Long after Louise and the Captain had left, the rescue group had gathered before the port, contemplating their next move.

"Why did the Captain leave us behind?" Guiche wondered as he stroked their horse.

"Hmm," Siesta wondered, "Right as she ran off, Miss Longuevuille said she was trying to stall us…"

"Are you implying that the thief Fouquet and the legendary Sir Wardes are-?" Guiche replied, startled, unable to even fathom completing his thought.

"I don't know for sure…" Siesta pondered as her voice trailed off. After a moment, she shook her head and clenched her fists in determination, "But there's no doubt that Miss Valliere must be in trouble."

Siesta's declaration seemed to resonate with Guiche and the others who looked to her as though looking at a leader.

"You know, even if we follow them, Sylphid won't be fast enough to catch them before they land. They've got quite the head start," Kirche mused, causing Siesta to feel a pang of helplessness, "And when we go get there, how will we find them? Who knows where they're going?"

As the group stood around, resigned to temporary defeat, the ground beneath Guiche began to rise. The group, startled, jumped back, expecting a second round with Longuevuille.

"Wait, guys! Please don't abandon-!" Guiche's plea was interrupted as the ground burst open and he was knocked to the ground once more. After a moment, a friendly face emerged from the ground, wiggling its nose in excitement.

"Verdandi?" Siesta said, puzzled as to the appearance of the giant mole familiar. Wait, she thought as she remembered back to their earlier encounter with the mole. As the pieces of her plan came together, she smirked.

The ship arrived at Albion with no complications. Once Louise and her husband-to-be had departed the ship, she proceeded to direct him to the rendezvous. Not long of a ride later, they arrived at a secluded structure that appeared to be a monastery. Old, but not decrepit, and not a soul in sight. Sir Wardes gallantly offered to take the lead as the two entered the oddly silent chapel of the monastery, which looked as though it was too clean to be abandoned.

"So," Sir Wardes began as he scanned the interior of the building. "He's here." He proceeded carefully, yet with a confident gait.

"There's no one here," Louise remarked with confusion.

"Yes there are," Sir Wardes proclaimed as he drew his battlewand. Upon that statement, heavily armored individuals, all wielding battlewands of their own, proceeded to reveal themselves. Each of the knights took an aggressive stance as they stepped into the light, causing Louise to cower behind Sir Wardes, who did not break his small, confident smile at the situation.

"Greetings," Sir Wardes began as he gave a small bow. "This is the diplomatic ambassador from Tristain, Lady La Valliere," he announced, gesturing to Louise. "We wish to meet with Prince Wales," the Captain requested.

"Ambassador from Tristain?" an approaching knight growled accusationally as he raised his battlewand to Sir Wardes' neck. "You should have come up with a better lie. There's no one there that knows of this place," the knight declared.

"I was told by Princess Hentrietta!" Louise interjected as she pushed himself in front of Wardes.

The knight wordlessly aimed his battlewand directly at her face.

"I don't have any business with you guys! Where is Prince Wales?" Louise demanded, as she raised her hand to reveal the gifted water ruby ring.

The knight seemed to be taken aback. He lowered his battlewand in response and sheathed it. He then removed his right glove, revealing an uncannily similar ring, and made a fist, holding the ring towards Louise.

"Bring your hand out," the knight requested.

"What?" Louise replied, confused.

"Please," the knight implored, inching closer to Louise.

She acquiesced, and brought her ring-adorned right hand forward to meet with the knight's. As they gained proximity, a sparking happened between the two and a brilliant, rainbow light began to emit from where their fists were. Louise looked at the display in awe.

"What's going on?" she asked, perplexed.

"This ring," the knight began as the display grew brighter, "is the Ruby of Wind, and it has been passed down for generations in Albion's royal family. And you," he continued, "have the Ruby of Water. Water and wind create a rainbow. A rainbow cast between the two royal families." Upon finishing his statement, the knight removed his helmet, ending the brilliant display. The removal revealed a handsome, blonde young man, maybe not much older than Louise herself. When their eyes met, he smiled at her. Louise's eyes widened with knowing shock.

"My apologies, ambassador, I am the Prince of Albion. Wales Tudor," the revealed prince informed Louise with a kind smile.

Following this revelation, the two adjourned to a nearby office outside the chapel, within the monastery grounds, whereupon Louise produced the letter she had been charged with delivering. The prince calmly opened and read it before giving a small sigh and wry smile. He then walked over to a nearby drawer, and from within, he produced his own letter, which he presented to Louise.

"Um, Prince wales?" Louise began, positively oozing curiosity as she pondered the new letter in her hands, "What's this even about?"

"Miss Valliere, it is beyond the authority of an ambassador to try and uncover the contents of a message," the Prince replied, frowning, as he stowed the letter Louise delivered in his coat.

"But," Louise continued, unable to hold back her concern, "This is not just a war between royals and aristocrats! There's something else going on here and I want to know why!" Louise demanded. Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, she felt herself overcome with shame and stood in silent, frozen terror.

The prince, at first frowning at her outburst wordlessly, gave a defeated sigh and began to give her the answers she sought.

"Very well… Do you know the name 'Fils D'Aleks'?" the prince asked.

"Fils D'Aleks?" Louise asked in confusion at the end of the Prince's explanation.

"They're the organization orchestrating this civil war, pulling the strings of all the aristocrats and peasants who fight, unknowingly, in their name. I finally uncovered them and who they really are," he then straightened himself, as he smiled with pride, "As the Prince of Albion, I must protect this country. Even if it costs my life. Please," he implored as he softened his expression, looking directly into Louise's eyes, "pass that on to Henriertta."

Louise nodded silently as she dropped her gaze, a feeling of solemn finality creeping over her. Not long after, she, the retrieved communique tucked safely away, left the room. Louise spared a single, melancholy thought for the prince as she paused for a moment after shutting the door behind her. Her ruminations were interrupted by her fiancee approaching.

"So, you have the letter?" Sir Wardes commented, causing Louise to jump in surprise.

"Sir Wardes? Wait, I never told you what I was here to get…" Louise began, suspicion quickly growing within her as she recalled Zeratul's warning from yesterday. Slowly, she attempted to reach for her wand.

"With this, the mission is complete," Sir Wardes began as he slowly walked towards his fiancee. "Louise," he said in a sultry voice as he suddenly put his hands on her shoulders, stopping her attempt for her wand. "I want to ask Prince Wales to witness us joining in holy matrimony," he declared softly as he gazed lovingly into her eyes.

"You mean have our wedding here? Now?" Louise asked in a panic, her suspicions displaced by it.

"I'm sure the Prince will gladly accept," Wardes replied with a confident smile.

"I-it's just too sudden! I already told you!" Louise stammered out, her eyes now wide with fear as she realized her options wore thin. She broke his grip and began to run. Almost as soon as she did, the arms of her fiance engulfed her.

"No. I need you," Wardes said in a manner that Louise had never heard before. A threatening manner that caused her to tremble with fear.

"Ah! It hurts! Let me-!" Louise attempted to cry out as Sir Wardes' grip on her tightened and he covered her mouth.

"Rather…" he continued, despite her muffled protests, "Le Fils D'Aleks need you." The reveal shocked Louise to her very core. Not only had she just learned the organization existed, but to find out her beloved fiance was part of this treacherous, treasonous organization caused her to go white and begin to feel intense nausea.

Sir Wardes, presumably feeling her gagging motions, released her mouth as she doubled over and heaved from the intense rush of emotions these revelations had given her.

"My dear Louise, don't think, just listen to me," Wardes suggested in his usual calm, soothing voice while he gently rubbed her back. Even in the midst of his treachery, his persona had not dropped, causing Louise to begin to question her entire life and relationship with the man.

How long has he been with them? Was he always using me? Did he ever really love me? The thoughts raced one after another and her vision began to blur while she tried moving away from him. As she stumbled, attempting to flee, her head collided with the solid, tall figure of another man. She looked up to see, staring down at her from above, a pale-skinned, long-faced man with piercing green eyes and long, blond hair that curled at his shoulder.

"There is no escape, descendant of the Void," the man stated smugly as he raised his fist to her face, displaying a glowing ring that caused Louise to freeze and begin to slip out of consciousness.

The… Void? was the only thought Louise had, before slipping from reality.

At sunset, without knowing how, Louise found herself back in the chapel, a white bridal veil adorning her head, standing next to her devious fiance.

"Let us begin," Prince Wales' voice seemed to echo through her head like Zeratul's. It was as though she were seeing reality through a tunnel, with words and images merely floating to her, but not actually being present among them.

She could hear and register the Prince's words giving a standard wedding vow to Wardes, but couldn't quite make out everything that was being said. When he finished, she heard her duplicitous former love say, "I do."

Oh no, what's going on? Is this really happening? Why can't I control my body? Why can't I say anything? Louise thought frantically as the Prince turned to her, spouting standard vows in her direction as well. It must have been that ring. Was it magic or a Khaydarin crystal?

"I… I…" she could hear herself trying to say. This must be where I accept my vows! No! I don't want this! She pushed her will to its absolute limits to stall whatever was happening. Her body continued to fail to complete the vows, as Louise strained against what felt like heavy chains weighing her mind and spirit down.

She could hear the Prince and Wardes talking to each other, possibly about the strangeness Louise's body was exhibiting. It was obvious Wardes was using his natural charisma to dispel any suspicion.

Please see, Prince. Please see that I'm in danger! Zeratul? Siesta? Anyone! Please! Louise's silent pleading was fruitless, and only manifested in a delay of the commands she was being directed to execute. She could feel it. A foreign presence in her mind. Much different than that of Zeratul's, as his was always on the edge, poking at the surface. This presence was actively reaching in, pulling strings at her every thought and action. Manipulating her in a way that made her feel like a toy. She heard the Prince once again address her, distantly.

"I… I… I…" she fought as hard as she could to prevent herself from accepting the vows, but as the fight wore on, the intensity of the intruding force in her mind grew in power. Someone save me… please... She thought desperately, as she felt the last of her spiritual fortitude ebb away, "I d-."

Shortly after the fortuitous arrival of Verdandi, the group, including Zeratul, took off for Albion aboard Sylphid. The entire trip was nerve-wracking for all, but none more than Siesta, who felt responsible for this. If only I didn't get so caught up in my pride and just went back with her… she thought regretfully.

Gifted Siesta, even the greatest of Protoss warriors have no ability to fully predict the future. Aside from that, she is my charge, not yours, Zeratul replied to Siesta's thought in a manner that felt as though it was supposed to be comforting.

Still, I allowed my pride to blind my reason, Siesta thought shamefully.

There is no shame in defeat, Gifted Siesta, Zeratul began, a tone of pride and confidence coming from him, so long as the spirit remains unbroken.

Siesta, despite the wise words from her teacher, could not shake her guilt as she looked out over the moonlit surroundings, thinking only of what she was going to say to Louise.

Once they arrived, Siesta and the group were anxious to enact their plan once they hit solid ground, which was a vital part of it.

"Alright Verdani, find that ring!" Guiche gleefully ordered his giant mole familiar as it took a few quick sniffs in the air and immediately began tunneling. Khaydarin beeped and moved to take Derflinger's spirit from his sword body into their own.

"Alright, this thing says we can track the familiar from above but we gotta move fast cuz that thing is MOVING," Derflinger announced as the group all mounted on Sylphid and followed Khaydarin from above.

"Thank goodness for that lil guy," Kirche remarked as they looked down at the glinting golden ball bobbing and weaving between trees, rocks, and other obstacles in following the subterranean Verdandi. "I can't imagine how we'd do this without our familiars."

"Yeah, we'd probably have had to crawl into the tunnel with her," Guiche laughed as they continued to follow the probe from on high. A short time later, as the sun had begun to set, Siesta spotted something, as well as felt something.

"There!" Siesta pointed to a monastery the probe seemed to be heading towards.

Mister Zeratul, please scout ahead for us, Siesta requested. Siesta could feel his acknowledgement, even if he did not say anything.

The location is heavily guarded. Young Louise is within, but I cannot sense her, it appears she is under some sort of control, Zeratul informed, I see a Terran in possession of a psionic device of some kind, I believe this to be the source of her clouded state.

Understood, thank you Mister Zeratul, Siesta replied gratefully. The airborne group saw the mole surface in front of the chapel of the monastery, as she had surmised, and saw Khaydarin stop around the area as well, patrolling.

"Mister Zeratul said there's a lot of people in there, and one of them is controlling Miss Valliere," Siesta began to explain to the group, "We'll need a distraction to draw them out, then I'll go in and get her."

"W-wait, what do you plan to do?" Kirche asked, confused as Sylphid landed a good ways away from the monastery to not alert their potential enemies to their location.

Siesta drew Derflinger's empty sword body-prompting Khaydarin to release him- from her back and turned to the church, "Succeed, I hope."

"I d-," before Louise's orchestrated response could leave her lips, the guards around them scrambled as an explosion was heard from outside.

"We're under attack! Take cover and locate the enemy!" the Prince ordered as he drew his battlewand. As he shouted that, the church doors were slammed open.

"LOUISE!" a familiar voice shouted.

The shock of hearing her name spoken aloud by this voice for only the second time immediately cleared her mind of any foreign presence and she turned to see Siesta, sword in her hands, and the fiercest look she had ever seen upon the maid's face.

"Siesta!" Louise cried back, hastily removing the bridal veil from her head.

"What? How did you-?" Wardes growled as he faced the furious Siesta.

"It doesn't matter!" Siesta shouted as she carefully stepped forward, keeping the sword in both her hands pointed towards Wardes. "Let. Her. Go!"

Despite the ferocity of her eyes, her face, and her tone, her body trembled. She was afraid. Not for herself. Not for her own safety. But for the very real possibility that she would fail. And that she would lose Louise.

"Knights! Arrest her!" Wales ordered.

"No! Prince Wales! She's-," before Louise could explain to the prince, Wardes threw her to the ground, positioning himself before the Prince with his back to him.

"Sir Wardes, what are you-?" the Prince choked on his words as his body was impaled by a backward thrust from Wardes' battlewand. The entire church fell silent, broken only by the Prince coughing blood. "You were… D'Aleks…?" the Prince gasped as Wardes' battlewand was removed, leaving a gaping, bleeding hole where the Prince's heart once was and causing him to collapse.

Louise rushed to the fallen Prince, shouting his name in vain. It was as though the world itself had stopped and, in this moment, it was only her and the Prince, who was clinging barely to his last scrap of life. With his last effort, and blood pouring from his mouth as he choked on an incoming flood of more, he removed his air ruby ring, and held it out to Louise. She took it in her hands, clasping the Prince's as he struggled for even a moment more of life. Realizing he had lost that battle, he gently smiled, and fell limp in her arms.

"NO!" Louise screamed in agony, feeling the full weight of her failure beginning to crush her. After a moment of being frozen, she slowly turned her head to her former fiancee, giving him a wide-eyed look of terror as he whipped the Prince's blood from his battlewand, his serene smile unbroken.

"Why?" She weakly asked.

Wardes raised an eyebrow, "Omelettes and eggs, my dear."

"I," Louise felt her voice hitch with grief. Not for the prince. But for the love she now knew she had truly lost. Or never had. "I loved you."

Wardes gave her a look of pity as he shook his head in disappointment, "You are a naive child. What could you possibly know about love?"

Louise felt something within her break. She faltered, her wide-eyed gaze falling to the floor.

"Then why…?" Louise asked, trembling and desperate, "why would you…?" She could not even bring herself to speak it aloud.

Siesta, though, could sense what she meant, and took Derflinger into a white-knuckle grip as she looked upon the duplicitous noble with murderous intent.

"What did you do?! I'll-!"

"What, pray tell, are you going to do, exactly?" Wardes calmly asked, interrupting Siesta as he raised his battlewand and whipped it once more, causing a sharp whirlwind to knock the nearby knights approaching him and Siesta off their feet.

"I told Fouquet to kill you, but…" Wardes began as he stood above Siesta, battlewand at the ready, "that woman. Such incompetence. This is how she repays me for breaking her out of prison?" he mused in a dry tone, looking down on Siesta with bored contempt even as she glared up at him.

"Hmph," Wardes scoffed as he looked over at Louise, covered in blood and still cradling the slain Prince in her arms. "Come with me, Louise. Join Fils D'Aleks and embrace your human birthright as we rule the world together."

"No!" Louise shouted in response, finally breaking her gaze from the late Prince, "You're not the Wardes I knew…" She shook her head, biting back a sob, "Maybe you never were…"

"People change with time," Wardes chuckled. "When you grow up one day, you will understand what I mean." He then turned his attention back to Siesta, barely propping herself up, trembling as she did. He sighed with a bored look on his face as he leveled his battlewand at her. "I think it's time to put an end to these degenerate games."

Siesta clenched her eyes shut in fearful anticipation.

That was it. Fear.

Fear is an illusion.

She took a deep breath.

Acknowledge your fears.

She opened her eyes, meeting Wardes' with a renewed ferocity.

And let them go.

"Fuck you."

Wardes faltered as he heard this from the ferocious, defiant maid before him, taken aback by the sheer lack of any respect he was used to getting from servants such as her.

"I'm sorry?" he asked in disbelief as he thrust his battlewand in her face ever more menacingly.

"I said," Siesta replied, reaching forward her hand out, flat, towards the double-crossing Wardes, "Fuck. YOU!"

Wardes was blown back by an unseen force, throwing him to the altar where he and his ex-bride-to-be were to be wed.

"How dare you play with Louise's heart! How dare you use her! She is so much more than you EVER deserved!" Siesta's tone grew dark as she rose, levitating, to her feet while a strange wind began to manifest in the chapel.

"Forbidden, degenerate love, eh?" Wardes replied mockingly as he grunted with effort, rising to his feet, and scoffed at the woman before him radiating with a power no human here had ever beheld before, "A peasant like you? And a woman, at that? Falling in love with a noblewoman? I'd laugh if it weren't so cliche and tragic." Wardes smirked as he took a step towards Siesta. "Surely you must know, even with all her inadequacies, she still does not engage in such… perversion?"

With that venomous barb, Wardes slashed his battlewand at Siesta.

"Use me, partner!" Derfligner shouted, causing Siesta to bring the blade up in time to see the spell dissipate on contact with him. Wardes briefly went wide-eyed at this before contorting his face in indignant rage.

Siesta, too, needed a moment to process what had happened before she regarded her enemy once more, her conviction and resolve never stronger than it was at this moment.

"I don't care!" Siesta shouted over the din, finally responding to Wardes' taunt. Tears borne of intense determination welled up in her eyes as she took a step towards him, glaring, "Even if she can't… or won't…" Siesta said with a wavering voice. Her gaze fell downward for only a moment. Fear threatened to strangle her words. She briefly glanced at Louise. She was staring, wide-eyed, fearful, and heartbroken at the two of them. Siesta gave her the smallest of reassuring smiles, bringing just a flicker of light to Louise's eyes that gave Siesta the strength to let go of this fear. She met Wardes' gaze with her ferocious determination.

"That won't change the fact that I love her!"

Louise felt a jolt throughout her body that caused her eyes to widen and her to draw in a sharp breath while those words echoed in her head. She looked upon Siesta in disbelief, with her broken heart feeling as though it was being brought back to life. Whatever Louise was registering was interrupted as the strange wind that was coming from nowhere intensified and caused the benches in this church to creak under some unknown pressure.

"W-what is this?" Wardes asked in a panic as he finally took stock of the surroundings, and fully took in the display of power from this underestimated foe. His face went back to one of wrath as he leveled his battlewand at Siesta.

"You bitch! KNOW YOUR PLACE!" Wardes shouted as lightning shot from his battlewand.

Siesta, in response, took a psionic leap out of the way, readying Derflinger to strike.

Come, Young Louise, Louise heard Zeratul's voice offer as she felt one of the old Nerazim's hands touch her back, snapping her from her stupor, We must away from this place. Louise, full of too many emotions to name, continued to remain kneeling, frozen, and enthralled by the duel. There is no time, Young Louise, this location is not safe.

As Zeratul said that, he gathered up Louise to take her from the church. While he fled, a stray lightning bolt from Wardes struck Zeratul's shields, revealing him for the briefest of moments. Wardes' eyes, upon seeing him, widened, "It's true!" He exclaimed in disbelief.

Now! Siesta thought to herself as the noble was momentarily distracted. In a moment that seemed like an eternity, Siesta thought back to the vision Zeratul had shown them before they left, and the wisdom of his teacher… Raszagal.

Be mindful of the consequences of mercy.

There was only one choice. For her family, for herself, for the world, and, most importantly to her in this moment, for Louise. She leapt, as she did in the alleyway duel from yesterday, and thrust Derflinger forward with all her might while propelling herself psionically.

She felt it.

The blade had hit its target.

Just as Wardes had done to the Prince, so had Siesta done to him. Poetic, for the regicidal noble. He dropped his battlewand and gripped Derflinger's blade in disbelief.

"Oh boy, you really messed up here, stud," Derflinger commented as Siesta withdrew the sword from his chest and Wardes fell to his knees gasping and coughing blood. Siesta, unaware or uncaring of the blood that now stained her simple dress, looked down remorselessly at the two-faced noble as panic grew on his face.

"B-but how?" the noble gasped out in disbelief between spurts of blood from his mouth.

Siesta, ignoring his words, raised Derflinger, "I will always protect Louise." She brought down the sword with a psionically-enhanced slash, severing the noble's head, its face still stricken with shock, from his body.

A moment of silence passed. Siesta stared at her bloody handiwork for a moment that didn't feel like it would end. Then, she dropped Derflinger, who exclaimed in protest, and fell to her knees.

"What have I done?" Siesta asked herself, trembling, looking at her bloodied hands, and tears now forming. Behind her, she heard a slow clapping. She frantically scooped up Derflinger, whipping around and readying herself once again, heaving deep, shaky breaths.

"Well done, little maid!" A feminine voice announced, mockingly, "I guess two out of three objectives isn't bad." The ground beneath Siesta rumbled as it rose, and exploded, blasting Siesta off her feet and dropping Derflinger once more. She sat up, coughing at the dust, to see Miss Longueville standing before her, smirking.

"It's a shame about Wardes, he was quite a handsome man," Miss Longueville lamented as she looked at the beheaded noble's body, crouched down, and picked up the head to look directly into the permanently panic-stricken eyes of the former Wardes. After a moment, she dropped it with a squelching thump before turning her attention to the headless body, rifling through the pockets.

"Ah! Here we are!" She exclaimed triumphantly as she held the letter that Louise was sent to retrieve. She then turned to walk away from Siesta, towards the entrance, which was now caved in by the battle from earlier, and, with maximum effort, hoisted a passed out, tall, blonde noble onto her shoulders.

"C'mon, Cromwell, time to take our leave," She announced as she flicked her wand and a tunnel appeared beneath them. "And as for you?" Miss Longueville said, menacingly, towards Siesta, "Looks like I get to kill you after all!" She exclaimed excitedly as she waved her wand at the roof of the church, causing it to cave in.

Siesta, drained from her fight with Wardes, could not summon the energy to do anything to protect herself and closed her eyes, bracing herself for the impact that never came. She felt her body, and Derflinger, lifted from the ground as she was encapsulated in a protective bubble that the falling debris harmlessly broke against as she rose into the air. Once she was aware that no harm was coming to her, Siesta looked around, confounded by what was happening. Eventually, she spied Sylphid, and atop her, Tabitha and Kirche, each pointing their respective magical focuses at her to maintain the protective bubble.

"Hey, you alright?" Kirche cheerfully called out as the bubble drew closer to Sylphid.

Siesta smiled, feeling momentarily safe, but just as quickly felt her smile fade as she dwelt on what had occurred. After being gently placed upon Sylphid, the group landed before the remains of the chapel, where Louise waited for them, from which all the remaining loyalist forces had now dispersed, leaving them alone with their thoughts and in a silence only broken by the occasional sob from Louise.

"No one could have survived that," Kirche remarked, looking over the carnage. She then turned to look at Siesta, covered in fresh blood, "Are you okay?! You're bleeding!" She exclaimed as she recoiled at the sight.

"What? Oh, no," Siesta replied thoughtlessly as she touched her bloodstained dress and looked to her further reddened hand, "it's not my blood." Siesta's eyes grew dark with that statement, and Tabitha and Kirche looked at her with growing concern-tempered fear.

Louise, overwhelmed, threw herself on Siesta, sobbing, ignoring the blood they were awash with.

"Everything's gone wrong!" Louise cried out, sniffling, "the prince is dead… I lost the letter… Wardes…" her voice trailed off. "What happened to Wardes?" Louise, teary-eyed, asked Siesta.

"He escaped," Siesta lied. "We were right. He and Miss Longueville were working together. She showed up, knocked me off balance, took Wardes and Cromwell and ran," Siesta elaborated, seeing Louise was unconvinced by her original explanation.

At the sound of the name "Cromwell", though, every human present gasped.

"So it was Cromwell who hypnotized me," Louise surmised, her tears momentarily stopped, "that means he must also be working for Fils D'Aleks."

"Hmm…" Tabitha's eyes, in a rare moment of emotion, narrowed. The entire group turned to her.

"Know them," Tabitha revealed. A few moments of silence passed as the rest of the group waited in anticipation of further explanation, "Been trying to find them, destroy them, for what they did to mother." She elaborated, causing Louise and Siesta to give her looks of sympathy and concern.

"Tabitha…" Kirche said with sorrow-hitched breath as she hugged Tabitha close.

Unprompted, Zeratul revealed himself before the idling, resting group. Guiche, still not used to this, yelped as he stumbled back.

There is no presence around us, Zeratul announced, we should flee, while this is still the case.

Agreeing with the advisement, the group went to mount Sylphid once more. As the last of them got on, Kirche looked down to Zeratul.

"Hey, you wanna ride with us, again? Probably better than walking," Kirche offered as she looked to Tabitha, who gave a small nod of approval.

My thanks to you, friends Tabitha and Kirche, Zeratul replied as he mounted the dragon himself, taking up quite a bit of room even on the large beast.

The group flew off, making way for Tristain once more.

Louise, nestled in Siesta's arms while she gently wept, dwelt on all that had occurred. As they flew, she began to realize something. Something she finally felt she could put words that she could admit to. Through all the things that had happened up to this point, there has always been one person always ready and willing to be by her side, to support her, to accept her, and, as she had just learned in the church, to love her.

But even as she thought she was ready… she thought back to the times when she ran away, on that little boat at the lake at her parent's house, and Sir Wardes, who would come to comfort her in her times of need.

Was it all a lie? She couldn't help but think.

She then looked up to Siesta, who was holding her close, stroking her hair, just as she had done for her every night they spent together at that inn, and looking down on her with nothing but the purest admiration she had ever experienced. There was no moment in the two of them having grown close to each other that she ever doubted this was a person who genuinely cared and would not just accept her, but be there for her no matter what.

"Siesta," Louise began as she looked into Siesta's eyes, the tears stopping.

"Louise," she replied with a soft, genuine smile, "Don't worry, I'm with you," she placed the hand she was using to stroke her hair upon Louise's face, giving her a tearful smile, "I will always be with you."

Louise gave a small half-smile at that. It was something she'd heard too much. And now she doubted if anyone ever meant it. Especially after…

She shook her head.

"Is something wrong?" Siesta asked, looking down at her with genuine concern.

Louise needed a moment before she felt she could even begin to answer that. "Everything," she began, tearful once more, "I thought he loved me. I loved him. How can I-?" her voice hitched with grief, which caused Siesta to squeeze one of her hands reassuringly.

Siesta felt helpless. The helplessness was not all her own, however.

That reminded her of when they talked with their teacher. And how his feelings bled to them. She wondered…

"Louise," Siesta began in a soft tone, interrupting Louise's tears, "Do you remember… how Zeratul's feelings became our own that night?"

Louise, confused, nodded.

"I want to see… if I can do that as well," Siesta offered.

Louise was unsure if it was even possible. But her grief had been successfully replaced with curiosity in that moment. She nodded to Siesta, who gave the smallest smile before leaning down to press her head to Louise's, making her wide-eyed and flushed in the process. After a moment of remembering the presence that held her, however, she relaxed and closed her eyes.

At first, there was nothing.

Then, something at the edges of her mind. Not like the violating grip that held her earlier. But a gentle caress that brought her immediate comfort and safety. Like when Siesta held her. And she knew it was, indeed, Siesta's presence. It felt the same as her physical one, only in her soul. It felt as though she were bleeding into her. And her own feelings? They were not being dispersed by an invader, but greeted by an affectionate guest that gently embraced her spirit.

Can you feel how I feel about you? Louise heard Siesta's voice gently ring through her head like an enchanting melody.

When I think about you.

Fondness.

When I see you.

Butterflies.

When I'm with you.

Comfort.

When I touch you.

Ecstasy.

Siesta meant it. There was no way Louise could doubt it.

And Louise could feel these things not just because Siesta was letting her feel them, but because they were, truly, her own feelings, as well.

Siesta pulled back. They both opened their eyes to meet each other's misty gaze. Louise reached up and placed a hand on Siesta's face, which she eagerly, but gingerly, took in her own.

In that moment, neither could deny their feelings any longer, as they each closed their eyes once more, interlocked their hands together, leaned in, and finally allowed their lips to meet.

Nothing else existed for the two. Locked in a loving embrace, hands intertwined and lips pressed together. It was a moment of pure bliss, finally breaking up all the hardship and tribulation they had endured. In that moment, Louise felt as though nothing could or would go wrong, and Siesta felt the same.

Once their lips had finally parted and they pulled back just enough to hold each other's gaze.

"Louise, I-."

"I love you, Siesta," Louise interrupted her, the smallest of mischievous smiles on her face.

Siesta's mouth hung slightly open at this. And her countenance was one of disbelief. After a moment, however, she let out a single laugh, smiled in adoration, and gently caressed Louise's face.

"I love you too, Louise."

The couple, along with their group, flew into the twin moonlit sky.

Both decided, in that moment, to leave their troubles for another day.