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Zero no Tsukaima:Volume21 Chapter 3

2017-05-30T23:34:42Z

Rocketmanwikia: /* Chapter 3 : The Elven Tower */ fix link to chap2

===Chapter 3 : The Elven Tower===
Louise and the others, lead by Colbert rushed into the tower and ran past the corridors.

Lamp-like magical devices lined on the walls of both sides, the weak illumination showed doors along the corridor. Missing statues, drawings and other superfluous decorations highlighted the different atmosphere it had compared to the Halkeginia palaces.

A deep alarm echoed within the tower.

"Try not to make any footstep sounds. Don't do anything on your own, and wait for my command." Colbert said softly. Beads of sweat slowly formed on his forehead. He had never felt this choking feeling of anxiety before.

They had sneaked into the enemy base without a map nor any information about them. Even though he had participated in all kinds of battles during his tenure as the leader of "Magical Research Experimental Group", this was is first time he had taken part in such a reckless mission.

Not only that, they were also fighting against elves.

Would they be able to leave this place alive? In the worst case, even if their plan were to fail, he should at least let the student escape with their lives... As he thought about this, his expression turned even more severe.

"Where are all the elves?"

"Well, for most of the places with high ranking people, they would be at the apex of the building." Guiche answered after hearing Louise ask softly. "That is the case with Halkeginia."

After walking for some time, they entered an empty space that looked like a hall in the intersections of the corridors. Colbert stopped moving, and waved his staff to block the students behind him.

"Jean, is there something wrong?"

"Elves."

The word made everyone take in a cold breath.

Elves dressed like guards appeared at the other end of the corridor.

The beings named Elves, were existences that could take on a thousand human warriors alone. There were three of those fearsome warriors before them.

After that, the enemy noticed them, and immediately unsheathed their blades before running towards them.

Colbert instantly cast a "Flame Ball" in response.

With flames stronger than what any Square Mage could output by four times, three spheres of fire, with twice the radius of a "Fire Ball", shot towards the Elves while dragging trails of flames.

Sounds of explosions thundered across the corridor and the air itself shook as the powerful flames ravaged the elves. A merciless attack, made in stark contrast to Colbert's typical good-natured appearance. Louise and the others stood dumbfounded behind him.

"Couldn't we have taken them as hostages?" Malicorne said.

"I don't think guards would have any value as hostages, and also..."

Colbert turned grim, and shot a glare towards the flames in the other end.

"I don't think we can afford to be merciful to the enemies we're facing."

They heard a strong gust howl across the corridor, sucking the flames into a swirling tornado and removing every trace of fire.

There was not even so much as a burnt cinder on the elves.

"So that's the power of 'Firstborn Magic'... What terrifying strength."

Colbert muttered. On the other hand, the warriors seem to be yelling in Elvish. It seemed to be something insulting, since they mentioned something about the "devil".

"Leave this to me."

Guiche stepped to the front pompously as he waved his rose wand. Seven rose petals danced gracefully in the air, before turning into seven Valkyries, holding short spears, who stood in front of the Elves.

"Charge, my Valkyries!"

Upon Guiche's command, the Valkyries immediately rushed forward.

However, the Elves simply jumped to them with their weapons made short work of the Valkyries with a few fluid strokes.

"Hey, what the heck?" Guiche's face turned green, and cold sweat rained down Colbert's brow.

There was an unimaginable strength hidden within the lithe bodies of the elves. Maybe they enhanced their bodies within their weapons and bodies.

"I would recommend that we escape while we can."

"Agreed." Colbert concurred with Malicorne's suggestion.

It was pointless for them to obtain a Pyhrric victory here. While Louise might be able to do something with her "Void" magic, they should not simply waste their ace here.

"There's a path here."

Louise pointed towards a corridor at the side.

"Alright, you guys, leave now. I'll hold them off."

Colbert waved his staff and summoned a monstrous serpent of flame in one swift motion.

A cold and emotionless smile that he would have never shown to the students appeared on his face. Colbert radiated an feeling that he would scorch anyone who touched him. Every one except Kirche felt goosebumps travel down their spine.

The colossal flame serpent, befitting of his title, "Colbert the Flame Serpent", whisked towards the elves like a whip.

The Elven warriors, strong as they are, did not tread forward as confidently as before, against the ferocious flame serpent. They might not have expected such a powerful Mage among the barbarians.

"Mr. Colbert!"

"Leave now! Quickly!"

After hearing Colbert's uncompromising command, Louise and the others could only rush down the corridor hurriedly.

Colbert summoned another flame serpent as he backed off. He was not planning to fight the enemy to the end here, since the enemy in question was the Elves.

Colbert sneaked a peek at the ceiling of the corridor before scheming coolly.

"I would have to lure them deeper into the corridor first."

The two flame serpents intertwined without any intention of letting their prey go free. One of the Elves seemed to have gotten tired of the battle that was going nowhere, and started chanting something. No matter what kind of spell that was, there was no way he could win after the spell chanting was complete. Spells of a smaller scale would have no effect against the powerful "Firstborn Magic"

"I'm not going to let you do that."

Colbert extinguished the flame serpents and immediately began casting the spell for "Flame Ball".

He aimed the three of them at the cracks in the ceiling.

The ceiling exploded before crashing down with a deafening noise and burying the Elves under it.

The cracks were created when the airship rammed into the tower. Colbert stepped back while masterfully controlling the flame serpents to lure the Elves right under the cracks.

After that, Colbert waved his staff, and cast the earth magic, "Alchemy" on the pile of rubble. It hardened, and became a huge block of brick and mortar.

The Elves had already used "Firstborn Magic" to enhance their bodies, so being buried under the rubble would probably not kill them. However, it should stall them for a while.

"I have to move fast."

Just as Colbert was about to chase after Louise and the others, the pile of rubble, which should have been solidified by "Alchemy", began to distort itself, like it was alive.

To prevent the guards from the lower levels from reaching them at the top, Tabitha, who had split from the group, descended on the terrace that had been destroyed by the cannon of the "Ostland".

She used the "Air Hammer" to destroy the glass window and entered the tower. She purposefully made a huge din to attract the attention of the guards.

The place that Tabitha had entered was a round space that was illuminated by magic. It looked like some sort of hall. There was a towering metal door at the deepest end.

The metal door suddenly opened with a bang.

Three armed Elves appeared.

Tabitha immediately cast the "Windy Icicle" spell towards them.

Five sharp pointed arrows of ice sped towards the elves.

However, they did not even reach their target before they were repelled by the strong gusts, not unlike a tornado, around the Elves.

It was the wind "Firstborn Magic", but that was within Tabitha's expectations. She intentionally used less powerful magic to confirm the numbers of enemies.

Tabitha determined that... there was no one among them who could use the terrifying spell, "Reflect". As expected, even among the Elves, only a select few could use such a formidable "Firstborn Magic".

Tabitha cast the "Blade" spell on her staff, and swiftly slashed at the trio.

The elves were stunned for a moment. They generally assumed that... the barbarian Mages only could cast spells with exaggerated hand motions, which made them extremely vulnerable. Therefore, an assassin-like Mage who attacked nimbly and cast spells while not letting the enemy see their lip motions was a never before heard enemy for them.

The vacuum blade extending out of the staff cut open the "Wind Shield" and the uniform of the elf who looked like the team leader.

The elf looked shocked. Tabitha twirled her staff rapidly and cast a "Javelin" at point blank range.

The huge ice spear slammed straight into his chest plate and knocked the elf who looked like the team leader far away.

"First, one down."

Tabitha calmly counted in her mind as she withdrew her staff.

Tabitha's original style of battle was to use a variety of long range spells to suppress the enemy. Using the "Blade" spell in hand-to-hand combat was not her forte.

However, she would not have any chance of winning against the Elves if they were able to use the powerful "Firstborn Magic".

As such, the only effective way was to take the first strike. She would use the condescending attitude that the Elves had towards barbarian Mages, and defeated them while they were still confused.

As she continue to channel magic into her staff, she felt as if her heart was slowly enclosed by ice. As she focused her concentration to the maximum point where she attained perfect tranquility, the world around her slowed down to a snail's pace. She even managed to see each of the surprised expressions on the Elves.

"This should do."

This was what she wanted, that feeling from before. If she was unable to retrieve this cold, absolute-zero heart, she would never be able to win against the Elves.

Just like when Tabitha the Snowstorm still had the title of the "Seventh" knight of the North Parterre.

Suddenly, Tabitha felt a faint presence behind her. This was something akin to the sixth sense, a product of training her intuition during her long years of working in the shadows.

Tabitha quickly ducked down before a blade of light nearly sliced through the air above her head. As she turned around, Tabitha went around the elf behind her and cast a "Javelin" at him. She confirmed that the Elf was knocked away at a corner of her eye, before slashing the other Elf. However, the enemy was no pushover, so not only did he manage to dodge the invisible blade, he also managed to cast "Firstborn Magic".

Tabitha saw that and could not help but panicked a little.

To fight "Firstborn Magic" head-on with Mage magic... There would be no chance of winning.

Tabitha chose to chase after the enemy to attack before he could, but this was just what he wanted her to do.

Warning bells rang in her head as she felt as if she stepped into a swamp.

Tabitha immediately cast "Flying", but she was slower by just a hairbreadth. A hand emerged of the earth caught her leg and slammed her into the ground.

The warrior yelled something loud in Elvish, and slashed downwards.

Tabitha hastily turned over and parried it with center of her staff. As the blade closed in on her eyes, the blue pupils of Tabitha began to shake uncontrollably. Fear slowly crept into the core of her frozen heart.

There was no one else who knew about what terrible things the Elves could do than Tabitha. When she went to her old mansion in Orléans to save her mother... Tabitha could not do anything against the Elves.

The blade before her eyes was just barely above the tip of her nose. "Is this the end..." Tabitha closed her eyes, as if she had accepted her fate.

Just then, a face appeared in Tabitha's mind. It was the face of the young man that Tabitha had admired secretly in her heart.

Suddenly, the young man's appearance merged with the main character of the book that Tabitha had read before.

"The Hero of Ivaldi."

He was the hero of the legendary story that Tabitha had always yearned for since young.

"At the time, I was a princess who was saved and liberated by the hero. However, this is my turn. I will be the one who will save that person, the 'Hero of Ivaldi'."

"I cannot, die here."

Tabitha closed her eyes and started to chant a spell.

''Rakus''. ''Wotale''. ''Isu''. ''Yise''. ''Hagaras''

Tabitha's staff began to shine, and from that beam of light, a powerful wind howled into existence.

The Elf looked a little shaken. The prey, driven into the corner, rebounded with even greater strength.

He increased pressure on the blade as he saw this, trying to cut both Tabitha and her staff.

However, there was no longer any fear in Tabitha's mind, as she continued to chant the spell with a frigid voice.

The surrounding air instantly froze in the freezing hazy gusts. The frozen air turned into threads, swirling in between the both of them.

The Elf's eyes opened wide as his face turned into a shocked expression. It would be impossible for her to escape unscathed if she used this spell at such a close distance.

However, Tabitha froze every feeling of fear she had in her heart, and finished chanting her spell.

-- "Blizzard"

This spell, that was originally just a Triangle spell, reached the power of a Square spell. Countless blades of ice rampaged mercilessly across the hall, slashing through everything it touched.

The immeasurably powerful tornado of icy blades lashed out at Tabitha's petite body, and threw her against the wall.

Tabitha gingerly opened her eyes and looked around, only to find a Elven warrior lie before her, the armor on his body completely shredded apart. It might have been that he stepped back to dodge the spell, causing him to take even more damage than Tabitha who had been in the eye of the storm.

Tabitha struggled to get on her feet.

After defeating the three Elves... How many more of these tough opponents would she has to face?

Tabitha cast the "Night Vision" spell on herself as she arrived at the passageway outside the hall. Even if she was not able to defeat the guards from the levels below, she had to try to stop them in their tracks.

Just then, she heard a set of footsteps in the passageway behind her.

She determined that there was only one person from the footsteps, and that the other person was walking towards her slowly.

Tabitha raised her staff.

The silhouette of an Elf with a long cape emerged from the darkness.

Sweat drops appeared on Tabitha's forehead.

This was because the aura shown by the other person was obviously different from the three Elven warriors just now.

"He's very strong."

Tabitha's intuition, as a warrior who has fought in countless battles, told her that.

The elf stopped moving after noticing Tabitha's presence.

Tabitha immediately cast "Windy Icicle" towards her opponent without another word. However, the icicle spear turned around and lunged towards Tabitha just as it was about to reach the elf's chest.

"Reflection".

Tabitha used her staff to knock away the icicle spear and instantly casted "Blade" as she rushed forward.

The elf with a long cape slowly lifted his hand, seeming to be casting "Firstborn Magic".

Tabitha knew well that she would not be living for long if she allowed her opponent to complete the spell.

Just as the vacuum blade rebounded, Tabitha's body was also thrown far away.

"It's useless. No blade can cut through my 'Reflection'."

Blue pupils stared into Tabitha, who was lying on the ground, from beneath the hood.

"Aren't you...!"

Tabitha was frozen in place. Her expression which was once as chill as ice, could not help but show hints of surprise.

"The color of your hair and eyes... are you the princess of Gallia?"

It was Bidashal.

The terrifying elf who imprisoned Tabitha's mother and her in Alhambra.

"Huff, huff... w-wait for me, hey!"

"Can't you run faster? The Elves are going to catch up to us." Guiche urged Malicorne who was already out of breath after just running for a while.

"I'm just not good at running."

"Would it be faster for you to roll instead?"

Just as Kirche said it, a thunderous roar came from their back.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and looked backwards.

"Mr. Colbert?" Louise's tone showed uncertainty.

The explosions echoing around them only served to deepen their fears. However, not long after that... they heard light footsteps heading their way. Colbert was running towards them from the other end of the pathway.

"Jean..."

"It seems like his attempts in stopping the Elves from chasing after us were successful."

Louise and the others let out a sigh of relief when they saw Colbert run towards them.

Nevertheless, they noticed something strange about him.

Why was Mr. Colbert running with all his might with an exasperated feeling on his face?

"W-what is that?!" Guiche paled as he pointed behind Colbert.

When everyone saw the thing was appeared from that direction, they were dumbstruck.

The thing that was chasing after Colbert as he ran away was actually a giant "arm" made of rock.

"W-what the heck is that?!"

"Are you dumb, of course, it's 'Firstborn Magic'!" Guiche answered, annoyed.

Colbert, who had been running as best as he could, scream out with all his energy, "You guys, everyone, run away as fast as you can! Our magic is useless against it!"

Even if Colbert had not told them that, everyone was already running on the pathway.

"W-when will it stop chasing us?"

"Well, that will of course be when it squashes us." Malicorne answered Louise, who was out of breath.

"What should we do then!"

"Hey, Louise, I thought of a nice strategy." Guiche, who was panting heavily, suddenly spoke.

"What is it?"

"How about everyone just bow down and apologize? Who knows, maybe the Elves are willing to negotiate with us."

"How could there be such a good thing like that. Don't forget, we were the one who rammed a ship into their tower. Also, does anyone among us speak Elvish?"

"I really thought it was a great idea." Guiche groaned loudly as he ran.

"There's a door here!" Malicorne pointed towards the front.

There was a small door at the end of the pathway. There was no other forked paths, so there was no choice for them.

"It seems like we could only hide in there."

"Yeah..."

The deafening din behind them continued to press closer to them.

Louise and the others made a leap of faith and rushed to the door.

Guiche, who reached the door first, tried to push the door with all his strength.

"I can't open it, I think it's locked."

"Move aside."

Kirche whipped out her magic staff, and began chanting the spell for "Fireball".

The door opened in a clean blast from Kirche.

However, behind the door, it was a round room which could only accommodate a few persons.

Kirche showed disappointment upon realizing this.

"Alas, it seems like we're at our wit's end."

Everyone took a look backwards, only to find the giant "arm" born of Firstborn Magic stormed forward, barely impeded by the walls.

At this rate, everyone would turn into mince meat while holding their hands.

"Oh mighty Founder Brimir, I pray for assistance for your Children in this time of need..."

"Get a grip of yourself, Guiche!" Seeing that Guiche has discarded his wand and sat on the ground, Louise told him that as she pulled his ears.

On the other hand, Colbert crouched and scrutinized at the floor of the small room with a serious expression on his face.

"Jean, what's wrong?"

"This is an elevator." Colbert answered upon hearing' Kirche's question.

"What's an elevator?"

"It's a magical device that uses the power of wind stones to carry people. There are similar devices in the Hamlin Academy of Tristania."

"Does that mean we could control it even if we're not elves?"

"Yes, there's a good chance."

After that, Colbert began to study the round panel of a floor.

"Faster, Mr. Colbert!" Guiche yelled anxiously.

The ground shook as loud sounds closed in on them.

The giant rock "arm" appeared before them.

Malicorne attacked it with the "Air Hammer" relentlessly.

Kirche also used her magic wand to shoot "Fireballs" at it.

Meanwhile, Guiche used Earth Magic to erect a huge wall in front of everyone.

However, none of their magic worked. The "arm" demolished the wall Guiche made easily and stretched its fingers wide. It was about to crush Louise and others into oblivion.

"Uwah!"

"Oh, I think I know how! Everyone, get in here now!"

After hearing Colbert shout, everyone immediately entered the elevator.

The elevator instantly became crowded when five people entered it.

Colbert used magic to activate the wind stones.

After the initial feeling of weightlessness, the round panel plunged down with a whoosh.

"W-we're saved..."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they descended downwards.

However, it was not all over just yet.

Rumble rumble rumble...!

A heavy rumble came from above.

"I have a bad feeling about this..." Guiche spoke.

"Oh, that's weird, because I feel the same too." Louise trembled as she looked up.

The next instant, a powerful force slammed into the elevator and distorted the ceiling.

"Yiii!" Guiche was so scared that he hugged his head with both hands.

A few continuous hits later, the elevator ceiling was finally ripped apart.

At the same time, the elevator stopped working.

"Get out now!"

Everyone hurriedly crawled out of the elevator upon hearing Colbert yell out. The elevator they had been riding just now was then promptly pulverized by the giant rock "arm".

"Can't they just let us go!" Kirche could not help but exclaim.

"Allow me." Louise walked forward, and raised her wand.

She then closed her eyes, and focused inwards. The face of her favorite familiar then immediately appeared before her.

"Saito... Where are you right now? What are you doing right now?"

Her memories of him flowed into Louise's mind, and faded away.

There were happy memories and sad memories. There were memories of him being kind and gentle to her and memories where they fought... The memory when they met in the Vestri Courtyard where they hugged each other without any clothes on... The memory when he mistook her for Tabitha, and when she saw him k-kiss the princess, in the basement below the villa... Her blood boiled as she thought about it. "Is S-Saito now being all i-intimate with Tiffania...?"

The powerful waves of emotions within her mind was distilled into her mental willpower that permeated her entire being. Louise chanted the runes of the "Void" spell, one that she has used so many times that her body would naturally summon it on its own.

Once the chanting was complete, Louise waved her wand.

"Explosion".

The bright light from the tip of her wand destroyed the giant rock "arm" in a deafening blast.

"Oh, well done, Louise!" Guiche said, out of admiration.

"As expected of Miss Vallière's 'Void' magic, it's effective against the elves' 'Firstborn Magic'."

"Mm, but I can't use it anymore." Louise's legs gave in and she sat limp on the floor as she panted heavily. It seems that the attack just now took a lot from her.

Kirche, worried, asked Louise, "Hey, are you alright?"

"Mm, yeah, I'll be okay..."

"In any case, where are we exactly?"

Kirche lit the tip of her wand, and looked around.

It was a pathway unlike the one they had been in just now.

The ceiling was at least twenty mails high, it seemed like a wide hall of sorts.

"It seems like a place where they have meetings," said Colbert.

"This may be the place where the Council meets... Hmm, that being said, the elevator just now should be build to reach this place then."

Just then, a bright sphere of light appeared above everyone, and shone over the entire hall.

"Eh?"

What Louise and the others saw in the next instant shocked them.

"The work of the devil, I've seen what you've done."

They were surrounded by dozens of Elves.

Peering down at Louise and the others from the seats that were arranged like a staircase, all of them looked like high ranking Elves with their long flowing robes. In the middle podium of the large hall, there was a serious looking Elf with a long beard.

"T-there's so many of them..." Guiche's voice was shaking.

This was expected since the number of Halkeginian nobles that have seen so many elves could just fit into one hand.

As for the number of nobles who had seen them and lived to tell the tale... it should be zero.

"What's there to be afraid of, even though they are Elves, they are just a bunch of old people anyway." Malicorne's tone has a tinge of hope.

"We could at least take one as hostage, right?"

"Y-yeah. They don't seem to have any weapons anyway."

"You moron." Kirche looked indifferent.

"The power of the 'Firstborn Magic' Elves possess grows with their age. In other words..."

"In other words?"

"Every one of these Elves... especially the old Elf who seems to be the highest authority here, are the most terrifying magic users."

Guiche and Malicorne could not help but take in a cold breath as they heard what Kirche has spoken.

"Welcome to Adyl, barbarians." The old Elf who stood on the tall podium said.

He was not talking to them in elvish, but in fluent Gaulish, the lingua franca of Halkeginia.

"However, who could have thought that you would reach this place in such a barbaric manner."

"Who are you?" Colbert asked him.

"I am Turuk, the president of this Council."

"The president...!"

This answer made Colbert blurt out in shock.

The original was indeed to kidnap a big-shot Elf as hostage in exchange for Saito and Tiffania.

However, they actually ended up meeting the president himself... This was too much for them.

The president, leader of all the Elves looked downwards at Louise and the others, and advised them,

"Foolish barbarians, put down your weapons and surrender. We will treat you well."

"What do you think, Louise?" Kirche shrugged and turned her head to look at Louise.

Louise's hazel-colored eyes shot a determined glance at Turuk.

"We'll never surrender, return Saito and Tiffania to us."

Turuk shook his head.

"Did you mean the undertaker of the work of the devil, and its protector? I'm sorry but we will not oblige. As it stands for us, we cannot allow you to assemble all the trump cards."

Even thought Turuk said this, Louise felt relieved. If the elves knew that the Void always would continue to be revived, then it would mean that they would not kill Saito and Tiffania.

"Well then, there's no point negotiating further. The reason why we're here is to bring them back."

Louise answered Turuk, and pointed her magic wand at him.

She then asked the four others behind her.

"Does anyone has any objections?"

"Of course not."

Kirche smiled brightly as she pulled out her magic wand.

"There is no 'surrender' in the Zerbst dictionary."

"Protecting the students is my duty as a teacher."

Colbert also brandished his staff, along with Guiche and Malicorne.

"Thank you, everyone."

Louise rubbed the edge of her eyes.

"I'm not doing this for you, Louise."

"There is no honor in being nobles that just stood aside and did nothing when their allies needed help."

"That's exactly it."

Everyone raised the tip of their wands and staff high and pointed it towards Turuk who stood on the tall podium.

"So this is your answer?"

Turuk shook his head sympathetically.

He then descended down from the tall podium and met Louise and the others in the lower level.

"There's no other choice then, this will be where you breathe your last breath."

Turuk raised his hands and began chanting "Firstborn Magic".

"O great spirits of stone, our sturdy protectors..."

The floor suddenly started to shake violently.

The rocky ground floated off the ground and one by one flew into the air.

The rocks slammed and merged with one another, forming a huge slab of stone.

What appeared in front of Louise and the others was a stone giant that was at least ten mails tall.

"W-what the heck is that!" Guiche could not help but exclaim.

"He really is a fearsome monster". Any trace of a smile was now gone from Kirche's face.

"This was the power that they have boasted about, the power of the 'first born' elves."

Tiruc swung a balled fist, and the stone giant raised his feet to stomp on the ground.

The ground shook as stone splintered off the ceiling and rained from above.

Even the elves who were looking at them from above were surprised.

"Everyone, leave the place, if you wouldn't want to be caught in the aftermath of the great Elvish power!"

The council members ran to take cover in the corners of the great hall when they heard Turuk's advice.

"Miss Vallière, are you able to cast Void spells?"

"If it were just one spell... then maybe yes I think so." Louise answered. However, anyone could see that she was just putting up a brave face.

"We'll try to delay him as best as we can. You think of something." Kirche said.

"It's all in your hands now, Louise, we can only count on your Void." Guiche said, as he licked his lips.

"Mm, I understand."

The stone giant leapt up in a loud crash. The level of dexterity it displayed compared to the Bronze Valkyries were heaven and earths apart, it was just like a living thing.

The huge silhouette plunged from above. Louise and the others split up and ran for cover.

Rumble rumble rumble!

The stone giant landed with a foot planted into the ground, creating a dust cloud that went everywhere.

Colbert shot three "Flame Balls" at the head of the stone giant which had stopped moving.

Three balls of flame with the ability to home in on their target and a long tail of fire behind them, hit the stone giant head on.

However, no explosion was heard. The surface of the giant glimmered and the balls of flame flew back at Colbert instead.

"Jean!"

Kirche casted the same "Flame Ball" spell immediately.

Two sides of fireballs clashed into each other in the air and exploded.

"The body of the giant has been imbued with 'Reflection' magic!"

"My Valkyries! Stop it in its path!"

Guiche waved his rose wand.

The bronze Valkyries instantly appeared around the stone giant, and threw their spears at the giant.

However the short spears thrown by the Valkyries were easily repelled.

"It won't work. That giant is the manifestation of all the elven power within the 'Casper'. None of you will be able to hurt it at all."

Turuk proclaimed with a cold voice. The stone giant looked down, and grabbed all the bronze Valkyries in its hand like they were toys and threw them at Guiche.

"Aaaaaah!" Guiche immediately ducked when he saw that.

What remained of the bronze Valkyries flew over Guiche's head. They smashed into the wall and disintegrated into little pieces.

Shortly after that, the giant gave out a low roar and it lowered its head and rushed towards them.

"Split up!" Colbert yelled.

Guiche and the others immediately casted "Fly" and flew away to the air.

The giant slammed into the wall, demolishing it.

"Are they trying to take down the entire building?!" Guiche, who landed on the second level seats, said.

"They would get it up and running again with that 'Firstborn Magic' of theirs anyway." Malicorne said while wiping off the cold sweat off his brow.

"Hey, where's Louise?" Colbert said.

"Eh?" Kirche began trying to find Louise anxiously.

She found Louise amidst the dust clouds fogging up her vision.

Louise was standing right behind the giant.

"Miss Vallière, run away!"

"By the way, Louise can't use 'Fly', right?" When she said this, Kirche looked at Louise's expression, and noticed something about her.

No... It was not that she was not able to escape, but simply that she did not want to escape.

With her wand pointed forward, Louise, facing against the giant, raised her head and said,

"You won't dare to really kill me, right."

"That's right. If we were to kill you, the undertaker of the work of the devil will revive again anyway. However, even if I don't take you life here, I have plenty of other methods of taking control of your mind and body."

The giant stretched out its hand, ready to take Louise in its grasp.

Just then, Louise activated her spell.

"Explosion!"

A small blast occurs near the chest of the giant, but that was all that happened.

It seems that she has run out of mental will.

"Just.. Just one more time..." Louise tried to chant the "Void" spell again.

However, it was too late. The giant captured Louise's petite body within its grasp.

"Let go of Louise!"

Guiche chanted spells, and dozens of earthen walls fell on the head of the giant.

Malicorne casted his wind spell and attacked the hand of the giant.

Colbert and Kirche also used Triangle Fire spells.

However, the joint attacks by all four of them failed to penetrate the Elven "Reflection" magic. Malicorne was even blown away by the reflected spell.

"Ah, Ugh..." Louise struggled within the giant's grasp, but to no avail.

"It seems like you're no longer capable of using the work of the devil."

Turuk's murmurings showed a slight hint of disappointment.

The giant's hand pressed hard, and Louise was so scared that she began to tremble.

"Saito, save me..." Louise could not help but summon the name of her beloved familiar.

However, she immediately bit down on her lip, and stopped her voice from escaping her mouth.

"It's supposed to me saving Saito... How can I even hope that Saito will come and save me?"

However, she was unable to activate Void anymore.

She has just used up all of her mental will just now.

"S-save me!"

Screams of help came. A look below showed that one of Guiche's hands has been taken hold of by the giant. Colbert and Kirche tried to save him, but they were swatted away like insects.

Despair crept further into the core of Louise's soul. She felt so uncomfortable... She could not breath anymore.

If she lost her consciousness here like this, then she would definitely also lose her free will. All the details of the important memories between the both of them would be erased, and she would never meet her beloved Saito ever again.

"Sorry, Saito..."

Just as... Louise was mumbling while her consciousness faded away, Louise discovered a change within herself.

"Eh...?"

A terrifying amount of power blossomed within the very core of Louise's body.

"What... What is this power...?"

Her mental will should have been depleted after she had cast all of the "Void" spells.

However, why was mental will currently flowing into her body again?

It was as if it flowed from somewhere else.

She felt... a sort of throbbing feeling.

"What's happening? What was, this power?"

Large amount of mental will spilled into Louise's body. They swirled around in her body, trying to find a way to be released from her. If she did not keep her spirits up by 120%, she felt as if her consciousness would be crushed by the sheer amount of power within her.

At the same time, Louise felt that as if she was protected by something strong and powerful.

This was a familiar feeling.

"This feeling, is Saito!"

Louise was very sure of this.

This was Saito's power. Was it the bond between the familiar and her... or something else entirely? She did not fully understand the theory behind this, but in any case, Saito's power had entered her body...

The giant pressed down even hard on Louise, planning to choke her unconscious.

"There's no way I'm letting you do this."

Louise closed her eyes and casted a "Void" spell.

In the next instant, Louise figure disappeared from the giant's hand.

"What! Impossible!" Turuk shouted out in shock.

The Elven Council members looking down at them from the top also began to make a ruckus.

"Where did she disappear to...!"

"I'm here."

Louise's voice came from a place far away from Turuk's head.

She stood straight on the lighting device that hung from the ceiling.

Using the "Teleport" spell, she moved to that place in an instant.

"Is the that work of the devil...!"

Louise then pointed her wand towards the bottom and began to chant a spell loudly.

''Eoru''. ''Sunu''. ''Firu''. ''Yarunsaksa''...

''Onu''. ''Sunu''. ''Uriu''. ''Ru''. ''Raduo''...

The mental will that was flowing continuously within her... was converted into "Void" runes, and was concentrated into the tip of her wand.

The high feeling that she had never felt before made Louise feel troubled.

However, she just felt like Saito was beside her... This feeling made Louise felt like there was nothing to be afraid of.

She felt as if she could use any magic she wanted...

''Beozusu''. ''Yuru''. ''Suwieru''. ''Kano''. ''Oshiera''.

The melody of the runes that she has chanted countless times, interwove as she willed them to in her mind.

Louise overlooked the stone giant from above.

There was nothing to be afraid of. You're nothing but a lump of normal rock.

''Jera''. ''Isa''. ''Wunshu''. ''Hagaru''. ''Beokun''. ''Iru''...

The spell was complete.

Louise flicked her wand once.

"Explosion!"

A small dot of light, only the size of a pea, rapidly expanded near the chest of the giant, and exploded.

The "Explosion" Void spell punctured through the elven "Reflection", and blasted the ten-mail-tall giant into pieces. What was left of the giant fell into the crater that also appeared in the ground.

"Oh, Louise, she has succeeded!" Guiche, who was released from the giant's hands, exclaimed cheerfully.

"Hey, wasn't there still a lot of power left within you? I see, you were saving it for last, right?"

Louise shook her head.

"This was not my own power. It was borrowed from Saito."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kirche asked with a befuddled expression on her face.

"Ah, this is the work of the devil... Truly a terrifying power to behold." Turuk mumbled with a shocked expression.

Louise then pointed her wand towards the panicking elves.

"Don't move. Or I will give you another shot."

The elves stopped in their tracks when they heard that. If the power of the "Void" could pass through even "Reflection", then it was obvious that no matter how strong the "Firstborn Magic" spell was, it will not be able to deflect another Void spell of the same destructive power.

However, they have other doubts of their own.

A spell as powerful as the one before, could it really be used again?

To tell the truth, Louise was indeed just bluffing. The mental will that has filled her body just now has disappeared without a trace after it was completely used in the the explosion just now.

... Louise and the Elves stood in a face off, divided on two sides by the remains of the giant.

"Mu, has she finally caught up..."

Turuk closed his eyes and said with a voice in a volume nobody could hear.

Just then, the windows at the top of the hall were shattered.

A petite silhouette appeared, and before any of the Elves could react, it flew to Turuk's side with the dexterity of an assassin, and pressed the tip of the staff at his neck.

"Tabitha!" Louise cried out.

"You move, you die."

Tabitha coldly warned Turuk as she pressed her staff on his neck.

Turuk simply held both his hands up in surrender.

"Where is Saito?" Tabitha questioned.

"He's not here."

Turuk shook his head.

"That barbarian has already escaped with the undertaker girl."

"What did you say!"

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| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume21_Chapter_2|Forward to Chapter 2]]
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima|Return to Main Page]]
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume21_Chapter3|Forward to Chapter 4]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume21 Chapter1

2017-05-30T23:17:17Z

Rocketmanwikia: /* Chapter 1: Mystery of the Holy Land */ link to 2

===Chapter 1: Mystery of the Holy Land===
A cylindrical ship slowly sailed past the dark sea bed, where no light fell.

This was the "sea dragon ship" towed by sea dragons.

The ship did not sail on water, instead it moved through the sea like a submarine.

Just a few hours ago, Saito and the others, who were being hunted down by the Elven navy, only managed to escape the "dragon's nest" because they got saved by Arie's party, who were chasing after Luctiana.

Arie, wanting to protect Luctiana who was sentenced to death by the Elven High Council, was preparing for the both of them to escape to the Kingdom of Gallia in self-exile. However, it was impossible to sneak into Halkeginia on their own. So, they planned to have Saito, who had good relations with the Gallian royalty, help them out by pulling some strings of his own.

In the dark rocking cabin, Saito never let go of Tiffania's hand as she lay on the bed. Her whole body was covered in bandages, and she was attached to Elven medical equipment. She suffered near-fatal injury when Fatima, from the "Steel-blooded Party", tried to kill her with a gun.

It had been some time after escaping from the "dragon's nest", but Tiffania still did not show any signs of waking up. She had just called out Saito's name over and over in her dreams. Every time Saito heard that, he would clench her hands tighter, and whisper to her,

"Tiffa, I'm so sorry... For not being able to protect you."

Saito looked after Tiffania by her side, while berating himself repeatedly.

It was all my fault that Tiffania got hurt by the gun. If I had thought about it more, I should have known that the cannon shots onto the water were just to distract them...

I should have at least let Tiffa board the patrol boat before. Instead, I said horrible things to her, like her being in the way, and pushed her away.

...and then this happened.

Damn, what kind of Gandalfr am I? I can't even protect people important to me at the most crucial times... I've just got some power of my own, and I have become so conceited.

Saito raised his head, and glared at the other girl lying at the back of the cabin.

Having similar delicate features resembling Tiffania's, she was the culprit who shot Tiffania, Fatima. After Saito crushed her shoulder bone in a fit of rage, she fainted and was carried by Arie and the others to the boat.

The sleeping girl breathed steadily and carried a peaceful expression on her face.

Saito clenched his teeth in rage. He tried to calm the fire in his heart by inhaling deeply.

This person tried to kill Tiffania, causing her harm.

Rage erupted up in his heart, unable to forgive her for what she did.

If... If Tiffania was really killed by her that time... Saito, under the influence of rage, would have killed her in revenge.

However, no matter what, Tiffania was still alive. So he should just stop it. Killing her would just make Tiffania sad.

"...Saito, eh, Saito... are you there?"

However, she have not regained consciousness. From just now, she kept going in and out of dream state and shouting out for Saito.

"Don't be scared, I'll always be here. Because I am... Tiffania's familiar."

"Saito..."

As if she had heard Saito and felt relieved, Tiffania began to sleep quietly while breathing steadily again.

Saito slowly released his hand from hers, and gave a small sigh.

"Familiar... eh."

While he was mumbling to himself, he felt the runes on his chest throb.

Now, Saito has new runes on his chest.

This was due to Tiffania, in a pinch, chanted the "Summon" spell while she was half-conscious. And to answer her summons, Saito was teleported before her.

"I felt so happy... that Saito, you were the one to answer my 'Summon' spell, and came to my side. This meant that where I belong... is by your side... and it also means that between Saito and me, there is a real connection..."

Saito had already became Louise's familiar, so it should have been impossible for the teleportation gate to appear before him again. But the longing that Tiffania had for Saito had surpassed the supposedly insurmountable laws of magic, and allowed Saito to be resummoned, and became a new familiar.

However, at the same time, several questions came up in Saito's mind.

Saito's right hand still had the runes of Gandalfr engraved on them...so it meant that he was still Louise's familiar, but now he was also Tiffania's familiar.

A double familiar contract...was this really possible?

And the power of the fourth familiar, what will it be?

Gandalfr can use any weapon, Windalfr can command any beast, Myozunitonirun can operate any magical object at her will.

"Then what can the fourth familiar do?"

His chest throbbed with pain, making Saito feel an uneasiness that he could not put into words.

"What kind of destiny will we face, after this?"

Through the cabin window, Saito stared out to the dark open sea.

Where were they now?

Had they passed the borders of the country of elves?

"Louise and the others must be worried right now..."

Right now, she must be so nervous that her eyes has gone red, while desperately trying to find Saito who had gone missing.

Saito felt a pang of sadness as he thought of Louise, who he had left in D'Orneilles.

Louise, my cute love. Her smart twinkling eyes had a depth of its own. Her strawberry blond hair, her porcelain snow-white skin, and her flat chest... everything about her made me love her even more.

I want to meet Louise as soon as possible... I want to see her, and hug her tightly. Even though I had only been to the country of elves for a few days, my thoughts of her never faded.

Not only Louise, there was also Siesta, Tabitha, Kirche, Mr. Colbert, the Princess, Guiche, and Malicorne, and everyone in the Undine Knights... I wanted to meet everyone so much.

Right. When I get back to Halkeginia, I have to report about the "holy land" to everyone.

As he thought about this important thing, Saito's head began to hurt.

The holy land was renowned to be the place where Founder Brimir first came upon. What the elves call "Shaitan's Door", according to the pope, had a magical device that could stop the 'Great Uprising'.

To regain control of the holy lands, the residents of Halkeginia have continuously waged war with the elves.

"The holy land is the dragon's nest, whether Mother Sea resided."

This, Saito believed in.

Gandalfr's "gun" was found not far from the holy land.

There were a lot of weapons from Earth in the dragon's nest. Rusty tanks, jets, guns, grenade launchers, and even the unbelievably huge nuclear submarine... even though it had sunk to the bottom of the sea, but six thousand years ago, that place must have been land.

However, was he really told everything?

He has always felt that the Pope and Julio was hiding something from him.

The rampant "wind stones" causing the 'Great Uprising', will destroy Halkeginia... This much was the truth, but Saito still had doubts about them that he could not put into words.

Maybe the pope had already knew the position of the "holy land" long ago.

"What did that place really contain?"

Mother Sea had always thought that the underwater cave was simply a normal trash site. If there really was some magical device there, Mother Sea would have known about it.

The secret behind the "Holy Land" that was gradually being unraveled, the new rune of the familiar carved on him, and the reason why the first Gandalfr Sasha killed Brimir...

If he did not solve the mystery of what really happened there six thousand years ago, he would not be able to save Halkeginia at all... Saito did not know why, but he had this feeling all along.

Maybe it was that the person who knew the most about what happened six thousand years ago, has been quiet for few hours now.

Saito spoke to the katana lying vertically on the side of the cabin.

"Hey, Derf, could you please wake up? There are many things that I want to ask you about."

However, Derflinger remained unresponsive. After the runes of the fourth familiar appeared on Saito's chest, Derflinger never responded to him at all. Saito was not able to tell if he was unconscious, or simply asleep.

"What's up with that. Is this thing really that bad?"

Saito got more and more uneasy. He lowered his head to look at the runes on his chest.

At this time, the sound of someone knocking rudely on the door echoed around the cabin.

"I'm coming in, barbarian."

The person who entered the cabin, was Arie, holding a breakfast plate.

Arie glanced at Saito, who was sitting on the floor, and then shifted his vision to Luctiana, who was lying on the bed beside Tiffania.

"How is she?"

Saito shook his head.

"She hasn't awoken, but she also doesn't seem to be uncomfortable anymore."

"Is that so."

Arie walked to the side of Luctiana's bed. He chewed his lip bitterly.

"If only I had some training in healing magic."

Luctiana's injuries were so serious that even the Firstborn magic of the elves could not heal her easily. Also, Arie and his party were elves with battle training, so they were not skilled in healing.

"How's the half-blood doing?"

"Tiffa keeps speaking in her dreams. Is this medical equipment really enough for her?"

"We have tried our best. But there's only emergency medical equipment on board this ship, so we should find a place with something more adequate as soon as possible."

Arie sat beside Saito and, with a straight face, gave him the breakfast plate filled with food.

"This breakfast was made by Idris. Eat."

On the plate, there were roasted meat, sliced onions and cabbages, sandwiched between a flat piece of bread, topped with a red sauce. Even though there was nothing like it in Halkeginia, Saito knew something very like it.

"It looks like a Shawarma burrito from Earth."

"Shawarma burrito? What's that?"

Arie looked surprised.

"I'm sorry, why don't you eat it instead, I have no appetite now."

Saito shook his head. To be honest, he was extremely hungry now. However, with Tiffania treading the borders of life and death, how could he allow himself to fill his stomach?

"No, you have to eat it even if you have force yourself to."

"I'll eat it later."

"We might have to fight with the sea marshals later, so if you're out of energy due to hunger that would be not be good for us."

"...All right, I understand, I'll eat it."

Under Arie's persuasion, Saito took the food that looked like a Shawarma burrito reluctantly.

Opening his mouth wide, he stuffed the whole thing into his mouth with abandon, downing it with gulps of water.

"G-guh...That was tasty!"

It was tasty. The Shawarma burrito was extremely tasty.

When he bit into the meat and cabbage, marinated with sweet spicy sauce, meat juices just exploded in his mouth. Sweet onions and fragrant spices gave off a rich aroma.

Maybe it was because his stomach got excited by the sudden entry of food, Saito's stomach began to rumble.

It was as if his body just remembered what hunger felt like.

"What a barbaric way of eating. No wonder you are called barbarians."

"Oh shut it. This is how we eat it on earth."

Saito retorted while licking the sauce off his fingers.

He breathed a sigh of relief after finishing breakfast. His nerves, previously stiff, loosened up, and his mood relaxed a little.

Saito stared at the darkness beyond the window, and asked Arie.

"Where are we now, approximately? Have we passed the border?"

"Not yet. This 'Sea Dragon Ship' is different from a military vessel, so it can't go as fast. Also the navy has already blockaded the shortest path."

"Are those guys still hunting us?"

"Of course. This is because you people are the devil, and we are traitors of the elves. The 'Steel-blooded Party' that is controlling the navy now wants to exterminate every devil even if they had to sacrifice themselves to do it. Of course they will hunt us down to the ends of the earth."

Arie took a glance at Fatima who was sleeping at the back of the cabin.

"Even though I originally thought of using her as a hostage when I brought her on board, to be honest, I'm not even sure if we can use her at all. They wouldn't even think twice about sacrificing the lives of their comrades to exterminate devils. That is the sort of organization they are."

Saito looked at the cabin ceiling uneasily.

"Then what should we do next?"

"We will stop by Eumenes, then we will proceed to Gallia on land."

"Eumenes?"

"It's a town that lies on the far western edge of the desert, where barbarians and elves trade."

"Humans and elves? Is there such a place?"

This was what made Saito very surprised. He once thought that the snobbish elves would not give a damn to communicate with humans, so it was a little incredulous for him.

"But the High Council will never acknowledge it. There are places like that at the border, and Luctiana often goes there to research barbarians."

Arie's eyes turned to Luctiana.

"There are medical facilities in Eumenes, we shall heal those two there."

Just then, the ship suddenly rocked heavily, and the speed of the ship dropped.

"What's happening?"

"Shallar seems to be in a bad mood. I'll go take a look."

Arie then stood up. Shallar was the name of the sea dragon that is propelling the boat. It was the same dragon that Saito defeated in the canal just as they were escaping from Adyl.

"You get some sleep, be ready to fight at all times."

"It's alright. I have to be awake when Tiffa comes round."

"Humph, stubborn barbarian."

Arie shrugged indifferently.

Just then, a dreamy voice could be heard from the bed.

"...Um, uh, uh..."

"Tiffa?"

Saito jolted and raised his head, surprised.

However, he immediately found out that, no, this was not Tiffa's sound at all!

"You... bunch of devils..."

Lustrous blond hair fluttered across his vision.

Fatima, who got up from bed, gave Saito a glare full of hatred with her jade green eyes.

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| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume21_Illustrations|Back to Illustrations]]
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima|Return to Main Page]]
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume21_Chapter_2|Forward to Chapter 2]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Zero no Tsukaima:Volume21 Chapter 2

2017-05-30T23:15:45Z

Rocketmanwikia: /* Chapter 2 - Suicide Attack to Adyl */ Link to 3

===Chapter 2 - Suicide Attack to Adyl===
Streaks of light peeked through the desert night sky... The "Ostland", which Louise and the others were on, flew at maximum speed while spewing out thick black smoke.

There were no resistance from any of the Elves in sight anymore. This was because Louise had wiped out the elite Elven air force, consisting of ten war ships and sixteen patrol ships, with her "Explosion" spell.

However, the "Ostland" was also heavily damaged after bearing the brunt of the cannon shells. There were gaping holes in the ship hull, and the steam engine which had been stretched to its limits, had almost broken down. For it to continue flying up till now was nothing short of a miracle.

"Jean! I can see it now!" Kirche yelled out while leaning on the bulwark.

"So, that is the Elven capital city, Adyl?"

Adyl. The capital of "Nephthys", the country of the elves.

It was a magnificent artificial city built on the desert which was surrounded by the sea.

Criss-crossed by a network of huge canals, the city was filled with neatly arranged buildings with white walls. Islands, made of reclaimed land, peppered the sea around it, while many ships went back and forth between them.

Overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the city, Colbert could not help but let out a sigh.

A completely different sight from what one would find in Halkeginia, it showed the deep technological disparity between the humans and the elves.

At the same time, Colbert felt as if his heart became as heavy as lead. "After this, are they really going to be fighting against an opponent capable of building such a city...?", he thought.

In the middle of Adyl, which oversaw the sea, stood a colossal white tower.

At a glance, the giant tower was about two hundred mails tall and bore no resemblance to any Halkeginian building. It had a strictly functional design devoid of any ornamental structure.

The building was of course, the "Kasper", where the highest Elven authority, the "Council" was located.

They were now only a dozen leagues away from the center of Adyl...

A somber atmosphere hung in the air just as Guiche asked, "Mr. Colbert, I have a question."

"What will that be, Mr. Gramont?"

"Where will we be landing?"

There seemed to be a landing platform for Wind Dragons at the apex of the tower, but it did not seem capable of holding such a large air ship.

"We'll crash-land the ship into the tower itself." Colbert said firmly.

Guiche could not believe his ears. Even Kirche widened her eyes.

"What? Are you serious?" Éléonore, who had been at the helm, shouted out to him.

"Of course, only someone crazy will do that."

"Huh?"

"But that is why, the elves might not be prepared to deal with this." Colbert said this with a serious expression.

Actually this was not some special plan to attack the enemy where they were least expected. They had to bet on this kind of plan to even get a millionth of a chance since they would not even have a millionth of a chance of winning a head-on battle against the elves.

"No matter how you put it, this is too reckless!"

"It was already reckless from the point where we rushed into Elven territory anyway." Colbert retorted.

"W-what if, we fail?"

"Then we'll be blasted into bits.", Malicorne said nonchalantly.

"Hey, what is that attitude of yours... One small mistake and it will cost us our lives, you know."

"And that's why you have a big responsibility not to drive us to our death, big sis."

"Are you asking to be kicked off the ship?"

"Well, it wouldn't be too bad if I would be able to go to heaven with big sis hand-in-hand, I think."

"Why would anyone want to go to heaven with you, or even take your hand, huh?" Éléonore booted Malicorne off to the bulwark in one swift motion, before gripping the helm tightly as if she had made up her mind. "There is no way I'm dying here, because I've not given up on getting married."

The "Ostland" steered straight for the "Kasper".

Meanwhile, Kirche leaned on Colbert, who was standing on the deck with a serious expression on his face. "Jean, even if this is a journey that ends in hell, I would always be by your side."

"Thank you, Miss Zerbst."

Just then, Kirche noticed that, her blue-haired friend, was sitting in the corner of the deck.

"Seriously? You're reading a book, even at this time?"

Tabitha's eyes did not leave the book, and she only nodded in response to the question.

"You really just do whatever you please, huh?"

What is it that was so interesting to her... Kirche slipped behind Tabitha as she wanted to uncover the mysterious content within the tattered covers of the book.

However, taking a look at the contents only made her more confused.

What Tabitha was reading was a illustrated book for children.

"Oh, this is rare. Isn't most of the books you read much more difficult than this?"

"This is a very important book to me."

"Oh..." Kirche muttered in disappointment as she turned to look at the bow.

Louise was sleeping soundly on Siesta's lap there.

Louise had been sleeping like that ever since she used up all her mental will to cast a powerful "Explosion" spell at the Elven air fleet.

"Poor girl. But it seems that you will have to wake up soon."

"You're saying that the barbarians are launching an attack here?"

"What the heck is Commander Amran doing?!"

At this time... The "Kasper" council had devolved into chaos.

This was not just something strange, since not only was the entire Elven air fleet destroyed, a barbarian ship also took the chance to speed towards Adyl. This was simply unheard of in the long history of human-Elf wars.

"Mmhmm. It seems that we might have underestimated the abilities of the barbarians."

Upon hearing what the old elf on the council speaker seat, Turuk, had muttered, the council members turned grim.

"This is no joking matter, Mr. President. They must be the 'Undertakers' who are coming to retrieve the 'Devils'." One of the council members spoke up.

"I've never would have thought that they were going to make a beeline for the 'Kasper'."

"There aren't many guards here, are there?"

"What are you afraid of? They are only barbarians, what could they do even if they were to come here?"

After hearing one of the younger council member scoffing, some of the other members began to voice their agreements.

Well, it was true that every one of the elves in the council were powerful users of "Firstborn Magic". They did not need to be afraid of barbarian magic, so it was natural for them to look down on the enemy.

Worry sprung up in Turuk's mind as he surveyed the racket around him. "What a bunch of incurable fools."

How can they hold a meeting so calmly during these urgent times?

The peace and harmony all these centuries has corrupted the council. As a result, fanatic zealots like the "Steel-Blooded Party" rose in power.

"Even if our opponent are barbarians, we can not let our guard down. Didn't you see how our air fleet was annihilated by them?"

Everyone quieted down as Turuk threw a wet blanket over their heated discussion.

"In any case, it would be better if we don't make the mistake of underestimating them. They might pull off something unexpected."

The council members did not seem to heed his advice.

Turuk let out a sigh, looked away with a forlorn face and sunk into deep thought.

"Miss... Miss Vallière, please wake up immediately."

"Mm... mm..."

Siesta rocked Louise's shoulders gently, but Louise only flipped to the side.

"... Saito, I-I can't do this, to wear a collar in the courtyard... what the heck were you thinking..."

"What kind of dream is that?" Siesta could not help but roll her eyes as she heard that.

"Stop sleeping, please wake up now. The only thing that can fight against the elves, is Miss Vallière's 'Void' magic."

"... Wu... I shall not forgive you this time. Y-you made a noble like me, dress up so, embarrassingly..."

Siesta sighed and moved her face towards Louise's ears. "Please wake up now. Come on, wake up... Wake up now. Wake up, you, the one without a chest."

Tremble.

"Flat-chest, washboard, Tarbes plains."

Tremble tremble.

"Such a flat, flat, flat chest~"

Every time Siesta sung her strange song, Louise's ears trembled to the rhythm of the melody.

"Miss Vallière's flat chest is the flattest it can be~"

Louise jolted upright.

"You maid! Are y-y-you done with that song!"

"Ah, you're finally awake. Get up, we're about to go in, so please prepare yourself."

"Go in?" Louise asked back with drowsy eyes.

"Yes, I think we're going to ram the ship into the tower."

"Huh?" Louise instantly woke up completely. "What? What are you saying again? I didn't understood what you've said."

Just then, the "Ostland" began to shake violently.

"W-wait, what's happening... Aaaaaah!"

Louise and Siesta hugged each other as they rolled around on the deck.

"We're going in! Mr. Gramont, cast 'Fortification' on the bow now!"

After hearing Colbert's commanded, Guiche began casting the spell for "fortification" while grabbing the bulwark like everyone else on the ship. Layers upon layers of magical shield immediately covered the ship hull.

"We're dipping down at thirty degrees! Everyone, hold on tight to something near you!"

The "Ostland" charged headfirst diagonally downwards at an incredible speed.

"Humph, well then, watch me handle this! I'll let you know the abilities of a woman who can't be married!" Éléonore held the helm tightly as she yelled out desperately.

"That's the spirit! Big sis!"

"Shut the hell up!" Éléonore booted Malicorne off to the bulwark again.

Just then, the elves on the tower realized their motive. Elven guards rushed to the tower terraces and began to cast "Firstborn Magic".

Countless fireballs, arrows of light, and wind blades ravaged the ship hull. It seems that they thought of changing the path of the ship, even by a little, since they were not able to destroy such a huge object.

"Fatty, blast them away."

"One big blast coming right up!"

Malicorne ran rolling and crawling to the "main cannon" on the front deck, and licked it.

The numbers, "324" were painted on the turret.

The main cannon of the "Ostland" was not just any ordinary large cannon. Colbert had forcibly installed the eighty-eight millimeter cannon from the "Tiger Tank" onto the ship.

Malicorne targeted the elves on the terrace through the sights and pulled the trigger forcefully.

Boom! The cannon roared thunderously as it spat out a huge cannon shell. At the same time, the shell flew forward in a straight line and devastated the terrace.

"Well done, fatty!" Éléonore kept turning the steering wheel while she planted her foot onto Malicorne's face as he was blown away by the shock wave. Malicorne had a face of pure bliss as his face was stepped on.

They came closer and closer to the huge frame of the "Kasper".

Fifty mails, forty mails, thirty mails, twenty mails...

"Impact imminent!" Guiche screamed out.

In an instant, the ship bow collided into the walls with a deafening blast.

"Aaaaaah!"

The collision force was so strong that Louise and Siesta involuntarily let go of the bulwark.

Their bodies were thrown out of the ship. There was a brief moment where Louise felt as if gravity had disappeared. "Ah, I'm going to fall..." Just as she thought this, she felt as if somebody grabbed hold of her collar and pulled her up.

"Huh?"

"Kew, kew. You're really a troublemaker, little red one!"

Still in shock, Louise, raised her head only to find Sylphid, who was carrying Tabitha on her back, hooking them by their collars.

"T-thank you."

Tabitha answered Louise's soft words of gratitude with a curt nod, her face expressionless.

The dust in the air gradually settled down.

They could see how the gigantic body of the "Ostland" was stuck mid-way into the tower.

Even though most of the hull armor was destroyed, the engines and the motors were just barely functioning. If the ship had been made of wood, even if the "fortification" spell was cast on it, it would still break for sure.

"Is everyone alright?" Colbert coughed as he tried to stand up.

"Miss Éléonore, that was some superb steering you did there."

"What the hell was I even doing just now..." Éléonore grumbled as she coughed.

"Alright then, we'll be charging into the heart of Elven territory. Is everyone ready for this?"

After hearing what Colbert has said, everyone nodded silently. They each began to pull out their magic wands.

"Very well." Colbert then took the lead, and jumped down from the deck, followed by Louise, Kirche, Guiche, Malicorne and Tabitha.

Siesta, who was not capable of magic, and Éléonore, who was the ship pilot, stayed on the ship so that they could take off immediately after they brought a hostage.

"Be careful, little one, kew, kew!" Sylphid yelled out, concerned about everyone. Tabitha nodded and said that it would be alright.

Siesta crawled onto the bulwark, and said to Louise, "Miss Vallière, you have to come back with Saito and Louise. Promise me that."

"Yup, I'll promise you that."

"Miss Vallière, you also have to return safely to us, okay?"

"Of course."

"You really, really have to, you know."

"I know, I know."

"If... Miss Vallière doesn't come back, Saito will be mine, okay?"

"In your dreams."

After hearing Louise answer without missing a beat, Siesta gave her a small smile.

"Oh? Your legs are shaking, Guiche."

"This is called the warrior's tremblings. What would you know about that, huh?" Guiche retorted Kirche's teasing in an attempt to boost his courage. "So what if we're going to fight against Elves. Even when he was knocked down by my Golems countless times, Saito still stood his ground and did not surrender. He was the one who proved that commoners could fight back against the magicians. Fighting with the Elves is nothing compared to that."

Guiche held on to his wand tightly. "Also, what we've chosen to take part in, is a honourable battle to save our comrades. Don't you think so too?"

"That's right, to save our comrade... and the fairy with a large chest. This is the best battle ever. It's such a simple goal, we're not like those Romanians yelling about some holy crusade." Malicorne said.

"That's right, we could even save the world. Think about it, if we manage to return alive, wouldn't that make us so popular with the girls?"

"Guiche, didn't you already have Mon-Mon?"

"This and that are completely different things. Would you complain about being more popular with the girls?"

"You're right."

The both of them patted each other's backs and laughed at each other.

"You guys..." Louise could not help but roll her eyes at them.

Colbert gave a light cough. "Ahem."

"After we charge into the place, we will take an elf with a ranking as high as possible as our hostage, and have them to exchange the elf for Saito."

"How will we be able to know which elf are the higher ranking ones?" Louise asked.

"Well, at least, I think those elves won't be dressed as a guard."

They will look like those elves back in Alhambra then, Louise thought to herself.

"I'll take care of the guards from the lower levels of the tower." Tabitha said.

"Are you okay alone?" Louise asked worriedly.

"It's alright. I'm used to working alone."

"Be careful, okay?"

Tabitha gave a small nod, before casting the "Flying" spell and flew down from the tall tower.

"Miss Valiere, how many times could you use the 'Void' again?"

"I think I could use it a few more times."

Even though Louise said it with a firm voice, she was actually just trying to put on a brave face. To tell the truth, her mental will had been highly diminished by the extra powerful "Explosion" spell she cast to annihilate the Elven air fleet.

However, the thought that "she must save Saito" called out in her mind, making her heart tremble. This trembling of her heart was the source of her mental will, the ammunition need to cast "Void" spells. That feeling superseded her anger, her joy and even her grief... As long as the trembling of her heart, due to her yearning for Saito, exists, no matter how tough it was, she would be able to fight her way out of it.

"Saito, could you please wait for me, just a little longer... I'll save you."

Maybe they've taken away his sanity and his memories of me, but even so, I will never give up.

That's because he's my familiar, and I'm his master, and a-also his lover... That's right, when we meet, I must make him hug me tightly, t-then make him kiss me...

"Oh please, what are you daydreaming about?"

She noticed that Kirche was asking her with a face full of doubt.

"I-I wasn't daydreaming at all!" Louise's face could not help but flush red at Kirche's question.

"Shall we go then, to save Saito and Miss Tiffania." Colbert said, as he raised his wand up high.

And so, after everyone silently overlapped their wands in the air, they charged straight into the heart of the tower.

<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume21_Chapter1|Forward to Chapter 1]]
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima|Return to Main Page]]
| [[Zero_no_Tsukaima:Volume21_Chapter_3|Forward to Chapter 3]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

User talk:Darkoneko

2011-11-28T04:04:57Z

Rocketmanwikia: /* Zero no Tsukaima */ new section

<div style="margin-bottom:1.25em;border:1px solid #8898BF; background:white; padding:0; width:400px;">
<div style="height:8px; margin:0; border:0; border-bottom:1px solid #8898BF; background:#C8D8FF; font-size:1px;"></div>
<div style="padding:8px;">
*''talk to me here, click on [http://www.baka-tsuki.net/project/index.php?title=User_talk:Darkoneko&action=edit&section=new +] to add a section''
*'''Understood languages''' : French (native), English (good)

</div></div>

== Clannad ==

Hey Darkoneko,

As you're the expert on all things MediaWiki, and maybe you've already looked at the [[Clannad]] project page... I'm just wondering if you can help to improve the table format as well as how the text is being displayed, and get the entire thing to look right across Firefox, IE6 and IE7. Thanks.

--[[User:Velocity7|velocity7]]

Hey Darkoneko,

mind looking over this page:

http://project.baka-tsuki.net/index.php?title=Clannad:SEEN0414

Velocity7 did some funky stuff to it, just wondering if you think its okay.

it was better then his other idea of adding some sort of hidden spoiler extension to the wiki (which was a bit rubbish to be honest)

cheers!

regards,

[[User:Onizuka-gto|Onizuka-gto]] 12:33, 23 January 2007 (PST)
:answered on IRC. [[User:Darkoneko|DarkoNeko]] <small>[[User_Talk:Darkoneko|talk]]</small> 15:06, 24 January 2007 (PST)

Hey again Darkoneko,

I've managed to confirm that the grids disappearing is a bug, caused by using border-collapse, rowspan, and colspan:

[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=244135]

This cannot be fixed no matter what styling we do. We'll have to come with workarounds, as in the CSS I've indicated at [[Template:Clannad:ScriptChart]]. This means the Haruhi timeline table will need to be redone in the future.

Speaking of which, do you know how to merge some of those cells using colspan and rowspan so that each row lines up perfectly? So for example, all those empty cells should be merged together somehow but at the same time, it should be possible to preserve the way the text is all lined up. Suggestions?

--[[User:Velocity7|velocity7]]
:hmmmm I'm not sure to understand what you mean by row lined up perfectly ? it that about their width ?
:[[User:Darkoneko|DarkoNeko]] <small>[[User_Talk:Darkoneko|talk]]</small> 05:02, 29 January 2007 (PST)

== Fate/Zero ==

Hey Darkoneko,

I don't know if you checked the Fate/Zero page, but I did mention to look at http://fuyuki.pbwiki.com. The definitions of the Holy Grail and homunculus, according to the Nasu universe, are there. --[[User:Velocity7|velocity7]] 12:47 AM April 2 2007 EST

== Wikisyntax talks ==

*Hi Darkoneko (active fr.wikipedia "Cleaner", huh?),<br/>My question is, how do wikipedia sites add this useful insert toolbar after the edit box? -- [[User:RasqualTwilight|Seven Eleven]] 04:42, 16 April 2007 (PDT)
:Sorry for the late reply.
:It is indeed the bar to insert special characters. Is it something to modify within the source code? -- [[User:RasqualTwilight|Seven Eleven]] 11:41, 3 May 2007 (PDT)

== WikiGuru ? ==

Je vois que tu parles bien français, je vais en profiter.
Pour les traduction française, je vais besoin de certain petits trucs.
Je pense notamment à des raccourcis soit vers le YukiWiki (du SOS-dan francophone) soit vers la sous-section francophone de la traduction de SHnY. Je risque d'en avoir besoin pour des liens divers. L'idéal serait pour les éditeurs de pouvoir écrire : <nowiki>une description de [[YukiWiki:Kyon|Kyon], un lien vers le [[Suzumiya_Haruhi_FR:Volume1_Chapitre2|Chapitre suivant]].</nowiki>
Merci de me tenir au courant. surtout si ça te pose problème.

QCTX
:Yop
:*Onizuka a juste dit que je ''parlais'' français... mais en fait, je '''suis''' français :) donc forcément, je parle bien cette langue.
:*Pour les <nowiki>[[YukiWiki:blabla|intralien vers un autre site]]</nowiki>, je suppose que mediawiki rend ça réalisable, mais seul celui qui a accès au FTP serveur pourrais le faire : il est assez rarement là, et quand je vois ce qui est arrivé à son installation de l'extension spamlist, je suis pas convaincu que lui demander de trifouiller le code soit une bonne idée ^^;<br />Demander au lecteur de faire des allez retour entre ici et YukiWiki risque de le perdre un peu, mais sinon pour faire ce genre de liens accessible facilement, je peut créer un modèle du type [[template:YukiWiki]] qui permettra de taper juste <nowiki>{{YukiWiki|nom de la page sur le wiki distant}}</nowiki>, ce qui reviens à peu pres au même que plus haut sans devoir embeter le grand manitou.
:*Pour le systeme de navigation entre chapitre, je peut faire un modèle général à mettre en bas de chaque page qui permettra d'accéder d'un click à n'importe quel page de la trad fr. Il faudra juste penser à mettre le modèle à jour lorsqu'une nouvelle page est créée :)
:voila voila
:[[User:Darkoneko|DarkoNeko]] <small>[[User_Talk:Darkoneko|talk]]</small> 13:33, 23 June 2007 (PDT)
:NB : si la syntaxe wiki te parait obscure, je te recommande la lecture de [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilisateur:Darkoneko/Message_de_bienvenue ceci]...il y a 2/3 parties qui sont hors sujet pour ici (c'est quelquechose que j'ai initialement créé pour souhaiter la bienvenue aux nouveaux sur wikipédia), mais il y a une breve description de tout ce que j'estime etre la syntaxe de base.
:NB²: pour le terme "wikiguru", c'est parce que je participe à la wikipédia francophone depuis 2 ans et des brouettes, et que donc je connais la plupart des rouages :) mais le terme tiens plus de l'autodérision qu'autre chose.
::*Merci pour le template, tiens moi au courant dès qu'il est opérationnel.
::*Idem pour la navigation, j'ai commencé à faire mon propre système "a la manno" en bas du prologue et du premier chapitre, mais si tu as plus simple, merci d'avance.
::*Question : Sur la page d'accueil de la VF j'ai rajouté un lien vers le fichier d'aide de Wikipedia. Ca te gène si je le fais désormais pointer vers le lien que tu viens de me donner ?
::*Tant que j'y suis, j'ai créé un modèle pour le YukiWiki afin de pouvoir cacher des [http://yuki.haruhi.fr/index.php/SPOILERS spoilers]. Ca t'embêterai d'y jeter un oeil pour me dire pourquoi l'affichage est aussi différent de celui de [http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mod%C3%A8le:Bo%C3%AEte_d%C3%A9roulante wikipedia] ?
:::*(1) Template fait : <nowiki>{{YukiWiki|Yuki_Nagato}}</nowiki> s'affichera {{YukiWiki|Yuki_Nagato}}. La principale limitation est qu'on ne peut pas mettre d'espace dans le nom de page appelée (il faut remplacer par des _). Il est possible que le lien et ce qui s'affiche soient different, il suffit d'appeler le modele sous la forme <nowiki>{{YukiWiki|lien réèl|truc à afficher}}</nowiki>, ce qui donnera {{YukiWiki|lien réèl|truc à afficher}}.
:::*(2) ça sera pour un peu plus tard, je manque de temps.
:::*(3) pas de probleme, même si ça n'est pas totalement adapté pour ce wiki.
:::*(4) comme (2)
:::[[User:Darkoneko|DarkoNeko]] <small>[[User_Talk:Darkoneko|talk]]</small> 04:47, 25 June 2007 (PDT)
:::NB: n'oublie pas de signer tes messages avec <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>

== yuki wiki? ==

Dear Darkoneko,

care to share with me to what's this all about?

tasteful choice of name for it, but still don't have a clue what it's for.... (^^);

--[[User:Onizuka-gto|Onizuka-gto]] 07:55, 25 June 2007 (PDT)
:Meow :)
:I created this for [[User:QCTX]], as he wanted a simple way to make links to a specific "reference" page from here to his distant wiki : you simply type <nowiki>{{YukiWiki|Yuki_Nagato}}</nowiki> and it appears like that : {{YukiWiki|Yuki_Nagato}} . The main limitation is that the parameter can't contain spaces.
:[[User:Darkoneko|DarkoNeko]] <small>[[User_Talk:Darkoneko|talk]]</small> 08:58, 25 June 2007 (PDT)
:Nota: I've edited the [[Template talk:YukiWiki|template talk page]] to add explanations.

:* Ah, thanks for the explanation. mind you it does seem like, an awfully complicated piece of work around, to relatively simple copy&paste with the occasional requirements.... :roll:
:
:like they say,
:"French. Smart, but in a baka way."
:
:(^_^;)
:
:--[[User:Onizuka-gto|Onizuka-gto]] 15:30, 25 June 2007 (PDT)
:
::How that "baka"?
::Who dare say that?
::Grrr...
::--[[User:Qctx|QCTX]] 12:47, 26 June 2007 (PDT)
:::Britannians does
:::Because they're polite, but in a rude way
::: :D
:::[[User:Darkoneko|DarkoNeko]] <small>[[User_Talk:Darkoneko|talk]]</small> 13:24, 26 June 2007 (PDT)

== débuts débuts... ==

Salut,
vu que je débute complètement je vais probablement poser une question bête mais : quand on s'enregistre sur une page, on change le texte dans l'édit, mais après pour écrire le texte traduit et le lier vers le menu géneral il faut qu'une page existe non, avant?ou je suppose que ce sont les éditeurs qui la créent? et sinon est ce que je dois mettre un lien dans le sommaire vers une page qui n'existe pas encore, et qui se créera et en suite j'édite dans cette page? j'ai peur de faire une erreur en fait en faisant ça, et moi qui voulais commencer le 18 Décembre...

oups sorry i'm really sorry i should go to the forum before, i was lost.
je suis vraiment désolée.

merci beaucoup

== Le monde est petit ==

Coucou! Vu que <s>tu ne me réponds plus sur wikipédia</s> je viens de découvrir SHnY, je suis arrivé ici ;)<br/>Au plaisir de continuer à travailler ensemble :p [[User:Il Palazzo-sama|Il Palazzo-sama]] 15:58, 6 September 2008 (PDT)
:Rien qui méritait une réponse de ta part, rassure-toi ;) (et oui, mon humour est effectivement foireux, mais j'assume ^^; ) [[User:Il Palazzo-sama|Il Palazzo-sama]] 06:33, 8 October 2008 (PDT)

== Les droits ==

Alors voilà. Vu que tu m'as l'air d'être le plus (vieux) vénérables traducteurs, tu pourra peut-être me dire... Si les droits des romans présents ici sont déposés dans les langues locales, est-ce que ça ne pourra être préjudiciable à Baka Tsuki? J'ai entendu parler récemment d'un blog qui à eu un procès parce qu'il faisait circuler une version traduite de Harry Potter. Si on continue la traduction, notamment de "La mélancolie de Haruhi Suzumiya, alors que des droits ont apparemment été déposés, est-ce qu'on va avoir des ennuis? Les pages traduites seront-elles effacés? Aura-t-on notre pseudo dans le staff de traduction? *rêve*
Enfin, voilà, j'ai des questions.

A la réflexion, je me demande si je ferais pas mieux d'aller poster sur le forum... --[[User:Facteur Rien|Facteur Rien]] 19:20, 8 April 2009 (UTC)

== Zero no Tsukaima ==

Hello Darkoneko
I'm admin a Zero no Tsukaima Wiki. I would like to know if I can put the traslations of Zero no Tsukaima novel from your web site into the Zero no Tsukaima wikia. I can put link or credit to your web site. If I can what I need to know what need to put in wikia. I've been reading the site translation. I like the novel better than the Anime. They seem to drop thing and move event around.
I would like to help in traslation of the novel, but don't have digital source and would have to use google translation. My under standing it doesn't do to well. What little I have used the translator, I've had some problems.
--[[User:Rocketmanwikia|Rocketmanwikia]] 22:04, 27 November 2011 (CST)