The battle proceeded well, though Artanis was unsure that it was necessary to wait for the Spear of Adun's support. His forces easily cleaved through the Zerg's Hive cluster and the Cerebrate was already within sight. He could not help but feel as though something was missing… that this was too easy.
It seems your patience was for nothing, Khalai, Alarak chided psionically from his position far off, watching the various tunnels and caves nearest their Nexus point. My warriors grow weary of this waiting. We have seen no indications of Zerg in these tunnels. Let us depart and join in the slaughter.
You will hold your position, Alarak, I feel as though something is amiss, Artanis commanded in reply.
Should my warriors' bloodlust reach its peak, I shall have you know that they will move out regardless of your orders, templar, Alarak snidely informed.
It would be in your best interest to curb desertion, Tal'Darim, Vorazun admonished. Lest you suffer the Daelaam's wrath.
A Daelaam? Teaching ME of suffering? Oh that WOULD be a sight to behold, Alarak mocked.
You will be silent, Artanis snapped. Zeratul, have you reached the Cerebrate? Artanis asked.
It is within my grasp, Hierarch, Zeratul replied, his warp scythe making short work of any and all Zerg who stood between him and the Cerebrate. As he was about to make contact with the giant, fleshy creature, he felt a psionic disturbance that felt like a blinding rage.
Alarak? Why have your forces moved? Artanis demanded.
I told you, 'Hierarch', that I do not have control of my subjects once their bloodlust has reached its peak. I assure you they will be severely punished later, Alarak responded, uncaring.
Hierarch, I am picking up massive Zerg readings surfacing at the tunnels. I recommend emergency recall, Karax informed.
Damn you, Alarak… All warriors, prepare for-, Artanis was interrupted by the sound of a great roaring as a mighty, titanic worm with jagged, giant teeth each the size of a Protoss warrior, and bright yellow eyes on each side of it. Nydus worms… as I suspected. Karax! Turn the Spear of Adun's weapons on the Nydus worms. Focus on the cave entrances after! Artanis ordered and great bursts of light erupted from the gargantuan, gleaming, golden Spear of Adun above and impacted on the newly-arrived Nydus worms, but not before a mass of Zerg reinforcements came through them.
Hierarch, there appears to be disruption in the Spear of Adun's targeting for recall. You will need to get clear of the Zerg forces before it can be initiated. I will try and pinpoint the interference, Karax informed, urgently.
It is the Cerebrate! Zeratul announced as he had finally made contact with the immobile, intestine-looking beast, running his scythe through it and filling the gash with his void energies. Zeratul could hear the creature crying in pain within his mind as he did this.
Zeratul! You must make yourself clear of the Hive cluster! Artanis ordered.
Wait, Hierarch! I am almost done, buy me but a few more seconds and the beast shall be slain! Zeratul pleaded
Very well, old friend. Warriors! Provide Zeratul with cover! Grant us every second you can! Artanis commanded.
Hierarch, the Zerg are flooding from the caves. Without Alarak's rear guard, our Nexus point is vulnerable! Karax frantically informed.
Place shield batteries and warriors at the chokepoints leading to the base, Phase-Smith! We will hold! Artanis declared. A few eternal seconds passed, as Protoss warriors met their fate from the overwhelming Zerg numbers that were appearing. Artanis now worried that he had, once again, been too brash as he was with the premature invasion of Aiur. His worries were quickly assuaged, however, as a mighty death throe was heard.
The Cerebrate is slain, Zeratul announced victoriously as the Zerg forces, now without direction, began to move and act as wild animals. Once the Zerg had lost their coordination, and the interference of the cerebrate was gone, Karax was easily able to initiate emergency recall back to the Nexus point, where the Zerg that mindlessly continued their charge towards their base swiftly met their end. Yet, even as the now-feral Zerg were easily cleaned up, Artanis could not help but to feel as though the battle was not entirely won.
What troubles you, Artanis? Vorazun asked, following the battle.
I do not know why, but I feel as though this was… too easy, Artanis admitted.
I feel it as well, my young friend, Zeratul agreed.
You Daelaam are always so dour. Let us rejoice in our victory and begone from this world, Alarak said, dismissively.
Your error nearly cost us this battle, Tal'Darim, Vorazun stated to Alarak, angrily. You are fortunate. For if it were up to me, I would have you slain where you stand.
Hoh ho, I believe we have been down this road before, Nerazim. It would be amusing to see you repeat your failure, Alarak taunted.
We must focus on tracking any Zerg signatures that may have left this moon during our attack, Artanis advised, stopping the argument between Alarak and Vorazun. In the meantime, I believe we must venture within this moon's cave network. It may well be a trap, but the infestation will not be purged on the surface alone. Even as he gave the order, he was unsure if it was the correct course of action. Should he really be risking his people's lives for such a primitive Terran world?
No, Artanis thought to himself. It is not just for their sake, but to put to rest any more of Amon's machinations.
Back on Halkeginia, Siesta found, instead of much-needed rest, yet another bout of tormenting visions. This time, she found herself face to face with the figure that haunted her in her last dream. Of course, not knowing that this was, indeed, only a dream, she found herself instinctively igniting her black and red warp blade that she found herself adorned with and striking a defensive pose.
"Who are you?" Siesta demanded to the figure that was partially shrouded in darkness, obscuring the masculine form's identifiable features. They gave a mocking chuckle in response.
"Who I am isn't important right now. But rest assured…" the figure stepped forward and the shadows surrounding them dispersed, revealing their face, "the time will come for you to know me. And fear me." Siesta could see this figure's eyes, narrowed to match his smug expression, surrounded in what she could not determine was a kind of makeup or tattoo that ran partially down their cheeks and narrowed into fine points with sharp wings to match. Their jet-black hair and matching eyes stared deep into Siesta, almost as if they were reading her very soul. They wore the same low-cut leather top as they had before, with the mesh extending to their arms upon whose wrists were adorned with bracers that, similar to Siesta's gauntlet, ended at the first metacarpals. Their smirk growing, Siesta readied herself, as the figure charged at her. She instinctively put forth her blade and felt the impact as it impaled the incoming target.
"Siesta…" A familiar voice whispered in her ear. She, without realizing, had now found herself in the alley in which she let Julien go. In front of her, she could see her entire family, each looking at her in horror and disgust. She finally looked to the figure that was impaled upon her warp blade only to see that the figure of torment was gone. In their place, she saw the familiar figure of her own brother. "Why…?" Julien looked up to her and pleaded, tears forming in his eyes as he reached a bloody hand to her face and stroked it.
"No," Siesta whispered, in shock and denial, as her brother slumped in her arms, the blade beginning to bisect him from the point of entry. She quickly deactivated the blade and caught her slumping brother in her arms, blood beginning to pool beneath him and upon her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I'm sorry, please don't go," Siesta begged as she looked into her brother's blank eyes, still awash with tears.
"You cannot avoid the inevitable, Siesta," the figure of her torment reappeared above her to taunt. "When you find your brother, what will you do? Risk more treason? Or excommunicate yourself from your family?" The figure mocked as they gave a hearty, wicked laugh that echoed through Siesta's head, painfully. All she could do was stare at her brother's corpse as it rotted before her very eyes, with flesh giving way to sinew and sinew giving way to bone and bone giving way to dust. Once her brother was well and truly gone from her still bloodied hands, everything went dark once more as she merely sat there, gently crying as her head buzzed with fear and horror.
"Siesta," a familiar, comforting voice was heard that caused Siesta's eyes, still full of tears, to open. The voice, she could see, belonged to the pink-eyed beauty that was Louise, who was looking down at her with concern.
"Oh," Siesta replied, realising that her eyes were full of tears that she began wiping away.
"Are you okay?" Louise asked, concerned, as she held Siesta close. Siesta placed her hands on Louise's hugging form and smiled.
"Yes, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you," Siesta reassured. Louise raised her head from Siesta's head and frowned.
"I wish you'd talk to me about what's going on. These nightmares haven't stopped since we were in Albion and I'm really worried about you," Louise pleaded, compassionately. Siesta looked away, shamefully as she bit her lip. She realized, now, that after the reveal regarding Wardes, she had nothing left to keep from her. As Siesta opened her mouth to begin telling her, however, their door was thrown open. Louise and Siesta stared, wide-eyed at this intruder, with Louise's face changing from surprise to horror. The woman in the doorway had exceptionally long hair, akin to the proportion that Louise had atop her head, but blonde. Her face seemed to be in a natural scowl as no muscles looked to be strained, and her amber eyes were highlighted by triangle-shaped glasses. She stomped into the room in her calf-high brown leather boots as her long, blue skirt swayed with her march.
"E-Eleonor!" Louise cried out in surprise as she rushed to separate herself from Siesta and leapt out of bed.
"Brat!" Eleonor barked, now in front of the couple upon their bed. "Aren't you up early? How convenient for me. Pack your bags, we are leaving." Louise seemed to be trembling as she cowered before this authoritative sister of hers. "It's time to come home, so GET MOVING!" Eleonor shouted, causing Louise to flinch and put her hands up, defensively. Siesta looked to Louise with concern at what appeared to be genuine fear taking over her girlfriend, and confusion as to this rapid series of circumstances that had befallen them. Once Louise was readied, Eleonor took her hand and began dragging her from the room, with Louise frantically grabbing for Siesta, who barely had time to change herself and grab Derflinger and her gauntlet, to come as well with Zapper following close behind. Siesta once again winced as Louise unknowingly grabbed the hand upon her injured arm, which she had not put into a sling. As they made their way out of the dormitory tower, they were spotted by Headmaster Osmond, who waved them down. Eleonor ignored the old man, causing him to have to pick up pace to follow them.
"Miss Sasaki! There is a letter here for you," Osmond announced between deep breaths as he tried to keep up with Eleonor's stride.
"O-oh! Well thank you, Headmaster Osmond," Siesta replied as she took several attempts to take the letter.
"W-well, I hope you have a good trip, then? Wherever you're going…" Osmond said, full of confusion. He was soon unable to keep up and stopped to catch his breath. His small, mouse familiar climbed upon his shoulder shortly after and appeared to whisper something into his har that caused the old man to look positively giddy in a way Siesta could feel was lecherous. Siesta, Louise, and Derflinger were soon, hastily, loaded into two carriages, one for Louise and Eleonor and one for Siesta, Derflinger, and Zapper, that immediately began taking them from the academy.
During their trip, Louise spent as much time as possible staring in the direction of her distant girlfriend while her sister angrily rambled on about the details of this sudden abduction. Eleonor, noticing her little sister's distraction, reached over and aggressively pinched her cheek, as Louise had remembered her constantly doing when she was at home.
"Hey, stupid brat! I'm not done talking yet! Pay attention!" Eleonor ordered.
"I-I'm sorry! Eleonor!" Louise pleaded as tears of pain welled up in her eyes.
"You keep looking away. Settle down a little," Eleonor ordered as she released Louse's cheek, causing her to rub it.
"It's because my gir-partner is-," Louise struggled to begin.
"Founder… this military training and whatnot," Eleonor stated, ignoring Louise. "The Magic Academy has degraded. I, and your family, can't leave you in a place like that any longer. Which is why you are to come back home and commit to bridal training instead," Eleonor declared, shooting Louise a commanding glare.
"What?! B-but…" Louise once again struggled in response as she looked away from her sister, full of trepidation. She finally found her courage and attempted to look at her sister, whose glare had strengthened to levels even Louise did not think were possible.
"'But'?!" Eleonor shouted, causing Louise to have to cover her ears and flinch. "You mean 'yes'!" She once again reached forward and squeezed Louise's cheek in such a manner that describing this action as a "pinch" feels inadequate. The vice-grip that Eleonor held on Louise's cheek caused her to cry out in pain while Eleonor gritted her teeth and pressed her fingers as hard as she could.
While Louise suffered in the carriage behind her, Siesta was busy looking down at the letter she had received.
"Aren't you gonna open it, partner?" Derflinger asked, impatient. Siesta was torn. On the one hand, she recognized the handwriting on the envelope, but on the other… she recognized the handwriting on the envelope. Finally deciding to put her fears aside, she tore the envelope open and began to read.
Siesta,
I know they're looking for me. And I know you're with them. Thank you for letting me go. I know it put you in a lot of trouble, and I'm sorry. I won't stop, though. I can't stop. Not just for me, but for all the others like me who died and continue to die in this unjust system. Don't look for me. You won't find me. And if you do… then, I'm sorry, but I'll die before surrendering.
-Julien
Siesta read and reread the letter many times, trying to make sense of her feelings. She knew that pursuing her brother would only end in violence, but she also knew not pursuing her brother would mean bringing danger upon herself and Louise. She was grateful, at least, that her brother was not known to be the terrorist at the coronation to any but her and Louise. Still, however, she did feel the need to locate her brother… if only to talk to him. Perhaps try and make him see reason and end the situation peacefully.
Knowing Agnes and her people, Siesta thought to herself, cynically, they'll be calling for blood until someone is delivered to them. She once again fretted about the impossibility of her position, distracting her from the pain in her arm. It had been a few days since the girls' last excursion, and in that time she had gone from being in a sling to her gauntlet acting as a kind of cast.
She stewed in her tempestuous feelings until nightfall, whereupon the two carriages had finally arrived at what looked to be a massive estate surrounded by a wall and with the only viable entrance being a drawbridge built over a river that ran around their destination. Before them, the large, plain wooden doors opened, revealing an ornate, four-story mansion awash in golden, glowing lights that emanated from within. Once they had arrived, Siesta disembarked, looking to the mansion in awe. This is… Louise's house?! Siesta thought to herself. Her wonder was interrupted, however, by the sound of Eleonor clearing her throat in an obnoxiously loud tone. Siesta looked to their carriage in confusion.
"I think she thinks you're their servant," Derflinger advised, causing Siesta to feel a pang of irritation. Nevertheless, she walked to their carriage and opened the door for Eleonor while Louise's door was opened by the carriage driver. Louise quickly joined Eleonor's side and the three marched into the mansion before them. They were greeted by a vast array of servants, separated by gender on either side of the carpet along the center of the entrance hall.
"Welcome home, Mistress Eleonore, Mistress Louise," the servants greeted them in perfect synchronization as they walked past them. While they walked this long stretch to the stairway before them, they were greeted by an approaching figure who, like Louise, had beautiful, waist-length pink hair, and was currently almost at the base of the steps.
"Louise," the matronly figure greeted with a soft, kind voice. "Welcome home, little sister."
"Chii!" Louise called out to the woman before them, with her face brightening into a wide smile. Louise rushed forth, taking the woman in her arms.
She's gorgeous, Siesta thought to herself instinctually.
"Let your elder sister have a look at you," the woman only identified as "Chii" stated in a warm, familial tone as she gently backed away from Louise to look over her. "You've become so beautiful!" she remarked with a kind smile. Louise blushed as she smiled back at her older sister.
"Anyways, how have you been?" Louise asked.
"Thank you for worrying," Chii replied. "Nothing has changed." Louise's elder sister gave her a wry smile that still contained ample warmth within. Chii, sensing Louise's newfound worry, placed a hand on Louise's face, comfortingly. "Don't worry, it's only the usual."
"Cattelya," Eleonor began, as she approached the two embraced sisters addressing the elder of them. "Where is mother?"
The group, after Louise had a quick change of clothes to more formal attire, adjourned to the dining room, where Siesta saw the largest table she had yet seen in a single arrival, they were greeted by another scowling figure with platinum-blonde hair tied into a tight bun save for two long locks that fell across the chest of her fancy, puffed-sleeve purple dress.
"Hello… mother…" Louise greeted, sheepishly, as she struggled to look at the scowling woman before her. She then moved to take a seat, along with her sisters. Siesta attempted to as well, but with a quick glare from Louise's mother and Eleonore, she realized she was not welcome among them. The sisters feasted upon the delicious-looking food, while Siesta had been forced to stand by, her stomach roaring with hunger. As the family ate, Louise, picking at her food anxiously, turned to her mother. "U-um," Louise began, unsure of how to continue.
"Mother! Tell Louise for me!" Eleonore implored, interrupting, in a demanding tone. "She should stay home from now on! She's probably an outcast at school, anyways." At that, Louise had had enough and slammed her small fists upon the table and stood, staring down Eleonore.
"You have no idea how I've changed!" Louise announced, giving her sister a determined glare. "The things I've done… the people I've helped… I'm not the same as I used to be! I'm working directly with Her Highness!" Louise blurted out in an attempt to forcefully silence her sister's criticisms. "She said she needs MY strength!"
"YOUR strength?" Eleonore began, giving Louise an incredulous look. "What could someone as miraculously untalented as you offer?"
"Well…" Louise began as her voice trailed off and her face became riddled with shame. In her haste to prove herself, she realized she had spoken too much.
"Mother. Let's get a groom for Louise already," Eleonore stated, turning to their mother, without waiting for Louise to continue. "How about that second-born son of the Albert family?" Eleonore's suggestion was accompanied by a wicked grin. Siesta's heart jumped at the sound of the word "groom", unaware that her face betrayed her concern.
"Why does it have to be like this?" Louise demanded to know. "If we're talking about marriage, shouldn't YOU get married first?" Louise accused, pointing her finger at Eleonore. "Whatever happened with your engagement to Count Burgundy?"
"Louise! That's… uh-" Cattelya hissed with concern, all too late, as Eleonore snapped up from her seat and gritted her teeth in anger at the upstart Louise.
"Listen, brat…" Eleonore growled, causing Louise to flinch and cower. "How DARE you talk back to ME with such a tone! The only thing that's changed about you is your increased attitude!" Louise felt like she wanted to run, but found herself frozen in fear. "The engagement was dissolved! Do you have a problem with that?!" Eleonore shouted with a fury Siesta had never thought possible in a human being. This fury, however, revealed a very real frustration not directed at Louise that could be palpably sensed.
"Why?" Louise asked, absent-mindedly, sensing the vulnerability in her sister but forgetting the terrifying rage she was capable of.
"I don't know," Eleonore began, her voice trembling with rage, "Something about how he 'Can't take anymore'. Pathetic excuse for a man…" Her face was now an angry dark red. This confrontation was suddenly interrupted by the Matriarch Valliere clapping her hands, causing both girls to direct their full attention to her.
"Eleonore? Louise? We are having dinner right now," the mother informed calmly but sternly.
"B-but mother!" Eleonore protested, her anger still steering her.
"We shall speak of Louise when father comes home tomorrow," Mother Valliere simply declared as she turned back to her food. Louise, in response, clenched her fists upon her dress as she glared down at her food, trembling with frustration. Siesta wished so badly to be able to console her girlfriend, but knew, given the situation, that she should not approach.
Later that evening, Siesta lay on the sack of hay she had been given in the lower levels of the mansion to sleep upon, missing her girlfriend dearly but not daring to try and seek her out, lest she bring trouble upon both their heads. She resolved to simply ponder the days' events, and especially Louise's situation.
"Well I see where little pinky gets the rage problems from," Derflinger commented from the wall behind her that she had leaned him against.
"I didn't realize just how wealthy Louise's family really was," Siesta remarked, her voice dream-like in nature as she stared at the ceiling, not really listening to Derflinger. "Are they serious about getting her a groom?" Siesta asked, not to Derflinger in particular.
"Gotta figure that's how these nobles are. But I wouldn't be worried," Derflinger replied.
"Why is that?" Siesta asked, turning to the sword.
"I dunno if you can feel it, but there's change coming. Ever since Zeratul got here, things have been shifting. Remember what your brother did?" Derflinger asked.
"How could I forget…" Siesta replied, shamefully.
"I'm not trying to bring you down, but it looks like things might be turning against nobles and whatnot, so even if they do find her a groom it might not last. Besides, you two are thick as thieves, so, like I said, I wouldn't be worried," Derflinger finished as he sheathed himself. Siesta was unsure if she should feel comforted or appalled at Derflinger insinuating the end to society as she knew it would save her relationship.
Meanwhile, Louise was both fretting and stewing about her situation. Cattelya was comforting her the way she usually did, by gently brushing Louise's hair. The two, in their nightgowns, were in Louise's old room, adorned with stuffed animals strewn across the floor.
"Why is Eleonore always mean to me?" Louise asked, her tone heavy with frustration. "She always bullies me…" Louise's frustration turned to sorrow as she thought of her elder sister's lifelong abuse towards her.
"It's because you're cute," Cattelya replied, with a tone that she hoped was comforting and disarming. When she noticed Louise's expression had not changed, she decided to continue, "Because you're cute: she looks at you as defenseless, which means she worries about you. Because she loves you."
Cattelya, ever the peacekeeper… Louise thought as he face scrunched in frustration once more. "That's not true," she declared.
"The same goes for me, Louise," Cattelya said to Louise in a soft tone. "I understand everything about you because I love you," she took a moment to pause before giving a very soft laugh and leaning into Louise's ear, "You've fallen in love, haven't you?" Her observation caused Louise to turn a brilliant red as she jumped.
"I-I'm not in love!" Louise denied, looking away from the mirror before the two of them. Cattelya giggled in response.
"You can't hide it from me," Cattelya declared, teasing.
"No! Really! I'm not in love with anyone!" Louise loudly refuted. Cattelya simply giggled in response as she began putting out lights for the two of them to go to bed.
While in bed, Louise could not stop fidgeting.
"What's wrong?" Cattelya asked. Louise stopped fidgeting in response. After a moment of silence, Cattelya realized she needed to press the issue, "Were you, perhaps, thinking of someone? That girl you were with?" Louise jumped.
"N-No! She's just my partner! I don't love her at all," Louise continued to deny.
"Oh…" Cattelya replied with a giggle, "I never asked if you loved her."
"I hate you," Louise replied with embarrassment as she hid herself beneath the covers.
"Oh no, she hates me now," Cattelya replied, playfully before turning to Louise and gently revealing her face from under the covers, looking down on her blushing younger sister with care. "Go now," Cattelya suggested, "to where your heart belongs." Louise turned away from her sister, hesitant, despite being seen right through. After a few moments' consideration, she rose from her bed, wrapping a blanket around her as she did, and exited the room while Cattelya watched her, smiling as she did.
It did not take long for Louise to find the room her family had shoved her girlfriend within. She carefully opened the door and peered within the room, seeing nought but a pile of rough, worn bedding in its spartan, stone walls and floor. Something under the covers budged, and she surmised that it must be Siesta. She walked forward, dropping the blankets she had wrapped around herself, and crawled within the nest of blankets below. Once within, she felt a hand grab her shoulder and pull her deeper within the pitch-black warmth under the covers.
For but a second, she was frightened, but upon the feeling of a familiar sensation upon her lips, as well as the distinct and comforting feel of the body pressed against hers, she calmed. Each of their hands began to travel the other's figure in such a manner and passion as they had never shared before. It was on that night, beneath those covers, that they had finally shared their bodies in passionate embrace. Once they had exhausted themselves, they threw the covers from their glistening forms as the two peacefully lay with one another, each clasped against one another.
"Thank you for being here, Louise," Siesta said, giving her girlfriend a warm smile that Louise returned.
"Of course, Siesta," Louise replied. Siesta giggled at the affectionate pet name as she kissed her girlfriend once more. She then began to think of the events of dinner and her face fell into a frown, which caused Louise to look at her with concern. "What's wrong?"
"Will they really force you to get married?" Siesta asked, worried. Louise looked away from her in discomfort, but realized she needed to provide a speedy answer.
"I'm sure they'll try…" Louise began, unsure, "but I promise, no matter what, I'll fight them on it."
"I'll fight them, too, if I have to," Siesta stated, confidently, giving Louise a confident smile and raising a fist upon her flexed arm. Louise kissed her once more.
"This is why I love you," Louise said as she sat up to kiss Siesta and moved to leave the bed and room, putting her nightgown back on.
"Where are you going?" Siesta asked.
"I just want to avoid the drama that might happen if they find us down here," Louise began as they finished getting dressed. "It's just to avoid unnecessary fights. You need to keep your strength up for the real battles, don't you?"
"Any battle for your sake is more real than anything else, darling," Siesta replied, affectionately. Louise giggled as she picked up the blanket she entered the room in and began to leave.
"I'll see you tomorrow, love," Louise said, with equal affection. Siesta blew her a kiss, which Louise reciprocated, before carefully shutting the door behind her.
"See? I told you you had nothin' to worry about," Derflinger piped up. Siesta was, at first, too wrapped up in her warm feelings to react, but soon jumped and slammed Derflinger into his sheath. "What's the matter, partner? It's not like I'm a real person or anything." Derflinger's muffled protests came from within the sheath. Siesta once again remembered her shoulder, but, this time, found the pain had almost completely faded. Was I just thinking about it too much? Siesta wondered as she rolled her shoulder and flexed her hand and wrist, testing how far she could push it before the pain became too much. She found, thankfully, that her motion had almost completely returned.
Louise returned to her room and climbed into bed with Cattelya once more.
"Did you have fun, little Louise?" Cattelya asked with affectionate curiosity. Louise did not answer, but instead settled into bed, no longer restless. Cattelya, upon not receiving a response, giggled. "That's okay, I can tell you did," she playfully remarked as Louise, unbeknownst to her, began to blush. "Speaking of…" Cattelya began once more, "you may want to go use the restroom right now and bathe tomorrow. Just to be safe."
Louise, at first, buried herself under the covers once more, but once she began to think on Cattelya's suggestion, she left the room once more to heed her sister's advice.
The next day, Louise found herself with her mother and sisters, once again. This time, however, they were on the balcony at the back of the mansion overlooking the lake, sitting around a white-clothed table upon which were tea and snacks. Siesta was nowhere to be seen, which made Louise particularly anxious as she knew she had no backup should things go awry. It was not long before one of the windows opened and through it stepped a blonde man with a mustache and goatee wearing a purple coat lined with fine fur that had puffed sleeves. He approached the table, giving everyone sitting at it a serious look.
"You're late," Mother Valliere announced as she frowned at the man before them. "Did the military meeting run overtime?"
"Yes," the man nodded in response. "And I must soon leave, again." He scoffed as he removed the monocle on his left eye and began to clean it with an embroidered handkerchief he produced. "Military life is pathetic… dispatching troops and inflaming citizens with war? What a problematic 'Queen' we have." The man's eyes narrowed with disgust upon mentioning their monarch. Louise, for her part, felt a defensiveness within her at that remark that caused her to stand and look to the man with a pleading expression.
"F-father! Queen Henrietta isn't aggravating the war at all!" Louise cried out. Her father gave her a withering glare that caused Louise to flinch.
"What do you possibly understand?!" Father Valliere replied in admonishment. "Listen here, girl. Clearly forcing you to learn magic was a mistake. You're obviously not cut out for it. Simply return home and we shall find you a groom." Her father's condescending and commanding tone brought out the child in Louise. The child that cried within the boat upon the lake that this balcony overlooked. She wished that she could run away at this very moment. Without a response from Louise, Father Valliere scoffed once more and turned from the rest of his family. "That is the end of this conversation," he declared as he walked back into the mansion to prepare to leave once more. Louise wished with all her heart to cry out after him. To protest. But she found herself locked in the mindset of her childhood, and could only be silent. Eleonore and Cattelya stood, with a smug look coming upon the cruel blonde's face.
"Looks like it's settled," Eleonore stated with confident mockery. "We should quickly arrange the brat's engagement. The sooner the better." Eleonore shot Louise a self-satisfied grin, which Louise could only respond to with panic as she felt her options closing in around her.
"YOU should still be getting married FIRST!" Louise declared, desperately. Eleonore leapt forward, snatching Louise's cheek in her fingers once more.
"Didn't I tell you my engagement was dissolved?!" Eleonore snarled at Louise, whose face was contorted in pain.
"I'm sorry!" Louise cried out, causing Eleonore to relent. Rubbing her sore cheek, and with tears in her eyes, she looked, hopelessly, to each of her other family members. "I'm just… I'm just not ready to get married yet…"
"Mother, Eleonore, you're upsetting Louise with all this sudden talk of marriage," Cattelya finally spoke up.
"Louise, is there someone you are currently in a relationship with?" Mother Valliere asked, suddenly, causing everyone at the table to go silent and focus their attention on their mother of few words.
"N-No!" Louise stammered out, turning a bright red, "There's no such person!"
"It appears you do have someone on your mind," Mother Valliere stated, observantly.
"No! I don't!" Louise shouted in denial as she grew ever redder with embarrassment from being on the spot.
"Whom?" Mother Valliere's question was an armor-piercing one, almost causing Louise to feel as though she had been punched in the chest. "Which noble is it?"
"A count? A baron?" Eleonore joined in the interrogation. Louise looked away in shameful silence, causing Eleonore's eyes to grow wide with horror, "Don't tell me he's a baronet or lower!" Louise's continued, shameful silence and red face seemed to answer her question. "You're joking…" Eleonore stated in disbelief. "Are you serious? You've fallen in love with someone of lower status?! Wait, is it-" Before Eleonore could finish her thought, Louise, in a fit of panic, threw her fist into her sister's gut before sprinting from the balcony leaving Eleonore doubled over on the floor and groaning.
"Oh how she continues to worry her mother's poor heart… even after all these years," Mother Valliere dramatically lamented as she appeared to nearly faint.
Meanwhile, atop the hay pile that was Siesta's bed, she sat, leaning against the wall, with her brother's letter on her mind.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Derflinger asked, bored from the silence.
"The letter…" Siesta began, heaving a shaky breath as she was about to speak her problems into the world, "it was from my brother."
"Yeesh," Derflinger replied. "That's a tough one, partner."
"Yeah…" Siesta said, her voice trailing off.
"What're you gonna do? I don't think Agnes or the Queen is gonna wait forever on that," Derflinger informed.
"I think…" Siesta began as she leaned forward. "I need to find him… and get him to lead me to his organization."
"You really think he'd do that?" Derflinger asked, curious.
"I have to believe it," Siesta declared, her tone hardened with resolve. It was then that a knocking could be heard at her door. "One moment," Siesta announced as she stood to answer. Upon opening the door she was met with the beautiful figure of Cattelya. "Lady Cattelya? I did not expect you," Siesta said with all the decorum she remembered to use when addressing nobles.
"May I please come in?" Cattelya responded, softly as she gave her a warm smile. Siesta motioned for her to enter with a small, deferential bow. She sat upon the makeshift bed, with Siesta joining her shortly after. Siesta looked over Louise's gorgeous sister. She's so mature, kind, and soft, and almost exactly like Louise, Siesta thought to herself as she almost instinctively reached out to touch Cattelya. I wonder if she will grow to be like this? Siesta wondered as her heartrate increased and her body began to buzz with excitement. Cattelya looked to the now blushing Siesta, and, being ever observant, surmised her thoughts.
"Louise will grow to be more beautiful than me," Cattelya suddenly announced, causing Siesta to be thrust back into reality and out of her thoughts. She quickly looked away in shame. Cattelya giggled as she turned to look at Siesta. "At this rate, Louise will be forced to get a groom. You don't want that, do you?" Siesta gave Cattelya a worried look as her answer, which told Cattelya all she needed to know. "She's down by the lake. In the same boat she always hid within. Go to her." Siesta did not hesitate, standing from the bed, grabbing Derflinger, and beginning to march from the room as Cattelya smiled after her. Before she left, however, she turned back to Cattelya and smiled back.
"Thank you, Miss Cattelya," Siesta said, gratefully.
"A horse carriage is waiting for you," Cattelya informed with a wink. Siesta giggled softly as she turned to leave. Cattelya sat for a bit, listening to Siesta's footsteps grow quieter. "May the Founder's blessings be upon you both," Cattelya said to herself, softly.
As Siesta found the door leading to the courtyard and lake, she was intercepted by Eleonore, who gave her a powerful, but ineffective, glare. Seeing Siesta was unfazed, she gritted her teeth and blocked Siesta's progress.
"Where do you think you're going?" Eleonore asked, accusationally, as she was rubbing her gut.
"I am on a task for my Lady, if you will excuse me, Miss Eleonore," Siesta said as she did her best to feign respect for the abusive noble before her and walk around her. Before she could pass Eleonore, however, the blonde, elder Valliere grabbed her shirt, holding her in place.
"Don't think I don't know what's going on," Eleonore informed, threateningly. "Don't forget I saw you two in bed when I arrived. The only reason I didn't say anything was for that brat's sake, and if you wish it to remain that way, you will back off and allow her to do her duty as a noble." There was almost a gleeful tone as Eleonore felt she was intimidating Siesta. However, upon watching Siesta's reaction, she was shocked to see none could be seen.
"Respectfully, Miss Eleonore," Siesta began as she gripped Eleonore's hand that was holding her in place and used her psionic power to increase the force of her grip to begin crushing Eleonore's hand. Eleonore winced and sucked her teeth while letting out a small, pained moan while she did her best not to falter. "I must ask you to step aside."
"H-How dare you! Laying hands on a noble?! I'll-" Eleonore struggled to begin. She was cut off, however, by Siesta placing her hand upon her head.
"Sleep," Siesta commanded, causing Eleonore to collapse before her.
"Woah! I didn't know you could do that!" Derflinger remarked, excitedly.
"I wasn't so sure it would work either, to be honest," Siesta replied with a nervous chuckle. She could hear Eleonore groaning, and decided to make herself scarce before her power wore off.
Louise, meanwhile, sulked in the little boat docked by the lake as Cattelya stated she would be doing. She lay there, wrapped in a blanket and fretting over her lack of options.
"I can't tell them about Siesta…" Louise muttered to herself as tears fell softly across her face. "Why does it always have to be about status and duty? Why can't they just let me love who I love?" Her tears began to grow as she hid herself beneath the blanket. Not a second later, the blanket was removed, and she saw the familiar, comforting face of her girlfriend smiling down at her.
"I found you," Siesta said as she reached forward to wipe the tears from Louise's eyes. "Come, your sister prepared a carriage for us."
"Siesta…" Louise replied, her tone full of love and affection as she reached forward to take Siesta's hand. Upon trying to stand to leave, she stumbled, and the boat wobbled precariously. Siesta, reacting quickly, hopped into the boat herself to stabilize it. Louise looked to her and chuckled nervously. "I'm sorry…"
"It's okay, nothing happened," Siesta reassured.
"It's not just that," Louise continued, looking at her hands that she had clasped before her. "I'm sorry about dragging you out here… I'm sorry about my family… it would be so much easier if I could just tell them everything. About my Void powers, about your powers, about the Protoss, about us…" Louise's voice trailed off longingly. Siesta took her hands, causing Louise to look up at her.
"I know," Siesta began, "but I understand. In the meantime, at least we have each other." Siesta placed her hand about Louise's still-wet cheek. Louise took that hand in her own and looked deep into her girlfriend's eyes.
"I love you," Louise said, leaning forward, "so much." Louise kissed Siesta before she could reply, and before the two knew it, they found themselves horizontal in the boat as it started to drift from the dock.
"Wait, right here?" Louise asked, nervously, not being aware of the boat moving down the lake.
"Here, there, anywhere that you want to as well, Louise," Siesta replied seductively as she pressed herself upon her girlfriend, lavishing her with kisses. The two lost track of time and space as they worshipped each other's bodies. Their sophomore session was not to be, however, as they felt the boat become beached on the opposite side of the lake. The girls opened their eyes, and Louise, being on the bottom, reacted with horror upon registering her new surroundings. Siesta looked up to see the enraged face of the Father and Mother Valliere looking upon them, surrounded by servants. Louise looked at her parents with panic as she fretted about what to do. Her father snapped his fingers, causing some of the servants to grab Siesta and toss her from the boat. Father Valliere approached her as she righted herself, pointing his staff at her as she did.
"Execute her," he ordered in a scarily matter-of-fact tone. Siesta, initially horrified at the statement, remembered her status as Gandalfr and as a psionic adept and thrust her hand forward, causing a shockwave that knocked everyone off their feet. She then leapt over the stunned servants and parents into the boat where she grabbed the frozen Louise and leapt once more far beyond their reach.
"What is she?" Siesta heard as she made her escape. As she ran, she felt a cheeky feeling and decided to shout back to the still-recovering Vallieres.
"Please don't worry about Louise, father!" She called out, mocking.
"Don't you dare disrespect me, you common trash!" Father Valliere shouted back as he aimed his staff, with intent to kill, at Siesta. As he was about to let loose a destructive bolt of energy, his aim was thrown by the Mother Valliere. "Why did you do that?!"
"She has our daughter!" Mother Valliere shouted, irritated at her husband's single-mindedness. Siesta, meanwhile, burst through the estate's large, wooden door, covering Louise's head as she did. Once beyond the door, she was met with the sight of an earth golem, much like Fouquet's, but half the size, drawing the bridge up to prevent escape. Siesta readied herself to leap over the rising bridge, but her resolve proved to be unnecessary, as the chains that the golem drew upon were struck by a spell and disintegrated. Siesta looked around for the source of the spell and saw, smiling and waving above them, Cattelya. Siesta smiled back at her as she dashed for the carriage. Not seeing a driver, and wishing to flee the estate as fast as possible, she drew Derflinger and cut the horses from their reins, mounting herself atop one.
"Okay… here goes nothing," Siesta tried to reassure herself as she grabbed what little remaining reins she could and imitated Louise kicking the sides of the horse to spur it onward. The horse reared, nearly throwing Siesta and Louise from the mighty beast, and took off down the road. Siesta held on for dear life. The horse did, eventually, stop, however, and Siesta was quite unwilling to try her luck spurring it forward anymore. She dismounted the beast, and it wandered off into the woods on the side of the path. Louise, for her part, had finally regained her senses after the shock of being discovered with her girlfriend.
"Siesta?" Louise asked, confused as she looked around. "Where are we?"
"W-well, I kind of just started going down the path towards the academy, but I don't really know how to ride a horse so the horse is gone and… uh…" Siesta's voice trailed off as she gave Louise a nervous laugh.
"You're an idiot," Louise said to her with a disappointed sigh. She then took her hand and gave her a wide smile. "But at least you're my idiot." Siesta smiled back and the two walked, hand-in-hand back towards the academy.