Just before the explosion

"Good morning everyone!" The last class of the morning for the second-year students is Alchemy, taught by Professor Colbert. And anyone who has his classes instantly sees how enthusiastic he is today. Though he quickly coughs once to down tone his voice and continues: "My apology. Almost slipped my tongue."

"You are a bit giddy today, Professor." Kirche says with a teasing tone, causing him to slightly blush up in embarrassment. "What made you like that?"

The redness disappears as Colbert replies: "I'm sure you all have noticed a new addition in our schoolyard."

"I doubt that there is not a person in this school having not seen it, Professor." Julio comments, curious about the object since morning. "May I ask if you know what it is?"

"A dragon, of course!" That instantly earns him disappointed and unamused looks from the students. "I'm not joking. We have called it like that for years."

"That's not a dragon, Professor." Montmorency deadpans. "We aren't fooled that easily."

"…The Dragon's Raiment."

"Thank you, miss Tabitha." At least he has one of them understand. "Now, we have a reason to call it a dragon. However, we are not here to just debate about its name." He then walks to a strange looking machine in the room and gestures to it. "I can tell that some of you are wondering what this is. Well, let me ask you first: What is the main characteristics of the Fire branch of magic?"

Everyone instantly turns to Kirche, who is nailing her nails. Without stopping, she answers: "It's Passion and Destruction."

"Correct. However, I thought about it for a while, and asked myself: Would Fire be only used for that? The obvious answer is a no." He then points towards a glass tube in the machine with his wand and says: "This is Dragon Blood. I have…"

"No offense, Professor, but that's not blood."

"I'm aware of it, mister Chesare, but thank you for speaking up. Back to the topic, I have done experiments on it before, and… well, you know some of the results." He scratches his head and chuckles to lighten up the mood. "Anyway…"

Tabitha notices that Louise is focusing on the machine as Colbert demonstrates how it works. The Wind mage is also interested in how this 'machine' relates to the 'Dragon' on the school ground. However, in the end, the Fire Professor could only make a snake puppet move up and waver around its position.

"…And what's so special about it, Professor?" One of the students speaks up, clearly not understanding what Colbert just shows them.

While feeling a little bad that his work is being looked down on, Colbert understands that it's hard for them to acknowledge its potentials. "Yes, it can make only a puppet to move in this instance. However, imagine we put this on a carriage. Then, the carriage can move without horses! The same could go with boats!" And he instantly stops another from asking: "And yes, I'm aware we have magic to do so. However, what would happen if you run out of magic? While I have used my magic to ignite the machine, it can be activated with any sources of fire, so even a piece of flint is useful!"

Then, the shout of a certain knight causes the class' attention for a second before they return back to the machine.

"And if our exchange is right, then this machine can be used to make the Dragon fly! Of course, I would have to do more researches to make it happen on my own way…"

"...Ignition…"

"Did you say something, miss Valliere?"

"Oh, my apology. I was just thinking about what I have talked with my familiar… Can I give it a try?"

Instantly, everyone else braces themselves and ducks below their tables.

"That's nice to see you being so passionate about it!" And Colbert temporarily forgets what her affinity is. "You can start whenever you want!"

…

Afternoon

"Anything that's pure human-made is very fragile to Void, my mistress." Reading through some manuals to fix the war machine, Wisdom answers the question that Louise hasn't even voiced out while he sits on one of the wings. "Unless they're specially made to withstand it."

"Still, I didn't expect it to explode that violently."

"You managed to protect Professor Colbert, so I would say you still did something good." Kirche grins when Louise gives her a pouty glare. She then changes the subject: "What is your current plan? The army is already marching towards La Rochelle. Even if you can make…"

"I had to do the travelling to Tarbes last night, thanks to him." The Void mage deadpans, but she's also glad to know the trick. "And I managed to catch on Her Highness' magic to know where to find her."

"Jeez, now I'm envy of your magic, Louise." The Ardent then notices a similar machine in the 'Dragon' body to the one Colbert has, but much bigger. "Hey, is that the thing Professor showed us in his class?"

Taking a moment to see what Kirche is looking at, Wisdom replies: "That's called an engine. I saw sir Colbert's one, and I can say it's the primal state of the one in this plane."

"…Plane." Tabitha repeats the word, as she looks at the head of it and touches the front fan's blades. Because of that, the fan slightly spins. "…Spin…" She plans to put more forces…

"I suggest to not start the engine, miss Tabitha." That warning causes the girl to quickly back away. "I'm trying to make an alternative way to start it so nobody would accidentally cut themselves."

"The edge looks sharp." Kirche comments. "Professor Colbert called it a Dragon… so it can fly?"

"I would like to know how as well." Julio joins the group, as he takes a look around the plane.

"…Short version or long version?" Wisdom asks back, as he jumps off the plane.

"The first one… for both." Louise says, slightly confusing the others as they did not know the conversation between the Familiar and the Master last night.

Nodding, Wisdom sits down on the grass next to the plane, and the others quickly sit before him. He then shows them the current engine that the plane used. "I'm sure you have seen how a dragon flies. Its wings have to flap to create a force that counters gravity. Since the plane can't flap its wings, it needs something to help doing the work."

"…The blades." Tabitha immediately understands the function of what she just touches.

"We call it 'fan'. However, no mere human can keep the fan spinning in a constant pace in a long time without losing speed. That also applies to carriages and boats. And that's where automatic…"

"…What's wrong?" Louise asks when they see Wisdom suddenly stop speaking.

"…I'm finding a word so you all could understand."

"You mean something equivalent to the Wind Stone, correct?"

"…The Wind Stone would be like the Dragon Blood. We need the system which can convert the power. And that's where the engine comes in place."

"But… I don't see where the fire could be put in that." Kirche questions.

"…To make it short, Friction combined with Law of Conservation of Energy." That earns him looks of confusion from the mages. "I can talk with Professor Colbert so he could convey it to you better than I do."

"That would do. No offense."

"None taken." Wisdom knows that Julio is right so he's not mad. "Anyway, the engine can also produce much higher power than normal human not counting magic, and its limitation can be calculated and adjusted."

He notices that Julio and Tabitha start writing something down to their notes, but he lets it slide.

"And the engine can make the fan spin fast enough to pull the plane forward and up out of the ground. However, it takes some times to pull the plane up so most of planes require a clear road ahead."

"…If the fan is the source to pull the plane up, why isn't it being placed on the top?" Louise asks in confusion. "Wouldn't it be easier to do so?"

Before he answers, Wisdom opens a picture of a helicopter for the group to see. "This is a different type of aircraft called Helicopter. Yes, you would be correct that the fan can be placed on the top. However, it would cause the whole plane to spin around unless…" He points to the smaller tail fan. "This one spins to counter the main fan's torque. Also, pulling directly up takes more power than pulling up and forward."

He then takes a quick breath…

"And the helicopter isn't very good at shooting other planes in wars, and only be used in moving troops or fighting against ground troops." He closes his eyes for a few seconds, then says: "Do you seriously want to learn about the war that Siesta's great-grandfather participated?"

"…I do. I want to know the dangers we might face." Louise confirms with a determined tone.

"...There is a reason it was called World War…" The image of the helicopter is replaced by a flat image of Earth. "There are two of them, but many would remember the second one since… for comparison, it's like a successful Elf-extinction wipeout."

…

Around an hour later

"…And that's the war known to be one of the worst in history." Wisdom ends the story, and he clearly sees the number of listeners being multiplied midway. Even though he's only listing the facts he knows, it seems that there are too many details that attracts the people of current era. And even if he's dense, he knows 'this' history shakes everyone up. "I believe I should stop now before you get information overloaded." He re-opens the stretches of the engines in the airplane and climbs back on it and starts doing his re-modeling to maximize its effectiveness.

The servants and professors quickly snap out of their shocks and return back to their work, even though they're still slightly affected by the 'lesson' the unique familiar just taught them. The students, however, are completely shell-shocked at how wars are more gruesome than they have ever heard from their parents.

Eventually, Julio manages to get his mind re-assemble and speaks up first: "That's… interesting… yet terrified to know." He has heard of his Summoner's plans to follow Brimir's wishes, and he does understand the reasons behind it. However, he now believes that the Pope might make some enemies far worse than the Elves if he continues his current plans. He should send a message immediately to him and suggest him to rethink of what the Pope's planning to do.

Kirche and Tabitha are terrified in their minds. The former because she couldn't believe that a person's terrible ambition could lead to millions of dead. The latter because she knows a certain person that WILL eventually cause the same disaster if not stopped, but she can do nothing since she's currently his pawn.

They then turn to see Louise… who is surprisingly calm. Then, she just stands up and leaves.

"Wait, Lo…"

"Let her be." Wisdom interrupts Kirche as his summoner keeps walking away. "Don't worry about my mistress, she just needs some time to think of her future."

"…Sure?"

"I'm sure, miss Tabitha. She is already against war, and World Wars history just solidifies her opinions about it. However…"

"She knows it's inevitable." Julio concludes. "…Shouldn't you go and comfort her?"

"It's better to give her some spaces before I do that."

No wonder Father is very against war, especially the upcoming one. I can see why after hearing the history lesson Wisdom taught us.

And those wars happened without any supports of magic. Just pure humanity's raw strength combined with intelligence and madness.

However, it won't deter me from what I'm going to do. I never like fighting, and I will never do. But when it's to protect my friends and family, I'm not hesitating to do anything to accomplish it. Even if I have to show the world the Forgotten Element in me.

And if I somehow stray from my way, I have someone to correct me and straighten me up. Someone I can rely on.

The night before heading to Tarbes. Reconquista's airship

"There's a heavy wind coming soon. You could fall off the ship." After nearly everyone's asleep, Wardes decides to take a last course around the ship before returning to his room. During that, he notices the mysterious woman sitting right on the tip of the jib boom of the ship with zero means of safety.

"…" Either she can't catch his words due to the wind, or she doesn't care.

Which the former Griffin Knight Captain believes to be the latter. Many times people tried to get her attentions, but none could make her move unless she wished to do so herself. Some tried to get her attentions by force, and either they got zapped, or they got thrown away by some sorts of spells that no one knew.

"I know that you are not interested in talking, but can we at least give each other some exchanges to perform this operation successfully?"

Any attempts he tried to get her talk turned futile, and now is the same. Except for one topic.

"Why are you so obsessed on Valliere's familiar? We will eventually overpower him and…"

"Power matter not. Will, too stubborn." Not turning back once, the woman replies, her voice still as cold as when she first spoke to Wardes and Cromwell.

"…You ARE serving him, correct?"

"By contract."

"…By contract, you said." He has a certain guess of what the woman is. However, it's best to not say it directly to her face. "From what I understand, your objective is sorely focused on the other Familiar. What do you want to achieve here?"

"Decisions. Hesitation. Confusion. Uncertainty."

That answer causes Wardes to raise his right eyebrow in both confusion and curiosity. "That's a lot of things. But that doesn't really answer my question."

"Hesitation is defeat."

Seeing that he can't get a straight answer, Wardes sighs and changes the question: "So what will you do in the battle? Helping us fighting the army of Tristain?"

"Answered."

It takes him a few more seconds to understand the reply. "So we will receive no supports from you until he shows up, then."

This time he earns no answers. The wind's also kicking up, so Wardes takes that as a sign to retreat back to his room…

"Try not to die."

Slightly surprised by the warning, Wardes turns his head back, only to see the woman disappeared. He doesn't really expect her to actually care for anything but her mission… "…I will keep that in mind then."

The morning comes. The Void duo is now heading to the Zero Fighter as the summoner wants to see how the 'Dragon' flies before she teleports herself to where Henrietta and Wales are.

During the time Wisdom and Colbert fuel up the tank of the plane, Kirche (she knew Louise's plan of heading to the battlefield) brings Tabitha with her to the group and watch the progress. She then asks Louise: "So you are going to head to the front line… Are you prepared?"

"…I am." Louise replies. "It's quite rare for you to be concerned."

"Is it wrong to be concerned of your classmates? You are my rival and that will never change. But this is war, and I don't want anything bad happen to you."

"…Would you say the same if Germania declares war on Tristain?"

"Hey that…"

"I'm just kidding." For a rare time, the Fire mage sees the Void mage's lips curl into a genuine smile to her. "Thank you."

"…Be careful."

"Thank you, Tabitha."

"Thank you sir Colbert." The girls turn back to the plane to see Wisdom jumping into the cockpit while the Fire mage start walking backward. "Everyone, stay away from the plane's way."

Instantly the girls start backing away. Once he sees everyone's in a safe distance, Wisdom starts the engine of the plane. Due to his adjustments, there is no necessity to apply additional force from outside to cause the fan spin, and he should be able to do everything from his current position.

A few seconds later, the fan creates a wind force that nearly pushes everyone away from the plane. It then starts moving forward, its speed accelerating constantly. Louise is a bit worried when the plane still moves forward and there's a chance that the plane would collide into the wall of the school. Her worry disappears when the plane flies up just before the bad situation happens, and her gaze follows a bit longer in fascination.

"It actually flew!" Kirche says in surprise. "And he made it do without a spell!"

"As expected of him!" Colbert follows. He then notices a telegram under Louise's feet while the girl's closing her eyes. "Miss Louise… stay safe."

"Thank you Professor." And with that reply, she's engulfed in a purple light before disappears.

"Teleportation spell…" Tabitha says, her voice filled with surprise despise her face nothing changing expression. She then whistles to call Sylphid.

"Miss Tabitha, this is…"

"Don't worry Professor." Kirche cuts him off. "We won't fight. Just to keep an eye out of our classmate."

"Wow! Now THIS is fantastic!" Derflinger shouts in excitement as he enjoys the ride on the sky. "It's definitely faster than a dragon! Partner, you better show off some moves with this bad boy!" The sword then waits for an answer… and he receives none. "Uh… partner? What's wrong?" Nothing. "…Partner? Hello?"

"…Derflinger." The sword slightly 'stiffens up'. His partner starts his words with a heavy yet low tone. "I need you to help me with something…"

"No, partner. Don't raise the flag that soon…"

"It's already too late. Listen…"