I don't own Zero no Tsukaima
AN: Oh my God. So much time between updates. Really sorry. No excuse. Though there was a wedding, beautiful. It was in Red Lodge, Montana. Anyway, as of right now, the poll results are
52 for Wales, 31 for neither, 9 for Henrietta, and 9 for I don't care. Choose for me!
Honestly, I wasn't expecting 9 votes for "Choose for me!"
Anyway, I'll start another poll later, once we are closer to the first possible death of either Wales or Henrietta. I'll answer only some of the reviews, not all of them this time.
Some Random Tosser, Don't ask don't tell was a poorly thought out idea that made it against the rules to be gay in the military. So gays were forced into the closet to serve in the military. It has since been overturned, as military men in charge finally got the politicians to learn that it was stupid.
Paragon the Half-Dragon, believe whatever you like, and I will be taking liberties, even if Wales dies...
Deofiro, Derflinger is a longsword, with a length of 70 inches or 178 centimeters, weighting in at 12 pounds or 5.42 kilograms at most, possible to be used one-handed but easier to be done with two. So yeah, Louise could carry it, but it is still a bit big and cumbersome to pack in a trunk, the violence will be on the decline for a bit, but it will return in full force.
Red Death, and it's up
Alright, I can overcome this, I've broken control before, and I can do it again. Verdandi was so cuddly, and he was adorable too! At least he used to be cuddly, now the mole looked uncomfortable. Saito turned and gave a deep, piercing gaze full of the purest feelings of adoration, admiration, and lust. Focus, I can do this. I can make myself stop. I will stop staring at that mole is a lustful fashion.
Verdandi looked disturbed as he jumped off the carriage and burrowed underground. Saito tried to shout, "Come back!" Unfortunately the mages had covered his mouth in a brass band, effectively gagging him. I can do this.
Now what? Something took control of me!
Saito reasserted control, now to figure out a way to make Verdandi his. That was short lived, let's see how long I can make it last.
Montmorency was uncomfortable. It had been a few hours since Saito and Guiche… did dirty stuff, and no one had said a word. The tension was unbearable. "Sooooo…" Montmorency began.
More paralyzing silence.
Tabitha turned a page from the book she was reading. Kirche leaned over a bit to read with the blue haired girl. Montmorency just wanted the tension to end and for something to happen or anything to make all this feel like it wasn't her fault. She just wished she could go shopping to distract herself from this. There was the adorable light blue silk dress that had just the right amount of poofiness that would perfectly match Guiche's new silk shirt. Though Guiche could have gotten a silk shirt that matched one of her new dresses but no, he needed to get the blue one.
Another page turned. "Why are you smiling?" Louise snapped.
Montmorency shrank back. "Wha-wha-"
"Why were you smiling, what in the Founder's name made you smile? Saito is insane right now! He forced himself on Guiche, he tried to RAPE me! Because you made a damn Love Potion!" Louise shouted as she tried to stand tall in the carriage, forcing her to hunch over to keep from banging her head.
"Well, Guiche cheated… on… me." That sounded much more impressive in her head.
"Oh, so Guiche being an idiot is a good reason for you to make an ILLEGAL POTION that turned Saito into a RAPIST! And Guiche! Why aren't you angry!?"
"I wouldn't do anything like that under the effects of the Love Potion! I would have the will to resist better than the commoner up above!" Guiche answered, thoroughly insulted.
"You couldn't resist flirting with a first-year; you wouldn't be able to resist anything like that overwhelmingly passionate man up there." Kirche added.
"I could resist!" Guiche protested. Silence. "I could…"
"Saito first." Tabitha quietly added.
"As she said, Saito is the first time someone has broken the effects of a Love Potion. Most just wait for it to run the course." Kirche pointed out.
"Who cares?! I'm still LIVID! Montmorency, you haven't even tried to apologize for the foolish things you've done!" Louise screeched.
"What have I done?" Montmorency said before she inwardly cringed.
"I just SAID IT! You made an illegal potion that turned Saito into a rapist! You took my money and spent it on random things we didn't need!"
"…I'm trying…" Montmorency knew it was her fault, but she was going to fix this.
"You're TRYING!? If you were trying you wouldn't have spent all the money! We would have all of my ècu and we'd be going to a different city in hopes of finding a Tear there! Instead we're asking a Spirit! And what are we going to do if the Spirit says no? He's suffering!" Louise raged.
"I DON'T KNOW!" Montmorency screamed. She was withering under Louise's glare, she just wanted this ordeal to end.
"Hey, um, we have a problem up here…" The driver, Mical, chimed in.
"What?" Tabitha asked after a few moments of silence.
"There's some Gallian Knights blocking the way, it seems there's a flood, and the road is blocked. You'll all need to step out and show them your travel permits as well." Mical shouted from his seat outside.
Louise groaned loudly before stepping out. Montmorency watched as the others stepped out before joining them. She presented her travel permit with the others. "What about him?" The knight asked, pointing at Saito with his combat wand, while Saito appeared to be forcing something large from his bowels.
"Does anyone have Saito's permit?" Louise asked as she looked around. "By the Founder, we got one for Saito, didn't we?"
"You must have something pertaining to the prisoner there?" The knight asked as he took a more intimidating stance.
"Of course we do! " Louise squeaked. "Who has it?"
Tabitha walked up to the knight and presented a seal, and the knight's eyes visibly widened. "I-I-I'm terribly sorry Lady Charlotte! I shall not get in the way of any of Princess Isabella's tasks. I apologize for the inconvenience, but the Ragdorian Lake is flooding and the road ahead is closed. We have a few Chevaliers dealing with the situation with the Water Spirit at the moment, until then I can provide your chauffeur with possible detours to reach your destination. Unless you are heading to the lake, in which case I am absolutely sure that the men's morale will be bolstered by your presence."
Tabitha reentered the carriage. Montmorency couldn't believe what she just saw. Tabitha was important.
Tabitha was waiting for their questions. She was keeping her book up, blocking her view of the others, hoping that simply blocking herself off would keep the inevitable inquisitive imposition. She knew that they were going to ask, they were all a bit nosy. If they asked any questions at all, it seemed that the silence that fell over them earlier after Saito molested and kissed Guiche had returned. Which was fine, Tabitha was happy not answering questions.
"…Tabitha, or Charlotte, or… um…" Louise began nervously. Tabitha looked over to Louise, seeing her wringing her hands.
"Tabitha." She didn't want to be called that, she wasn't Charlotte anymore.
"Right, Tabitha…" Louise trailed off as she looked away. Paralyzing silence overtook the cabin once again as Tabitha brought her book up, blocking the others from view.
"So who's Isabella?" Montmorency asked while trying to sound chipper.
"King's daughter." And she hated Tabitha. Tabitha didn't understand why Isabella didn't like her; then again maybe she didn't hate her. Maybe she was just mean.
"You know the Gallian Princess? You two must be very close for you to use her seal to get us past." Louise perked up.
"No." She was not close to her, at least not in any friendly manner. There was no affection, no kindness, no mercy. She hated Isabella, but there was nothing she could do.
"Oh…" Louise said as she visibly deflated.
"That Chevalier was serious, there is a flood. Look." Kirche announced as she pointed out the window to the water. The water couldn't have been more than inches from the road. They could see a few homes with only the roofs sticking out in the distance. Kirche subtlety winked at Tabitha, and she smiled at her friend, grateful for the change in topic.
They were in a village, but it was far too quiet. Tabitha was shocked that she hadn't been told about this. If the Water Spirit was responsible for this why hadn't Princess Isabella sent her to deal with it? Fighting a Water Spirit was essentially suicide, and Isabella had made it clear that she wanted Tabitha gone.
"Yeah, this road was going to be closed soon, as the water is getting high. The villagers left after the third attempt." Mical added from outside.
"After than third attempt?" Guiche questioned.
"Their third attempt to defeat the Water Spirit. They've tried eight times, and 12 Chevaliers are dead."
"How did you learn this?" Montmorency asked.
"…Leonhardt told me." Mical flatly told the group.
"Who?"
"Leonhardt Steiner." Mical waited a few moments. Tabitha already knew who he was talking about; she heard the entire conversation that Mical and Leonhardt shared. "He was the Chevalier who asked for your travel permits less than an hour ago. Was getting ready to attack us because we didn't have any papers pertaining to Saito. Gave us directions."
"Ohhhh…" The others went as they realized the obvious. "Are we close to the lake?"
"We're next to it. I just thought that it would be a good idea to call the spirit further away from people's homes. While they may not be living there anymore I'd rather not see more destroyed."
"Good, we should try to spare these homes." Louise said.
The Water Spirit watched as a group of humans approached, one of whom was very heavily bound and being carried. They didn't seem to be with the group that had been attacking it, though it had nothing to base this on. It needed to be ready to fight. One of the humans with long, yellow, curled fur approached and brought out a small frog. The human pricked its finger and smeared a drop of fluid on the yellow frog with black spots. It must have been the human's familiar. The Water Spirit felt the human use Water magic to heal the small prick on its finger.
The human released the frog and it swam. The Water Spirit could feel the blood, and already recognized who it was. It was Montmorency Margarita la Fère de Montmorency. The Spirit changed the flow of the lake, drawing the frog to it. "Why are you here?"
"My mistress wishes to speak with you because of your alliance." The frog relayed.
The Water Spirit moved forward, ready to meet Montmorency and the other humans with it. Hopefully these humans could help with a few problems. It began to rise from the surface of the lake as the frog jumped back on shore.
"I am a Montmorency Margarita La Fère de Montmorency. User of water, member of the lineage of old oath. I have put my blood on the frog to help you remember. If you remember, answer in a way and with words that we understand."
The Spirit began to shape itself, trying to make itself similar in form to Montmorency, as humans tended to be comfortable around human forms. The Water Spirit formed an expression on the face it formed, making the lips curve upwards, hoping it got the human expression correct. "I remember, human. I remember the liquid that flows in your body. The moon has changed 52 times since our last meeting."
Montmorency's lips curved upwards and she spoke with a joyous inflection. "I'm glad. Water Spirit, I need to ask you something. Although it might seem somewhat insensitive, could you give me a piece of your body?" Lips curving upward must be the human way of looking when saying something they know will be poorly received.
The Water Spirit's lips once again curved up, it was using the human expression correctly. "I refuse, human."
"Is that so? How unfortunate. Oh well, we'll be heading back now." Montmorency said.
A pink furred human had its mouth hanging open. It was an odd expression, so the Water Spirit decided to mimic it, figure out what it meant. "Hey hey! Wait a moment! Don't give up on Saito so quickly! Water Spirit!"
The pink furred human shoved Montmorency aside. "Wait! Stop it! Don't anger the Water Spirit!" Montmorency tried to thrust the pink furred girl aside, but it pushed Montmorency away.
A human with short blond fur inclined his head with a curious expression, the Water Spirit mimicked it. The pick furred human grabbed the bound human and dragged it to the water's edge. The bound human felt familiar. "Great Water Spirit! Please! I will do anything you ask for your tear! A little bit! Only a little bit!" It waited; watching the pink human, the waves from the lake could almost reach the pink human and the bound human. "Please Water Spirit! I am Louise François le Blanc de la Vallière, and I have done a grave injustice to this man here! Please, help me make things right, all I need is a single Tear! I will do anything!"
This human was interesting; the Water Spirit tried to change its form to match Louise, but it was difficult without a sample of its fluid that flows within. This human would be useful, it could be used to stop the attacks. It returned to Montmorency's form. "Very well."
"Truly?" Louise said. The waves were getting closer to her and the bound human. There was something about the bound human. If only the Water Spirit could fully feel it.
"But with one condition. As a mere human that doesn't know the reason of this world, you said that you would do anything?"
"Yes! That's what I said!"
"Then repel those that attack me, your comrades." It had been using nearly all of its power to raise the water level, and it can't distract itself with those humans.
Louise's expression returned to having its mouth agape. Its expression changed again, to a more neutral look. "Wh-why are they attacking you?"
"I am raising the water level." The Water Spirit answered, the waves just reached the Louise, and were nearly touching the bound human.
"Why are you raising the water level?" Louise asked.
"I don't know if I can trust you with-" The Water Spirit stopped as a wave touched the bound human. It was Gandàlfr. This was perfect.
"Water Spirit? Why can't you trust me?" Louise asked. Another wave came, and the Water Spirit had a firm grip on Gandàlfr's foot. The Water Spirit swiftly pulled Gandàlfr down and out of Louise's grip. "Saito! What are you doing! Give him back now!"
Gandàlfr was a human it could trust, it had dealings with her before and she was indebted to it. Though Gandàlfr felt different, she was male now. One thing was certain; Gandàlfr had a Tear within him. It had been moving through his system quickly for some reason. The Water Spirit made quick work of the brass bands restraining Gandàlfr, removing them with ease. Gandàlfr was instantly thrashing about now that he was unrestrained. The Water Spirit held Gandàlfr inches from the shape it was using to help communicate with the humans. It moved the Water around Gandàlfr's face away. "MY GOD SOMEBODY! VERDANDI! PLEASE HELP!" It seemed that whatever the Tear was doing was impairing his mind.
"Why is he asking for Verdandi?" One of the humans on land asked.
"Who cares? Help him!" The human with a red mane said in a particularly loud tone as it sent off a ball of fire, curving around Gandàlfr to hit the human form the Spirit was molding. It wasn't really of much concern, as the actual body of the Spirit was at the bottom of the lake.
As the humans on land began launching spell after spell at the molded human form, the Water Spirit focused on something more important. Removing the Tear within Gandàlfr. The simplest method was through the part of humans that moves the fluids. The Spirit made a quick cut on Gandàlfr's chest, maneuvering part of itself within Gandàlfr to find the Tear.
"STOP STOP STOP!" He was screaming. In pain most likely.
"Don't you want the Tear altering you removed?" The Spirit questioned as it stopped its search. The other humans seemed to have stopped too.
"IS IT GOING TO KILL ME?!" Gandàlfr said in a loud tone.
The Water Spirit began thinking, trying to remember how durable humans were. Those mages who attacked it were fairly fragile, and even in its weakened state caused by raising the water level they were easy to disable. Gandàlfr was certainly more durable than they were, but it didn't mean that he was durable enough to survive. "I don't know."
"Then don't do it! There's nothing wrong-" Gandàlfr squeezed his eyes shut, than opened them wide. "GIVE THEM A TEAR! THEY'LL FIX ME!" He was still fighting against the Tear.
Could it trust these other humans? They were with Gandàlfr, but Gandàldfr was bound. "Human."
"Yes?" Both Gandàlfr and Montmorency asked.
"Not Gandàlfr, the member of the lineage of old oath." The Spirit said. "I will give you a Tear, but Gandàlfr stays with me."
"What? NO!" Gandàlfr shouted as Spirit lowered him underwater, being sure to keep a bubble of air with him.
"Give us Saito!" The pick furred human shouted.
"You will create the remedy." The Spirit ordered as it tore a piece of its essence away. It crafted a vial from the water to hold the Tear. It levitated the vial to the humans on shore before releasing the water shaped as a human.
"Where can we make the potion?" Montmorency asked.
"Your estate is incredible!" Montmorency exclaimed as she stared at the nearing the old manor. No one answered. "So Tabitha, your family own…" Montmorency lost the thought as they approached the front gate. There was a crest on the gate consisting of two magic wands intersecting with the inscription "to advance." It was the Gallian royal family crest, and a crack could be seen on the crest. It was a sign of dishonor. Although it meant that this was the royal family, they were stripped of their rights.
The carriage stopped in front of the gates, and an old servant approached, bowed, and opened the carriage's door, with Tabitha stepping out first. "Miss, welcome back."
Montmorency followed out behind the others, and despite the beauty of the estate there was a grim feel to the place. She couldn't see any other servants. It was immaculately clean, to a level that pointed to disuse instead of maintenance. It was… unsettling. The group followed the old servant and arrived in the living room.
The room was neat, though strangely quiet, spiritless. It looked like a church preparing for a funeral.
Kirche sat herself down on the living room sofa and asked, "Can we first say hello to your father?"
Tabitha shook her head. "Percerin, take them to the reagents storage." Tabitha then left the room.
"Please follow me." The old servant said as he led them into the hallway.
"This is her home, yet it seems no one else is here, besides you." Kirche said as they all walked down the dark, empty halls.
"I'm the butler of the Orléans family, Percerin. Are you Miss Charlotte's friend?" The servant asked.
Montmorency gaped. Orléans was the family name of the Gallian King's younger brother. "I clearly don't know her that well." Guiche muttered.
"Of course I am." Kirche announced.
"If it's alright to ask why is there a dishonor sign on the crest of this house?" Louise inquired.
"It appears you are all foreigners, please forgive me, can I ask for your names?"
"I'm Germania's von Zerbst. She's a Vallière, Montmorency, and he's a Gramont. By the way what on earth is this estate? Why has Tabitha gone to study abroad using a fake name?" Kirche said.
"The Miss calls herself Tabitha... I see... she has never brought a friend before, let alone four." Percerin let out a long suffering sigh. "If you truly want to know, I will tell you…"
Tabitha knocked on the door. No answer. There was never an answer, there had never been an answer for the past five years. Tabitha opened the door and entered, keeping her eyes downcast. She already knew the room, containing only a bed, a table, a chair, her mother, and Charlotte. She felt a cool breeze, the window was still open. She kept her eyes down. She didn't want to see how much her mother had wasted away.
"Who is it!?" Her mother shouted.
Tabitha bowed, keeping her eyes averted. "I have returned mother."
"Go away, you insolent girl! Are you a spy of the royal family? You want to snatch my beautiful daughter Charlotte from my hands? I will never give my Charlotte to you!" Tabitha could see it in her mind's eye. Her mother was holding her doll, the fabric worn and faded from her mother rubbing it away, her mother staring ahead with darkened eyes.
The doll was Charlotte, and she was Tabitha.
"A victim of a succession fight?" Kirche asked it, Percerin nodded.
"Yes, it happened five years ago with the death of the King. He left behind two crown princes. The one on the throne now is the eldest son, Joseph. Miss Charlotte's father, the Duke of Orleans, was the second son."
"So she belongs to the royal family." Louise added quietly.
"The Duke of Orleans was talented and loved by all and appeared as a qualified ruler in the eyes of the people, even though he had to meet hardships being the second son. Because of this, many people supported the Duke and wanted him to take the throne. The palace was then divided into two factions, launching into an ugly struggle for power. Finally, the Duke of Orleans was murdered. He was struck in the chest with a poisoned arrow. A person who was nobler than anyone else in this country was killed not by magic, but by a poisoned arrow. The regret and the indignation were unimaginable. However the tragedy was far from over."
Percerin took a deep breath and continued.
"Next those who made Joseph the King started targeting the Miss. They wanted to stamp out the source of any possible future trouble. These people summoned Madame and the Miss to a banquet in their honor. However they had poisoned the Miss' drink. Madame had realized this, and in order to protect the Miss, drank it herself. It was a water magic poison, one that made whoever drank it insane. That became public knowledge, and the Nobles and servants responsible for the actions were punished." Louise felt like she was intruding. She barely knew Tabitha, or Charlotte, yet Percerin was telling them all something so personal. "Since then, the Miss sealed away her words and expressions. Miss Charlotte used to be lively, bright, happy, a different person."
"After seeing something like that happen, who wouldn't be a different person?" Montmorency mumbled.
Percerin continued. "Too true. The others, knowing they had failed and in order to protect themselves, sent a royal order to Miss Charlotte. The task was extremely difficult; no one had been able to accomplish, and all who were sent died. However the Miss did complete the task and pledged her loyalty to the royal family, to protect them. But Miss Charlotte was still treated coldly by the royal family. Normally this achievement would have been enough to deserve a territory, but instead she was granted the title of Chevalier and was forced to study abroad. The Madame stayed here at the house, in the current condition she is in."
Kirche muttered something, though Louise couldn't hear. She had trouble imagining that Nobles would do such a thing. Louise wondered how she would fare if placed in such a situation, having her parents stolen from her, losing everything she had, and being used by her enemies. She wouldn't have lasted long.
"I'm done." Montmorency muttered. "We can go save Saito."
"No, Chevaliers first." Everyone turned to Tabitha, as she turned to leave.
"Why?" Then Louise realized something very important, that slipped her mind after Saito's capture.
"Stopping them would help us get the Spirit to trust all of you…" Montmorency muttered.
"This is a terrible idea." The Chevalier, Leonhardt, muttered as he marched forward following Lady Charlotte and her entourage with all 8 of his remaining men. This was so unbelievably stupid. What could be so important as to put his people in danger? Why would Lady Charlotte order him and his men here to talk to the violent Spirit?
He glared at the kids as they approached the water's edge. That was incredibly reckless to get so close; the Water Spirit could pull them in if even a drop of the lake's water touched them. Then he saw the Spirit rising to meet them, and Leonhardt felt his jaw drop.
"You have returned, humans, and you brought my assailants." The Spirit said in a neutral tone.
"Yes, and they will stop attacking you." The blond girl, Montmorency, announced.
"WHAT?!" Leonhardt screamed. "AFTER EVERYTHING MY PEOPLE SACRIFICED YOU'RE CALLING US OFF?! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"
"Leonhardt," it was Lady Charlotte, "enough."
"But my Lady, we need to help this village, it is our duty to the small people to protect them. WE ARE NOBLES! We can't betray their trust." The commoners were helpless! It was the duty of their betters to guide them.
"Leonhardt, enough." Lady Charlotte ordered coldly.
The Water Spirit was staring; at least he thought it was staring. "I expect an oath."
They were staring at him. His Chevaliers, the Lady, her allies. He couldn't swear such an oath. To do so would mean the lives lost to the Spirit meant nothing. He looked to his Chevaliers, and saw a look of resignation. He didn't have a choice. He stepped forward and bended knee. "I swear, upon my title, the Steiner family name, and my honor, neither my men nor I shall turn our magic against the Water Spirit."
He felt disgusted. Tainted. "I trust that you appreciate our show of good faith?" The Vallière girl asked.
"It is unexpected but welcome. Pour the potion into the lake." The Spirit gently said with a scowl, as the thrashing prisoner that Lady Charlotte brought rose from the murky depths. Leonhardt was confused, why was Charlotte's prisoner now the Water Spirit's prisoner? Montmorency stepped forward wordlessly and dumped a potion into the lake. The potion flowed through the water into the struggling prisoner's mouth.
The prisoner was set upon the surface of the water on his feet and instantly began sprinting for shore, shouting some unintelligible gibberish. The instant he stepped on shore he lost his footing on the soft sand and fell on his face. He scrambled away from the water's edge, until he stopped, on his hands and knees, muttering more gibberish.
"Saito… are you alright?" The Vallière girl asked.
The prisoner stopped muttering to himself as he stood. The prisoner, Saito, suddenly cleared his expression of any signs of panic, replaced with a look of pure exhaustion. "Probably not."
"What's wrong?"
"…Everything…" He muttered.
"Gandàlfr." The Spirit boomed.
"Give me a moment." Leonhardt's jaw dropped. This Saito was Gandàlfr? This random man was Gandàlfr and he had the audacity to tell the Water Spirit to wait? He was willing to be that disrespectful? The man who was apparently Gandàlfr pulled himself to his feet.
"Very well." And the Water Spirit was fine with that?!
"Thanks." Gandàlfr muttered as he ran his hands through his hair. He took a deep breath, held it for a moment, released it, and the tension seemed to fade from his form. "Do you have any of my weapons?"
"We left them at Tabitha's estate." The Vallière girl said.
He let out a mixture of a groan and a whine. "Damn it… I feel naked without a weapon! Hell, I'd take anything right now, give me a shiv, I don't care! I just want a weapon."
He was suddenly a lot less impressive. "Well we don't have your weapons."
"But I want them now!" Saito shouted.
"Well we can't go get them now!"
"Well then magic me one! Guiche! Make me…" He suddenly trailed off as he turned toward the Gramont boy. They stared at eachother for a moment, both turning bright red, and then turning away from each other. "God damnit. Let's get this over with. Water Spirit, what do you want."
"I want you to retrieve what has been stolen from me." The Water Spirit stated.
They all stood silently for a moment, waiting for the Spirit to continue. "What was stolen?" Gandàlfr asked.
"The Ring of Andvari."
"I think I have heard of it." Montmorency muttered. "A legendary magic item of water. It is said to give false life to the deceased..."
"Death is a concept that I do not understand, therefore I cannot understand your description. The Ring of Andvari does not simply bring false life, it is the embodiment of the Strength of the Water, it is not simply a magical item."
"Who stole it?"
"Using wind magic, several humans came into my dwelling. They did not disturb me in my slumber and took away my most prized possession."
"You seem to have mistaken "who" with "how." I want names, how many, what do they look like?" Why hasn't the Spirit lashed out at him yet?
"There were 2 humans leading, one called Cromwell with golden fur, and another with long, dark fur and odd markings beneath its eyes."
"That doesn't really narrow things down much…" Leonhardt muttered.
"What can he do with the ring? The Strength of Water and the power of false life doesn't tell me much about what it can do." Gandàlfr pointed out.
"Those who are revived have their freedom stolen. They must obey the owner of the ring."
"It is a truly evil ring, animating the dead is a disgusting power." The Germanian said in a low voice.
"You said that Death was a concept that you didn't understand, so what do you mean by revived?"
"Saito, revival means brought back from the..." The Vallière girl as a look of realization covered her face. "It has a different concept of life and death."
"Could it exert control over those who aren't dead? What does it do besides control?"
"I do not know the full extent of what humans can do with it."
"Really? You don't? Damn it just tell me what it has been used for in the past!" Saito snapped.
The Water Spirit's expression suddenly turned neutral. "Gandàlfr, you forget your place. I have been tolerating you blatant acts of disrespect-"
"LISTEN TO ME!" Saito shouted with the fury of a Valiag monster , before he put up a veneer of calm. "I've been going through a lot of shit lately, so I'm sorry if I'm being short with you. I've been kidnapped from my very nice and comfortable and luxurious life, my mind is being fucked with, I've dealt with 3 assassination attempts, and the second I start feeling like things might be working out better for me a fucking fire lizard thing attacks me, I'm poisoned with a fucking Love Potion, the stupid bitch and her boyfriend who poisoned me with the Love Potion rob me. That's not even including the past few days of being bound, unable to move, reciting poetry, and being in love with Louise, Tabitha, the blond idiot and a fucking mole! Now I need to show respect to you, you, who are asking me for help. So let's ignore my disrespect because I'm not in the mood for mincing words. You want my help, I'll have a few requests once you finish telling me about the ring of Andvi. Now tell me, how many people can it control at once?"
Leonhardt's mouth was hanging open, an expression the other's shared at the rant. The quiet fury was terrifying. There was dread hanging in the air, waiting for the Water Spirit to lash out at Gandàlfr. "I aided you in the past, Gandàlfr, you are indebted to me."
"I've never met you before in my life, I am not indebted to you." Gandàlfr added.
"I aided your past form, you must aid me." The Water Spirit calmly said with a smile.
"That was an agreement made by someone else. Would you consider it fair if I made a deal with a different Spirit but held you responsible for it? I am Saito Hiraga, and I am not the Gandàlfr that you knew. I will not be held responsible for the actions of another."
"Very well." The Spirit began as a similar look of fury came over its face. "In the hands of the weak, tens; in the hands of the strong, hundreds; in the hands of Myozunitonirun, tens of thousands. And I am looking for the Ring of Andvari."
"Thank you. Who is Myozitnitz… ton… However you say it? Who is it?"
"Myozunitonirun is the Mind of God, one of your counter parts as a servant to the Void. Where you have mastery over weapons, Myozunitonirun has mastery over all items magical."
"Any other relevant information that could make Andvari easier to find?"
"No."
"I'll need you to do two things for me. They're simple."
"What do you need?"
"Information and for you to lower the water level back to its original level, while ensuring that any damage to the people's homes and fields you flooded are repaired."
"It will take time to lower the water level. Time means nothing to me, but it seems to mean something to you."
"I don't mind."
"What information do you require?"
"Information on Void magic and portals opening up with things coming through." Portals? There must have been something bigger going on.
"I have no knowledge on Void, though I have experienced the portal. Is that acceptable?"
"That's alright, what encounters have you had with the portals? Did any people or things fall through? When did it happen?"
"It occurred on the previous night of the Blue Moon. No living objects, but there is one object." That was two nights ago, when the larger blue moon completely eclipsed the smaller pink moon.
A small, shiny object came to the water's edge, it seemed to have a handle wrapped in white cloth. It didn't really look all that impressive, though if it came through the portals that Gandàlfr was investigating it must be important. Who knew what kind of magical potential that shiny object possessed. "It's a shiv… Made out of a spoon… And it works…"
"It works? How?" They all turned to the Zerbst girl.
Gandàlfr glanced at his gloved left hand, looked back to the Zerbst girl. "It's a shiv, you… Shiv people with it. I'm… Pretty sure that it works?"
"Umm… Alright…" Kirche and Saito stared at each other for a moment.
"Gandàlfr, is there anything else?" The Spirit interjected.
"Oh, no, nothing else, I'll just toss the ring in the lake or something once I find it. I can't promise that I'll get it back to you soon, but I'll get it to you as soon as I can."
"Time is of little consequence to one such as I. Farewell, Gandàlfr."
"Thank you Water Spirit. See you once I get the Ring of… Andvari?" Gandàlfr said as the Spirit sank into the lake. "Well, let's get out of here, I need to rest."
AN: Well, hopefully I'll get the next chapter out sooner. Don't have much to say here. Like I said, the poll will be reopened later, so you'll be able to vote again later.
This is Lee, and I'm out!