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Chapter 14: The Floating City of Albion

Ramming his hands down onto the railing of the patio, Tlopfest continued to growl in rage, having his old instincts start to take over. Guiche, for his part, got up and tried to go over to Tlopfest. "T-Tlopfest? Are you alright?" Putting his hand on the pigman's shoulder, Tlopfest whirled around and almost smacked Guiche upside the head in the process, though the earth mage was able to get back in time. Seeing Guiche again, Tlopfest finally started getting a hold of himself, his red eye lessening in intensity.

Shaking his head, Tlopfest finished calming down, although his eye still shone light-red in color. "Ugh, haven't gotten that mad since…well, forever. You alright, Guiche?"

"Uh..y-yeah." Guiche was still somewhat shaken by the encounter of Fouquet and then seeing Tlopfest almost go crazy.

Looking towards the shrinking ship, Tlopfest narrowed his eyes at it. "Guiche, we gotta get up to Albion, ASAP. According to some informants I met, Wardes seems to be helping a rebellion called "Reconquista" up there at Albion." Guiche's eyes widened at that piece of information. "What's worse, they seem to have gotten a cache of thaumcraft crystals, which are able to enhance the mages' power here."

"Y-you're lying. There's no way the captain of the griffin force would work with them!" Guiche couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Well then how do you explain the fact that those two left?" Tlopfest turned towards Guiche, his eye getting a little brighter. "How did Fouquet know exactly where we were at this point in time? What's worse," Tlopfest looked down, putting a hand over his head, "I left Louise with that madman, and now she's gone along with him to that stupid island. All for a stupid letter!" Tlopfest kicked the rail behind him in frustration. "We just had to have the princess come to us for yet another favor. Louise just had to go through with it. We just HAD to have Wardes be our guard!" Tlopfest was starting to lose it again, his eye brightening with every kick to the railing. "And I. Kick. Just. Kick. Had. Kick. To. Kick. Open. Kick. That. KICK. DAMN. KICK. PORTAL!"

With one final kick and yell of frustration, Tlopfest knocked the railing out of line, sending part of it tumbling down the slope. Breathing heavily, Tlopfest turned and started down the stairs. "Come on Guiche. We need to get to the damn port."

"B-but-"

"NOW!" Tlopfest yelled at Guiche, startling him. Not wanting to upset the enraged pigman any further, Guiche got up and started leading the way to the actual port, the pigman fuming behind him the entire time.

"Son of a FREAKING wither!" Tlopfest exclaimed. Guiche and Tlopfest had just finished talking with the port masters, finding out that the ship that passed over them was the last one for the day. Worse, the next ship wouldn't be arriving until midday tomorrow.

The walk over had at least calmed the pigman down some, but Tlopfest could feel some of his anger rising back up again. "So we got no ship, no Wardes or Louise thanks to him, and basically, no plan!" Tlopfest threw his hands up in frustration before plopping on the ground, trying to think of something. Seeing his chance, Guiche walked back up to the pigman in hopes of getting more answers from him.

"Tlopfest, what exactly did you mean when you said Wardes was working with 'Reconquista'," a hint of disbelief still in his question.

"I meant what I said." Tlopfest said, still looking off to the distance. "Supposedly that rebellion up in Albion is led by a group that call themselves 'Reconquista.' According to an informant group I ran into, Wardes is part of this group." Tlopfest turned to Guiche, his eye still having hints of red within. "With how Wardes was acting as we were coming here, as well as using a freaking Thaumaturgical crystal, whatever he wants with Louise, it can't be good." Looking back to the horizon, Tlopfest sighed. "I just wish I was actually there to stop Wardes from taking Louise…"

While Tlopfest started to wallow a bit in himself, Guiche turned to where Tlopfest was looking as well. "Well, I still can't quite believe that. Captain Wardes has been the captain of the griffin team for quite some time, and is one of the most trusted individuals in the kingdom of Tristan. There is no reason for him to go work with these rebels!"

Tlopfest snorted at that. "Guiche, have you seen yourself, or rather, most of the nobility here? Remember what I said before going to Mott? Most of you guys suck, big time. If I had to guess, once Wardes heard of this group and saw how they were doing, he decided to rebel with them in the shadows of Tristan."

Guiche just shook his head at that. "While there may be many nobles who are not so noble, not including us-" "Uh huh, sure buddy," Tlopfest muttered under his breath. "There are many that are proper nobles, leading the commoners to ensure that everyone prospers."

"You mean the nobles prosper."

"T-that's not the point you stupid familiar!"

Tlopfest rolled his eyes. "Well, whatever. The point is, Wardes is a traitor, as he's got Louise, and we still have no way to get that stupid floating island!" Tlopfest grunted, throwing his hands back onto the ground. "Now unless you actually have an idea to get up there, please, just shut. Up. I gotta think."

Just then, Guiche noticed a figure coming their way, with familiar red and blue-colored individuals on top. "I think I just found a way up there."

After arriving at Albion, Louise and Wardes made their way over to Wale's hideout, rather peacefully for a country in civil war. Heading inside, the two of them were quickly ambushed by a troop of knights, all pointing their swords at them.

"Stand down you lot," Wardes said. "We are not here for you. We are the ambassadors from Tristan and seek audience with Prince Wales."

"Tristain ambassadors huh?" One of the knights stepped forward, continuing to point their sword at the two. "No one from that country knows where this place is located. Now, tell us why you are really here."

Louise, desperate to get through without bloodshed, quickly got in front of Wardes. "It is true! We were sent by Princess Henrietta to relay a message to Prince Wales! Please, just tell us where he is so we can deliver it!" Louise stuck her hands out in a form of protection, also revealing Henrietta's ring. Seeing this, the lead knight started to lower his sword.

"That ring…" Putting his sword away, he took off his gauntlet and held out his fist as well, having a similar looking ring on it. "If what you say is true, please reach out with your fist with that ring to mine."

Louise, confused but seeing an opportunity, quickly did so. Having both rings close to each other, a small light show started between them. "Wh-what is this?"

"The ring of wind and ring of water together can create a rainbow that bridges the two royal families." With that, the knight retracted his fist and took off his helmet, revealing who he was. "I apologize, ambassador. One cannot be too careful when your country is in civil war. I am Prince Wales, current prince of Albion."

In a private room, Louise handed over Henrietta's message to Wales. Reading over it, Wales sighed. "Alright, I understand." Heading to one of his nearby drawers, Wales pulled out the old letter he hung onto, handing it to Louise.

"Wh-what exactly did the princess ask of you, Prince Wales?"

"Unfortunately, that is above the authority of an ambassador. Besides, no matter what she asked, I have yet to quell this awful war."

"W-well why can't you just run away? If the nobles here reject you, why can you not just run and stay with the Princess back in Tristain?"

"Because, Ms. Valliere, this war is not truly us against the nobles. There is an organization that is leading this rebellion, only using the nobles as pawns. Reconquista."

"R-reconquista?"

"Yes. I know who is leading them now as well. I hope to defeat him quickly and end this savage war."

With that, Louise nodded in understanding, standing up to go. Before she left, she turned to Wales one last time. "I pray to Brimir that you are able to win this war Wales. Please be safe and return to the Princess alive."

Outside the room, Louise felt down for the prince, letting her emotion show slightly. "Reconquista, huh? What could they want so bad to-"

"I suppose that is the letter we came here for?"

Louise was startled to see Wardes suddenly show up next to her. "Y-yes, it is. Come on, we need to go ahead and head back." Before she could go too far however, Wardes grabbed her by the arm.

"Louise, I want to go ahead and marry you with Wales' blessing. I am sure he would be delighted to do so."

"Wh-what are you talking about Wardes?! Here? In a battlefield?" "What is he thinking, doing something like this?!"

"Please Louise, this would make it that much more meaningful to me, and I am sure to Wales as well."

Louise stepped back for a moment, having Tlopfest's warnings sound in her head. "Wardes…do you actually love me?"

"What? Of course Louise! Why else would I suggest such a thing?" Wardes looked a little more desperate, having been thrown off his game with the sudden question.

"The group leading this rebellion is called Reconquista." Wales's statement also resounded in her head. "...are you really loyal to Tristan, Wardes? Or have you joined the Reconqusta?"

Startled, Wardes was frozen for a moment, before bowing his head and lightly shaking in rage. "That blasted familiar…" he muttered under his breath.

Louise, worried for her safety, started to run before running into another person. A tall, older man with curled blonde hair. "Now now, we can't have this little user of the Void run from us now, can we?" The man held up his fist, having a strange purple ring on it, which flashed before Louise's eyes.

When Louise came to, she couldn't move, yet there she was, standing at an altar with Wardes by her side and the Prince in front. Wales was apparently reading a wedding passage. "Wh-what happened? What is going on?"

"Do you swear to respect, love, and have Louise as your wife?" Wales asked.

"I do," replied Wardes.

"Louise, do you swear to respect, love, and have Wardes as your husband?"

"No, no I don't! Wales, you have to run! Wardes is a traitor!" Louise cried out, but was unable to say anything. "I-...I-..."

"Apologies, your highness, it appears that the bride is a little nervous."

"That is alright, I will just ask again."

"No…someone, anyone, please, get me out of this!" As Wales finished his question again, her controlled body began to speak once more. "I…d-"

"LOUISE!" shouted someone from the back.

Turning to the noise, everyone saw a tall creature that was a mix of a pig and human, wearing such odd leather clothes. "Let her go, Wardes! Now!"

Recognizing the voice, Louise was able to snap out of the trance and turn to Tlopfest. "Tlopfest!"

"Tch. Every time with that stupid familiar…" Wardes cursed under his breath.

"What are you lot standing there for? Arrest him!" Wales shouted.

"Wales, no, he's my fa-"

"Get out of the way Louise!" Wardes shouted, shoving Louise away.

"Wardes, what ar-" Before he could finish, Wardes stabbed Wales through the chest with his rapier.

"NO!" Louse shouted, running to the failing Wales. Tlopfest, meanwhile, stood by the door, shocked at seeing his first death in this world. His eye quickly ran through different colors, similar to a kaleidoscope. Blue and orange from the shock, green from being sick of seeing a permanent death, and finally, a deep, dark red, from the anger of seeing Wardes kill the prince. In fact, one could almost say that his glowing eye turned completely black from the anger he was feeling.

As the knights surrounded Wardes and Louise tried to care for Wales on his deathbed, Tlopfest started to shake from anger. "That…that BASTARD! He-he killed one of his own kin? And for what, POWER?! I…I…" Holding his head, Tlopfest started to feel a headache come on, and with it, an even greater surge of anger. "I…am going to kill you WARDE-REEEEEEAAAARRUGGHG!" With that, Tlopfest's eye went out, and everyone in that church heard what no person ever wants to hear, especially when it is directed at you. The sound of an enraged pigman.

Things are getting a little heated up in Albion, huh? Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. And as usual, be sure to let me know if I messed up somewhere in either a review or PM (though you don't have to have them just for that). I'll see you guys again in the next chapter!