime, it is a bit of a pity considering the world-building in both the anime and the novels. It is a very rich world. Also, I'm not dropping it.

Jouaint, okay

veryspoo, Eh right now I'm doing a bunch of rewrites on my fire emblem fic. It mostly takes stuff out of the first fire emblem on the Gameboy Advance, while following the prequel's story (which, chronologically, happens later.) I'm trying to make it so that you don't need to play the game to appreciate it, though with the amount of characters in Fire Emblem games I will be taking a lot of time planning it out. I just wanted to get the first few chapters out to get a feel for it.

Also, 16 reviews? Not nearly as many as the 39 on the previous chapter, but still that is a lot. Thanks!

"Free." Saito muttered as his sword fell from his grasp, followed by himself. Louise kept her wand on him, on the off chance that he pulled himself back up.

"Is it over?" The maid asked. Louise looked at the clearly shaken girl, no longer holding Saito's musket.

"We should probably get the boys to a healer." Louise said as she approached the unconscious Saito. She grabbed him and tried to pull him up. He was really heavy! She struggled as she tried to get him up, throwing one of his arms that didn't have icicles sticking out of it over her shoulder, when something sharp poked her and she jumped away, letting out a shriek.

"Geez Louise, what scared you?" The talking sword asked.

"Something poked me!"

"I'm sure it's nothing." Kirche said as she rolled up Saito's sleeve, revealing a broken bone protruding from his flesh. Kirche froze.

Louise backed away from the gruesome wound, turning away as she lost her dinner. He kept trying to fight with a wound like that? She had to do something, heal the wound or tend to it or something! Then he began floating. Tabitha walked by levitating Saito, Guiche, and the Academy guardsman. "Wh-where are you going?"

"Infirmary."

"Don't leave me behind! I want to see what's wrong with partner!" The sword shouted.

"I'll get you!" The maid said as she ran to the sword. Louise got a clearer look at the maid, and saw that it was the same one who greeted Saito upon his return, and the same one who pointed her to the kitchen when Saito was running away, and the same one who told her that Saito intended to run away. This maid was really involved in Saito's life and she didn't even know her name. The maid struggled with Derflinger and said, "You're heavy, how does Saito swing you around with one hand?"

"Partner knows how to use me. He is the Gandàlfr, though he doesn't like that little fact." The sword said.

Louise retrieved the Staff of Destruction/Em Seventy-Two Law, as a silence fell over the group. After she picked up the staff and turned to see Montmorency, Kirche and the maid gawking at the floating Saito. Tabitha seemed not care, continuing to float the three injured men to the infirmary. Louise ran to Tabitha, followed by the astonished trio behind her.

The quiet march to the infirmary in the Water Tower broken by another sudden and loud crash, "What was that?" The maid asked.

"Who cares? Saito's Holy!" Kirche exclaimed.

"Louise, why didn't you tell anyone that you summoned a Legend?! I thought it was just some really strong commoner, but it's the Left Hand of GOD!" Montmorency shouted.

"I didn't know he was Gandàlfr until two days ago!" Louise defended.

"Oohh, I knew there was something special about him!" Kirche said.

As the five girls and their floating boys approached the Water Tower and the infirmary they also saw that all of the healers were outside, and that there were already dozens of injured people in cots. "What happened?" The maid asked a passing servant.

"Siesta!" Louise ingrained the maid's name in her head. "I'm not sure what happened, but one of the important mages said that the magic disappeared!"

A pit formed in Louise's stomach. "No…"

"By the Founder, what happened to him!?" The school's head Healer asked. "Follow me, we still have a few empty cots!"

Tabitha and Kirche followed the Healer, Siesta the maid ran off with the other servant after handing Louise Derflinger and Saito's musket, they were heavy. Louise stared at the Water mages frantically healing the injured students, servants, and even a few instructors. She should have known. Dispel would dispel magic, she just didn't understand that it dispelled everything. It was well known that the Tristain Academy was the most prestigious Academy in all of Halkeginia, and it used magic enchantments to support many of its grand and extravagant rooms. Of course none of the destruction was near her when Saito was on his rampage, they were practicing near the servant's quarters, and they didn't need the luxury of magically supported structures. However everywhere else in the school used them to some extent.

And she dispelled all of them.

Louise was broken out of her thoughts by another loud and distant crash. "Louise, we should check on Guiche and the others."

"Ye-yes." Louise stuttered out as Montmorency dragged her off.

Of course her first successful spell ends horribly. When she successfully cast the imperfect Dispel, it felt like the magic was flowing from her, it was calm, at ease, peaceful. It was the first time a spell didn't feel forced. But of course it results in all these people being hurt.

Summon a Familiar? Get the strongest one, but he doesn't listen and is the first in history to run away. Capture a dangerous and renowned thief? Escapes and sells stolen Staff of Destruction to said Familiar, creating a connection between her and a criminal that could mean political suicide. Familiar returns? He blackmails the Headmaster, desecrates a grave, confesses to be a Heretic and brutally intimidates everyone around him. And finally use magic successfully for the first time ever? Cause massive damage to the school and injures a bunch of innocents.

As Louise and Montmorency approached Saito and Guiche's cots they saw three mages, one girl and two men, huddled around a nearly naked Saito. Louise grabbed Derflinger's discarded sheath and sheathed the sword. Louise looked over to Kirche and Tabitha. Kirche looked green. "How's Saito?"

Kirche shuddered. "He looks a lot better now than earlier. He had three bones sticking out of his chest."

"Is he going to be okay?" Louise asked.

"Yes." Tabitha succinctly added.

"Yeah! Partner can take a hit much better than any of you. He'll be up and running in no time!" Derflinger said as all of the torches suddenly came back to life.

Louise paled. "We need to restrain him before he wakes up."

Louise could almost see all of the girls imagining a rampaging Saito running through here. It wouldn't end well. The four girls went up to the 3 Healers working on Saito.

"You need to restrain him now!" Louise practically shouted.

"What? No!" One of the men healing Saito shouted.

"We just got his ribs back in place and healed both punctured lungs, besides we don't have proper restraints here." The female Healer told the girls.

"But you have to! He's dangerous right now!" Kirche exclaimed.

"We are busy! We don't have time to entertain you!" The woman snapped.

"He drank a dangerous potion that made him extremely violent and aggressive!" Montmorency shouted.

One of the men stopped healing and turned to Montmorency. "You two keep working." The Healer grabbed Montmorency and dragged her off to the side, with Louise and the others following behind. "What was the potion?"

"It, uh, it was um… A Love Potion…" Montmorency muttered.

"You made what." Louise seethed. Love Potions were illegal, one Love Potion could put a King in a person's pocket, and they toyed with and twisted people.

The Healer looked like he was barely holding back a sea of anger. "What did you use?"

"Tear of the Water-"

"Tear of the Water Spirit." He hissed. He turned back to Saito, gave a quick chant, and created brass bands that completely bound Saito.

"What are you-" One of the healers began.

"Keep working." The leader snapped. "Fix this or you will never be welcome anywhere ever again, Montmorency Margarite La Fère de Montmorency. Understand?"

"Wait, you're not going to-" Montmorency began.

"Fix it and I won't have to turn you in." The Healer marched back to Saito and got to work healing him.

"You gave my Ally/Partner a Love Potion!" Louise and Derflinger simultaneously hissed.

"I meant to give it to Guiche!"

"I guess that would have been better, because then we'd have dealt with Guiche having tried to rape you, instead of Saito's attempt to rape me!" Louise hissed, trying to be quiet enough so that passersby wouldn't hear.

"Yeah, well your Void magic the cause of all these people being hurt!" Montmorency harshly, but quietly, returned.

Louise's spirits returned to the chamber pot. It was her fault that all these people were hurt. Who knew how much of the school was in ruin? Were the dormitories a pile of rubble? What about Alviss dining hall? What about the classrooms?

"Louise used Void magic?" Kirche muttered in disbelief.

"Why are you surprised, you just learned that my partner's a Void Familiar. Shouldn't it be obvious that the summoner is a Void user?" Derflinger pointed out.

"That's…" Kirche began as she turned to Louise. "Louise is a Void Mage?"

Then Louise saw it. Kirche was jealous. She had to be. Louise felt her spirits rise, and she knew that she should be more concerned about the fact that Saito was suffering under the effects of both a love potion and the Familiar runes, but this was the first time that stupid Zerbst was ever jealous of her. Louise silently wondered if Kirche felt this good every time she successfully used a spell in front of Louise. The feeling was magnificent.

"It's something I've been trying to keep to myself." Louise proudly explained.

Osmond let out a relieved sigh as the torches relit themselves. The magic was back. Thankfully the damage was minor, only the dining hall, two mostly empty classrooms, part of the vault that used to hold the Staff of Destruction and other treasures, and his office collapsed, all areas designed to look impressive for visitors who could possibly donate to the Academy. It was Founder blessed that most of the Academy was built to stand without magic, so they wouldn't have to refresh the durability enchantments often.

Still, if it had happened earlier in the evening, during dinner, it would have been disastrous. 23 students and 4 instructors had been injured, but Osmond knew that it could have been so much worse. As it were, no one perished. They were still clearing the rubble from the former dining hall, 10 of the servants were unaccounted for, however if they were lost it wasn't a problem.

Osmond walked through the expanded infirmary; most of the injured were common folk, placed into cots outside. The injured students were far more important and were kept inside, the infirmary being built to stand on its own.

Osmond saw three of the Healers huddled around one cot, working diligently on Gandàlfr. This was new. Osmond rushed over. This was bad. He had just sent word to the capitol that Gandàlfr had returned. They would not be pleased if they found out that the Left Hand of God was injured.

"What happened to Gan- I mean Saito!" Osmond demanded. Then he saw the brass bands holding his arms, legs and head in place. "And why is he bound in brass bands?"

"Ask them." One of the Healers said, pointing to Louise, Montmorency, Kirche, and Tabitha.

"I need you to use everything we have to get him on his feet. I don't care how expensive any of the reagents are." Osmond told the Healer, walking to Louise before the Healer could give an answer.

"Miss Vallière, what happened to Hiraga Saito?" Osmond demanded.

Three of the girls jumped, only Tabitha was undisturbed by his sudden arrival. "He-Headmaster! Wh-what are you doing here?" Louise asked.

Osmond gave them an appraising look, shouldn't it be obvious? Why wouldn't he be checking on the well-being of his staff and students? "Could you please tell me what happened to Hiraga Saito?"

Two of the girls looked nervous, while Montmorency looked terrified. "Well, um… Montmorency, you tell him!" Kirche said.

"Why me!" Montmorency exclaimed.

"I'll tell him!" Osmond jumped, finally seeing that Louise had Gandàlfr's talking sword. "The blond girl-"

"I'll tell him!" Montmorency shouted. "Saito, um… Attacked a guard! Guiche tried to help him, I-I-I mean stop! Stop him, and-"

"If you're going to lie, at least lie well." The sword muttered. Osmond didn't need that commentary, she was a terrible liar.

"Montmorency la Fère de Montmorency, I want the truth."

"She made a Love Potion, Partner drank it, and then he got violent. The small blue-haired girl, a maid using one of Partner's guns and a dragon stopped him with Louise and the red girl's help." The sword chimed in.

"I helped!" Montmorency indignantly said.

"You hit Guiche and knocked him out." The sword countered.

A Love Potion. Osmond tried to think of how people would react to a Love Potion being made in his Academy would be received. The fact that Gandàlfr drank it made it bad, if someone else drank it he would have been fine, but it had to be Gandàlfr. They would ask why he didn't do more to protect Gandàlfr, ignoring the fact that he needed to protect everyone else from Gandàlfr.

"My name is Kirche, she's Tabitha."

"I'm Lord Derflinger!"

What they were discussing was irrelevant. He needed to get Saito fixed. "Montmorency, can you fix Hiraga Saito?"

"Yes, but I'll need a Tear of the Water Spirit."

Tears of the Water Spirit were almost impossible to find. The Academy didn't even keep any, since they weren't useful for teaching beginner, intermediate, or even advance potion making. No wonder the potion had such an adverse affect on Gandàlfr, she simply wasn't ready to make such potions. Or it could be adverse effects from interacting with the runes. "Do you have any more Tears?"

"No."

Osmond sighed. "Tomorrow you will go and get some."

"U-understood!"

"Good, everyone else, nothing is wrong with Saito, understood?" Osmond ordered.

"Of course!"

"Alright!"

"…"

"You better fix Partner!"

"I don't have enough money to buy any of the Tears…"

Louise sighed. "I need to go to the capitol tomorrow, I'll help you pay."

Osmond turned and walked away. He had completely forgotten that Princess Henrietta requested Louise after Fouquet had been captured.

Louise had already left Montmorency in the markets with Guiche, and by the time she left the Palace Montmorency should have everything they needed to fix Saito. She hoped Saito didn't mind Montmorency taking his money to pay for the ingredients, but Louise had already spent most of her allowance paying for the healing treatment from Saito's first fight with Guiche. Saito had 2052 ècu, 19 sous, and 1 denier. Still, with her money included it was just over 4000 ècu. It should be enough.

Louise followed the guards through the Palace, and as she gazed around she was seeing everything differently. She could practically see where the magnificent Palace was supported by magic, she was almost positive that one use of Dispel would collapse nearly the entire Palace, leaving only the servants quarters and perhaps the battlements. It was humbling to imagine how destructive a spell as passive as Dispel could be.

Still, things could be worse. Dispel could have leveled the Academy, or Saito could be awake and loose from his restraints.

"It's been such a long time, my Louise, my dear Louise."

Tabitha was following Kirche, who wanted to check up on Saito. She had to admit that she wondered just how strong Saito was, and had he been in his right mind how dangerous he would have been. While Saito clearly wasn't a Vampire or the Minotaur Mage and he definitely wasn't as strong as the Dragon Chimera, but he was clearly smart, and often times that was more important than strength. And that was ignoring the will needed to counteract the effects of a Love Potion. It was somewhat hard to believe that he was helping them during the fight against him.

They entered the infirmary, Saito having been moved inside, as he was now apparently considered important enough to be given the royal treatment. Tabitha grip on her wand tightened. Even as restrained as he was, she still knew that he was a threat. He was an extremely skilled user of a sentient weapon, and he was able to wield Derflinger, a sword clearly designed to be wielded with two hands, one handed and still maintains perfect balance. That, and Saito was being restrained with brass bands, and he already displayed how easily he could break through brass in his duel with Guiche.

Tabitha paused at Saito's bedside, staring at the peaceful face. Kirche kept walking, Tabithat suddenly remembering that Flame was also here, recovering from injuries that Saito inflicted. Then she heard it, a groan. Saito's muscles flexed, as he was held in place by the restraints. "What happened?" Saito opened his eyes, and he observed her for a moment. He grinned, and said, "Hey, you're strong. What's your name?"

"Tabitha."

"Well, thank you for helping the others stop me, I'm not sure what came over me. I suppose that's why I'm in restraints, though there's nothing wrong with me now."

Tabitha didn't say anything. The way he was looking at her was weird. No one ever looks at her like that.

"I suppose you won't release me, I did almost kill Mical. And Louise. I don't know what happened; I was just all of a sudden in love with Louise. I don't feel that way about her, though there is someone I do feel that way about." Saito said with a gentle smile as he kept his eyes firmly on Tabitha.

"He's awake, that's much earlier than expected. Then again, he is Gandàlfr." Kirche said with a predatory glint in her eye.

"I'm sorry, Kirche, but I'm not interested. So Tabitha, I'm a bit curious about how you learned to fight. How'd you learn?" Saito asked with a charming grin.

"Do you like me?" Tabitha asked. Being treated with so much interest was not something she was used to from the opposite sex.

"Why wouldn't I? You're strong, smart, and extremely cute. A little quiet, but I'm sure I can make you scream my name while thanking God for the pleasure I'll bring you." Saito said without an ounce of shame.

Louise turned around and her heart stopped. It was her fiancé, Wardes. "It really has been a long time." Louise responded with a blush. Wardes came forward and embraced her, and Louise couldn't help but to melt into his embrace just like she had when she was little girl. She had almost forgotten how safe he made her feel.

"I've heard about your accomplishment, defeating Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt! I always knew you would be strong! Men, I can escort her the rest of the way." Wardes proudly said as the guards left Louise's side. "A pity that Fouquet escaped before she arrived."

"What happened?" Louise asked.

"According to the guards it was a group of men who moved like shadows. Though their testimony is not consistent, we aren't yet sure what happened. Though I'm more interested in you, my Louise, and how you destroyed Fouquet's Golem!"

"I-I-I just used…" Louise nervously began. She wasn't sure what to say, it's not like she actually used fireball, she just made Void explosions. "I used… Explosion."

"What was that? Did you make your own spell?"

"I'm a Void Mage." Louise said more confidently.

"Truly?" Wardes chuckled a bit. "I always knew you were destined for greatness, my dear."

"I'm just glad that I can be of service to Princess Henrietta." Louise said as they approached the door to the Princess's chambers.

"I'm afraid I don't have time for the pleasantries necessitated for spending time with Royalty at the moment, I am the Captain of the Manticore Corps, and I have my duties. Farewell, my Louise. Hopefully our next meeting will be longer."

"Y-yes! Farewell, Viscount Wardes!" Louise called back with a bow.

Louise let out a content sigh; simply spending time with her fiancé had lightened her mood. Louise grabbed the door's latch and entered to see an ecstatic Henrietta. "Louise François! It's so good to see you!"

"Your Highness, thank you for gracing me with an audience!"

"Please, I already told you, we're friends! There's no need for you to be so formal."

"Of course, Princess. Although I thought we would be meeting in the throne room for the commendation for capturing Fouquet."

"Louise François, with the Reconquista and the Marriage Alliance I need to spend some time with my dearest friend. The commendation seemed like a good way to give us both free time away from your school and my duties."

Louise honestly didn't think this day could get any better. Princess Henrietta was doing all of this so that she could spend time with her! "I'm glad that you think so highly of me, Princess."

"I just want to spend time with my friend. I'm still preparing for my wedding, I'm hoping that you can help me with the dress. It needs to be perfect." Princess Henrietta said with forced enthusiasm.

Louise knew that right now, her responsibility was the make the Princess happy. "Princess, today is supposed to be fun! I don't want you thinking about your Political Marriage. Let's go to the garden, like when we were kids!" Who knows, it might be fun to act like a kid again.

"Really, what about wedding preparations?"

"You said that you did this for time off." Louise said.

The moment Princess Henrietta gave a genuine smile Louise knew she made the right decision. The Princess grabbed Louise's hand and ran off to the garden.

Montmorency was leading the way, carrying bags full of potion ingredients. She didn't have the Tear of the Water Spirit, but she had found so many rare reagents, a perfume that smelled divine, and a fantastic silk dress that she simply needed. She didn't really pay any attention to what Guiche bought. All in all, she and Guiche had spent all of the money Louise had given them.

It was worth it, they could just pay it back later. Sure, Guiche's family was in debt due to all the money they wasted on war, and her family was going though some financial troubles with the common folk being unable to pay much of their tithes, but she was sure that things were looking up.

As they approached the front gate of the Palace district, they saw Louise approaching with a smile on her face and grass stains on her stockings. "I trust that you two got the Tear?"

Montmorency chuckled nervously, "How was Princess Henrietta?"

Louise sighed longingly. "It was wonderful. I don't remember the last time I relaxed like that. Ever since Saito came I haven't had a chance to enjoy myself." Louise motioned for them to follow her.

"He does have a way of making things more eventful." Montmorency said as she and Guiche followed her.

"That he does. Still, how expensive was the Tear?" Louise asked, still content from whatever she was doing with the Princess.

"Well, you see, we couldn't find any." Guiche said.

Louise stopped. "What are you carrying?"

"Other ingredients, some of them rare." Montmorency said.

"And the dress?"

"It's made of silk from Rub al Khali! I just had to get it!"

"That was my money. That was Saito's money." Louise deadpanned.

"You are aware that Saito's going to be angry when he finds out you spent his money and didn't even buy what was needed to fix him. Right?" Louise asked.

Montmorency and Guiche looked at each other, "I'm sure it won't be that bad…"

AN: Now the answer from chapter 14 is E. Who's next? Will there be a next girl? Dun dun dun! Anyway, this chapter really jumps around, and I'll do some stuff on Siesta's perspective next chapter, and her reactions to the destruction. I'm also trying to think of some French poetry that Saito will shamelessly plagiarize for the next chapter, and I'm taking suggestions. Bonus points if they sound terrible in English.

I had trouble writing Louise and Henrietta together, so let me know if that was flat. That and not much happened this chapter. Next chapter should have the Ragdorian Lake and more; also, for those of you wondering, I was listening to Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony. It was delightful.

Anyway, please read and review.

This is Lee, and I'm out!