I have heard of Nobles getting kidnapped for money, or for anything worth the life of the person. Or they're just used to deliver messages, or being the messages themselves.

With my case… I have no clues.

At first, I thought that Reconquista has sent someone to kidnap me and to steal the letter I have with me so they could break Germania-Tristain relationship. The black armor knight must be some sorts of high-level mage in their ranks if he could be able to punch through my shield and knock me out with some spells or so. At that point I thought that the mission was over…

When I woke up, however, I found myself in this… abandoned house of sort. The armor was nowhere in sight, and the windows were wide open for me to escape. And when I checked my stuffs… everything was still there. Nothing was stolen, not even the letter and the ring. For a kidnapper… that person was not doing his work right…

When I took a look outside, the sky has turned dark, and apparently I was on the ground level. Taking the chance, I decided to jump out of window and tried to find out where I was…

Louise looks around to see that the building she was in is positioned outside of a forest, and the front side is facing a city. After re-checking her memories, she recognizes the structures being in Albion. Making sure that everything is still on her, the Void Mage starts walking towards the area where she hopes she could find Prince Wales, while avoiding Reconquista's agents, and possibly that black-armor knight.

Normally, it would be suicidal to do so actually if you are just a 'low-level mage Noble', trying to find their way in a completely foreign ground. Especially when your head's targeted by a dangerous organization. However… with Louise's case, she's currently safe if she keeps her shield up, while tracking for anything that moves around her. While she's still a novice (compared to her own familiar), at least she won't be jumped if there's something planning to ambush her.

And thanks Brimir that his 'training' does push her stamina up, otherwise she would be complaining now and then. Of course, the run before does cost her a lot, but now she only needs to walk in a fast pace, so it wouldn't be as much problematic.

The next morning. Albion's harbor

"Just wait for the ship to fully stop." Wardes grabs Wisdom's shoulder as he's about to jump out of the ship they're currently travelling on. The ship just starts docking, but the 'familiar' is 'anxious' of his mistress' safety. "We will stick to the plan. Meet with the Prince, then ask him to find Louise."

"We need to find out who that knight is." The familiar replies with his monotone voice. "The faster we can track down the root, the more information we can get before leaving this place."

"Breaking your legs isn't going to help much." Wardes reminds him of the height they're currently in with that statement. "And we need to wait for…"

Before the Griffin knight could say more, magic barrages suddenly blast towards the ship, hitting the side facing the harbor of the ship. Some shots narrowly miss Wisdom and Wardes' heads, and they immediately duck before they are nailed. However, they have to roll away before the main mast falls on them. Quickly gaining back his cool, Wisdom pulls out Derflinger and grabs a nearby wood plank and jumps out of the ship, aiming at the floor at the tree harbor. Some attacks fly straight at him, and he uses both items in his hands to block/deflect the spells during the fall.

Landing on a platform with a loud *THUD*, Wisdom then looks at where the attacks fire from, and sees a black armor with its arms aiming at the ship while magic emits from its hands. The armor notices him and changes its target, but the familiar is faster as he takes a quick leap and uses Derf's blunt side to slam right at the armor's head. To the sword's surprise, nothing is inside the armor as the helmet flies away, and the armor stops functioning and falls on the platform, harmlessly.

"WAIT WAIT WAIT! There's NOTHING inside that?" The sword shouts up, not expecting the outcome.

"Its movements are too stiff, unlike the one we saw yesterday." Wisdom then looks down to the ground to see another black armor, however this one immediately runs away after noticing him staring at it. "…That must be the real deal."

"We should chase after him." Turning back, he sees the griffin flying down with Wardes on its back. "He is keeping Louise somewhere, and we are going to take her back from him."

"However, we also need to reach the meeting point with Prince Wales." Wisdom then offers a plan. "Since you have a ride, you can catch up with that person faster than me. I will find the Prince first."

"Shouldn't it be another way around? I don't believe that the Prince would just accept a commoner's request…"

"I have my ways." That's all the familiar says before he runs off to the stairs, starting to head down to the ground.

Having a lot of suspicions but deciding not to question the familiar for now, Wardes takes a moment to identify the armor, and manages to find it. "Hm… that armor might lure me into a trap… but then I won't be able to find Louise if I don't finish this quick…"

…

Reaching the church, Wisdom quickly pushes open the door with Derflinger ready in his right hand. Walking into the building, he then slightly raises his voice a bit so anyone in the place could hear him: "Prince Wales of Albion, I would like to request assistance from you."

The moment he ends his statement, knights emit from the shadow, and one starts walking to him with his sword pointed at him. The knight then questions: "If you want to find a person like him, you should try looking at the castle, not in a random place like this. What are you doing here?"

"One of Tristain emissary members, Louise Francoise le Blanc de La Valliere, is currently kidnapped by an unknown individual who we assumed might be Reconquista's agent. She's holding a politically dangerous item along with an object belongs to Her Highness of Tristain." Not skipping a beat, Wisdom explains the situation. "Another emissary member is already chasing said person, but there's no guarantee he could find her. That's why we separated and I headed here first to find help."

The knight takes a moment to look at Wisdom's blank eyes, finding if he's lying or not. So far, none. He then slightly looks down at the weapon in Wisdom's hand, and sees that it's still pointing to the ground, no attempts of swinging it up, yet. However, to make sure, he needs to ask again. "Do you have any proof that you are the emissary?"

"…How about we let my mistress decide?" Deciding to drop the pretension, Wisdom immediately calls out the person standing behind a column.

"Of course you can find me." The person in question lets out a sigh as she steps out into the open. "Since when did you recognize that I was here?"

"The ring, my mistress." Sheathing Derflinger back, Wisdom then points towards the Ruby of Water wrapping around Louise's right index finger. "It slightly reflected under the light."

The pink-haired mage looks down to see that the surface of the ring slightly lightening up with the TINIEST light possible. "It could be any jewelry."

"I don't believe the knights here would wear anything that exposes them." Wisdom counters.

"…Hm. You are just as how she spoke of." Sheathing the sword back, the knight then pulls out his helmet, revealing his face. "My apology for the hostile greeting. We can't be sure anyone's claiming so easily."

"Albion is a warzone. That thought is understandable." Then he asks Louise who walks closer to him. "How did you escape the knight my mistress? We nearly got killed by him in the harbor, and found out that he could control many black armors that look identical."

"He wasn't around when I escaped." The Void mage replies. "I didn't expect it either. I guess he's too confident of his abilities that he just left me there."

"…And he never chased you down?"

"No."

"And that surprised us." The knight adds. "After hearing her story, we did a scan around, but never found that knight."

"…Then the person is not from Reconquista." Wisdom concludes. "If he's actually one of them, then my mistress wouldn't be here now. But then, which faction is he from if he's not yours either?"

"That's the question we have no answers, unfortunately." The knight then looks over Wisdom's shoulder and towards the door… "Ally or enemy?"

"That's… Viscount Wardes." Peeking out, Louise manages to get the frame of the person, and his ride. "Did he succeed in catching the person?"

"I don't believe it being the case. If the knight's anywhere near us, we should have heard or seen spells being fired." Wisdom denies the possibility as everyone starts heading out of the church.

"My apology, mister familiar, but the knight…" Wardes is planning to say more before he notices Louise is already with the group. "Louise? You have reached here already? Did he find you on the way here?"

"I reached while the sun was not up, actually."

"She colored us surprised by her appearance." The knight from before says with a chuckle. "If she didn't show me the Ruby of Water and the letter, we would have thought that she was with Reconquista."

"Speaking of the letter…"

"Prince Wales is holding it right now." Louise answers her familiar's question. "The one Her Highness gave us."

"And we should return back to the castle now." The prince himself then suggests. "The item you need is still back there. And don't worry about Reconquista, we have secured a secret route back. Surely there is no one else going here, right?"

…

Moments later

"300 against 50000. Indeed, the chance of victory is zero." Wardes comments after hearing the situation of the Loyalty of Albion from Prince Wales, after the group has retrieved into his room and Louise received the worn-out letter from the Prince.

"It is." Wales sighs. "All we can do is to fight till the end and embrace a glory death."

"There is no glory in death, Your Highness." Crossing his arms while looking out of the window of the room, Wisdom coldly comments.

"Does it mean that you will also…" Louise can't finish it. She wants to, but her heart says she shouldn't.

"Yes, it does."

A temporary silence occurs in the room. Then, Louise asks through telepathy: 'Wisdom…'

'No.' The familiar quickly replies. 'I have no legit reasons in doing so.'

'But…'

'My mistress, this is a war. If Reconquista finds out that we intervene, then they would use that excuse and attack Tristain instantly.'

'…'

"Your Highness…" Wisdom then speaks out loud. "Shouldn't it be more effective if you all escape out of the nation, gather forces then return and fight?"

"I'm afraid it's not viable. Reconquista is getting larger and larger, and it would be too late before we could do so and fight back."

"I believe he's suggesting for 'a way to retreat' for you, Your Highness." Wardes somehow catches on Wisdom's words and reveals his true intention.

"…It's really impossible at this point."

'That's his answer, my mistress. There is no reasons to push further.'

'I…I know…' Louise is very tempting to urge Prince Wales to return with them, but at this point…

"Ah, look at the time." Prince Wales then exclaims. "We're celebrating the last dinner party. You are the last guests of my kingdom, so I humbly invite you to join. Please follow me to the Great Hall so I could introduce you all to my father…"

"Before that, Prince Wales…" Wardes then walks close to him and whispers something in his ears.

"…Ah, a lovely request. It will be my pleasure." Wales flashes out a smile as he exits the room, followed by the Viscount.

"…Wisdom, would you like to join?" Louise asks hesitantly.

"I will, my mistress. Give me a moment." Not changing his position, the familiar replies.

"…Don't be late." And with that, the Master leaves her familiar behind…

"Mourning time, huh?" Derflinger finally speaks out after being silent for so long. "You know, I have seen a lot of wars during my time…"

"There is nothing left to think about this war." Wisdom interrupts. "Its end has set. Our priority is to just bring the evidence back to Her Highness."

"What's in your mind then? About that mysterious knight?"

"Yes. Punching through her barrier then proceeding to knock her out without a vocal spell, then flying here even before us. If that's not a High-level mage, then I don't know who that person could be."

"Maybe an Elf?"

"Does Reconquista sound like they would hire one into their army?"

"A disguise, maybe?"

"…Never mind that. Let's go before my mistress could complain."

…

Nighttime

"…"

"…"

"There is no shame letting your tears be known, my mistress. After all, you just witnessed the calm before the storm."

After a small talk with the Nobles (especially with the King and Prince Wales), Wisdom excused himself and invited himself out of the party and headed to the guest rooms the prince was generous enough to let his group rest. Though, he was not the first one to do so, because he found his summoner already in her own room, sitting on the bed while facing one of the windows of the room. She noticed him and greeted him, but then remembered her 'embarrassing' expression, so she quickly hid it by turning her head back.

"…I know that you have your own standards…" Louise then starts speaking, her voice mixed with hurtful and sadness tones. "And I know that I can't really give you orders that you don't like… you said it yourself, that you won't lower your head to evil, that you would fight to the end. Then why didn't you help Prince Wales and his soldiers fighting this? And don't give me the same reasons you told all of us."

"…How do you define evil, my mistress?"

"People like Mott, obviously! And those who are destroying this place!" Weakly slamming her hands on the bed, Louise nearly shouts. "Those who tried to blackmail Princess Henrietta, and…"

"Then you are going the wrong way, my mistress." Pouring a cup of tea, he then stands in front of Louise and gently lowers it down to her eye level. Once the girl takes it, Wisdom pulls a nearby chair and puts it so he could face the Void mage, then sits down. "Yes, Mott is the right sample. However, why do you think that Reconquista can actually gain that much of supports?"

"Because they started the whole riot…"

"Because they managed to find out the people's darkest desire, and used it to gain benefits for them. You can't blame everyone who follows Reconquista. You should ask yourself 'Why do they do it?' anytime. Mott managed to fool everyone despite his perversion, and who knows how many Nobles are like him. Not in just Tristain, but in here and any other nations. Reconquista found the people being opposed by the corrupted Nobles, and used them to turn against both GOOD AND BAD Nobles of this land, and others in the future."

"But…"

"And I have to remind you again, this is a CIVIL WAR. We have no…"

"I KNOW!" Louise's scream interrupts his speech. "I KNOW THAT! WE CAN DO NOTHING! AND THAT'S WHY I HATE IT!" Tears start pouring more out of her eyes, wetting her dress. "I am a Void mage! I have power of the lost element! And yet I can't save anyone!"

"Having the power and knowing how to use it are two different things. Killing oneself to save others is not the best plan, especially when the one trying to do so still has a lot to learn…" The familiar then pulls out a handkerchief and starts cleaning his master's face, then slightly lifts her face up so her eyes could meet his. "The only time you can't redeem your mistakes is when you die. Until then, you have plenty of opportunities to make amends of the actions you have or have not committed that caused a consequence. If you think you are too weak, then train harder. If you believe that everyone is looking down on you, then show them what a true Noble you are."

I was too sad back then… listening to the people's attempts at making jokes to lighten up the mood… seeing their smile before the disaster… finding myself not being able to do anything to keep those smiles… I felt too helpless, and decided to get back to my guest room to try to forget that fantasy and focus on the present. However, the more I tried, the more those pictures got popped up in my mind. It became too much that I couldn't hold back my tears…

Thinking back at that moment, it's so embarrassing having taken care of like that! I mean, I would be happy with Big Sis Cattelya doing it to me. But from Wisdom… and it's just BEFORE I was going to marry Wardes! If I didn't know him, I would have thought that Wisdom's trying to steal me from the Viscount!

But… maybe if it's really the case, then I might have taken it, because…