At Newcastle's port, inside the cave, Kai stood in line to board the Eagle, surrounded by worried people.
"Because of love, sometimes it's necessary to let go..." Derflinger muttered silently. He was hanging on Kai's back once more.
"Urg, shut it..."
"Why?"
"Cause I don't love anyone here like that." Deep down, Kai felt sick to his stomach when someone mentioned the word love.
"Oh, you're talking about the 'Because of love' part, right?"
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Kai muttered, "Derf, I swear to god, today isn't the day."
"I understand. If my partner is asking me, I won't talk about it anymore. Though, we do have to talk about our future. Have you decided what to do and where to go?"
Kai tapped his chin. He really didn't know where anything was in this world. "Maybe Saito and I'll go to Germania."
"And that's where we'll find a way back to your old world?"
"Who said anything about you going? I'm the alien here."
Derflinger shook for a moment. "You should become a mercenary."
"A mercenary?"
"Yep. With a sword on your shoulder, at one battlefield today, then another the next day. Not great pay, but at least you'd get some experience."
Kai muttered, "I'd have to help Saito out, and be stuck with a crappy sword."
"Whaaat?! Without me as a partner, an ordinary guy like you would be left behind instantly."
"Your best power is to give people tetanus with all that rust."
"How rude! But I forgive you since you are my partner. By the way, partner, I recalled something the other day..."
"Yeah?"
"Partner, weren't you called Gandalfr?"
"Oh yeah, apparently it's some legendary familiar. When I first heard about it, I was-"
"Wait. Wait just a second, partner. I think I remember that name..."
Kai was a bit surprised that this old sword could remember something. "Really now?"
"No, it's an extremely old memory... It was so long ago, I just caught it in a corner of my head."
Derflinger kept on muttering "hm", "aha", and "aah" repeatedly.
"You sure you were remembering right, since it was so long ago? Besides, where would your head even be?"
Derflinger stayed quiet for a moment. "The handle?" Derflinger's answer made Kai laugh.
It was finally time for Kai to board the ship. When he boarded he saw what most people would expect to see - too many people were squeezed next to each other that it was impossible to sit down.
From the edge of the ship, Kai looked at the limestone cave. Louise was in the middle of her wedding...
Kai shut his eyes as tight as he could. It didn't matter. Why would it matter to him? She didn't mean anything to him...
She doesn't-
Kai's thoughts were interrupted by someone's elbow hitting his injured arm, making him wince.
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Meanwhile, in a chapel, where the Founder Brimir's portrait hung, Crown Prince Wales was waiting for the groom and the bride to appear. No one else was around, as everybody was busy preparing for the upcoming battle. Wales also had planned to prepare for the battle once the ceremony was over.
The chapel was a beautiful building on the edge of the castle. It was painted a deep purple to match its royal status and had extremely detailed stained glass in the ceilings.
Wales was dressed in his Princely attire. He wore a bright purple mantle, the symbol of the royal family, and a hat with seven colored wings, the symbol of Albion's royal family.
The door opened, and Louise and Wardes had arrived. Louise stood with a dazed expression on her face, so Wales had to urge her to come and stand in front of him.
Louise was confused. Everything happened so fast. Wardes barged into her room this morning and brought her here, without even waking her up properly. She was confused because desperate feelings were swelling in her mind. She came here without thinking, still half-asleep. because of the prince who was determined to fight and Kai's attitude yesterday, she was very depressed.
Wardes, after telling Louise that it was "Time to do the wedding now," put a bridal veil borrowed from Albion's royal family on Louise's head. The veil was nicely made, and the flowers, which were eternally fresh due to magic, made it look indescribably beautiful.
Then, Wardes removed Louise's black mantle and replaced it with a white one, that was also borrowed from Albion's royal family. Only brides were allowed to wear it, as it was the mantle of a virgin.
However, even while being dressed up by Wardes, Louise was still unresponsive. But Wardes understood Louise's mood as a sign of her affirmative will.
Wardes and Louise stood up in front of Wales, who was standing below the image of the Founder Brimir, wearing his official uniform. Wardes, who himself was wearing his usual clothes and a magical mantle, bowed his head.
"Well then, let's start the ceremony." The Prince's voice reached Louise's ears, but she didn't process it. Her mind was still lost in her own thoughts.
"Groom, Viscount Jean-Jacques Francis de Wardes. Do you take this girl as your wife, and swear to respect and love her in the name of Founder Brimir?"
Wardes nodded solemnly. "I swear."
Wales looked at Louise and smiled. "Bride, the third daughter of the Duke of La Vallière, Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière..."
Wales read the oath in a clear voice.
Just then, Louise realized what was happening. She was in the middle of a wedding. Her partner was the ever-reliable Wardes, whom she had once yearned for. A marriage arranged by their fathers.
It's not like I hate Wardes. Maybe I even like him... But... why do I feel so pained? Why do I feel so sad? Is it because this kingdom is going to be turned into ruins soon? Or is it because I face a prince who deserted his love and hopes, in order to die?
It wasn't that. Though those were events that hurt, they wouldn't cause the deep cloud of sadness inside of her. That cloud was hard to bear.
Louise suddenly remembered the face Kai made when she mentioned marriage to him.
Why...? Why did I say something like that to him?
It was because I wanted to be stopped.
By who?
I wanted Kai to stop me.
Why?
Louise's face turned red as she started to think about it. It was just like thinking back to the previous night why she jumped into Kai's arms, who she had just stumbled on.
But are those feelings true?
I don't know.
Isn't it worth trying to find out?
After all, no matter how she had felt before, she had never jumped to a man before.
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Meanwhile...
Kai let out a deep sigh while leaning on the edge of the ship's railing.
"Hm?"
"What is it, partner?"
Vision in Kai's left eye started shifting around as if he were in a daze.
"My eyes actin' up."
"Probably because you're tired," Derflinger said, pretending not to know the real reason.
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"Bride?" Wales looked in her direction.
Louise looked like she had no clue what she was doing there. What should she do? What would someone in her situation do? No one taught her that. The only person she could think of who could give some semblance of an answer was leaving on a ship.
"Are you nervous? That's all right. It's normal to be nervous." Wales gave her a smile. "We still have to hold to tradition. Doing this would only have meaning if we finished it. Then, let me repeat. Do you take this man as your husband, and swear to respect and love him in the name of the Founder Brimir?"
Louise realized that she shouldn't, no, she couldn't wait for someone to give her the answer. She had to make decisions for herself.
Determined, Louise took a deep, deep breath.
Before anyone could speak, Louise shook her head.
"Bride?"
"Louise?"
The two of them suspiciously looked into Louise's eyes. She looked at Wardes with a sad expression and shook her head once more.
"My dear Louise, are you feeling well?"
"No, that's not it. I'm sorry..."
"If today is bad, then another time-"
"That's not it. That's not it. I'm sorry Wardes, I cannot marry you."
Wales looked confused at the sudden change of events. "Bride, do you not want this marriage?"
"Yes. I want to apologize to both of you, for my rudeness. It was a painful decision to make, but I do not want to marry."
A furious red spread across Wardes' face.
Wales turned to him and said in a regretful tone, "Viscount, I am terribly sorry, but the bride doesn't wish for the ceremony to continue."
Wardes didn't pay any attention to Wales, and grabbed Louise's hand. "...You are just nervous. My dear Louise. You cannot be seriously refusing my offer."
"I'm sorry, Wardes. I once yearned for you. Maybe... I even loved you once. However, it is different now."
Wardes gripped Louise's shoulders. She looked at his face, and was terrified. The usual kind look he had disappeared, now there was only the icy cold fury he had.
Wardes shouted in a feverish tone, "The world, Louise! I will rule the world! You are necessary for that!"
Louise was beyond scared by the sudden change in Wardes, and kept shaking her head. "Y-You don't need me for that."
Wardes forcefully pulled Louise closer to him. "You are necessary for me! Your ability! Your power!"
Louise's heart started pounding from fear. The thought of the gentle Wardes ever frowning never even crossed her mind, let alone him shouting like this. Louise tried to get away from him.
"Louise, have you forgotten what I told you?! You will grow up to be just as great as the Founder himself! You just don't know about it yet! That power!"
"Wardes, you..." Louise was trembling in fear. This was not the Wardes she once knew. What had happened to him?
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On the ship, Kai rubbed his left eye.
"What is it, partner?"
"My eye is really actin' up."
"It's probably because you're tired."
Kai's vision in his left eye started warping.
"What the?! I can see something!"
In his right eye, he saw the limestone cave, but his left eye showed a completely different scene. Though he couldn't quite tell, his left eye had also turned into a reddish brown, similar to his master's.
"What can you see, partner?"
"Is it... Louise's view?"
Kai remembered something Louise had said before. Something about familiars developing powers and whatnot.
But... Why can I see her view all of a sudden?
Kai glanced at his left hand. The runes were shining brightly even though he wasn't fighting.
Then it wasn't a byproduct of being a familiar, but a side effect of Gandalfr.
Could Saito see the same thing?
Since he had nothing better to do, Kai closed his right eye and watched what Louise was seeing.
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Wales, who couldn't stand how Wardes was threatening Louise, stepped in. "Viscount. That's enough. Behave like a gentle-"
Wardes struck Wales. "Shut up!"
Wales could only stand still, surprised by Wardes attitude.
Wardes held Louise's hands with his and she felt as if a snake was coiling around her.
"Louise! You are necessary for me!"
"No, I'm not."
"I've told you already! You just aren't aware of your power Louise!"
She tried to shake off Wardes' hands, but his strength prevented it.
Louise grimaced in pain. "I would rather die than marry you! I get it now, you never loved me. You only loved the power that you think I have. To marry someone for that isn't just cruel! It's an insult!"
Wales put a hand on Wardes' shoulder, trying to pull him away, but Wardes pushed Wales to the ground.
Wales' face turned red, and as he stood up he pulled out his cane. "How dare you?! Viscount, move away from Miss Vallière right now! Else my magical blade will tear you apart!"
Only then did Wardes let go of Louise. A smile spread across his face. The smile was forced.
"Even if I ask you this way, you won't do it? Louise, my Louise."
Louise spoke while trembling. "No, there is no doubt left that you are not the man I would ever marry."
Wardes looked up to the sky. "And I made such great efforts to capture your heart during this journey..." Wardes spread his hands out while throwing his head back. "Well, it can't be helped. I guess I'll have to give up on this goal."
"Goal?" Louise was confused. What was he talking about?
The corners of Wardes' lips curled up to form a smile. "That's right. There were four goals for me to achieve during this travel. Sadly, I only achieved two of them."
"What... what are you talking about?" Louise felt unease trickle down her spine. Her mind was racing trying to figure out what was going on.
Wardes held up one hand, and put up his index finger. "The first was you, Louise. I had to get you, however it seems that I won't be able to accomplish that goal."
"Obviously not!"
Wardes smiled and put up his middle finger. "The second, was to see if the Golden Demon existed. Fortunately, he doesn't."
"The Golden Demon?"
Wardes put up his ring finger. "The third goal, Louise, is in your pocket. Henrietta's letter."
Louise's eyes widened.
"Wardes, you..."
"And, finally..."
After hearing Wardes say 'Henrietta's letter', Wales understood everything. He quickly started chanting a spell...
However, Wardes had already cast one.
The glowing tip of Wardes' wand pierced Wales' chest.
"D-Damn you... Reconquista..."
Blood gushed out of Wales' mouth and Louise screamed.
Wardes pushed his wand deeper into Wales' chest. "The final goal, was your damned life, Wales." Wales fell to the ground.
"Are you an Albionian noble as well?! Wardes!" Louise tried to put on a brave face, but she was trembling. Wardes was a traitor.
"That's right. I am a member of Albion's noble faction, Reconquista." Wardes' voice was cold and emotionless.
"Why?! Why would you do such a thing?!"
"We are the heralds of Halkeginia's future. A union of nobles that has no borders." Wardes raised his wand once more. "Halkeginia will be reunited into one by our hands, we will restore the Founder's Sacred Land once more."
"You... You weren't like this before. What happened to you?"
"Years of accidents... Destiny? Though the me you once knew is gone, it didn't change my nature as you may think."
Wardes suddenly swung his wand, and a spell hit Louise, sending her to the floor.
"Help..." Louise's face turned pale. She tried to stand up, but her legs wouldn't obey her.
Wardes threw his head back once again. "You rejected my offer to rule this world together!"
He cast another wind spell, and a moment later, Louise was blown away.
"No... help..."
"No one can hear you, it seems like you will have to bow your head in defeat, huh, Louise?"
Thrown against the wall, Lousie was left lying on the ground, groaning in pain. Tears started rolling down her face.
"Help me... please..."
Louise kept repeating her words as if something would magically happen.
Enjoying himself, Wardes started casting the spell Lightning Cloud.
"It's regrettable... That your life will be taken by this hand..."
Kai's arm had been so severely damaged by this spell... If she was hit by it... She couldn't even hope to survive.
The chapel started trembling, which only scared Louise more.
As the rumbling grew stronger, Louise cried out two words.
"KAI! HELP!"
At that moment, Wardes finished his spell, and lowered his cane toward Louise...
The source of the rumbling caused the wall of the chapel to collapse, and a strong gust of wind blew in from outside.
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"Damn you..." Wardes muttered.
After breaking through the wall, Kai flew in, grabbed Louise, and moved her out of the way of Wardes' attack.
Looking at her, Kai could tell she fainted mere moments ago, but she was still breathing. Setting her down, Kai looked over and saw Wales' body, and then he glared at Wardes.
"I'm not gonna let you get away with this you bastard!" A red aura burst around Kai.
"Tch... Why are you here Gandalfr?" Wardes was somewhat annoyed that Kai saved Louise.
"Ain't it obvious? I'm here to kick your ass!" Kai jumped up and swung Derflinger straight at Wardes. Wardes flew straight up into the air, avoiding the attack.
"You? You think you can best me?" Wardes let out a cruel laugh.
Floating next to a portrait of Brimir, Wardes crossed his arms and looked confident.
Kai flew as fast as an arrow at Wardes and thrust out his sword. Wardes gracefully dodged the attack, landing on the ground.
Kai threw several balls of energy straight at Wardes, but he moved past each of them without breaking a sweat. Slightly narrowing his eyes, Kai started throwing as many blasts as he could. Dust and smoke started to pile up from all the blasts.
Before the dust could settle, the sound of steel clashing against steel resounded throughout the chapel. Wardes had seen through Kai's plan.
"Did you really think that would work?"
"Not really." Jumping back, Kai threw Derflinger into the air. Not falling for the obvious distraction, Wardes swung his wand, just to be met with an energy blade protruding from Kai's right hand.
Despite Kai's arm being injured, Wardes was somewhat confused as to how Kai was still holding his own.
To gain some distance, Wardes jumped back like a feather, but Kai spun a bit, and from his left hand, a longer energy blade shot out. Wardes was able to parry it away, and he rushed in to slash at Kai's exposed core.
As he drew near, Kai's body twisted a bit, and Wardes' eyes widened. Kai's tail was wrapped around Derflinger's handle, and the blade was coming straight for his face. Wardes tried to move out of the way, but the tip of the blade caught his cheek.
"Damn..." Kai started panting a bit. Their fight so far had barely started, but with him already using Kaioken times ten, he was wearing himself out quickly.
"You damn brat!" More power started to exude from Wardes. If something didn't change Kai would lose just like last time.
He quickly glanced at his right arm. With the power of the runes, the pain had diluted just a little, but it was still there, being amplified by the Kaioken... But, he really did need to do something to change the tide of battle.
"If you're doing all this, then I need to go beyond my limit!" Kai started powering up just like Wardes. The flaming red aura around him started growing more wild. A mere ten times wouldn't be enough. "Kaioken times TWENTY!"
Kai flew straight at Wardes. Disappearing via his lightning trail, Wardes reappeared behind Kai. Thinking quickly, Kai created an afterimage and appeared behind Wardes. The two kept disappearing and reappearing behind one another.
Their little charade ended with Wardes turning around and kicking Kai away.
While Kai tried to recover mid-air, Wardes started chanting a spell. Kai couldn't do anything to defend himself as a raging wind slammed him against the wall.
Kai let out a groan of pain as he got back up. When he did, Wardes was waiting for him, just to slam his fist into the boy's face.
Recovering much quicker this time, Kai rushed straight at Wardes. With Derflinger in his right hand, Kai sent slash after slash in Wardes' direction, but he was starting to get used to the boy's rhythm of attack.
Why? Why wasn't he able to hit Wardes? He was stronger than ever now, but he couldn't land a blow! Wardes was just toying with him!
"That's it, Gandalfr? At least try to make this entertaining!" Wardes swung his wand, but Kai jumped back.
Getting more frustrated, Kai sent a volley of energy blasts toward Wardes. Easily sidestepping each individual blast, Wardes sent a raging wing out, that slammed Kai into the ground.
"Why did you come back to die Gandalfr? I truly can't understand how your mind works..."
Kai shook his head as he jumped up. "Shut it! I already told you, I came back to kick your ass!"
Wardes sent another wave of wind toward the boy, who could barely hold up his sword. Kai tried to find some sort of opening, but Wardes wasn't letting up. Waves of wind started pushing Kai into a wall.
"Gandalfr... don't tell me... Are you in love with Louise?"
"Shut up!" The runes on Kai's hand started glowing brighter, but it still wasn't enough.
"A commoner's hopeless love for his master! That's really funny! That girl will never turn to you! Basic compassion mistaken for love! What a fool!"
This was it, his tipping point.
"SHUT UP!" Kai slashed through the winds, the force of the slash caused Wardes to be moved back a few feet. He pointed Derflinger straight at Wardes. "So what if I did?!"
Derflinger started shouting, "That's it, partner! Reach deeper!"
Wardes cast another spell. It was the same he had used to knock away the white-masked man from before.
"Yeah, I love her! I love her so much it hurts!" Kai swung Derflinger toward the raging wind, and as the sword met the spell, it started glowing brightly.
With the power from Kai and the power of the spell, the rust on Derflinger disappeared. He looked like a brand-new sword.
Wardes looked at the boy with a scrutinous gaze. "That blade isn't ordinary... It absorbed my spell..." Wardes smirked. "Then let us see how far that love takes you. It's time to teach you why this magic is the strongest!"
Kai jumped straight at him, and Wardes barely escaped the attack. Kai's power had already increased drastically.
"You really are the Gandalfr of legend... Ubiquitous Dell Wind..."
Kai turned his body to Wardes, and something happened.
One... Two... Three... Four... A total of five Wardes surrounded Kai.
"Clones?!"
"This is Ubiquitous Wind..." One of the Wardes doubles pulled out a white mask.
Kai started trembling in anger. This is the same bastard who injured his arm! He was helping Fouquet!
All of the Wardeses flourished their wands, and they started glowing.
Kai closed his eyes and took a deep breath in.
"Partner, keep your guard up!"
He slowly opened his eyes. "I know."
One of the Wardes sped straight toward him, and Kai jumped over him, kicking him away. Instantly he twisted his back and blocked an attack with Derf from another Wardes. He quickly extended his left hand, with an energy blade protruding from it to fight off another Wardes.
"Derf, if you have some kind of special move for me, now's the time to tell me about it!" Being completely surrounded, Kai seldom had a chance of winning.
"What? I'm just a sword."
Getting frustrated with Derf, Kai's power started to grow. The runes on his hand were shining bright.
With that small boost of power, Kai was able to fend off the Wardes on top of him. Taking advantage of their momentary confusion, Kai flew at one of the Wardes. Though only grazed by the blade, the Wardes clone was sucked into it.
Kai was surprised, but he smirked.
Kai rushed up to another Wardes, and as soon as Derf was blocked, Kai kicked his leg out from behind him, knocking back another Wardes.
As soon as the Wardes double was kicked away, Kai threw Derflinger at him. As the blade made contact with the double's chest, the clone disappeared.
The remaining three Wardes all shot lightning at the boy, who disappeared and reappeared right in front of the bolt. He made quick zigzags with afterimages, barely avoiding the lightning attacks from the Wardes.
Grabbing Derflinger again, Kai ran up to the closest clone, and right before attacking, he threw a blast to the ground. Smoke rose from the ground obstructing everyone's view.
"I already told you, it won't work!" The Wardes clone that Kai was running at turned to block an attack, but none came.
As the smoke cleared, Kai pierced one of the clones straight through the chest, and it disappeared right into Derflinger.
It was just down to the last two Wardeses. One of them rushed toward Kai, but the other... It was flying straight at Louise!
Kai pushed the Wardes close to him away and flew as fast as he could toward the one rushing toward Louise. As the Wardes clone raised its cane to finish off Louise, Kai sliced down as hard as he could.
As soon as it disappeared, Kai heard a squelching sound and felt a pain in his chest. Before he could even see his chest, he saw the tip of Wardes' wand in front of him.
The sound of steel hitting the ground rang out as Wardes' wand was pulled out of Kai's chest.
"PARTNER!" Derflinger's yells fell on deaf ears.
Kai wobbled a bit. He touched his chest and looked at his hand. It was covered in blood. "W-What...?"
Wardes smiled maliciously. "An amateur trying to play the part of a hero. How pitiful."
As soon as the light faded from his left hand, Kai fell to the ground.
Seeing the boy not breathing, Wardes let out a breath. Gandalfr was much more of an issue than he initially thought... It may have been better if he had dealt with the boy sooner.
Wardes glanced over to the sword on the ground, and then to Louise's unconscious body. Had he been too hasty trying to kill her? Reconquista could probably still use her power.
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Kai.
In the last fleeting moments of life, Kai started hearing his own voice in his head.
This is it, isn't it, me?
Are you really going to let Wardes win?
There's nothing I can do.
If you lose here, thousands will die.
Tristain will be next.
Louise will die, and it will...
All
Be
Your
Fault
What will you do, Kai Atsura?
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Just as Wardes was thinking of what to do, the ground around him started shaking violently.
"I..."
Wardes' eyes widened as he heard that voice. It couldn't be... the boy was stabbed straight through the heart.
"I can't..."
He quickly turned around and saw Kai slowly standing back up. His hair was starting to rise, and the runes on his hand were shining a bright golden light.
"I won't!"
His hair stood on end and the shaking started to get so violent, Wardes almost lost his footing.
"I WON'T LOSE TO A BASTARD LIKE YOU!"
A bright golden light filled the chapel as a demonic roar echoed.
As the light died down, Wardes was horrified. That golden hair... That fierce gaze... It couldn't be.
"I'm not gonna lose, Wardes." Kai's voice had slightly deepened.
Wardes took a deep breath trying to compose himself. "So... that little legend turned out to be true. It's a neat trick to change your hair, but don't think you can win now!" Wardes grabbed his wand, preparing to cast another spell. Before he could finish, Kai was in front of him, gripping his hand with force he hadn't felt before.
"Still think this is a trick?"
Wardes tried to pull his hand away, but Kai just tightened his grip more. The force was so much, that Wardes was forced to drop his wand.
After a minute of Wardes trying to pull himself away, Kai let go. Hurridly, Wardes picked up his wand and jumped back.
"Damned Gandalfr..."
"What's the matter?" Kai smirked. "Am I too strong?"
Wardes swung his wand, and lightning shot out of it. The bolt hit Kai square in the chest, but...
"I-Impossible..."
Kai was completely unscathed. "My turn."
Faster than Wardes could react Kai made his way past his defenses and slammed his fist straight into Wardes' chest. Flying in the air, Wardes tried to recover, but Kai appeared and hammered Wardes back into the ground.
Kai landed and stood in front of Wardes.
"Don't get cocky!" Wardes quickly stood up and started swinging his wand. Kai easily sidestepped every strike, which served to anger Wardes.
Wardes angrily raised his wand above his head, desperately trying to hit Kai. Instead of dodging, Kai grabbed the wand, and punched Wardes in the chest, sending him crashing into a wall.
"I have to say, you are fast and strong... no one could mistake you for a commoner..." Kai smirked again. "Oh wait, that was your line wasn't it?"
"Don't mock me!" Before Wardes went to attack once more, he took a moment to take a breath. "I admit Gandalfr, the legends were true about your titles as the Founder's strongest familiar, and the Golden Demon, but don't let that go to your head. I'm still not using all of my power."
"Then use it."
"What?"
"I said. Use. It."
"You... damn brat!" Lightning started to surround Wardes as he dashed at Kai. He sidestepped Wardes' assault and countered with a devastating punch to his side.
Wardes quickly recovered, and created more doubles of himself. Though there were only three doubles this time, without Derflinger, this would be more of a challenge. Just thinking about it got Kai's blood pumping.
Kai instantly elbowed one of them in the gut. One of them tried to cast a spell, but Kai grabbed the one he had just elbowed, spun him around, and threw him straight into the spell of the other double.
Before those two could even crash into the wall, Kai cupped his hands. "Kamehame..." He started running up to the third clone of Wardes and jumped right over him.
"HRAGH!" A blue wave of energy crashed into the Wardes clone, and carrying him along, the wave crashed into the other clones, completely eviscerating them.
As Kai turned back to the original Wardes, he was punched in the gut, causing him to cough up blood.
Wardes had small bolts of lightning circling around him. Kai tried to kick him, but Wardes disappeared in a lightning trail.
Kai punched where Wardes was about to appear, but the lightning trail appeared once more and Wardes appeared above Kai. Chanting a quick spell, lightning rained down from above and struck Kai.
"Hah... hah..." Kai's earlier injuries were starting to catch up to him.
"What's wrong, Gandalfr? You seem drained."
"I'm nowhere close to being done!" A golden aura burst around Kai, which knocked Wardes back a bit.
"Partner! Grab me!" Derflinger's voice rang out causing both Wardes and Kai to turn to him.
Kai started running as fast as he could toward his sword.
"I won't let you!" Wardes flew right behind him, but couldn't quite catch up.
As soon as Kai grabbed his sword, he turned around to block an attack from Wardes. Right now the two of them were almost equal in power.
"Partner! I remembered!"
Kai blasted Wardes in the face to blind him and jumped back after their small clash. "What're you talkin' about Derf?" Hearing Derf's voice seemed to calm him down, even if a little.
"Gandalfr's source of power! It's feelings! Anger! Sadness! Love! Anything that shakes the heart is good! And right now, your heart is shaking! Reach deeper!"
Kai nodded. His muscles tensed up and his aura started to grow. That feeling of helplessness Wardes caused... The sadness he felt saying goodbye to Louise... And that deep feeling of anger he felt toward Wardes for hurting Louise.
"HRAGH!" With a powerful yell, Kai let loose all of his emotions
Wardes flew up into the air, and Kai flew straight at him.
"The air is my element... Do not forget! Gandalfr!"
Kai swung Derflinger and hit Wardes wand.
"That's the way to fight, Gandalfr! Swing me to the rhythm of your heart!"
Sparks flew everywhere as the two of them swung countless times. Their blades left trails of lighting and gold as their arms started to blur. Kai had a clear advantage in power, but he lacked a decisive blow. It seemed strange to Wardes.
"Wait... don't tell me..." Wardes switched to primarily defending himself, but after a moment he started laughing hysterically making Kai back up warily. "The Golden Demon... It was just a power-up all along! Beyond that golden hair, you haven't changed, have you? You attack my wand instead of me! What a joke!"
"Then let's end this!"
"Let's!"
The two of them rushed at each other with all their power. The two of them swung their respective weapons.
After they passed each other, it was silent for a moment. Kai felt a pain in his right arm. Wardes had attacked exactly the point on his arm where he had before with that Lightning Cloud spell.
Wardes on the other hand... His wand was sliced clean in half, and he had heard a sickening thud nearby. He looked to his right... and his arm was missing.
"It's over, Wardes. You can't fight like that." Kai flourished Derflinger as he sheathed his sword.
Wardes screamed in pain. But he refused to stop now. His body glowed a bright blue as lightning surrounded him. "I refuse to be beaten by someone like you!" He started to float into the air, and his aura made it seem as if a storm were being conjured around him. Lightning started forming into a ball above his hand. Somehow he was using magic without a wand.
"Damn it! He's trying to kill me no matter what!" Kai took a deep breath. He didn't know why, but he wanted to test himself. "Fine then... Ka... Me..."
"This is the end for you Gandalfr! You won't survive!"
"Ha... Me...!" The energy ball inside Kai's hands started rapidly growing.
"DIE!" Wardes yelled as a giant ball of lightning flew toward Kai.
The ball of lightning seemed to have consumed Kai as he disappeared from sight.
"HRAAAA!" A blinding golden light appeared beneath the ball and a bright blue wave of energy started pushing the ball towards Wardes. He tried to pour more power into the spell, but it was useless.
"NO!" Wardes let out a scream as he and the ball of lightning were launched through the roof of the chapel.
Kai took a few steps forward, stumbling a bit. The runes on his hand had stopped glowing. As his hair fell back down, returning to its usual black color, Kai fell to his knees.
"Hah... Hah..." All the exhaustion that the runes had been holding back started to pile up on him.
From outside, he could hear the noise of cannons and the roaring of battle.
Kai pulled Derflinger out and started using him as a crutch to walk over to Louise.
"H-Hey, Louise...!" His voice was weak as he tried to shake her awake. Fearing the worst, he put his ear to her chest in a panic.
Thump Thump... Thump Thump...
Hearing her heartbeat, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Kai took a quick look over Louise. Her mantle was torn, and her knees and cheek were bruised. There were probably more bruises under her clothes. Her hand was holding something on her chest. Kai could see the edge of Henrietta's letter. Even unconscious, Louise was still protecting that letter.
"I'm so glad that you're alive..."
"Partner... What are we going to do now? The Eagle already left the port..."
Kai raised an eyebrow and then remembered that the Eagle was the only way for him to get out of there.
"Ah... crap."
"You really are a fool. What do you think will happen soon? Wales' men would think that we're traitors, or those rebels would just kill us on sight for sure."
The sound of battle was getting closer.
Kai let out a strained groan as he propped Louise up on a chair. After that, he held Derflinger up at the entrance of the chapel.
"What are you doing?"
"Defending Louise."
Derflinger shook for a second. "Ha. I get it. It was nice knowing you, partner."
"Pfft. Shut up."
"Hm?"
"We're gonna survive this."
"Weren't you listening yesterday? There are 50,000 of them out there."
"Don't care."
With Kai's last remaining ember of strength, he gripped Derflinger. 50,000? Easy peasy.
Derflinger shook even louder this time. "That's the way I like it! Who cares about 50,000?"
Still panting, Kai stared at the entrance of the chapel.
They waited. Sooner or later an enemy would show themself...
But out of nowhere...
The ground next to Louise started to rise.
"What the?!" Kai pointed Derf straight at the spot. "Is someone digging under us?"
The ground finally gave way, and some kind of fuzzy brown animal popped up.
"What... the hell...?"
The creature looked vaguely familiar as it started sniffing Louise's finger.
"Hey, back off! Wait a second... You're Guiche's mole!"
From that same hole, Guiche's head popped up.
"Good boy, Verdandi! You can dig anywhere!"
Kai shakily raised his finger. "W-What... What the hell are you doing here?!"
Guiche flipped his dirt-covered hair. "After winning against Fouquet, and a short break later, we decided to follow you... Though it was hard a little while ago with all that rumbling."
"Yeah, but we're in the sky- Did you say we?"
Next to Guiche, Saito's head popped up. "Move out of the way Guiche, it's cramped in here!"
Kirche popped up next to him. "Crawling around in that tunnel was so much worse than the dragon ride here!"
Kai's mouth was hanging wide open.
Saito started talking again. "We almost caught Fouquet again, but she barely escaped. She really does run away a lot, huh? By the way... What happened?"
Kai nervously laughed. "Haha... Hah..."
"Is something wrong?"
Kai shook his head. "No time right now! About 50,000 soldiers are gonna storm this place real soon! We've gotta go!"
"What?! What about the mission? What about Wardes?"
"We have the letter! Wardes was a traitor! We gotta go now!"
Kai held Louise in his arms, ready to go through the hole, but then he remembered something. He left Louise in Saito's care and rushed over to Wales.
Wales was long gone.
Kai shut his eyes and gave a silent prayer.
"Hey! What are you doing? We have to go!" Guiche called for Kai.
Kai looked at Wales once more and found the ring on his finger. Quickly Kai took it and put it in his pocket for Henrietta.
"I won't ever forget you..." Kai bowed his head before jumping down the hole.
As soon as he jumped down the hole, soldiers and mages broke through the door and stormed the chapel.
ㅤ
ㅤ
The tunnel Verdandi dug went right under Albion. The moment Kai exited the hole, he started falling toward the sea of clouds. Before he could plummet far enough, Sylphid caught all five people exiting along with Guiche's mole.
The mole, which had been caught in the dragon's mouth, let out a cry.
"Please try to endure it, my cute Verdandi." Guiche tried to soothe his familiar.
With powerful strokes, the dragon broke through the clouds.
With Louise in his arms, Kai looked back to Albion. In the sea of the blue sky and clouds the White Country disappeared. Despite it being a short stay, so many things had happened there.
Kai watched Louise lying in his arms. She seemed so small and frail. Her white cheeks were dirtied by blood and soil, but she still seemed so beautiful. From her eyes, there were two lines going down her face.
Kai wiped Louise's face with his sleeve.
For some reason, looking at Louise's face stirred up so many different emotions in Kai. "Louise..."
He could feel his heart beating louder than ever.
ㅤ
Louise was wandering in a dream.
The dream was back home at La Vallière's.
Her Secret Garden.
There a small boat was floating... There, Louise was lying down. Whenever any problem showed itself, she would hide herself there. No one else would ever disturb her there...
Louise's heart was in pain.
But... Wardes didn't come. The gentle Viscount Wardes, her childhood crush...
The young Louise sobbed, but there was no Wardes to take her away. He was a damn traitor that murdered the prince right in front of her eyes...
Louise kept crying alone in her small boat...
But then, someone started to walk on the dock.
"Is that you, Viscount?" Despite asking, Louise shook her head instantly. He wouldn't come here anymore... Then who?
"If you had to guess..."
That voice... it was Kai. Without any worry about getting wet, he started wading through the water and hopped onto Louise's boat.
Kai picked up Louise straight out of the boat and held her in his arms.
"Have you been crying?"
Louise nodded her head.
"Stop crying. Louise. My dear Louise."
Louise tried to get angry. How dare he call me 'My Louise'. When she opened her mouth to scold him, her lips were sealed with a kiss. Even though she wriggled around in rage, her strength soon left her body.
ㅤ
Louise woke up on a wind dragon's back, in Kai's arms.
Waking up more, she noticed that it was just her and Kai near the dragon's tail. She stared at his face as he seemed to be thinking about something. He didn't notice that she was awake.
Saito, Kirche, Tabitha, Guiche... all four of them were sitting on the front of the dragon's back.
The cold wind blew against her cheeks.
This isn't a dream...
Then...
I survived.
Louise's mind started working rapidly to make sense of what had happened.
I was almost killed by that traitor Wardes, and it seems like Kai jumped in... Did he win? Did we run? But... we were the only ones to survive... The royal army still perished...
Wales died as well.
The happiness of surviving along with the sadness of everyone's sacrifice almost made Louise cry. Though, she didn't want to cry in front of Kai, so she closed her eyes.
She was also ashamed to thank him. She didn't understand it. She was comfortable with thanking Kirche, Tabitha, Guiche, and Saito... but thanking Kai before them felt embarrassing, so she pretended she was still asleep.
Even then, Louise still secretly watched him through the corner of her half-closed eyes.
Out of nowhere, Kai got really close to her face. His eyes... Just like in her dream.
The dragon started picking up speed.
A strong wind hit her cheeks.
But that wind felt nice.
That wind and Kai being so close... Louise just couldn't hide her feelings.
Her mind was turning to mush.
Wardes was a traitor...
The Crown Prince's death...
Reconquista's victory...
Having to report to the Princess...
Louise felt horrible for all of that, but all of those thoughts were at the back of her mind.
After escaping death, she wanted to savor the feeling of life.
Kai's face moved closer, and her heart skipped a beat.
Not a moment later...
Kai's lips met her's.
Louise wanted to lift her hand to push him away... but stopped herself.
Something warm filled her heart... That warm feeling healed her wounded heart.
Not long ago, she had been struggling against this feeling, but at least for now...
Resting against his chest, she silently fell asleep.