It was a typical morning at first.

That was until Louise walked in, mostly because behind her was Saito, and a bruised... thing that she dragged by its tail. From dragging it around, Louise had an aura of menace and annoyance.

She quickly sat down in her chair, not even bothering to put the thing in a chair.

Nearby, Montmorency looked at whatever it was with her jaw dropped. "Louise? What did you just drag here?"

"The other familiar."

"Oh... right. It does kind of look like that if I look closer." Montmorency nodded. Although there were cuts and scrapes all over the body and face, she could definitely tell that this thing used to be Kai. It had a monkey tail and spiky black hair.

With a curious look on her face, Montmorency asked, "What happened?"

"I have no clue." Louise shrugged. "All I know is that when he wakes up, I'll make him pay for making me drag him around."

Kirche walked up to them and looked at Kai with a saddened look. "Geez... all beat up like that... poor kid..." Making sure Saito was looking at her, Kirche pulled Kai into a hug, causing him to let out a groan of pain. "Let me heal you. Where does it hurt?"

Glaring at her, Louise called Kirche out. "Quit lying. You can't use water spells like that. Your name is Kirche the Heat, like heatstroke. Go and cool off a little." Her tone was getting more annoyed by the second.

"It's Ardent. Ar-Dent. I only thought your magic and chest were Zero, but it looks like your memory is too!" Kirche glared right back at her.

In an instant, Louise's face flushed red. Trying to play it off, she laughed coldly. "Why do I have to take this from a woman who can only boast of her body? A-Are you saying that a woman's worth is in her body?" She tried her damndest to seem calm, but her voice was shaking. She took an extreme offense to Kirche's insult.

"Your voice is shaking, Vallière." Kirche gently held Kai, while taking a quick glance toward Saito. He didn't seem quite affected by whatever she was trying to do.

"Ow..." Kai let out a small groan. His body was so sensitive. With his consciousness starting to fade, Kai's barely open eyes started to close.

Seeing him almost fall asleep on Kirhce, Louise felt a feeling deep inside. It was somewhat familiar, but also new... but one thing was for certain. She hated it.

She pulled on Kai's tail to get him away from Kirche, but accidentally using too much force, he fell right on top of her.

"Oh my... Louise, I didn't think you would try to seduce him in public like this."

"Y-You dog!" Not thinking, Louise pushed him off of her, and started pulling on his tail with as much force as possible.

Kai's eyes instantly widened and he started screaming. Seeing him in that state people had a few thoughts.

Was he exaggerating?

Did he really beat Guiche?

Did he really help capture Fouquet?

Not a single person in the room would have thought of him as a legendary familiar.

Other than the boy's yells of pain, the room was silent while Louise pulled on Kai's tail violently. Only noticing the silence after a good minute of pulling, Louise saw that everyone's undivided attention was on her. Her face got red and she hastily dropped the tail.

"D-Disciplining ends here!"

Somewhat horrified by the scene, most students turned away.

Succumbing to his tiredness, Kai fainted right on the ground.

Only mere hours ago, before the sun rose, Kai had been training under the 'guidance' of Derflinger.

"Focus more!" Derflinger's yelling only distracted Kai.

He had been sitting in a meditative pose for almost a full 2 hours, and every so often Derflinger would yell at him to focus more or feel the life around him. Of course, without anything to help truly describe how to do that, Kai couldn't figure it out.

Almost yelling at his sword, Kai took a deep breath in, and let it out. One more time...

His cluttered mind started to clear up. Needless thoughts started fading away and a completely white void took over.

The empty canvas started to paint a picture, and it started to look like the area Kai was in. At the very center, Kai could almost feel himself...

"Just like that, partner!"

With that shout, the canvas ripped itself apart, and Kai was brought back to reality.

"Argh! Damnit! This is getting nowhere!" Finally fed up with all the meditation, Kai shot up. "Screw that, I'm doing physical training now."

While Kai started stretching, Derflinger tried to persuade him. "Partner, just try one more time, I'm sure you'll get it."

"Nah. All I've done is meditate, it's time for some actual training."

"Partner, I really think-"

"Kaioken!" A red aura burst around Kai as he grabbed Derflinger. The next step to his masterful training was to run as fast as he could around the academy, then to run toward a nearby forest and chop down trees.

Unfortunately, he was completely oblivious to the fact of how badly his body was tearing itself apart due to the runes on his hand being active.

When his training had come to an end, Louise had found him in the sorry state that he was in.

When Kai came to, he found himself on the floor next to Louise. The past few hours had been a little bit of a blur, and he still felt sore. Seeing that the lesson was in full swing, he quickly sat in the chair next to Louise, who gave him a short glare.

The teacher this time was young and sported long, jet-black hair, and the general feeling around him was unfriendly.

"As everyone knows, my runic name is 'gust'. Kaita the Gust." The teacher looked around the room for a moment and his eyes landed on Kirche. "Miss Zerbst, could you tell me the most powerful element?"

"Wouldn't that be Void?"

Kai raised an eyebrow. Void?

"I'm not asking for something of legends. I want something real."

Kirche confidently smiled. "Then it would have to be Fire."

"Oh? Why do you think that?"

"Flames can burn any and everything, isn't that right?"

"I'm afraid not." The teacher pulled out his wand. "Let's give it a test. Attack me with your best Fire spell."

Everyone's eyes widened. Is this guy insane?!

Seeing Kirche not moving, the teacher started challenging her. "What's wrong? If I remember correctly, fire is your specialty, is it not?"

"It won't be a simple scald."

"No problem. Give me your best shot. Don't tell me that the flaming red hair of the Zerbst is just there for looks."

Kirche's usual smile disappeared instantly as she drew her wand. Seeing a fireball form at the tip of her wand, the students ducked under their desks for cover. She flicked her wrist and the fireball was sent spiraling toward the teacher.

The teacher didn't make a single attempt to dodge the fireball, instead, he raised his wand. With a few swings of his wand, a raging gale scattered the huge fireball into harmless embers.

"This is why wind is the strongest element. The wind can sweep up anything. Fire, water, and earth alike can't do a thing against strong enough winds. Unfortunately, since it is only a legend, I cannot test it but even Void would probably fall against the wind."

At that moment, the classroom door swung open, and a nervous Colbert walked in. He had some sort of toupee on while dressed in more intricate clothing.

The teacher raised an eyebrow. "Professor Colbert?"

"Ah! I'm sorry for the intrusion Professor Kaita, but today's classes are henceforth cancelled."

Everyone looked around somewhat confused, but there were a few cheers.

To stop them, Colbert started talking louder. "It is likely that Her Highness, Princess Henrietta, will pass by the Academy on her way back from visiting Germania. As this is very sudden news, we have begun preparations to welcome Her Highness. All students please prepare and assemble at the main entrance."

The students anxiously nodded. Since Her Highness had just come back from a foreign country, and due to the attack on the academy last time, there were going to be more guards surrounding her. One slip up and they could be punished.

An ivory carriage adorned with a gold trim was quietly carried across the road to Tristain's Magic Academy. Right above the doors of the carriage, there was a unicorn crossed with a crystal staff, signaling that the carriage belonged to the Princess of Tristain, Henrietta.

Behind that carriage was another which contained Cardinal Mazarin, who had controlled most political authority since His Majesty passed away.

Around the two carriages were the Imperial Guard, a division of mage guards. Having the most prominent noble families, the Imperial Guard was the pride of the country. Every boy wanted to wear the black capes that they did, and every girl wanted to marry any of them.

The road was garnished with flowers as commoners cheered from the roadside. Cheers of "Long live Tristain! Long live Princess Henrietta!" and sometimes even "Long live Cardinal Mazarin!" rang out. When the carriage's curtains opened, the crowd saw the Princess, and the cheers got even louder. Hearing them, she gave them a smile.

Henrietta closed the curtains and sighed a deep sigh. It was a sigh of deep melancholy that made her seem much older than her own age of 17.

The cheers from the people nor the flowers flying all over the place could cheer up the Princess. She was in between both political and romantic troubles.

While playing with his beard, Mazarin sat next to her. Ever since His Majesty died, Mazarin has had an iron grip on both foreign relations and internal affairs, both of which had aged him considerably.

He had recently left his carriage and entered the Princess'. Originally he had wanted to talk about politics, but the Princess only sighed. She obviously wasn't paying attention.

"That is the thirteenth time today, Your Highness." Mazarin's voice was mixed with both annoyance and concern.

"Hm? What?"

"That sighing. Royalty shouldn't do that in front of their subordinates."

"Royalty?! Me? Aren't you the King of Tristain? Doesn't Your Highness know about the rumors?"

With an indifferent reply, Mazarin said, "I am not aware." He was lying. He knew that the people of Tristain regarded him as the one with real power. He knew all about it. He just pretended he didn't.

"It doesn't matter anymore... I'll just marry the King of Germania as you told me to."

"We can't help that. An alliance with Germania is extremely important right now." Mazarin had a hint of sadness in his voice.

"I know that."

"Your Majesty, do you understand that there is a rebellion being carried out in that 'White Country', Albion under those idiots? Those people can't seem to tolerate the existence of royalty in Halkeginia." Mazarin frowned.

"Impolite, unrefined imbeciles! They're trying to hang that poor prince! Even if the entire world forgave their actions, Founder Brimir would never. I wouldn't forgive them."

"Indeed. However, the Albionian rebellion has unsurpassed power. The Albionian Royal Family might not even survive tomorrow. One of Founder Brimir's three bestowed royalties is going to fall... just like that. Meh... countries that can't solve their own internal strifes have no right to exist."

"The Albionian Royal Family is nothing like Germania's. They're all my family. You have no right to say that even as Cardinal."

"I apologize. I will ask for forgiveness from Founder Brimir before I go to bed tonight. However, I have only told the truth, Your Majesty."

Henrietta sadly shook her head.

"Rumor has it that those stupid Albionian nobles have the gall to declare how they're going to unite all of Halkeginia as one. It certainly seems like those people would set their sights on Tristain after extinguishing their royalty. If it really turns out like that, it would be too late if we don't prepare now." Mazarin's tone was grave, but Henrietta paid him no mind as she stared out the window. "Countering your opponent's actions at the first opportunity is true politics. If we can create an alliance with Germania, then we can create a covenant to counter Albion's new government, and ensure this country's survival."

Henrietta sighed once more. Mazarin opened the curtain and looked outside, and saw something to take pride in. A young, sharp-looking noble, sporting a feather hat and long beard marched with the convoy outside. A medal of a griffin was fastened on his cape.

This man was the leader of one of three Mage Guard divisions, the Griffin Knights, Captain Lord Wardes.

"You summoned me, Your Highness?" Wardes' eyes twinkled, as he approached the carriage window on his griffin.

"Wardes, Her Majesty is feeling depressed. Can you get something to cheer her up?"

"Understood." Wardes nodded. He quickly surveyed the area and pulled out a long staff from his waist. With a quick chant and a wave of his staff, a small gust collected petals from the ground, and he presented the bouquet of petals to Mazarin.

"May you present this to Her Majesty yourself?"

"That would truly be an honor." Wardes gave a salute and went to the other side of the carriage. The window slowly opened, and Henrietta extended a hand. Wardes held her hand and lightly kissed it.

Still quite upset, Henrietta asked, "What is your name?"

"Your Majesty's Mage Guard, Griffin Knights leader, Lord Wardes." He lowered his head as he replied.

"A model of nobility. How fine of you."

"I am merely a lowly servant for Your Majesty."

"There have been... fewer nobles who would say that lately. When Grandfather was still alive... under the great Phillippe the Third's reign, the whole nobility shared that marvelous chivalry."

"Sad times nowadays, Your Majesty."

"May I expect your sincerity when I get in upsetting times again?"

"When that happens, no matter where I am, in battle or in the skies, no matter what I must leave behind, I will run to serve Your Majesty."

Henrietta nodded. Wardes saluted once more and left the carriage's side.

Turning to Mazarin, Henrietta asked, "Is that noble quite capable?"

"Lord Wardes. His runic name is 'the Lightning.' Even Albion can only boast of few people who can prove to be a match against him."

"Wardes... I think I've heard of that name before."

"I think he has territory close to Lord Vallière's."

"Vallière?" Henrietta's mood improved significantly. She remembered that she was about to see her childhood friend at the Academy. Along with that, Vallière was among the names that had helped to catch Fouquet.

Mazarin looked at the Princess. "Your Majesty, it seems that there is some... instability between the Royal court and part of the nobility. Something about intervening in the Princess' marriage, and destroying our alliance with Germania."

Henrietta's eyes widened.

"You have not done anything to endanger that alliance, have you, Your Majesty?"

After a lengthy silence, Henrietta replied, "...No."

"I'll take Your Majesty's word."

"I am the Princess. I do not lie." Henrietta breathed a sigh of relief.

Compared to the last time, the grandeur of the princess' arrival was much greater. As the princess went through the gates, red carpets were laid out and the guards tensely announced her arrival.

"Her Royal Highness of the Kingdom of Tristain, Princess Henrietta has arrived."

The first person out of the carriage was Mazarin. The students grunted, but Mazarin turned around and held the Princess' hand as she stepped out of the carriage.

Cheers rang out as the Princess appeared.

Kai let out a yawn. He was still pretty tired from earlier. Sneaking a glance at Louise he saw that she was blushing. Confused, he followed her gaze. A cool-looking noble with a feathered hat was riding on what looked like a griffin.

An odd feeling crept up inside of Kai. Sure, he looks cool, but she shouldn't be blushing like that... Am I getting jealous? No... no I would never! Not over her! He quickly shook his head.

Looking back in the crowd of guards a sudden helpless feeling washed over him. It was as if the feeling of despair gripped his neck. Something was horribly wrong... But he had no clue what it could be.

That night Kai and Saito lay in each of their straw beds watching Louise. She was acting really weird. She would stand up one moment, sit down the next, and start to worry about something while hugging her pillow. She had been like that since the arrival of the princess.

"You're... acting weird." Seeing her not respond, Saito walked up to Louise. "A bit too weird..."

He snapped his fingers in front of her, but still no reaction. He turned to Kai, who only shrugged.

Just then, a series of orderly knocks were heard.

"Who could that be?" Saito asked Louise trying to get a reaction. He didn't expect anything, but it seemed as if she had woken up from her trance.

Opening the door, a hooded girl in a hood. They all recognized the outfit. It was the Her Majesty, Princess Henrietta.

With her eyes wide, Louise walked up to Her Highness. "P-Princess? What are you doing here alone at this hour?"

Taking Louise's hand, Henrietta gave her a somber look. "I am humbly requesting your services."

Seeing the collective looks of confusion from everyone in the room Henrietta let out a sigh unbefitting a Princess. "A princess born in her kingdom is like a bird in a cage. You go wherever your master commands you." She had a lonely look as she gazed at the twin moons outside.

"I... I'm getting married."

"...You have my congratulations." Louise could feel the sadness in Henrietta's voice.

Seeing her childhood friend's face look like that, Henrietta couldn't continue. "Nevermind... It's nothing. Forgive me, I'm so ashamed of myself. It's not something I should trouble you with..."

"Please tell me. What is troubling you?"

"...I cannot tell you. Please forget I said anything. Louise."

"I won't! Didn't we use to talk about anything? You were the one who called me a fried. Won't you tell your friend what's wrong?"

Hearing her, Henrietta smiled. "You've called me a friend, Louise Françoise. That makes me so happy." Henrietta nodded with determination. "You must not tell anyone about what I am about to tell you."

She quickly glanced toward Kai and Saito.

"Should we step outside?"

Henrietta shook her head at Saito's question. "A mage and her... familiars are as one. I see no reason for you two to leave." With a deep sadness in her voice, Henrietta started speaking once more. "I am to marry the Emperor of Germania..."

"Germania?!" Louise couldn't quite find the right emotion for the moment. "That country of barbaric upstarts!?"

"It can't be helped. We have to solidify our alliance."

Henrietta started to explain what had been going on around the world. There was a rebellion in Albion, and it looked as if the Royal Family would be overthrown soon. If the rebels won, then Tristain would be their first target for invasion. To protect themselves, Henrietta needed to form an alliance with Germania, which came at the cost of her marriage...

"So that's why..." Louise felt horrible for her. It was clear Henrietta didn't want this.

"It's all right. Louise, I have long abandoned the hope of marrying someone I love."

"Princess..."

"Those barbaric Albionian rebels do not want Tristain and Germania to become allies. Therefore they have been searching for anything that would interfere with the marriage."

"...And they've found something..."

The two boys had no clue about most of what they were talking about, but they did understand that there was something serious going on.

Louise's face was pale. "Then... this is about that thing that could get in the way of your wedding?"

Henrietta nodded. "Oh, Founder Brimir... please save this unfortunate princess..." Henrietta covered her face with her hands and fell to the floor.

The boys were shocked. They hadn't seen anything that unironically over the top before.

"Tell me, please! Princess! Just what could interfere with the wedding?" Louise fell prey to whatever the Princess was doing.

"...It is a letter that I had written some time ago."

"A letter?"

"Yes. If those Albion nobles get their hands on it... they would probably send it to the Germanian Imperial Family as soon as they could."

"What kind of letter could it be?"

"...I cannot say. But if they were to read it... they would never forgive me. The marriage would fall through, and with it, the alliance. Then Tristain would stand alone against Albion."

Louise held Henrietta's hands. "Where would that letter be?!"

Henrietta shook her head. "It isn't here. The truth is, it is already in Albion."

"Albion?! Then... is it already in enemy hands?"

"No... the one who holds the letter isn't with the rebels. Prince Wales of the Royal Family..."

"Prince Wales?"

Henrietta stood up and lay down on the bed. "Oh, it's a disaster! Sooner or later, Prince Wales will fall captive to the rebels! When that happens, the letter will be brought to light! Everything will be ruined! Ruined! Without an alliance, Tristain would have to fight against Albion alone!"

Louise held her breath. "Then, Princess, the favor you're asking..."

"Impossible! Louise, how could I ask something so dangerous of you!?"

"What are you saying? Be it the pits of hell, or the stomach of a dragon, for your sake, I'll go anywhere!" Louise kneeled down and lowered her head. "Please leave this matter to me, the one who had captured Fouquet the Crumbling Earth."

Kai couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Hey, wasn't that me and Saito?"

"You two are my familiars, and a familiar's achievement, is its master's achievement."

"So what if I made a mistake?"

"Then it would be your mistake, wouldn't it?"

Kai's jaw dropped. "Oh, so when I screw up, it's my fault, but when Saito-"

Saito suddenly jumped up. "Leave me out of this!"

Not wanting to cause a huge fuss in front of the Princess, Kai started quietly grumbling to himself.

"So you will help me? Louise Françoise! You truly are a dear friend!"

"Of course! Princess!"

The two of them held each other's hands.

Before they could keep going, Saito opened his mouth. "Louise. Sorry to bother you while you two are having a moment."

"What?" Her voice sounded dangerous.

"Going to Albion in the middle of a war is fine, but what use will I be?"

"You can use that rusty sword Kai has. You can use that."

Biting his tongue, Kai did his best not to have an outburst.

"Y-Yeah... I'll do my best."

Regaining her composure, Louise bowed in front of the Princess. "Then shall we go to Albion, find the Crown Prince Wales, and get the letter back, Princess?"

"Yes. I feel confident that you, the ones who caught Fouquet the Crumbling Earth, should be able to accomplish this difficult mission."

"As you wish. How urgent is this task?"

"I've heard that the nobles of Albion have managed to drive the Royal Family into a corner of the country. It will only be a matter of time before they're defeated."

"Then tomorrow, we shall depart."

Henrietta turned her gaze toward the two boys. Seeing that gaze, Saito's heart skipped a beat. It was as if he were in a trance.

"Dependable familiars."

"Yes? You mean us?" Hearing the word dependable, Saito got much happier, causing Kai to raise an eyebrow.

"Please keep taking care of my most precious friend."

She gently held out her hand to the closest of the two, Saito. A handshake?

Louise's eyes widened. "Princess! To offer your hand to a familiar!"

"It is all right. They will be acting for my sake, and without a reward, I won't have their loyalty."

"Ah..." Seeing Saito not reacting, Louise started getting angry. "When she offers her hand, it means you kiss her."

Saito's mouth was wide open. He would have never imagined he would kiss a princess from another world!

Gently holding Henrietta's hand, Saito pulled her toward him.

"Eh?"

Before anyone could blink, Saito placed a kiss on Henrietta's lips.

Her eyes widened before she fell onto the bed. Every ounce of strength left her body.

"She fainted?"

Saito looked to his side. Kai's eyes were wide and his mouth was practically on the floor. To the other side...

A shoe firmly planted itself on his face.

"It was on her hand! Her hand! A kiss on the back of the hand! Why'd you give her an all-out kiss on the lips?!" Louise was mad enough that it looked like she was about to catch on fire.

"How would I have known?! I don't know anything about the rules here!"

"I knew that! We're from the same place too!" Kai finally got past his astonishment. He thought he was stupid, but wow... this was beyond what he thought.

Before anything else could happen, Henrietta started to rise from the bed. Louise rushed to her side and kneeled. She quickly grabbed Saito and Kai's heads, pushing them to the ground.

"I-I'm sorry! My familiar's mistake is my mistake! You say it too! Apologize!"

Saito started stammering. "S-Sorry... I only did it since you told me that I could kiss you."

Louise's fury started up again. "And where is someone stupid enough who would go for the lips when they hear that?!"

"Right here..."

"I-It's all right. Loyalty must be rewarded, after all." Henrietta bowed her head, trying to seem calm.

At that moment, the door slammed open and someone came flying in.

"You! The Princess! What do you think you're doing?!" Surprisingly it was Guiche with his rose wand in hand.

"Guiche! You! Were you eavesdropping? Did you hear our conversation just now?!" With her anger rising, Louise started pushing more pressure onto Kai and Saito's heads.

Guiche didn't answer her question and stood almost in a daze. "For my hunt of the rose-like, lovely princess bringing me to this place... and then seeing a theft, so to speak, occur through the door's keyhole... that idiot commoner taking a kiss..." Guiche flourished his rose. "Duel me! You scoundrel!"

Despite yelling at Saito, Kai was the first to rise. He neatly dusted himself off with a calm demeanor, and in an instant, he punched Guiche square in the jaw.

"Agah!"

"If you're 'dueling' anyone, it's gonna be me, dumbass! I haven't forgotten how you beat me up last time! Let's go!"

Guiche slowly got up from the floor, only to be punched back down by Kai.

"T-That's not fair! I don't want to duel you! Gah!"

"So, what now? Since he overheard everything, you want me to kill 'em?" Kai was only joking, but it still scared Guiche.

"That might be best... it's really too bad that he overheard our conversation..."

Still on the floor, Guiche pleaded, "Your Highness! By all means, please appoint me, Guiche de Gramont, to this difficult mission."

"Oh?"

"How's this for an answer?" Kai jumped up and elbow-dropped Guiche.

"Guh! Let me join your group!"

Henrietta seemed interested. "Why?"

"I wish to of use to Your Highness..."

Both Kai and Saito noticed something interesting about how Guiche was acting.

Saito was the first to point it out. "You, are you in love? With the Princess?!"

"Don't say such rude things. I am, absolutely, just wanting to be of use to Her Highness." Guiche's face was bright red, which forced the two boys to hold back their laughter.

"Didn't you have that girl you were dating... What's her name? Mon... Mon..." Kai snapped his fingers trying to remember that girl's name.

"It's Montmorency."

"Yeah, whatever. So what happened there?"

Guiche's silence spoke volumes.

A sly smile crept onto Kai's face. "Did you get dumped? She dumped you, didn't she?"

"Q-Quiet! It was your fault!"

Kai couldn't contain his laughter.

"Gramont? Of General Gramont?" Henrietta looked directly at Guiche.

"I am his son, Your Highness," Guiche said as he stood up quickly to give her a bow.

"Are you saying that you wish to help me?"

"It would be an honor if I were to become a part of this mission."

Henrietta smiled at Guiche's enthusiasm. "Thank you. Your father is a great, brave noble, and it seems that you have inherited that same spirit. Please, would you help this unfortunate princess, Sir Guiche?"

"Her Highness has called my name! Her Highness!" Guiche, feeling so much excitement, fell right on his back.

Poking him with his foot, Saito asked, "Is he alright?"

Ignoring the boys, Louise spoke in a serious voice. "Well then, tomorrow morning, we shall depart for Albion."

"There has been news that Prince Wales has set up camp somewhere around Newcastle in Albion."

"Understood. I've traveled through Albion with my sisters before, so I'm somewhat familiar with the territory."

"It will be dangerous. If the nobles of Albion discover your mission, they will do everything possible to stop you." Henrietta moved to Louise's desk and wrote a letter. She quietly looked at the letter, before sadly shaking her head.

"Princess, what's wrong?"

"I-It's nothing." Henrietta nodded as if she made up her mind about something, and added one last line at the end. "Founder Brimir... Please forgive this selfish princess. Even though my country is in danger, I cannot help but write this sentence... I cannot lie about my feelings..."

She rolled up the letter, and with a wave of her staff, a wax seal appeared on the letter. She handed the letter to Louise.

"When you meet the Crown Prince Wales, please pass this letter to him. He should return the letter in question immediately." After that, Henrietta took off the ring on her hand and gave it to Louise. "This is the Water Ruby that I had been given by my mother. It should work as a good luck charm. If you have any money concerns, please sell this to get some travel funds."

Louise bowed her head in silence.

"This mission is for the future of Tristain. For that, my mother's ring will protect you from the harsh winds blowing in Albion."

Later that night, Kai found himself sitting on his pile of hay. His legs were crossed, eyes closed, and his mind as clear as he could force it.

He was trying to meditate.

Physical training was out of the question with them leaving in the morning for a dangerous mission, but he could still improve himself. It was a little tough with Saito's snoring, but he could kind of manage.

Suddenly he heard rustling from the bed, and the magical lamp in the room lit up. Next, he heard Louise walking back and forth.

He opened one eye. "What's got you worked up?"

Louise jumped a little. "Don't scare me like that!"

"Well, it's kind of distracting when you pace around like that... besides I ain't gettin' anywhere with this, so I might as well chat a bit." Kai started stretching as he stood up.

Louise let out a small sigh. "Well... I can't use magic properly, but I'm undertaking such an important mission... I don't know if I can do it or not."

Staring at her for a moment, Kai put his hand on her shoulder. The sudden feeling scared her.

"W-What are you doing?"

"You really don't gotta worry about this so much. We fought a triangle mage's golem... Hell, we might not even go against anybody."

Brushing his hand off of her, Louise let out another sigh. "That's just being naive." She went back into her bed.

"You do know that if anything happens, I'll be there to protect you, right?"

Under the blanket, Louise felt her face burning. "O-Of course you will! That's your job as my familiar!"

Lying in his haystack Kai waved his hand. "Yeah, yeah..."