I don't own Zero no Tsukaima.
AN: Damn it has been way too long. Sorry. College and work got in the way, as well as a few rewrites. Started learning another language too, going for fluency in four languages. Also, time skip!
Now to go straight into the story!
"Nothing new then?"
"No, Megumi, nothing new." Emiko Hiraga sighed into the phone.
"Fucking police, how the hell have they not found anything? It's been almost two months, maybe his bed, any of his stuff? Can't the NSA track his phone or something?" Her daughter fumed.
"I don't think it works that way, besides, his phone wasn't worth stealing." Emiko weakly joked.
"Yeah." Megumi muttered with a forced chuckle. "Stay safe mom, I'm sure he's okay. I'm sure Saito's doing better than me, I still have classes."
Louise let out a massive yawn, raising her arms up, extending her legs and straightening her back as she stretched out, tipping her chair back as she did so. She was exhausted, and needed a break. She listened to Chevreuse lecture about transmutation, telling her nothing she didn't already know. It wasn't like this class even mattered. She couldn't transmute, she understood the basic theories behind it, and she had even memorized Magnus's all-encompassing theory on Material Alteration and Creation.
It didn't matter, this was Earth magic, and she was Void. She glanced at Saito, sitting next to her, jotting down notes occasionally as he read from some book pertaining to familiar summoning, all while still wearing the armor he wore while at the palace. It has been just over a month, and they were no closer to understanding Void. It was beyond her to comprehend how he could still work so hard in the face of so much failure. So much time wasted. So much time without a break.
"Saito."
"Yep?" He said without so much as looking away from his tome.
"I'm not working on Void today." And now she had to wait for him to get annoyed with her.
"Fine, I'll be working on the motorcycle, should be ready to test it again." Saito said, without even glancing at her.
"...I thought that would be harder…"
"Eh, you look tired. So rest. I've got other projects."
Now she just felt weak. While all of her work and practice felt non-stop, she knew Saito was doing more than she was. Every second he wasn't with her he was reading, exercising, or spending time with Professor Colbert making stuff. She was mentally and physically drained, and Saito looked fine. Like it was no trouble to be studying Void, building stuff, and just generally not resting. Every morning he was running as she woke up, and every night he was working as she went to bed. He didn't seem to get tired.
Colbert had just finished teaching his classes, and he needed to grade papers. He had been falling behind, working with Saito in his off hours and modifying their engine designs. He marched to his lab, now connected to Saito's living quarters. Saito had brought out the two wheeled motorized transport they had made.
It was quite phenomenal when they had successfully made the non-motorized version, which Saito had called a "Bike" or "Bicycle." While it was a bit odd that it required the rider to both provide propulsion and balance the device, it was undeniably effective. The motorized version would take out the need for personal propulsion, making it the first non-magic method of personal transportation that didn't rely on beasts of burden.
The motorized bike itself was fairly simple. The two wheels had steel spokes holding the wooden wheel, due to a lack of good rubber, both natural and transmuted, they used soft bovine leather to prevent too much wear on the wheel and provide better traction. The engine they were using was at the center, between the wheels and hidden underneath a steel guard designed mainly to prevent any unwanted materials from falling into the engine. Above the protective case for the engine was the seat that could comfortably fit two people, leather and with sufficient cushions to make the ride semi-comfortable, and a removable crank to get the engine started. On the back of the seat was the fuel tank which could hold 4 gallons of fuel. The entire thing lacked paint, and the roughness prevented any shine or gleam from it.
"Is it ready?" Colbert asked as he neared.
"The breaks seem to be working, stress tested them before you got here. Hopefully we won't have a repeat of the previous mishap." Saito said nervously as he got into the seat. "Here we go."
Saito grabbed the crank, and began turning it as fast as he could, the engine slowly sputtering to life. A grin spread over both men's faces as the engine took a life of its own, and Saito removed the crank and stuck it in his pocket. They would need a bag for the crank in future iterations of the motorized bike.
Saito had a firm grip on the handles, and put the motorized bike into gear. It jerked forward, picking up speed. A broad smile covered Colbert's face. Everything was working perfectly so far, now they just needed to test the brakes. Saito was going faster and faster, Colbert was now certain that the motorized bike was going faster than the fastest horse. Saito turned toward Colbert, riding towards him. He was slowing down.
That was it. It worked. The brakes did their job. Saito picked up speed again and rode to him, stopping next to Colbert. "It works. What should we start on now?"
Colbert stared at Saito, confused. He wanted to do more? Everything was working, and at this point he needed to get to work doing actual professorial work, like grading his students' work. He needed the rest of the day to catch up on work that had fallen by the wayside when he had been indulging his hobbies with Saito. "That's it for today, I have other work that needs to be done. Work on Void with Louise."
"Can't, she needed a break. Can't go to the library for more information on Void and Brimir, already poured over everything that was of any substance."
"You could look over your notes. Or look for information that pertaining to other artifacts of your homeland appearing in Halkeginia." Colbert suggested.
"Don't do that partner, you won't find anything useful about stuff from your home to get you back." The sword on Saito's hip chimed in.
"Derf's right, that was a dead end. I'll just be in the lab experimenting with fuel, or making something to reload spent brass."
"You could show off your new thing." The sword suggested.
The two men looked at the motorized bike. "I really like that. It'll be like a fun, extended stress test. I could give rides. Maybe make a few and sell them for some extra money."
"They aren't easy to make…" Colbert muttered.
"So they won't be cheap. Eventually we could simplify the manufacturing process, make it cheaper. However this is the first one, it was the most difficult one to make. The next will be easier. I'll get started on it later."
"Great, I'll get started on some grading." He was behind, it had been just short of a month since he last graded anything for his students.
"I was wondering when I'd get my work back." Saito said with a grin before speeding off.
Colbert looked through some of his students' work, Saito had handed work in. "When did he find the time."
Louise let out a content sigh. She needed this. Just a chance to sit back and do nothing. She was done with all of her coursework, and she had finished her assignments and the paper Professor Guiteau assigned that was due weeks from now. She had absolutely nothing to worry about. Staring out at the courtyard,
"My Lady Vallière, your fruit tart and red tea." The maid, Siesta, said with a smile.
"Which red tea is it?"
"Golden needle, from across the elven lands in Rub'al Khali, from an area known as Kunmin. I am certain you will find it exquisite." Siesta said as she set the plate and filled her cup.
"Thank you." Louise reflexively said as she took a sip, and took a deep, content sigh. This tea was sweet and slightly fruity, and it was so unbelievably smooth. It was like liquid silk. "Thank you." Louise repeated, this time she really meant it.
She closed her eyes, enjoying the bright sunny day, when she heard a faint, constant roar. It was getting louder, closer, and more annoying. She opened her eyes and saw Saito riding the motor thing he was making with Professor Colbert. Some of the students started making a commotion over the device and Saito making a scene. He got close and made it stop roaring, kicked down a metal rod that held it up.
"Hi Siesta, hi Louise!" Saito said with a grin. "I got it working, either of you want a ride?"
"May I?" Siesta looked giddy.
"Hop on and hang on tight." Saito said with a grin as he pulled out a crank and stuck it in the motor thing. The maid hopped on and hugged herself tightly to him. He started to turn the crank quickly and it started roaring again. "HERE WE GO!"
Saito zoomed away as the maid let out a yelp. Louise let out a cough at the smell it left behind, scowling at him as he rode away. "My, what is that? It moves. It's faster than most mounts." Kirche muttered as she walked up, Tabitha trailing behind.
"Some motor thing he's been making." Louise said with a shrug. It was impressive, but it was too loud.
"What kind of magic is it using?" Kirche asked.
"None." Louise said as she helped herself to her tart. She didn't really care, sure it was impressive but it wasn't Void, it wasn't even magic. Besides, she needed a break from all of that.
"It's so loud, fast… powerful. I want one." Kirche breathlessly muttered as she sat across from Louise.
Louise scoffed. "You would be interested in some commoner novelty." Such a thing was beneath them. That and the non-motor version just showed how ridiculous Saito was about not knowing how to ride a horse. She turned away from the irritating Zerbst, and saw a Griffin flying toward the Academy.
Wardes sat on his Griffin, Vael, staring down at his newest unofficial subordinate. "What is your impression on Louise?"
"She's been studying Void. Most of it went over my head. Dispel removes all magic effects from the area, the greatest range I saw it display was just over a one mile radius, smallest radius was one foot, greatest duration was seven hours, shortest two seconds. Usually it covers a couple hundred feet and lasts about 20 minutes. She's also working on Illusion with Saito, although the best they've done so far is make a weird blob of blue, pink, and like some beige? It was pretty ugly. They haven't done anything with the explosions. They also meet in her room almost every night, not sure what they're doing there." He said in a bored tone.
"Her Familiar?"
"He prefers ally. He keeps ridiculous hours, he sleeps about 6 hours every night. He runs 3 miles every morning, followed by working his upper body, followed by combat practice by himself. He then bathes, wakes Louise, and goes about their day at classes and Void practice. When he's not doing that he's working on non-magic things that make less sense than the Void stuff in a separate building that I haven't been in before. He is making a two wheeled transport that is really fast, calls it a bike. I haven't seen him fight someone before, but based on what little I know, never get close enough where close-quarters is possible. Also, I heard his sword absorbs magic, but I haven't seen it do that yet, although it is a sentient sword so it is probably true. Here's my notes on everything, and here's my notes on what they did day to day." He presented a journal as he finished his explanation
Wardes grabbed the notes and took a quick glance at it before giving it back. "Keep the notes, I have the reports you sent. I need you to go to La Rochelle, meet with your sister, and prepare the hotel, the Goddess's Temple. Once ready stay hidden. I should arrive at the port city at the earliest two days from now."
"Got it, it'll be ready for you." Wardes's agent ran off. It was still apparent that he was a street rat, lacking the proper formality that a real Noble possesses.
Wardes spurred Vael on, taking off to the skies. Looking to the Academy for his missions, ready to see his Louise. Flying over the treetops he gazed at the six towers of the Academy, one on each corner, with the largest at the center. Looking down he picked out Louise's bright hair, and something zooming around the Academy. It was fast. Really fast. Wardes descended and saw that it was Saito, the Familiar, and some servant hanging on tight.
Wardes followed watching it, trying to figure out what magics were propelling it. Was it Void? It was loud and roaring. Saito looked back and saw Wardes flying behind him, flashed him a broad grin and waved. Then he started going faster. It was an impressive surface speed, he never thought that something on the ground could go so fast on the ground at a consistent speed. Wardes was certain that Vael could easily go many times faster, and he was still outpacing him without trying. Wardes pulled away and went to Louise.
Wardes landed, enjoying the sight of the girls' hair flying from the wind of Vael's wings. "Louise, you look as radiant as ever." Wardes smoothly said as he dismounted.
Louise had jumped out of her seat, and was smoothing any ruffles on her uniform, trying to look presentable. "Lord Wardes, whatever brought you here?"
"Louise, where have you been hiding this wonderful specimen?"
"Sorry, I'm spoken for. Louise is my fiancé." Wardes charmingly said, not sparing the Zerbst even a glance her way. "And I don't believe I need a reason to visit my fiancé."
"It is wonderful of you to come see me, Wardes. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Just your presence. Though I have heard that things are going better for you scholastically." Wardes said as he walked over, pulling out a chair and sitting beside Louise.
"Teachers tend to be more lenient when they are aware that I am not of a conventional element." Louise nervously said.
"Any advances you can show me on the Void front?" Wardes asked, hoping for a demonstration so he could assess her skills himself. Louise visibly tensed.
"I believe that there's one you can safely use in the Academy." Kirche said with a smirk. Louise shot her a quick glare.
"I'd love to see it." Wardes gently pushed. Louise looked at Wardes, clearly terrified of failing before him. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, gently squeezed. "I'm sure you'll do fine, could you please show me?" Louise smiled up at him, before looking away and drawing her wand.
Louise stood up, closed her eyes, and began calmly breathing, looking content. A mess of colors appeared before them, shifting and churning, molding into a shape. A blob of reds and blues, greens and yellows twisting into a human shape. Then it took form, he was looking at himself. It was a perfect image of himself, nothing like what his agent had reported.
"YEAAAAH!" Saito came roaring in on his mechanical mount. The mount stopped growling, and the servant stumbled off while Saito leapt off. He started rambling incomprehensible gibberish as he jumped around the illusion. He leaned close, face to face with the illusion Wardes before it flashed into a blindingly bright light without a sound.
Wardes rubbed his eyes. Saito was now muttering gibberish that sounded angry instead of jubilant. "Saito, what are you saying?" Kirche asked, also rubbing the spots out of her eyes.
"What are you… Wait, sorry, just realized I slipped into English. I was really excited, then really surprised, just fell into it. I mean Louise that was perfection! Today has been great! The motorcycle is working and the wheels are working better than any of my expectations! I'd say that I almost have the jet fuel figured out, and now you've gone from having some trouble on Illusion to perfection! It's just!" Saito giddily exclaimed before breaking into a fit of giggles. This was, suffice to say, not what he expected from the legendary Gandàlfr.
"It's not that exciting." Louise droned, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"It is exciting!"
"Louise, it is Void, and it is incredible." Wardes said as he wrapped an arm around her.
"IT IS! We should go out and practice! We need to-"
"Saito, I'm taking a break." Louise firmly stated.
"But-"
"You're starting to get annoying."
Saito groaned as he pulled out the crank and stepped away. "Fine, I'll just stress test the motorcycle more, look for design flaws..." Saito froze as he looked at the crank then turned to his mechanical mount, then looked back at the crank.
"Saito, I wouldn't mind a ride on your motorcycle." Kirche chimed in.
"What? Sorry, I wasn't listening. I just realized that I'm an idiot. I should have made a moped."
"I agree." Louise confidently exclaimed.
"What's a moped?" Wardes asked.
"I don't know." Louise said.
Louise was wearing a huge grin. Today was incredible. She spent her day with Wardes, though the highlight was definitely when Wardes so casually dismissed Kirche's flirtations. It was also so incredible to have a break where she wasn't working non-stop. Now she was clutching to Wardes as he escorted her to her room.
"Wardes, today was a delight." Louise said as they reached her room.
Wardes opened the door to her room, "There is something I would like to discuss with you, Louise."
Louise walked into her room, heart thumping hard and fast. She was wracking her head trying to figure out what Wardes would need to tell her in private. In her bed room. ALONE! "O-of course!" Louise said as she shambled in.
"I apologize Louise, but I'm not here just to see you." Wardes morosely said.
Louise released a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. He didn't want her to do anything… further. "You have a lot of responsibilities, I understand."
"The Princess had a request of you, and I absolutely had to go with you."
Louise felt incredible, Princess Henrietta needed her, Wardes was taking time away from his duties to help her. "What does the Princess need?"
"We will be traveling to the port city of La Rochelle, and traveling to Albion to recover a letter she wrote to Prince Wales. Apparently it could threaten the wedding." Louise's wasn't sure how she felt about that. On one hand she knew that Princess Henrietta didn't want to get married to the Emperor Albert III, and on the other she knew that Tristain needed the military alliance that came with it. She wanted her dearest friend to be happy, but she knew what was best for the people of Tristain. "It would be best to leave soon. Though, I hope it is alright with you if I make a political move."
"Is it okay to do that with something so important?"
"It will only affect us until we reach La Rochelle. I don't like the candidates we have for the new Royal Messenger, I'm hoping to drag it out until we have at best a mediocre option. It seems like the most likely family to win the appointment will be the Fézensaguets. I wouldn't be doing this if it endangered you or the Royal Family. I am only doing this because we don't want to replace Mott with someone worse."
"Of course." Louise doubted that anyone could be worse than Mott. "Who will we be taking?"
"The Gramont boy."
Louise held back a groan. "I suppose he makes sense, the Gramont's are prestigious. Their family has achieved dozens of military victories, however I don't think they would be able to fulfill the role as Royal Messenger. The Valois would be ideal."
"I can make that happen. Besides, any difficulty the Gramont boy adds can easily be covered by Gandàlfr."
Louise stiffened, "Right, we need to bring Saito."
"I could talk to him for you."
"YES!" Louise blushed at her overeager response. "I mean no, I should do it." Saito would accept it better from her.
Wardes chuckled, "Very well. Two more things, the Princess wanted me to give you a gift and what we are delivering." Louise watched as Wardes revealed an envelope with her seal, addressed to Prince Wales and a ring with a large blue ruby. It was the Ruby of Water, Heirloom of the Royal Family and once adorned the hand of the Founder Brimir Himself. Princess Henrietta trusts her with this priceless treasure. She trusted him with the message. It was magnificent. Wardes slipped it on her finger.
"I'll tell Saito. You tell Guiche." Louise ran off, trying to contain her excitement. She stared at the ring. It was beautiful. She was trusted. She was going to Albion!
She froze. She was going to Albion. On a mission that could preserve Princess Henrietta's arranged marriage and provide military protection from Germania. Why would anyone trust her with so much? Sure she could trust Wardes with this, but her? This was too much. She looked back at the ring. The Princess trusted her.
Louise walked the rest of the way. She wasn't ready for something like this, it would just be Saito and Wardes doing everything. She was going to be as useful as Guiche. She approached Saito's door. She knocked.
Saito flung the door open. "Evening Louise, come on in, what do you need?" Louise saw into his room for the first time. Blackboards, books, and papers covered every surface.
Louise wasn't sure what to say, how to get him to go with them. "We're going to Albion." She blurted.
"…Okay? That's the floating continent, right?"
"We're leaving tomorrow."
"Okay, so why are we going there?"
"To save the Princess's marriage."
"Could we stay at the Academy instead? Isn't there a war going on there with the Reconquerers or something?"
"Reconquista." Derflinger said from the corner.
"Right, Reconquista." Saito repeated.
"You don't have to go, but I am." Louise told him, hoping that she sounded resolute.
"Seriously?"
"Yes." Louise walked out. "Be ready in the morning."
Horses are slow. Sure they could run fast but they couldn't do that indefinitely. When the engine took off horses would be like what they were back home, a luxury item for people with too much money. At this rate it would take two days. He had taken to scouting up ahead and making sure the path ahead was safe, it was more fuel efficient than slowing to a pace that matched a horse.
Though he wished he wasn't attached to the political situation here. He knew nothing about what the Reconquista was beyond that they were rebels against the Albion Royal Family and the Royal Family was losing. Now he was going to be involved in a political situation he didn't understand. At the very least he figured the Royal Family must have done something wrong. Large groups of rebels don't spring up out of nowhere for no reason. There's probably legitimate grievances that they are dealing with. Of course he couldn't just have Louise go into the fire by herself. She was involved, so he was too.
Saito turned off his motorcycle, and rested a hand on Derflinger and the other on his Beretta that now rested in a proper holster, feeling the runes' power flow through him. Too bad they couldn't leave Guiche behind. Saito understood Wardes's reasoning, no one wanted another Mott in charge. It just made things so inconvenient. Wardes seemed professional, and Saito hoped that he wasn't playing politics with anything important. From what little he knew Wardes was very competent and a skilled mage.
Saito let go of Derflinger, feeling the runes' power leave. He pulled out his small journal, and jotted down ideas about making a four wheeled vehicle. Even with magic it didn't make the wood strong enough to support too much weight or strain. There's a reason they don't use wooden wheels on cars and bikes back home. He had spare wheels in his oversized packs, along with some tools, extra fuel, two ancient MREs, some water and ammo for his guns. Going over the dirt road and open terrain was putting some real strain on the wheels, and they were wearing down. He would probably go through wheels faster than gas, even with enchantments that were supposed to make it more durable.
He should be able to get his hands on some windstones. He had only read about them, and how they were used to make ships fly. It was why ports were in the mountains. Albion seemed to be their destination, the floating continent. It was literal. The name of the place just made him think on the Fable games. He could use the stones to make the motorcycle lighter, reduce the strain on the wheels. Saito started chewing his lip, considering how helpful that would be. Wouldn't be good commercially.
The others were catching up, so Saito put the journal away, cranked the motorcycle back to life and sped ahead. He went off road, zipping through the trees. Eyes scanning everything searching for anything suspicious. He had been caught off guard before, and he wanted to avoid that. Sure this would eat up fuel, but he had more than enough. Even while weaving through the trees he still outpaced the horse.
Saito swerved back onto the road, stopped and rested a hand on Derflinger. Saito looked back, and saw the Griffin. He glanced around a decided to wait for them to catch up again. It was time to start lunch. He pulled out an MRE, it was another chili and macaroni one. He stepped off to the side of the road, hand still resting on Derflinger.
Then he saw him. A man hiding in a tree, releasing an arrow. Saito's grip on Derflinger strengthened as he pulled him out, everything slowed as he watched the arrow approach, with two more joining it from a lower vantage. Saito could tell, he wouldn't be able to stop them. They cut into his blue nylon sweater, and tinged off of the armor chest plate he had underneath. They put holes in one of the few reminders of home he had.
Saito could feel more power flowing though the runes as he charged at the hapless man, leaping to the man's hiding spot like it was nothing and bashing his chin with Derflinger's pommel, sending the man falling. He saw three more on the ground, one turning to him with a bow. Saito pulled his Beretta with his right hand.
BANG!
He hit center mass on the archer on the ground. The archer kept struggling to pull the string as Saito jumped down, landing behind the trio on the ground. He slammed the blunt edge on the nearest, drawing a sword, lifting the man with the force of the blow and sending him out into the road, four were running across to join.
He holstered his pistol as he slammed the pommel into one turning to meet him. Saito gripped him by the throat and threw him at the people rushing to join. The human projectile hit the two in the middle, knocking them down as Saito wacked the archer he shot, breaking his bow and probably some of his ribs and throwing him to the street as well. Saito grabbed the unmoving man who he knocked off of the tree and threw him at the men who crossed the road, hitting one. The two on the ground had thrown their comrade off of them.
Then a torrent of wind lifted all eight of them into the air, and another gust swiftly slammed them into the ground. Wardes landed with his griffin, combat wand drawn. He easily deflected an arrow and turned away from it, charging into the trees opposite the side Saito was on.
Fire rained down, lighting the trees ablaze. Saito looked up and saw Tabitha's dragon circling overhead with Kirche and Tabitha riding her. Six bandits ran out of the surrounding woods and joined the eight on the ground. "WE SURRENDER PLEASE DON'T KILL US!"
Saito stepped back onto the road. They ditched their weapons and had their hands up. "Please be merciful."
Saito gestured at them with Derf. "Make sure your friends aren't dead."
"That's the appropriate response to running into 3 triangle class mages, a dragon and Gandàlfr." Derflinger muttered. Saito simply nodded in response.
The Griffin came out with Wardes and Louise. "Why are they here?" Louise asked.
"No clue."
The dragon landed, to the terror of the bandits as they huddled together. Kirche and Tabitha hopped off the dragon. Tabitha was still in sleepwear. "You didn't really need our help, did you?" Kirche chuckled as she took a seat on the motorcycle.
"As great as your pointless aid was, why are you here?" Louise practically hissed.
"Not to help you. I saw you leaving the Academy this morning, I quickly woke up Tabitha and followed you here."
"Zerbst, listen here, we're on a secret mission on behalf of her Highness and-"
"LOUISE! Why would you tell anyone that you're on a secret mission?" Saito scolded as he turned to watch the bandits. They were actually pretty well armed.
"Well she's infuriating!"
"You know what, I don't care. I'll keep an eye on the people who were trying to kill me 20 seconds ago." Saito said, stepping away toward Wardes.
"Saito, keep an eye on them." Wardes ordered, grabbing one of the bandit and dragging her off.
He shrugged, it was good to keep them isolated when Wardes interrogated them. Saito looked over the bandits, he looked toward the one who he knocked out of the tree. He didn't seem to be moving, or breathing. Saito bit his lip, that man was probably dead. The one he shot was breathing in shallow gasps, with two others putting pressure on the wound. Saito looked at the others, one girl sitting near Louise and Kirche was pulling a dagger.
Saito rested a hand on Derflinger and the other on his Beretta. The girl jumped up, charging at Louise.
BANG!
She stumbled at the impact as a torrent of wind threw her into the air and held her there. Her dagger clanked on the ground, Saito picked it up as he holstered his pistol. It was really dull. "Nice job Tabitha, glad I'm not the only one who noticed her. You can drop her now." Saito said, hoping that he sounded confident and cocky. She was dropped to the ground, clutching her sternum. Saito grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the ground. "Why were you targeting Louise? Why not her, she shot fire at you. Why did you target me?"
She spat on him. "Fuck you." She forced out, both hands trying, break his grip.
Saito wiped the bloody spittle off his face, still holding her up. "Anyone else have an answer?"
"Please let Marta go, we saw you alone and thought you'd be an easy mark!" One of the bandits shouted from the crowd. "You have all that stuff strapped to your bike, you're carrying all those weapons. We thought a few arrows to the chest and we'd have a big score. So please, let my sister go, let me look at her injury."
Saito dropper her. He knew what a bike was. He pointed at his motorcycle. "How do you know what a bike is?"
"Because… that's what… it is?" The man was shrinking into himself.
"Who told you what a bike is?" Saito asked with a glare.
The man was quiet. He knew he said something he shouldn't have. Someone was watching him at the Academy. The concept of a bike didn't exist until Saito made one. Random bandits on the side of the road should not have any clue what it is. Who could know? Who was watching him work? How did they know he was leaving the Academy? Saito looked at the girl who lunged at Louise. She might have targeted Louise intentionally.
"What happened?" Wardes was back, floating down with the girl he took away.
"Shot one of them who lunged at Louise. What took you?"
"I can't interrogate them within earshot of their comrades. Louise, are you alright?" Wardes said as he went to Louise's side and held her close.
"I'm fine, Saito and Tabitha were watching them."
"Thank the Founder. That being said, I don't believe that they were waiting for us."
"They were waiting for us, they knew what my transport was. Someone was watching me while I worked, and used that to help the bandits identify us." Saito responded, careful to avoid naming his motorcycle.
"They did?" Wardes looked at the bandits, drawing his combat wand, and taking a long, pondering look at them.
A horse came clopping up, Guiche panting on it. "What did I miss?"
"Why are you tired, the horse did all the running?" Saito muttered.
"You've never ridden a horse before." Guiche said.
Then Wardes cast a spell. Saito saw wind lance out of his wand, picking up the 14 bandits and ripping them to shreds.
AN: Well, hopefully the next chapter won't take so long. Next time, La Rochelle, Fouquet, maybe Mott, thermobarics, nuclear fusion, and other things. Get ready for the Albion arc!
This is Lee, and I'm out!