It was too sudden to me!
I was in a mission that's crucial for the safety of my nation, and I had made sure that everything else was irrelevant before it's done.
However… that had to be pushed aside for a moment…
Because he wanted to marry me! Viscount Jean-Jacques Francis of Wardes of all people!
I was so shocked back then. I thought that the marriage would only happen after I have finished my study. But… given that he's so eager for it to happen…
"…can't sleep…" After an hour of trying to sleep Louise opens her eyes and sits up on her bed. Turning to the window, she sees the light of the two moons shining into the room she and Wardes are currently staying. Sighing, she quietly gets out of her bed so she wouldn't wake up her fiancée…
'Something bothering you, my mistress?'
Feeling the coldness creeping on her back, Louise turns back to see the familiar is there… or not. 'W…Wisdom? Where are you?'
'Currently in my room. I felt you waking up in this hour, so I asked.'
'…Don't do it so suddenly next time.' Louise sighs in relief that her familiar wasn't just entering her room without permission. But then, maybe she's a bit too used to the fact that he has stayed in her room since the summoning. 'I… I can't sleep…something is in my mind that I couldn't just ignore…'
'Do you want to talk about it?'
'…Yes, please.' The pink-haired mage is grateful that at least one person in her group is still up late. And that person happens to be one she could trust.
'Do you remember the fountain behind the hotel, my mistress? We can meet there.'
'Alright.'
Quietly exiting the room, Louise quickly walks to where the two has agreed to meet, and she sees that the familiar is already there, leaning his back on the bar that faces towards the outskirts of the city. Upon seeing her arrival, he sits on the ground, and pats his left hand to a spot next to him. Nodding, she heads there and sits down, leaning her back on the bar as well.
About ten seconds, she starts: "Wardes wants to marry me after this mission is over."
She earns a light nod from Wisdom, meaning that he's listening to her.
"When I was young, he's one of the very few that would open their hearts to me. He's there to courage me, to sue away whatever is bothering me… for a person with so much failures like me, I feel like I'm going to be a terrible wife for him…"
Again, a nod. She then starts speaking about her past with him: how he met him, how he comforted him on that boat, how the two managed to get engaged by her parents…
"…Have you ever loved someone?" Suddenly, Louise asks her familiar, hoping that he might have some experiences considering how smart he is.
"…That's hard to say." The familiar replies. "I have noticed some who had interests in me in the past. However, I did not consider that love. And I did not care about it. Not now, not ever."
"…What would happen if someone confesses to you?"
"…I would have to decline it." That earns him a disbelief look from Louise. "Of course, it's to the person who I met for just a short amount of time. Although, in my past, I haven't really interacted much with women aside from doing requests and such."
"What about the ones training you? I mean, there could be some women, right?"
"A lot. However, either that they already have someone, or…" He never finishes that sentence. "About you, my mistress… if you truly love Wardes, then it's not my place to judge. However, I want you to think carefully. Which route would you want to follow? Improving your magic and showing to the world that they have judged you wrong, or become a wife?"
"…That…" Louise's mouth shuts. She can't give out the answer immediately. If she answers now…
"There is no need to answer me. After all, until our contract is over, then I will be by your side, my mistress. Your marriage won't change that fact."
That gives her heart a hard tug. She nearly forgot about his absolute obedience when it comes to following her reasonable orders. And if comparing him to Wardes, Wisdom is actually more powerful and more patient, and stays neutral to 'most' situations. But, to the others' eyes, he is just a commoner, someone being lower than the Nobles…
"…Wisdom… if… I order you to reveal your magic… would you do it?"
"…If you really want it."
Silence. The two say no words, and the only sound they hear is the water emitting from the fountain.
"…Can you sleep now?"
"…*Yawn* I do. Thank you for staying this late with me, Wisdom."
"Anything to help you, my mistress."
The next morning
"I refuse."
"It's just a friendly duel. I just want…"
"I refuse."
Wardes has headed to Guiche and Wisdom's guest room after waking him, and he planned to ask the familiar for a duel. However, the person was not there, so he took a look around and found the person mediating next to the water fountain from last night with his back facing against it. The Wind mage spoke his purpose, and the familiar replied.
"I find no good reasons for such pointless duel. While normally I would accept it, we're in a mission, so I would like to conserve as much energy as possible."
"I think that you're making the situation sound more difficult than it should be. It's true that we're entering the warzone, but…"
"Anything could happen."
Seeing the familiar not going to move at all, Wardes decides to move first by pulling out his wand-sword and pointing it towards Wisdom's face. "Then I have no choices but to force you to fight. My apology, but I need to sate the curiosity of your power." He then pulls his sword slightly up and then thrusts down…
The tip of the wand-sword is stopped by two fingers, and the Wind mage is surprised that the familiar doesn't even open his eyes or change his position while grabbing the tip. Wisdom's left eye then open half-way as it glares towards the Wind mage. "I would like you to drop the matter immediately. My mistress would be very displeased if she sees us fighting, wouldn't you?"
"Obviously." Turning his head back, Wardes sees that the 'witness' is already standing behind him. "Sir Wardes, please stop trying to fight him. And Wisdom, can you follow me for a moment? I need to buy something."
"Yes, my mistress." He then pushes the wand-sword out and stands up, dusts out his outfit then quickly follows Louise as she walks away.
"…Hm." Sheathing his sword, Wardes then rubs his chin in displease. "I couldn't even surprise him while he's not looking. That's a hard opponent alright."
…
Time skip
"It is just me… or am I getting stared at?" Louise asks nervously as she walks next to her familiar, and she's pushing herself towards him as close as possible.
"From our behind, slightly to the right, my mistress?"
"Yes… from the left as well… they are all mercenaries…" She replies, trying to 'sense' them using her magic.
"…Let's just focus on heading back to the hotel as soon as possible." Wisdom suggests, and Louise nods and stops using her magic so she could use it later. Wisdom then uses his arm and wraps it around his master, causing her to slightly blush up, and they pick up their paces towards the hotel.
Once inside, they spot the rest of their group relaxing in one of the tables in the restaurant of the hotel. Wisdom then slightly turns his head back and sees the soldiers closing in, some of them having bows in their hands. Alarmed, he quickly pushes Louise to the other side of the group's table, then flips the table on the air, just in time for the arrows to fire towards them and hit the table instead. Surprised by the sudden event, everyone then ducks down behind the table once it falls to the floor, pinched full of arrows.
"What's going on!?" Guiche asks in surprise as the arrows keep flying over their heads. "Why are they attacking us?
"It must be Reconquista." Wardes makes a guess. "They might have overheard our conversation last night. They are trying to stop us reaching Albion."
Guiche stands up and points her wand towards the enemies then starts chanting, but Wisdom immediately pulls him back down. "Don't do that unless the spell is ready." That earns him a displeased grunt, though the mage knows that the familiar is right.
"Then what's your plan to get out of here darling?" Kirche asks, while not dropping her usual attitude despite the current situation they are in.
Which makes Louise nearly pop a vein.
"…" Wisdom peeks out for less than a second before quickly hide again. Taking a few seconds to think of the possibilities… he turns to Louise and says: "My mistress, you and Wardes can go to the backdoor. The others and I will hold them off for a while, then I will catch up with you."
"A distraction." Wardes understands the plan. Except one point. "But why won't you go with us immediately?"
"Fouquet is with them." That revelation surprises the young mages. "She has worked in the academy long enough to know you three's capabilities. Me being an outcast has the advantage here."
"You are my familiar, Wisdom." Louise disagrees. "You need to stay with me."
"What would you feel if they get hurt?"
"I…" That reply shuts her up good. "…Our mission is very important. You better keep up soon before we depart."
"Don't worry, my mistress." The familiar nods. He then pulls out an L-shaped, silver-colored object from under his coat. "Go now. I will cover you."
He knows that Wardes has taken his eyes on the object, but he doesn't care.
…
Louise and Wardes say their thanks and sneak away. Wisdom looks at the object in his hand and flips a switch, then says: "Guiche, call your Valkyries and shield us. Kirche, focus on the mercenaries at the front. Tabitha…"
"Left, covered." When the familiar turns his head to the Wind mage, he sees the girl already performing spells against their opponents.
"...You are a Chevalier, I forgot." Shaking his head, Wisdom turns to the other rear and sees the archers readying their bows. "…" Deciding to not use the object for now, he puts it back and draws Derf out.
"Yo, partner! I know you are good, but charging towards archers is not a good idea!" The sword 'warns' the user of his 'reckless' upcoming plan.
"That, or arrows keep coming." That's Wisdom's reply before jumping out of the hiding and he rushes out of the hotel through a window with high speed.
Taken by surprise, some of the archers don't react quickly enough to block the slashes that aim for their necks, though thankfully Wisdom only uses the blunt side so they are just knocked out. The others notice that and begin aiming their arrows at the familiar, but he keeps moving around, narrowly dodging the arrows gazing past him. Grabbing an arrow with his left hand, he rushes in and stabs one of the mercenaries in the shoulder, then turns him around and uses him as a human shield. The others hesitate to release the arrows, thus getting hit by the spells coming from the inside of the hotel.
Seeing that there's no current threats from the archers, Wisdom uses the handle of Derf and hits his human shield's head, and drops the person to the ground with a huge concussion. He then charges into the melee mercenaries, and they let out a battle cry as they swing their weapons at him. However, fighting someone who managed to kill a Triangle mage, it takes more than just a couple of mercs to put him down.
After knocking the mercenaries out, Wisdom starts dusting off his sleeves…
"As expected of the Mage killer, mister Familiar." Turning back, he sees the familiar golem walking to him with the summoner on its shoulder. "Those mercenaries mean nothing to you."
"Hey, that's Fouquet!" The mages manage to get out of the hotel, and Kirche recognizes the thief. "I thought she was locked up in prison already?"
"No prisons can hold me long!" The thief laughs at them, as the golem raises its right arm up. "I'm here to return the favor of you all throwing me into that place right now!"
The others quickly run away to avoid the punch. Except Wisdom, who just casually puts Derf into the scabbard then fixes his right sleeve.
"Hey hey hey, partner! Yo, a golem is going to flatten you! Freaking RUN!"
The shout of the sword causes the students to turn back and gasp in horror at the scene, just in time the punch slowly reaches the familiar. Tabitha quickly chants a shield spell, hoping that it would be enough to give Wisdom time to escape…
Only, to their surprise including Fouquet, when the punch is in close range, Wisdom pulls his right arm back then throws a direct punch to the opposite force, shattering the golem's arm and blowing off its right shoulder in the process. The punch still holds too much force in it that it blows up a part of the cliff behind them as well.
"WHAT THE HELL?" Fouquet screams in surprise while trying to stay balance on her golem. Once the golem's stable, she looks down to see Wisdom lowering himself down a bit, then he jumps straight up to where she is, causing her to stumble back as the familiar turns his face to her. "What the heck are you!?"
"A familiar." That's Wisdom's reply before he pulls out Derflinger and points it towards the thief's face. "If you don't have anything else to say, then leave. I have to catch up with my mistress before she gets on board and heads to Albion."
"…" After she steels her mind, Fouquet pulls out her wand and points it towards her opponent. "It's my job to delay you all. I won't back down that easily."
"Are you sure?" The familiar asks then turns his face to the ground. Fouquet follows and sees the guards of the city and the students of the Academy having their weapons ready. "I don't like killing you, but I'm sure the ones down there want a piece of you. After, you are wanted."
"…That mercy will backfire on you." Seeing the only way to survive is to escape, Fouquet lowers her wand. The golem suddenly shudders. "Reconquista will not be stopped by anyone. Not even you could save Albion."
"…Two of my priorities are to follow my mistress' order and protect her. Stopping a cold war is not one." The familiar simply replies. He then changes the subject: "…You spoke about delaying us. Reconquista is going to win, doing so would not serve well since our arrival won't change the situation of the country."
"That letter of yours is what we're after." The golem starts falling apart.
"…I see." Now Wisdom understands the whole situation. Sheathing Derf back, he jumps…
"Wait." If Fouquet doesn't stop him. He turns and sees her saying something, but there is no voice coming out. However, he can read her lip-sync.
Then, she flies away, and he jumps off to a nearby rooftop so he wouldn't get crushed by the remains of the rocks.
"So… partner." Derf speaks up again as Wisdom watches people cuffing the mercenaries. "Your suspicion?"
"Yes."
"Also, that's magic?"
"Believe it or not, no. That's pure 'commoner' build."
He then jumps off the roof and lands on the ground, creating a small crack due to the force. He then turns to the mages running at him and asks: "Are you two okay?"
"Thanks to you, darling." Kirche winks at him. "Now, let us catch up with Louise and Wardes. They would be…"
"No." Wisdom interrupts. "You three return back to the Academy. I will continue with them."
"Hey, I'm also in this mission!" Guiche reminds him. "The Princess herself…"
"Only because you were eavesdropping us."
That shuts him up immediately.
"Can take care of ourselves." Tabitha speaks up. "Go."
"Thanks." With his gratitude expressed, Wisdom quickly heads to the harbor where the ship is waiting.
"Hey now, Tabitha." Kirche pouts. "I don't doubt darling, but Louise could screw up this mission. We should follow them…"
"No need." Tabitha shakes her head and pushes the girl to the opposite direction. "We pack up and leave."
"We are near the harbor now." Wardes says as he walks with a fast pace in front of Louise. "I hope that they could hold the mercenaries and Fouquet off as long as possible."
"We *pant* should wait for Wisdom, sir Wardes." Taking a small moment to stop, Louise speaks up which makes Wardes stop as well. "If *pant* we go too fast, then…"
"…don't worry." The knight reassures her. "We can tell the captain of the ship to delay a bit if necessary."
"Thank… you." Managed to get her breath back to normal, Louise starts walking following Wardes again…
When something suddenly falls from the sky down to the ground in front of them, creating a small crater that shakes the area around it. Wardes draws his sword out and points towards the object, but it suddenly rushes towards him and punches him a good ten meters away. Louise is taken surprised by the event, although she manages to snap out of it immediately and creates the barriers around her and Wardes to protect themselves.
However, the object, which is a black armor, reaches its right arm right through her barrier. And before she could scream, the armor has grabbed her head… and she falls unconscious immediately.
Wardes stands up and fires an Air Bolt towards the armor, but the armor grabs the Void Mage and jumps out of the way with inhuman speed. The armor then somehow flies away with Louise in its arms, disappearing into the clouds within seconds.
"…What was that?" Wardes couldn't follow them, even with his Griffin. That speed… He then hears footsteps behind him, so he turns and sees his fiancée's familiar running towards him.
"What just attacked you?" And immediately Wisdom asks, not wanting to hear unnecessary conversation. "And where's my mistress?"
"…Some sort of black armor." Wardes replies, revising the event. "It attacked me and somehow knocked Louise out. It then carried her away…" He points towards the direction where the armor flew off. "That way."
"…Albion is in that direction, correct?" The familiar asks, and he earns a nod from Wardes. "…Could it be…"
"Must be Reconquista." Wardes theorizes. "Louise is currently holding Her Highness' letter. They knew it and sent that armor to capture her."
"Then we need to follow her quickly." Wisdom orders. "We need your…"
"My Griffin couldn't travel that far, even when the two moons overlap. Our only hope to get to Albion now is the ship in the harbor. I can order them to head out immediately."
"…Then we stick with that plan."