"We're here." Aselith touched down some distance from the gate of the estate. "So, what's the plan?"

Saito had some time to think about how he would get Siesta back. Should he go barreling in, sword swinging? Should he sneak in and break Siesta out? He didn't know how to fight or sneak around, and sneaking would add another person to it. In the end, he decided to what he originally planned and ask Count Mott to release her, maybe trade for something. But if he refused…

"I'm going to talk with the noble in charge." Saito said, walking up to the gate.

He could have asked Aselith to help fight their way through the mansion, but he shouldn't. Weren't the guys who followed the count commoners? That meant they didn't have all that much choice in what they did, right? But they still followed his orders. Did that make them responsible for Siesta being taken?

Saito didn't know the answer, and he couldn't figure it out. If he asked Aselith…well, he would probably say to just kill them all and take Siesta back. Saito wasn't sure of that, but that was the feeling he got from him.

Aselith was dangerous. Saito didn't think so from the start. He was just a tall guy who smiled a lot—which was really weird. After Aselith beat up that noble kid on their second day here, Saito knew he was strong. It was after Saito fought Guiche, barely won, and then was healed by Aselith when he…possessed him. That's when he realized Aselith was dangerous, even if he couldn't say why.

The feeling when Aselith did that was hard to describe. There was just a sense of wrongness to it. Since then, every time Saito saw him, he would be just a little on guard.

"Halt!" One of the two guards on duty declared, both pointing their spears at the two of them—three, counting Derf.

Saito stopped, as did Aselith. "I want to see the count." Saito stated.

"Count Mott is not accepting visitors so late at night." The same guard responded.

"It's important!" Saito insisted. "He took a friend of mine from the academy!"

"Your friend?" The other guard said. "So, you aren't even here on business from a noble? Leave, brat!"

Things were already falling apart. Maybe he should have just come when he first heard about Count Mott, instead of waiting for Louise to fall asleep.

Saito looked over at Aselith, only to find the man looking back at him with his eyes. Was he waiting to be asked for help?

"So," Aselith said, showing his teeth, "what's the plan?"

Saito didn't really know. If he wasn't even allowed to see the count, then what should he do?

"Please! This is important." Saito tried asking one more time.

The guards shifted their stances. They looked ready to charge.

"If you don't leave now, you will be treated as intruders!" One yelled.

"So, that's it, huh?" Saito was a little surprised, but maybe he shouldn't have been. The way nobles treated commoners, and the power they had, most people couldn't fight back. For some reason, he could, so he would.

"Fine." Saito drew Derf from his hip. He would try not to kill them, but…no. He wouldn't need to try. With Derf in his hands, he felt like he knew what to do.

"Admirable spirit." Aselith said, stepping forward. "But let's save that for later, eh?"

"Final warning!" One of the guards yelled, both moving their spears to point at Aselith.

"Put that thing away before you hurt yourself, children." Aselith said with mirth.

'Children'? Both of those men looked older than him.

"You brought this on yourself!" One yelled, charging at Aselith. Saito stood his ground, waiting to see what Aselith did. It wasn't like they could likely hurt him, considering…

Aselith smacked the end of the spear away from him and jutted forward, bringing his fist forward and slamming it into the man's face. He was sent flying back, hitting the wall next to the gate. A second later, he fell face first to the ground.

"Ah!" The other guard took a step back, the spear shaking in his hands.

"Now then." Aselith adjusted himself, brushing off his coat as if it had gotten even a little dirty. "Take us to your master."

That was all it took. One crazy show of strength and the remaining guard let them in. He went to check out his partner while another pair of guards guided them in, collecting more guards as they got closer to the mansion. Each and every one of them looked ready to attack at a moment's notice.

They got inside the main entryway, the place already showing off a huge amount of wealth. It was large and brightly lit with candelabras hanging from the ceiling. The wide stairs in front of them went up and split off in two directions, leading to two doors on one side of the room, and the balcony around the room.

There they waited, one of the guards having run ahead to get the count. After a few minutes, he came back with a well-dressed man from one of the doors.

"So, you're the commoner who demanded my presence?" He asked, descending one set of steps. "Your brutish behavior has earned it, but you won't like what's to come. Say what you came for while I still allow it."

He definitely sounded as stuck-up as any other noble at the academy. At least some of them got a little better after Saito fought Guiche, though none of that guy's friends. It was thanks to one of the other noble kids he even knew where this place was.

"You took a girl from the academy to…have your way with her!" Saito stuttered slightly. Just saying what this guy planned to do disgusted him. "I want her back."

"Yes, so my guard told me. Is that all? You assaulted one of my men just for a commoner girl?" Mott scoffed, stopping on the landing of the branching staircase to look down at them.

"Yes." Saito gripped Derf with one hand, causing the guards around them to lower their spears. The tips were a couple feet away, likely to keep a little more distance in fear of Aselith. Or, seeing the club-like wand in Mott's hand, so they wouldn't be caught in any spells. "If you want something in return, I—"

"Hmph! Pathetic." Mott held his wand to his side. "Here's what I'll do, commoner. I'll let you walk out of here alive. The large brute next to you won't get that mercy."

Saito sighed, not loosening his grip on Derf. "Why? Why are nobles like this? Is it really so hard to not be so…"

What was it? They had magic. They had power. They could do so much for themselves. Why did they have to take even more?

Saito knew he wasn't all that smart, though he wouldn't call himself stupid either. He knew a little bit about history, at least in Japan. Nobles had privileges that commoners didn't. They owned the land the farmers worked on. They were at the top. Admittedly, he didn't know how all the classes worked, but that didn't matter.

It didn't cost anything to not do this. Look at Aselith! He was strong, but he didn't force anyone to bow down to him. Instead, he helped Saito out with Louise's demands. He was the first person in this world that showed him kindness, and he was helping Saito save the second person to do so. That was a good way to be.

"Alright." Saito drew Derf once more and held him tightly in both hands. Just like with his fight with Guiche—and a little while ago—he felt like he knew exactly what to do.

Author's Notes:

Well, since Kirche was…occupied, she didn't develop as strong feelings for Saito. No gaudy sword for him.