In one of the rooms in the girls' dormitory at Tristain's Academy of Magic, Montmorency was trying her very best to mix something while Kai and the others watched her.

"Done! Fuu! Still, that was really difficult!"

While wiping sweat from her forehead, Montmorency flopped onto her chair.

Inside the pot on top of the table was the potion that would get rid of this love potion.

"It's fine to just drink it like this?"

"Yes."

Taking the pot, Kai brought it to Louise's mouth. Louise grimaced from the smell.

"Well then, Louise. Drink this."

"No. It stinks really badly," Louise said while shaking her head.

Crap, I should've used something to mask the smell.

"Please. Drink this."

"If I drink this, will you kiss me?"

Kai nodded, just trying to get this over with.

"Got it. If you drink this, I'll kiss you."

Louise answered, "I understand," and took the pot.

She looked at the contents with a disgusted expression for a while, but she closed her eyes resolutely and drank it all. Montmorency, observing everything, poked Kai.

"For now, shouldn't it be best if you run away?"

Kai looked at her in confusion. "What? Why?"

"Because the memories of the time when she was madly in love with you after drinking the love potion don't disappear. She'll remember everything. She'll remember everything she did and was done to her."

Kai froze completely. A cold sweat ran down his back.

"Buhwa!" Louise went after drinking the whole thing, and she hiccuped once.

"Everything?" Kai's voice had gone up three octaves.

After that, as if an evil spirit had left her, her face completely returned back to normal. Seeing Kai in front of her, her face suddenly turned red. Chewing on her lips, she started trembling.

"Oh god," Kai muttered as he tried to slip out of there.

"Wait."

"O-Oh! I-I-I think I hear... my duck calling for me!"

"You don't even have a DUUUUCK!" Louise's voice boomed throughout the room.

"QUAP!" Kai opened the door and ran down the stairs as fast as he could. He was in such a panic he forgot he could teleport.

However, the present Louise moved at lightning speed.

Jumping from the landing of the staircase, she aimed a kick downstairs at Kai's back. The force of the kick knocked him over, making him hit every single stair on the way down.

He tried crawling but, the scruff of his neck was firmly stepped on by her foot.

"I-I didn't do anything wrong! It was that damn love potion! We both were unhappy!"

Without answering back, Louise pulled up his shirt. Finding many kiss marks, her face got even redder. She made these herself. This is this is this is... For me to do such a thing... She traced the back of her neck with her finger. The same mark made by Kai was there.

With shyness and anger at herself mixed, Louise's reasoning snapped. In the end, the thing that received her unreasonable anger was Kai's body. Kai's screams sounded into the air.

On a bench in Austri Plaza, Kai lay limply. The only thing that showed a hint of him being alive was his breathing. Beside him was the finally calmed-down Louise, sitting on the edge of the bench, who was blushing and thinking about something while pursing her lips out as if she were angry.

The two moons had risen and were shining on the two gently. However, the atmosphere running around the two was far from gentle. It was awkward, hot, and somewhat numbing... so everything was back to normal.

"You finally satisfied?" Kai muttered.

"I-if I had been normal, I definitely wouldn't have done something like that! Really! Hmph!"

"I know..." Kai muttered in an exhausted voice.

By that time, finally, Louise realized that it wasn't Kai's fault at all. Even so, he let Louise do what she did and received her outrage. His cheeks are swollen. Is he okay? Despite inflicting the wounds herself, she was compelled to take care of him. But... It was really embarrassing. The memories of the moments after she drank the love potion kept her from approaching Kai.

But why did he just let himself get hit? He could've stopped me any time he wanted.

"You didn't have to be obedient and get hit by me until you ended up in such a state. Sheesh! Resist a little! I went too far, you know!"

Kai let out a wistful sigh. "It's fine..."

"Why is that?"

"Cause, it was kinda my fault to begin with. I shouldn't of gotten you that mad, and I really shoulda explained everything. Besides, you did a lot of things to a guy you don't even like. For someone like you, there's no easy way to forgive that, huh? So... don't worry about it."

Well, aren't those kind words? Even though I hurt him so much...

But, the words that came out were the opposite.

"I-I'm not worrying about it. Really I just want to hurry and forget."

Why can't I be honest? Then Louise asked about the one thing that was bothering her.

"Hey, can I ask you something?"

Kai gave a short and tired nod. "Ask away."

"W-Well, when I was in a state where I couldn't live without you... Because of the drug! Well... why didn't you, um, d-d-do anything?"

Kai answered frankly. "Simple. It wasn't you in the slightest. Beyond that, I could never do something like that to someone important to me when they're in a state like that."

Being told she was important, Louise blushed. However, she couldn't show him such a face.

Louise turned her face away. But, she was really bothered. Why am I important?

"Wh-why am I important?" She asked in a trembling voice.

"W-Well... You give me food... and a bed to sleep on..."

"Haa..." She felt disappointed. Well, that makes sense. I'm embarrassed that I got excited for a moment. Louise had turned her face from Kai, so she didn't realize that he had his head turned away to hide his blush as well.

Still, he's a familiar who still calls me, his master, 'important' after being hurt so much. Becoming a bit more honest, Louise apologized in a pouting manner.

"...I'm sorry. I won't get angry anymore. You have the right to do stuff freely too."

To be truthful, she didn't want to say this. She remembered the time when the love potion was in effect. Those might have been her own true intentions, she thought.

Kai let out a small laugh. "You kiddin' me? You aren't you if you don't get mad, so just keep doin' what you're doin'."

After that, the two of them went silent. It was somewhat awkward, but had a somewhat nice feeling to it.

Though, the atmosphere did feel unbearable, so Louise decided to break it.

"It's really nostalgic... That Ragdorian Lake..."

"You been before?"

"When I was thirteen. There were occasions when I accompanied the Princess. An extremely grand garden party was opened... It was really lively and showy. It was fun."

Louise pulled at the bottom of her memories and began to talk.

"You know, that Ragdorian Lake was where Prince Wales and the Princess met. In the dead of night, the Princess told me 'I want to go out for a walk, so I need to sneak out of bed. I'm very sorry, but Louise, can you lay in the bed in my place?' and I acted as her substitute. Thinking about it now, that might have been when the two rendezvoused."

As Louise finished, a loud voice boomed out from behind the bench. From the hole Kai made to spy on Saito and Siesta, Kirche's red hair poked out. Next to her were Saito and Tabitha.

"That's it! I remember now! It was Prince Wales!"

Surprised by them all suddenly showing themselves, Louise asked, "W-What are you talking about?!"

Ignoring that part, Kai was a little more embarrassed. "How long have you been there?!"

Nervously laughing while scratching the back of his head, Saito said, "I've been here since she finished beating you up... I brought Derflinger because I thought there was trouble."

"Ehehe," Kirche crawled out of the hole while grinning. "Iyaah, I wanted to see you two reconcile with each other... The melodrama after you hit him so much. Doesn't that seem interesting?"

"Like hell it would!" Kai and Louise shouted at the same time with a furious blush on both of their faces.

"That's right. I thought I had seen his face somewhere before. Iyaah, so that's how it is. That was Albion's lady-killer, Prince Wales."

Kirche had seen his face before during Germania's Emperor Inauguration Ceremony. At that time, he was sitting in a guest seat, brandishing his noble and charming smile around him.

She finally remembered just now, so Kirche was satisfied.

"What do you mean by 'that was Prince Wales'?" Kai had a bad feeling.

Kirche explained to Kai and Louise. How they passed a group of people riding on horses while heading toward Ragdorian Lake. How she remembered seeing that face somewhere before but couldn't remember very well.

"But, I remember now. That was Prince Wales. There was an announcement that he died in battle, but he was alive-"

"That's impossible! That prince should have died! I was there to see it myself!"

Kirche didn't see Prince Wales die, so she had not actually felt his death firsthand. Therefore, she asked Kai in a joking manner.

"Oh? Is that so? Then, who did I see?"

Kai's face was dead serious. "Are you absolutely certain that it wasn't someone else?"

"There's no way I could mistake that handsome guy for someone else."

At that moment, something connected in Kai's head. It seemed that was the case for Louise as well. The two looked at each other.

"The Ring of Andvari... So, Reconquista really did..."

"Kirche. Where was that group heading?" Kai asked Kirche with a serious expression. Being pressured by the two's serious attitudes, Kirche answered.

"He passed us, so, let's see, towards the capital city, Tristain."

Louise and Kai ran off.

"Wait! What's going on?!"

Kirche was flustered.

"The Princess is in trouble!"

"Why?"

Kirche and Tabitha didn't know about Wales and Henrietta's secret relationship, so they didn't fully understand the situation. Though he didn't fully know the extent of it, Saito had a feeling something was happening, so urging Kirche and Tabitha to go with him, they all followed Kai and Louise.

Riding on Tabitha's wind dragon, Kai, Louise, Saito, Kirche, and Tabitha herself, flew straight toward the royal palace. About two hours had passed since they left, and it was about an hour past midnight now.

The courtyard was in an uproar when they arrived. Kai and Louise felt as though their thoughts had come to life. When the wind dragon landed, it was instantly surrounded by two troops of soldiers. The Manticore Corps, and the newly formed Musketeer Force.

The commanders of both Corps ran up to the dragon. The Manticore Corps commander drew his wand, while the commander of the Musketeer Force drew what looked like a pistol.

"Hey! The royal palace is off-limits now! Leave before we have to use force!" The woman's blonde hair bobbed as she yelled at the group.

The commander of the Manticore Corps put up a hand. He recognized them as the group that came right before the war with Albion was declared.

"Hold it, Agnes." The commander turned to the group. "What are you doing here? You lot only come at troublesome times!"

Louise jumped down from the wind dragon. She had no time for questions from the guard. She asked in a breathless haste, "Princess! No, Her Majesty, is she alright?!"

The courtyard was humming like a beehive. Nobles carrying shining magical wands and soldiers holding torches were looking for something. It was clear that something had happened in the royal palace.

"I don't have to tell any of you anything. Leave at once."

Her face red with anger, Louise pulled out something from her pocket. It was the permit paper that Henrietta had given her.

"I am a court lady who is under immediate control of Her Majesty! In my hand, I hold the permit papers signed by the Queen! I have the right to exercise Her Majesty's jurisdiction! I request an immediate explanation of the circumstances!"

The commander of the Musketeer Force, who seemed to be named Agnes grabbed the paper. They were indeed authentic permit papers signed by Henrietta that read - 'Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière is presented with the right of being a royal representative. Her demands must be granted.' With the royal signature attached.

This was the girl that Her Majesty had told Agnes about. Standing more upright, she started to report the current situation.

"Two hours ago, someone enticed Her Majesty away. One of the guards was knocked down as they escaped with horses. The griffon squad is chasing after them. We were searching around here to find some evidence."

Louise's complexion changed, and Kai had a look of anger on his face. For a split second, the Musketeer Force's commander looked at him in somewhat shock.

"Which way did they leave?"

Snapping out of it, Agnes answered, "They went south over the highway. Apparently, they escaped towards the district of La Rochelle. Without a doubt, Albion has a hand in this. Though the instruction to block the port was sent at once... the Dragon Knight corps were almost annihilated in the last battle. So the only way we can catch up with them is either by griffons or horses..."

It was questionable if anyone could catch up. Louise jumped onto the wind dragon again.

"Hurry! The thief who kidnapped the princess escaped towards La Rochelle! We will be in serious trouble if we can't catch up!"

Everyone nodded, looking tense. Tabitha gave the orders to the wind dragon.

Sylphid flew up in the darkness of the night again.

The griffon unit was split in two. One half flew on griffons right above the highway, while the other half was on horseback. It was expected of the Griffon Corps to be the first ones out as they were the ones that had the best visibility at night.

Most in the squadron were burning with anger. The enemy attacked their home in the dark of night. They didn't even dare to imagine that someone would have the gall to attack the palace directly. Further than that, the enemy had taken the young queen Henrietta. There was no such greater disgrace to them than this.

Though the takeoff was delayed somewhat due to all the confusion, the enemy was only on horseback. They should be able to catch up easily.

"Run! Catch up with Her Majesty as soon as possible!"

One group of the Griffon unit dashed forward.

There was a big hustle between the Griffon units going ahead.

They might have found something. Under the commander's signal, a fire user went forward and launched a flame spell. It lit the highway one hundred feet ahead, and one could see distant figures of the riders.

There were ten times as many of them.

The commander put on a brutal smile.

"First of all aim for the horses! Do not hurt Her Majesty!"

The Griffon Corps dashed forward, launching one spell after another.

After the wall of spells rounded upon the enemies, the knights launched an attack in an instant.

The flame ball, the blade of wind, and the spear of ice, all were aimed at the horses that the enemies rode on. Doh! The earth trembled, making horses fall one after another. The commander confirmed that Queen Henrietta, dressed in her white gown, was riding behind the first horse. In an emergency situation like this, he hesitated – it was necessary to retrieve Her Majesty without injuries. If she were to be injured, he would get some major scolding later.

After muttering an apology, the commander cast the wind spell, cutting the leg of the first horse off and throwing the Princess and the rider down to the ground.

Without mercy, the griffon squad surrounded the fallen enemy knights. The necks of the abductors were cut with wind blades and ice spears went through their hearts. The knight who was leading the run had his head cut off by the commander's wind blade, a deadly wound.

The match was decided in a moment.

When the commander nodded approvingly, the unit stopped.

Then he jumped down from his griffon, and the moment he approached the queen who fell into the grass...

Knights, who should have been dead, stood up one after another.

Griffon knights, who had relaxed their guard thinking that the enemy was annihilated were now caught by surprise by enemy magic.

The commander tried to pull out his wand, but soon he was wrapped inside a tornado.

Soldiers were finished off in a mere moment, as the knight who should have been finished by the commander stood up, with a clearly visible torn-up wound on his neck, and smiled.

When Wales finally placed the wand to his side he approached the grass where Henrietta had fallen.

Henrietta only now started to recover from the shock of being thrown to the grass. She watched Wales approach with disbelieving eyes.

"Wales, you... What in the world?"

"Surprised?"

Henrietta pulled out the crystal wand that she always carried with herself and aimed it at Wales.

"Who are you?"

"I am Wales."

"Lies! You killed the magical knight corps..."

"You want to kill me? It is all right. Scoop me out with your magic. Pierce this heart of mine with it if you want."

Wales pointed at his chest. The hand gripping Henrietta's wand started to tremble.

The magic spell did not come out of her mouth. What came instead was a choked sob.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Trust me, Henrietta."

"But... but, this..."

"I will tell you the reasons later. Many different circumstances are the cause of this. For now, come with me without asking."

"I-I do not understand. Why did you do these kind of things... What are you trying to do?"

Wales answered softly.

"You do not need to understand. You do not need to like that oath, you just need to follow it. Do you remember? The words of the oath you said at the Ragdorian lake. Words you said before the water spirit."

"By no means could I forget. I will remember until the day I die."

"Please say it, Henrietta."

Henrietta said the oath word for word.

"...I, Henrietta, the princess of Tristain vows before the spirits of water that she will love Wales for eternity."

"Only one thing changed now from the oath in the past. You are a queen now. However, does everything else remain unchanged? And will not change?"

Henrietta nodded. I always dreamt only about the day when Wales would hold me in his arms.

"Even with the way things are, the oath sworn before the water spirit cannot be broken. You only have to believe in your own words. Please leave everything to me."

Each gentle word of Wales turned Henrietta more and more into a girl who did not know a thing. Henrietta kept nodding many times, just like a child. She was completely persuaded.

After that, Wales stood up and approached his knights. One could see open mortal wounds on their throats or chests.

However... ignoring them, they moved just like any living creature.

They went to check the fallen horses, yet, they all were dead.

Then they hid themselves in the tall grass, one after another disappearing from sight.

This was the line of the ambush.

Without words, they and Wales formed a line of ambush and stopped moving. Just like one living creature.

Kai and the others flew on the wind dragon following the highway until they saw a tragic sight of corpses scattered around. The wind dragon stopped, and they jumped down. Not getting off, Tabitha looked around attentively.

Seeing the sight in front of him, Kai felt his blood run cold. Only one word escaped his mouth.

"W-What...?"

Limbs were scattered around the place. What remained was being burned in pools of their own blood. This was what remained of the Griffon Corps.

"There's someone alive!"

Everyone ran toward Kirche's voice.

Despite a deep wound in his chest, someone survived.

Louise regretted not taking Montmorency with them. In cases of wounds, her water magic would be irreplaceable.

"Who... are you?"

"We, just like you, ran after the gang that kidnapped Her Majesty. What happened to you?"

The knight could only answer in a shaky voice.

"They... their wounds were really fatal..."

"What?"

However, the knight could not say anything else. Feeling secure now that help had come, he passed away.

At that moment, a magical attack was unleashed from all directions. Tabitha and Kai reacted in an instant. On one side Tabitha made a wall of air to block the attack and on the other Kai had made a barrier to repel the attack.

Out of some bushes, shadows stood up, swaying in slow motion.

They were once dead Albion nobles now revived by Andvari's Ring.

Saito, Kirche, and Tabitha all brought out their respective weapons... However, the enemy didn't launch an attack.

Kai could only look on in horror. He... Couldn't feel an ounce of Ki from any of these people. It felt like he was blind, yet he could see their cold dead faces.

From the shadows a figure stepped forward.

"Wales..."

Wales, who was dead and given a fake life from Cromwell using the Ring of Andvari that was stolen from the Water Spirit, had abducted Henrietta.

Even though fear was gripping his heart... Kai felt anger course through himself. Using someone else's face, just to achieve your own goals... Bastard!

With a scowl on his face, Kai glared at Wales. "Return the princess."

Wales' smile didn't drop. "You say such funny things. I cannot 'return her' as you put it since she follows me of her own will."

"What?"

Behind Wales back, Henrietta, dressed in her gown, appeared.

"Princess!" Louise shouted. "Please do not go near him! That Prince Wales is not the real Wales! It is a husk of the prince, revived by Cromwell's hands with the Ring of Andvari!"

However, Henrietta didn't step forward. She just bit and tightened her shivering lips.

"...Princess?"

"See? Now then, how about a deal?"

"Deal?"

"That's right. Though we would like to quarrel here with you, we lost our horses. And traveling without horses through the night can be dangerous, so I would like to save as much magic as possible..."

Tabitha chanted the spell Windy Icicle.

Right in the middle of his words, the arrow of ice went through Wales' body.

Wales didn't fall, and after a moment the wound healed itself.

"It is useless. I cannot be damaged by your attacks."

Yet, even after seeing this, Henrietta's expression did not change.

"Look! It is not the prince! It is something else! Princess!"

Henrietta didn't want to believe, and shook her head from left to right, then said to Louise in a constrained voice, "Please, Louise, put away the wand. Please do it for me. Please let us go."

"Princess? What are you saying?! Princess! That thing is not Crown Prince Wales! Princess, you have been tricked!"

Henrietta gave a smile. A ghastly smile.

"I know that. In my room, when our lips met, I knew that a hundred times over. However, still, I do not care. Louise, you haven't loved a person so strongly yet. When you really are in love you are willing to throw everything away. You want to follow him anywhere. Even if it is a lie. You cannot do anything else but believe. I swore, Louise. I made an oath before the Water Spirit saying 'I swear eternal love to Wales'. Even if the whole world says it is a lie, my feelings alone are not a lie. Therefore, let us go, Louise."

"Princess!"

"It's an order, Louise Françoise. My last one, from me to you. Please, step out of our way."

Louise's hand that was aiming the wand dropped down to her side. Understanding Henrietta's firm decision, she helplessly gave in. Why should she stop such strong love...

The line of deceased people tried to pass through the dumbfounded Louise.

But, before them...

Kai, now adorned with golden hair, stood in front of them.

He was sad. He understood Henrietta's feelings. But Kai wouldn't let this happen. His very soul screamed that he shouldn't let it happen.

Kai said in a voice full of sadness and anger, "Sorry, but Princess you should really think before you act. Doing something like this is stupid."

His entire body trembled.

"You call this love. But, it's nothing more than being blind. Following someone you know isn't there anymore isn't love at all, that's just blind obsession."

"Leave! It's an order!" Henrietta shrieked with all her remaining dignity.

"Unfortunately, Princess, I ain't apart of your kingdom. Your orders mean nothing. Even if you beg, I won't listen." Kai raised his fists, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

It was Wales who moved first. Though he tried to utter a spell, Kai jumped at him.

However, a wall of water blew Kai away.

Petrified, Henrietta gripped her wand and trembled.

"I won't allow you to lay even a single finger on Wales."

Another wall of water started moving toward Kai, who planted his feet firmly on the ground. Next to him, Saito jumped up and raised Derflinger. Most of the water was absorbed by the blade, but there was enough power to force the two boys back.

Seeing the two of them get up, Henrietta prepared to cast another spell, but Henrietta was blown away by an explosion right in front of her.

Louise had cast an explosion spell.

"Even though you are a princess, I will not allow you to lay a single finger on my familiars." Louise's hair was wild as she kept her wand raised.

Due to this explosion, Tabitha and Kirche, who had been watching the scene in blank surprise, started chanting spells as well.

The fight had started.

Saito blocked any magic from seriously hurting anyone with Derflinger. With how many opponents they had, Kai had to be on the defensive and protect Louise. Though Tabitha and Kirche's combined assault knocked down enemies, they kept rising back up.

The undead soldier's teamwork was insane. It was as if they all knew exactly what the other would do.

Little by little, Kai and the others were cornered.

Before they realized it, Louise, Kai, and the others were enclosed in a tight circle.

Kirche released another fireball, burning down a single mage.

"The flame is effective! It only has to burn!"

Kirche launched another flame attack. Tabitha switched up to cover Kirche immediately. Kai kept on defending Louise, while Saito turned to fully support Kirche. Any spell that was sent toward her was instantly swallowed by Derflinger.

It seemed that they had a shot at winning... at least for a moment they did.

Gradually, Tabitha noticed something wet hitting her cheek.

With a worried expression, she looked up into the sky.

A huge cloud of rain coalesced above them.

Rain that started as a light sprinkle, changed into a heavy pour quickly.

Henrietta shouted, "Throw away your wands! I do not want to kill you!"

"Just wake up, Princess! Please!" Louise shouted, but her voice was drowned by the sounds of the increasingly heavier raindrops.

"Look! Rain! Rain! Water spells will always win in the rain!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Kai's golden aura grew severalfold as the runes on his hand flared to their golden life. Most of the rain seemed to evaporate when it came in contact with his aura, but it still didn't cover all of the drops, and he couldn't keep it up forever.

Derflinger finally started to speak. "Aah."

"Derf?" Kai turned his head toward the sword in Saito's hands.

"I recalled. They use a very nostalgic magic..."

"Yeah?"

"When I saw the Water Spirit, it tickled something in the back of my mind... No, partner, sorry. I forgot. Wait. I recalled it!"

"What is it?!"

"Their and our source is the same type of magic. Anyway, it is different from the base of the four-element system, the magic of 'life'."

"Derf! Say something if it's useful! Good for nothing!"

"The good for nothing is you. Though being a Void user, firing Explosion in rapid succession is foolish, I saw and remembered. Though that spell might be very strong, the amount of willpower consumed is immense. Like today, launching huge ones like that may require a year to shoot again. We need different fireworks today."

"Well?!"

"Turn the pages of the prayer book. Dear Brimir, great guy. He sure has some perfect counter."

Louise looked through the pages as she was told. However, besides the Explosion spell it was blank as usual.

"There isn't even anything written! White after white!"

"Turn further. If in need, you will be able to read."

Louise saw the page on which the letters were written.

"...Dispel Magic?"

"That's right."

Henrietta sadly shook her head. Though she told Louise to run away, because of the rain, she didn't run. Moreso, Louise stepped closer to the center of the tight circle.

Kai and Saito looked toward Kirche and Tabitha. They all understood what to do. Protect Louise.

Wales raised his wand. "Truly troublesome."

"I won't let you!" A golden blur sped out of their tight circle and punched Wales as hard as he could.

Wales was struck hard enough to be sent flying, and Kai followed him. Henrietta screamed for him, but it was drowned out by the rain.

Wales regained his composure and sent multiple slashes of wind at Kai. One of them was able to hit him and cut him. It seems his magic was really potent.

"Come on Wales! You're a prince! Are you really gonna let someone control you?!"

Wales ignored him, and slashed toward Kai, who responded with a Ki sword. Sparks of light were sent flying everywhere.

The clash ended with Kai kicking Wales away. Just as he recovered, he only saw Kai's fists hammering him straight into the ground. Wales stood up inside the crater that was made from the impact only to be met with a gigantic Kamehameha aimed straight at him.

Using magic to fly up, Wales seemed completely fine.

Damn it... Maybe I should do what Colbert suggested... Combining-

No.

"Like I already told you, it is useless. I cannot be damaged by your attacks," Wales smiled at Kai who smirked back.

"Well, let's see if you can come back from nothing!" Kai raised up a hand, charging a massive amount of energy into it. Thanks to Tropod's training, and that last scuffle with Wardes, he had figured out how to 'up the boom' so to speak.

Kai mostly focused on dodging attacks, but it wasn't easy. Wales was steadily growing in this fight, and he didn't seem to get tired out at all. Kai was hit a few times, and the cuts were a bit beyond just surface level.

In Kai's hand, a sparkling light started to get brighter. Wales sent out dozens of slashes, but, using his own energy as a beacon, Kai teleported right behind Wales.

"Got a present for ya! Brilliant..." Kai thrust his hand forward, and the attack landed straight on Wales' back.

"EXPLOSION!"

The ball of energy rapidly expanded and then caved in on itself. As it caved in on itself it made a rainbow of colors and exploded. It sent Kai back a few feet, and it looked like Wales had completely evaporated. Kai thought he did it, but not a moment later he was sent flying back.

He crashed through a few trees and ended up right back where Kirche, Tabitha, and Louise were.

"Ow..." Kai got up and shook his head. He really thought that destroying his entire body would work, but it seems not. He wasn't exactly like the rest of the soldiers.

Wales returned to Henrietta's side and held her shaking hand. She raised her staff, and the raindrops began to harden.

Kai and Tabitha both reacted quickly forming a barrier of Wind and Ki.

Feeling his own power start to waver, Saito looked toward Kai. "Hey, your energy..."

"I know! I just have to keep going a little longer..."

Henrietta uttered another incantation.

Wales joined with her in chanting. He watched Henrietta, smiling coldly. Though she noticed the lack of warmth, Henrietta's heart still felt moistly hot.

They were both surrounded by a tornado of water.

Water, Water, Water, and Wind, Wind, Wind.

Triangle mages usually cannot make such strong spells as this. To say almost never, would not be an exaggeration. However, the chosen blood of the royal family makes it easier.

Their combined spell increased to an impossible size.

Two triangles intertwined, creating a huge tornado of six.

The tornado was like a tsunami, it shook the land beneath them.

The sound of Louise's chanting mixed with the rainfall.

Behind Kai's back, Louise's spell could be cast comfortably.

To Louise, nothing was impossible today. She kept on concentrating her willpower while uttering sounds of ancient runes one after another with her mouth.

"What's wrong with this girl?" Kirche asked with a smile.

"She's acting like a legend for now." Kai had a faint smile on his lips while he concentrated on maintaining the barrier. Hearing Louise cast a Void spell gave him courage. Courage that allowed him to smile. Courage that can turn death into a joke.

"So. It's good and all. Yet if that Legend doesn't do something fast, we won't be able to win against that tornado."

Louise's silent chant continued still. As expected from Void. It was really long.

"This is bad. The other side is faster after all," Derflinger muttered.

"Tabitha, can you handle it?" Kai looked over to see her nod. He let up on his part, and the barrier of wind buckled a bit, but it still held strong. "Saito, mind if I take Derf?"

With a nod, Saito threw Derflinger over to Kai. "You thinkin' what I'm thinkin' Derf?"

"You should be thinking that. It is your job to stop that tornado, Gandalfr."

Kai just smiled at that. He wasn't scared of something like that.

"I leave it to you," Kirche muttered.

Tabitha watched Kai's face. "Easy victory."

With a smile on his face, Saito said, "Go get em!"

Taking a deep breath, Kai silently muttered, "I am the familiar of Void."

Wales and Henrietta's spell was completed. The huge tornado of vicious water flew toward Kai and the others. Though it was huge, it was also surprisingly fast.

It was like a castle of water that was swirling around and trying to swallow them.

Kai dashed at the tornado and pushed Derflinger inside the core. Water and wind started to be eaten by the blade.

Just as things were looking up, Kai was swallowed by the tornado. Pain assaulted his body. He couldn't breathe. The water hit him hard, tearing some skin off.

However, Kai endured. He had to keep Derflinger steady.

His eyelids were cut, and raging pain ran through his eyes.

His right arm released Derf as joints broke.

Derflinger was swallowed by the water.

Damn it! What the hell was I thinking?! Screw it! I'll have to do it now...

Kai! Don't!

If I don't we're all gonna die!

Kai! If you do this, you could do irreversible damage to yourself!

I DON'T CARE!

KAI NO!

The golden light around Kai started to shift color. "SUPER...!"

A moment ago, Derflinger was flung outside of the tornado and landed right in front of Saito. Saito and Kirche stared in horror at the tornado. Kai was still... Is he...?

Shaking his head, Saito quickly looked at his hand. That golden glow was still there, which meant... Something was weird. It started to shift color?

The ground beneath them started to shake, and the tornado seemed to be shifting in shape.

"KAIOKEN!" A crimson gold light matching the one shining off of Saito's runes completely consumed the tornado. Not a moment later, Kai was speeding straight toward Wales.

Before Saito could think, he felt as though his left hand had a horrible cramp in it.

Kai slammed his fist so hard into Wales' stomach, that it seemed as though Wales' body had turned to rubber. He was quickly sent flying toward the sky, at insane speeds.

Kai appeared right behind him and sent hundreds of blows in a second flat. He barely had enough energy to fight at this point, but he had to keep going! Louise just needed a little more time!

As Kai was about to slam Wales into the ground he felt an intense wave course through his right arm as it bulged in ways that it shouldn't. As it stopped convulsing, it fell to Kai's side, limp.

This gave enough time for Wales to land and catch his breath.

Body! Please, just a little longer! Just a little more time!

With his left arm and legs, Kai sent more strikes at Wales, who seemed to be adapting to Kai's power.

Kai reacted to a slash, by blocking with his left arm, but the cut that was left behind was deep. Spinning around, Kai tried to kick Wales, but he parried Kai's leg with his wand.

Kai started panting hard. This power was fading fast. He could feel his muscles scream in pain.

Come on body! Just a little more!

Mustering up the last of his strength, Kai brought his left hand to his side.

"Kamehame...!" The blue ball seemed to radiate enough power to destroy everything in the area.

"HRA-"

Thump Thump

Kai's hair instantly went black as he completely lost all of his power. He fell onto the ground with a thud and started convulsing. His arms were bent in ways that shouldn't have been possible. His legs were practically dancing around. Every single muscle in his body kept expanding and contracting. Kai was writhing in agony.

Just before Wales could finish off Kai, Louise had finished her chanting.

Henrietta's surroundings turned into dazzling shining light.

With a thump, the body of Wales, who stood next to her, crumbled to the ground. Though Henrietta tried to run up to him, though she lost consciousness as if shock at the scene in front of her knocked her out.

All at once, she was wrapped in silence.

Henrietta lost consciousness for a while, but she woke up to a voice calling her name.

Louise looked at her with a face full of worry.

The rain had stopped. The grass nearby was wet and enveloped by a cool atmosphere.

It was as if the violent battle just now was a lie.

However, it wasn't a lie. Wales' cold corpse was lying beside her. The other cold corpses were scattered around her. Henrietta didn't know the reason, but she felt that things had returned to how they should be. And, that was enough for now.

She wanted to think it was a dream. But, everything was a nightmare-like reality. And she had tried to throw away everything and surrender herself to that nightmare.

Henrietta covered her face with her hands. Right now, she had no right to cling to Wales' corpse. Much less did she have the face to look at the Louise in front of her, who had loved her since they were young.

"Just what have I done?"

"Have you woken up?" Louise asked Henrietta in a sad and cold voice.

There was no sign of anger. There were some things that needed to be thought about, but it was the usual Louise.

Henrietta nodded.

"What should I say to apologize to you? What should I say in order to ask for forgiveness from the people hurt by me? Please tell me, Louise."

"More importantly, your powers are needed."

Louise pointed to the collapsed Kai. He was still violently shaking. His muscles kept bulging and retracting, it looked like waves were going through his body. His skin was torn up revealing lots of bloody tissue.

"What horrible injuries."

"He jumped headfirst in that tornado to save us. Please help him."

Henrietta and chanted an incantation. By the power of the royal family's wand that stored the power of water, some of Kai's wounds started to close up. Kai's eyes opened wide when he saw Henrietta heal him.

"I do not have any words of apology. Are there any other people injured?"

Kai nodded and he shakily pointed to a few surviving griffin knights. Henrietta healed their wounds one at a time.

And then... without caring about whether one was an ally or enemy, the corpses were carried into the shade of a tree. Even if the corpses were going to be buried later, they couldn't just leave them as they were.

Louise and the others didn't condemn Henrietta. Henrietta had been seeing a nightmare. A sweet, tempting dream. If they had to hate someone, it would be the person who gave Wales fake life and took advantage of Henrietta's heart like this. It cannot be said that Henrietta was sinless herself, but it was also true that there was an existence that profited from that sin.

Henrietta was trying to move Wales at the end.

At that time...

Henrietta saw something she couldn't believe at all.

Perhaps, Henrietta's sorrowful love had reached somewhere.

Maybe, someone softly, to heal her sin, softly tipped the scales of life.

When Henrietta touched Wales' cheek, his eyelids weakly opened.

"...Henrietta? Is that you?"

It was a weak and fading voice, but it was Wales' voice without a doubt. Henrietta's shoulders shook. If miracles existed in Halkeginia, times like this were definitely that.

That is because no one can explain the reason why the light of life that should have disappeared was given a mere glow. It is possible that when Louise's Dispel Magic blew away the fake life, Wales' barely remaining breath of life lit the fire.

It was possible that the feelings Henrietta felt for Wales called upon a whim from the gods. No one knows why. Just that, Wales opened his eyes. That was the truth.

"Wales..."

Henrietta called her lover's name. She understood. The Wales this time was the true Wales. Not a puppet that moved with fake life, but the true him.

Tears flowed from Henrietta's eyes.

"What a thing. Just how long have I waited for this moment..."

The group rushed over with surprised faces.

The eyes of the group widened when they saw that Wales had opened his eyes.

At that moment, Henrietta saw that a red stain was spreading over Wales' white shirt. The wound caused by Wardes' thrust that was closed by the fake life had opened.

Panicking, Henrietta chanted a spell to close up the wound.

However... Cruelly so, Henrietta's magic did not work on that wound. Without the wound closing up, the stain of blood only grew bigger.

"Wales, don't... No, why...?"

"It's no use... Henrietta. This would will no longer close. Bodies that have died once will no longer revive. I have probably only come back a bit, just a bit. Perhaps, this is the whim of the Water Spirit."

"Wales, no, no... Do you plan to leave me alone again?"

"Henrietta. I have one last wish."

"Don't say something like last."

"I want to go to that Ragdorian Lake, where I met you for the first time. There is something I want you to promise there."

Tabitha pulled along her wind dragon. Saito set Wales on its back. Following that, Henrietta, who was riding on the wind dragon, placed Wales' head on her knees and supported his body to keep it from falling. Louise got on and had to help Kai up who was still shaking.

Carrying the group, the wind dragon soared up.

Aiming for Ragdorian Lake, the wind dragon flew straight towards it.

At Ragdorian Lake, Wales leaned his body on Henrietta as they walked on the shore. The sky was beginning to whiten. Morning was close.

"How nostalgic."

"Yes."

"When we first met, I thought you looked like a fairy. See, you were bathing around here."

Wales pointed to one spot. He probably could already no longer see. That spot was completely different from the one in Henrietta's memories.

However, Henrietta nodded. Desperately restraining herself from crying,

"Oh, you're as skilled as ever."

"At that time, this was what I thought. If we just threw everything away like this. Anywhere is fine. The location doesn't matter. It's enough to just have a small house with a garden. Aah, a flower bed is necessary. A flower bed for you to grow flowers in."

It was like power drained from Wales' legs every step he took.

"Hey, I always wanted to ask you. At that time, why did you not say those kind words? Why did you not tell me that you love me? I have always waited for those words."

Wales smiled.

"I could not speak those words, knowing it would make you unhappy."

"What are you saying? It was my joy to be loved by you."

Wales fell silent. Henrietta felt the life disappearing from her beloved Wales' body little by little. For him to have lasted so long could be called a miracle.

However, she couldn't cry. In the time remaining, she wanted to exchange words with him as much as possible. Even so, her voice was trembling.

Mustering his energy, Wales stated.

"Swear, Henrietta."

"I will swear about anything. What should I swear about? Please tell me."

"To forget me. Swear that you will forget me and find another man to love. I want to hear those words. At this Ragdorian Lake. In front of the water spirit, I want to hear you pledge that."

"Do not say the impossible. I cannot swear such a thing. There is no way I could swear a lie."

Henrietta froze in her tracks. Her shoulders were trembling.

"Please, Henrietta. Otherwise, my soul will probably wander for eternity. Do you want me to be unhappy?"

Henrietta shook her head.

"No. I definitely don't want to."

"There is no time. There, there is no time anymore. I am already... That's why, please..."

"Then, then swear. Swear that you love me. By now, you should be able to swear that, right? If you swear to that, then I will swear as well."

"I will."

Henrietta, with a sad expression, spoke the words of oath.

"...I swear. To forget about Wales. And also, to find someone else to love."

Wales said in a satisfied manner, "Thank you."

"Next, is your turn. Please."

"I will. Bring me to the waterside."

Henrietta brought Wales to the waterside. The morning sun poked through the spaces between the trees, and with a beauty unthinkable in this world, the Ragdorian Lake glittered.

Their legs got soaked in water.

Henrietta griped Wales' shoulders.

"Now, say it. To love me. It is fine for just this moment. I will embrace this moment for eternity. No matter what you say, I will embrace it. Got it?"

However, Wales did not reply.

"Wales?"

Henrietta shook his shoulders. But, Wales had already died.

She slowly recalled the days here, where she met Wales for the first time.

As if to take each memory one by one from a treasure box and check it.

The fun and glittering days will no longer come.

The words of pledge exchanged at this lake, no longer can be protected.

"What a mean person."

Looking straight ahead, Henrietta whispered.

"To the end, you never spoke those words of oath."

Slowly, Henrietta closed her eyes.

From her closed eyelids, a line of tears flowed down her cheek.

Kai, who was watching over the two from the shade, was holding Louise's shoulders. Louise was quietly looking at Henrietta, killing her voice while crying.

Was I right? Would letting Henrietta go, like she said... be better for her? Even if it was a fake life, even if it was fake love... If the person believed it was real, isn't that fine too?

While holding Louise's shoulders, who was crying like a child, Kai continued to constantly think about that. What was right, and what was wrong... Even after this, there will probably be other things to make him worry.

Even after this, there's probably gonna be a time when I'll have to make a decision like this.

Kai embraced Louise firmly.

At least, when the time comes... I won't waver.

Henrietta laid Wales' corpse in the water.

Then she waved her wand slightly and chanted a rune.

The lake water moved, slowly carrying Wales' body into the water, where it sank.

The water was ever so deeply transparent, and the sinking corpse of Wales could be seen clearly.

Even after she was unable to see Wales anymore, Henrietta remained still.

Even when the lake's surface reflected the light of the sun and started scattering the seven prismatic colors of light around the area... Henrietta continued to look for eternity.