Zero no Tsukaima ~Russian Version~:Volume2 Chapter9
Глава 9 - Последняя битва
На следующее утро…
В порту Ньюкасла внутри пещеры, Сайто стоял в очереди, чтобы взойти на борт Орла, окруженный спешащими людьми, которые не собирались уплывать на Галантной Мери.
"Из-за любви, иногда нужно отпустить..." пробормотал Дерфлингер про себя. Он висел на спине, привязанный шнурком. Это было невыносимо, в такие дни, не иметь с кем поговорить.
"Прекрати болтать..."
"Почему?"
"Мне погано, когда ты говоришь это."
"Из-за любви, иногда нужно отпустить..." - ты про это?"
"Да почему же ты не умолкнешь?!"
"Я понял. Больше не скажу этого, коль ты просишь, партнер. Тем не менее, мы должны обсудить пару вещей касающихся нашего будущего. Ты определился куда пойдем, пока у нас есть стока свободного времени? спросил Дерфлингер, делая вид, что не в курсе.
"Может в Арукатсу."
"И там мы будем искать способ вернуть тебя, партнер, в твой мир?"
"А зачем тебе искать его? Я единственный кто чужой здесь, так ведь?" сказал Сайто.
Возвращение домой? Луиза говорила, что поможет с этим, но не стоит надеяться на успех. Хотя оставлять город Луизы было тяжело.
"Тогда стань наемником."
"Наёмником?"
"Да. С мечом на плече, посмотрев на одну битву сегодня, а затем путешествуя по другой стране и поле боя завтра. Доход малый, но зато можно всегда спустить пар, так ведь?"
Сайто пробормотал.
"И компания плохих парней"
"Что, без меня как партнера, обычный парень, вроде тебя, просто пропадет."
"Даже если ты "великий" весь ржавеешь."
"Как грубо. Но я прощаю тебя, поскольку ты мой партнер. Кстати, партнер, я вспомнил кое-что о былых днях..."
"Что?"
"Партнер, ты ведь Гандальв?
"А, ты об этом, это имя легендарного фамильяра. Когда я впервые услышал это, я был поражен. Я-"
"Погоди. Погоди минуту, партнер. Кажется я вспомнил имя..."
"Правда?"
"Нет, это очень старые воспоминания... Давно минувшие дни, я поймал их на краю своего сознания..."
Дерфлингер продолжал бормотая "хм", "ага" и "ах" неоднократно.
"Наверно ты запутался, ведь это было давно. К тому же, где находится голова у меча?"
Дерфлингер задумался на время.
"Ручка, может быть?" сказал он, заставив Сайто рассмеяться.
Подошло время Сайто взойти на борт корабля.Когда он поднялся по трапу, то он увидел, что готовящийся к отплытию корабль был полон народу, все сидели так кучно, что было невозможно найти место на палубе, чтобы присесть.
Сайто посмотрел на известняковую пещеру с края борта. В тот момент, была середина бракосочетания Луизы. Сайто зажмурил глаза от этой одинокой мысли.
Люди до сих пор продолжали подыматься на борт корабля. Палуба была переполнена и толпа людей толкала Сайто на палубе. Кто-то локтем попал по его травмированной руке, заставив Сайто вскрикнуть.
Между тем, в часовню, где висел портрета основателя Бримира, наследный принц Уэльский ждал появления жениха и невесты. Там не было посторонних людей, так как все были заняты подготовкой к грядущей битве. Уэльс тоже планировал, как только закончится церемония, также готовиться к бою.
На Уэльсе была подобающая Крон Принцу одежда. Он одел ярко-пурпурную мантию, символ королевской семьи, и шляпу с семью разноцветными перьями, символ королевской семьи Альбиона. Дверь открылась, в нее вошли Луиза и Вард. Луиза стояла с непонимающим выражением на лице, Уэльс предложил ей подойти и встать перед ним.
Луиза была озадачена. Все произошло так внезапно. Вард ворвался в ее комнату сегодняшним утром и принес ее сюда, даже не дав нормально проснуться. Она была озадачена, потому что хаотичные мысли разрывали ее голову. Она пришла сюда не осознавая действительность, полу-сонная. Из-за принца, который был полон решимости умереть и вчерашнего поведения Сайто, она была подавлена.
Вард, после того как сказал "Пришло время для свадьбы", надел ей фату, позаимствованную у королевской семьи Альбиона. Фата была хорошо выполнена, и цветы, которые были вечно свежи из-за магии, делали ее неописуемо красивой.
Затем Вард снял с Луизы черную мантию и заменил ее белой, которая так же была позаимствована у королевской семьи Альбиона. Только невестам было разрешено носить ее, так как это была мантии девственницы.
Однако, даже будучи одетая руками Варда, Луиза оставалась по-прежнему безмолвной. Но Вард понял ее состояние как знак согласия.
Вард и Луиза встали перед Уэльсом, который стоял под изображением Основателя Бримира, одетый в формальную одежду. Вард, который был одет в свою обычную одежду и магическую мантию, наклонил голову.
"Пожалуй начнем церемонию"
Голос принца достиг ушей Луизы. Впрочем, это звучало, как слабый звук далекого колокола. Разум Луизы по-прежнему терялся в тумане ее собственных мыслей.
"Жених, Виконт Жан-Жак Францис де Вард. Берете ли вы эту деву в жены, и клянетесь ли вы почитать и любить ее во имя Основателя Бримира?"
Вард торжественно кивнул и взял трость левой рукой, держа ее на уровне груди.
"Клянусь"
Уэльс посмотрел на Луизу и улыбнулся ободряюще.
"Невеста, третья дочь Герцога де Ла Вальер, Луиза Франсуаза ле Бланк де ла Вальер..."
Уэльс читал речь в полный голос.
Именно тогда, Луиза заметила, что она на середине церемонии бракосочетания. Ее жених - надежный Вард, о котором она ранее мечтала. Брак устроенный ихними отцами. Только сейчас ее детская, неосмысленная, мечта о далеком будущем начала воплощаться в реальности.
Не то, чтобы я ненавидела Варда. Может быть, мне даже нравится он. Но если это так, то почему мне так больно? Почему мне так тяжело? Это потому, то я видела королевство превращающиеся в руины? Или потому, что я столкнулась с принцем, который пренебрег своей любовью и надеждами, чтобы умереть? это не так. Хотя эти печальные события и ранят, но это не из-за них такое облако печали опустилось на мой разум.
Это было глубокое, полное уныния облако, которое было тяжело терпеть.
Луиза вдруг вспомнила выражение лица Сайто, когда она рассказала о свадьбе ему.
Почему я сказала подобное ему?
Потому что я хотела быть остановленной.
Кем?
Потому что я хотела, чтобы Сайто остановил меня.
Почему?
Луиза начала краснеть, как только подумала о причине. Точно так же, как мысль о причине того, почему предыдущей ночью она, хотя и была в глубокой печали, так легко прильнула к груди Сайто, которого она случайно встретила в коридоре.
Но являются ли те чувства истинными? Я не знаю. Но разве это не стоит того, чтобы попытаться выяснить?
После всего, не важно, как взволнована или грустна она была, она никогда не прижималась к мужской груди ранее.
Между тем...
На палубе "Орла".
Сайто угнетающе опираясь на край борта, начал терять четкость окружающего мира.
"Мм?"
"Что такое, партнер?"
Зрение Сайто начало мутнеть. Так же как подымающийся горячий воздух в жару в середине лета, все что он видел левым глазом - начало расплываться.
"У меня что-то странное с глазами."
"Это потому, что ты устал."
Сказал Дерфлингер, делая вид, что не знает истинную причину.
"Невеста?"
Уэльс посмотрел на нее. Луиза запаниковала.
У нее было выражение лица человека, который не знал, что он тут делает вообще. Луиза была в ступоре. Что она должна делать? Что она должна делать в моменты подобные этому? Никто не учил ее этому. Только ее фамильяр, который улетал в данный момент, мог знать ответ.
"Ты нервничаешь? Все в порядке. Впервые выходя замуж - все нервничают."
Уэльс улыбался говоря.
"О дорогая, мы должны следовать этикету. Выполнение оного будет иметь смысл только, если мы будем следовать ему. Так что позвольте повторить. Берешь ли ты этого мужчину в свои мужья, и клянешься ли ты почитать и любить его во имя Основателя Бримира..."
Луиза понимала. Она не должна медлить с ответом, ожидая что кто-то скажет ей что делать.
Она должна принять решение сама.
Определившись, Луиза сделала глубокий вдох.
И не дожидаясь пока Уэльс закончит речь, Луиза покачала головой.
"Невеста?"
"Луиза?"
Оба с подозрением посмотрели на нее. Она взглянула на Варда с печальным видом и снова покачала головой.
"О Господи, Луиза. Вам плохо?"
"Нет, не в этом дело. Я прошу прощения..."
"Если сегодня плохо, то в другой раз..."
"Не в этом дело, не в этом. Я прошу прощения Вард, я не могу выйти за тебя."
Уэльс смотрел с сомнением на внезапно изменившуюся ситуацию.
"Невеста, это не тот брак, который вы хотите?"
"Да, это так. Я хочу извиниться перед вами обоими за мою грубость. Это было болезненное решение, но я не хочу выходить замуж."
Вард стремительно покрывался красными пятнами от злости. Уэльс повернулся к нему и сказал растерянным, колеблющимся и опечаленным голосом.
"Виконт, я страшно извиняюсь, но невеста не хочет продолжать церемонию."
Однако, Вард не обратил никакого внимания на Уэльса, и взял Луизу за руку.
"... Ты просто нервничаешь. Дорогая Луиза. Ты не можешь серьезна в своем отказе моего предложения."
"Мне жаль Вард. Я грезила вами. Возможно... возможно даже любила вас прежде. Тем не менее, это отличается от сегодняшнего.
Тогда, Вард схватил Луизу за плечи. Выражение его глаз изменилось. Исчезла обычная доброта с его лица, сменившись на стеклянную холодность рептилии.
Вард кричал возбужденным тоном.
"Мир, Луиза! Я буду править миром" Ты нужна мне для этого!"
Испугавшись внезапного перевоплощения Варда, Луиза продолжала покачивать головой.
"... Я, я не нужна для этого."
Вард вытянул обе свои руки, привлекая Луизу все ближе. !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!!
!!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!!
Wardes extended both his hands, drawing Louise closer. !!!!!!! !!!!!!! !!!!!!!
"Ты нужна мне! Твои возможности! Твоя сила!"
Этот Вард пугал Луизу все больше и больше. Даже в самых смелых ее мечтах, которые она себе рисовала ласкового Варда, он не хмурился и не кричал, так как щас. Луиза пыталась отвернуться.
"Луиза, ты забыла, что я однажды тебе сказал! Ты не уступаешь даже Основателю Бримиру, ты станешь великим магом однажды! Ты просто не знаешь о нем пока! Это талант!"
"Вард, ты..."
Голос Луизы дрожал от страха. Это не был тот Вард, которого знала Луиза. Что изменило его, сделав таким человеком?
На военном корабле "Орел", Сайто опять потер свои глаза.
"Что такое, партнер?"
"С моим левым глазом что-то странное творится."
"Это потому, что ты устал."
Тем не менее, взор Сайто все больше и больше искажался.
"Ура! Я могу что-то разглядеть!"
Сайто кричал. Это было действительно чей-то взгляд.
Левый и правый глаза Сайто чувствовал как совершенно разные части.
"Я могу видеть..."
"Что ты видишь, партнер?"
"Возможно, это то что видит Луиза." сказал Сайто.
Now he recalled what Louise said some time age. “A familiar is the eyes and ears of its master, that’s their ability.”
However, Louise said she couldn't see anything through my eyes... It must be, there must be cases when the rules are reversed.
But why can I see Louise’s view all of sudden?
Saito looked at his left hand. The rune carved there was shining brightly, even though he wasn’t holding any weapon. Indeed, his guess must be correct.
This was his ability. Truly, it must be another ability of the legendary familiar Gandálfr.
Let’s see, I guess that’s what Louise is seeing with her left eye then? While thinking so, Saito’s natural curiosity took the lead.
Wales, who couldn’t stand Wardes' threatening attitude towards Louise any longer, stepped in.
“Viscount…, that’s enough. Behave like a gentlema…”
However, Wardes struck away Wales’ extended hand.
“Shut up!”
Wales stood still, surprised by Wardes words. Wardes clasped Louise’s hand with his and she felt as if it was a snake twining around it.
“Louise! You are necessary for me!”
“I don’t have any talent as a mage.”
“I told you many times already! You are just not aware of your power, Louise!”
Louise tried to shake off Wardes' hand, but the incredible strength with which he was holding on to her prevented it. Grimacing in pain, Louise spoke.
“I would rather die than marry you. I understand now, you never loved me. You only loved a magical power in me that you foolishly think I have. It is cruel, to marry someone just because of such a reason. It’s an insult!”
Louise raged. Wales put a hand on Wardes' shoulder, trying to pull him away, but Wardes pushed Wales instead, who fell on the ground. Wales face turned red, and, after standing up again, he pulled out his cane.
“You, what impoliteness! It’s an insult! Viscount, move your hands away from la Vallière right now! Or else my magical blade will tear you up!”
Only then Wardes' hand finally let Louise go. A kind smile spread on his lips. However, the smile was forced and obviously fake.
“Even if I ask you this way you won’t do it? Louise. My Louise.”
Louise spoke, while trembling from anger.
“No, there is no doubt left that you are not the one whom I would ever marry.”
Wardes looked up at the sky.
“And I made such great efforts, to capture your feelings during this journey…”
Wardes spread his hands widely, while throwing his head backwards.
“Well, it can’t be helped. I guess I will have to give up on this goal.”
“Goal?”
Louise looked doubtful. What was he thinking about?
The corners of Wardes' lips went up, forming an ill looking smile.
“That’s right. There were three goals for me to achieve during this travel. Sadly, I achieved only two of them.”
“Achieve? Two? What are you talking about?” Louise asked, feeling the shivers of uneasiness travel down her spine. Her mind was working at full power, trying to figure out what was happening.
Wardes put out his right hand in front holding up three fingers, and bent his forefinger.
“First one was you, Louise. I had to get you. However, it seems that I won’t be able to accomplish that.”
“Obviously not!”
Wardes smiled, bending his middle finger.
“The second goal, Louise, is in your pocket - Henrietta's letter.”
Louise was startled.
“Wardes, you…”
“And, the third…”
After hearing Wardes saying “Henrietta’s letter”, Wales understood everything, pulled out his cane and started to chant a spell.
However, Wardes had already prepared two complete spells before.
Wardes aimed his wind cane that had started shining and with the tip pierced Wales chest.
“D-damn you…'Reconquista'…”
Blood suddenly gushed out of Wales mouth and Louise screamed.
Wardes muttered while piercing his shining cane deeper into Wales chest.
”The third, is your damned life, Wales.”
With that, Wales fell to the ground.
“A noble! Aren’t you an Albionian noble as well!? Wardes!”
Louise shouted while trembling. Wardes was a traitor.
“That’s right. I am really a member of Albion's noble faction, ‘Reconquista’” Wardes replied in a cold, emotionless voice.
“Why! Why, would you, Tristain nobility, do such thing?”
“We are the first heralds of Halkeginia’s future – a union of nobles that has no national borders. We are borderless.”
Wardes raised the cane again.
“Halkeginia will be reunited into one by our hands, we will restore the Founder Brimir's ‘Sacred Land’ once again.”
“Before... you were not like this before. What changed you so much? Wardes...”
“Years, accidents and destiny. Though it changed me from whom you knew, it didn’t change my nature that you are talking about. And you are talking too much.”
Louise tried to duck when Wardes moved the cane, however his spell still hit her with ease, throwing her to the floor.
“Help...“
Louise’s face turned pale. She tried to stand up, but her legs stopped obeying her.
Wardes threw back his head.
“For this! For this you rejected my offer to rule the world together!”
He started to cast another wind spell. "Breaking Wind". And Louise was blown away like piece of paper.
“No…Help…”
“Even the smallest bird can’t hear you, it seems like you will have to bow your head in defeat, huh, Louise?
She was thrown against the wall and left lying on the floor, groaning in pain. Tears started rolling down her face.
She still asked for the help of her familiar that wasn’t there.
“Help me…please…”
Louise repeated the words like chanting a spell. Enjoying himself, Wardes slowly started chanting.
“Lightning Cloud”
“It is regrettable… That your life will be taken by this hand…”
If even Saito’s arm was scorched by this blitz spell, there was no chance of survival if she was hit by it directly.
From shock her breath was rough and her whole body was in pain. Louise, scared like a child, cried
“Saito! Help!”
At that moment, Wardes finished the spell and lowered his cane, aiming towards Louise and...
The wall of the chapel collapsed with a roaring sound, and a strong gust of wind blew in from the outside.
“Damn you…”
Wardes muttered.
After breaking the wall, Saito jumped in with Derflinger in his hand stopped Wardes' cane.
"You…" Saito swung the sword sidewise. Wardes dodged it by jumping back.
Accidentally, Saito saw Louise with the corner of his eye.
After screaming her last words, Louise fainted and hadn't moved since.
With raging anger in his eyes, Saito glared at Wardes. Lust for killing was boiling in his body. Saito groaned while biting his lip hard.
“Unforgivable!”
“Why are you here, Gandálfr?” Wardes asked with a cruel smile on his lips.
Not answering, Saito angrily swung the sword. However, the sword only crushed the floor. Wardes flew up high into the air, successfully dodging the attack.
“That’s right, you must have sensed that your master was in danger.”
Wardes crossed his hands while floating next to the Founder Brimir's portrait. Looking confident and self-sure.
“You betrayed Louise!”
Saito shouted, while thrusting the sword forwards. Yet, Wardes flew up, dodged it and landed gracefully on the floor. He moved around like a feather.
“To accomplish a goal, you can’t be selective with the means.”
"Louise believed in you! You were her fiancé… She yearned for you when she was young…”
“Such selfish belief.”
Wardes dodged the sword while floating. Then he swung the cane and fired another spell. Though Saito tried to hold it down with the sword, the spell "Breaking Wind" blew him away.
Saito groaned in pain as he hit the wall. His injured left arm was aching and because of it, he could not move as freely as usual.
“That’s it? Gandálfr. Your movements are too slow. At least try and make it entertaining.”
A cruel smile floated on Wardes' lips.
At that moment, Derflinger shouted.
“I remembered!”
“What are you talking about, at time like this!?”
“Right…Gandálfr!”
“What!”
“No, from my older times, the hand that held me. Gandálfr. But I forgot. It was 600 years ago, old times.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Wardes released "Breaking Wind" again. Saito tried to dodge it but was captured in and blown away again.
”It’s so nostalgic. I could cry. Right, no, that’s what I was missing. My partner – that ‘Gandálfr’!”
"Cut it out!"
“I’m glad! Now no one can ignore me! I will show how cool I am!” Derflinger shouted as his blade started to shine.
Saito was taken aback for a moment and watched Derflinger in amazement.
“Derf? Yes?”
Wardes recited "Breaking Wind" again.
Raging wind flew out aiming at Saito as he put out the shining Derflinger in front of himself.
“It’s useless! A sword cannot stop it!” Wardes shouted.
Yet, the wind, instead of blowing Saito away, was sucked into Derflinger's blade.
And…
The light coming out of Derflinger intensified.
“Derf? You…”
“This is my true form! Partner! No, I forgot it! My tired body changed itself! Anyhow, it’s a pretty interesting story, partner!”
“Make it short!”
“Impatient. I forgot. But, don’t worry, partner. I suck in all magic around me! That’s me, Gandálfr’s left hand – Derflinger-sama!”
Wardes watched with interest at the sword that Saito was holding.
“Indeed… You are not an ordinary sword. I should have noticed that when you reduced my "Lightning Cloud”.
Still, Wardes did not loose his confidence.
He smiled thinly, when setting out the cane.
“Now, then, let's get serious, shall we? It is time to teach you why this magic is called the strongest.”
Though Saito jumped at him, Wardes dodged it like an acrobat and uttered the spell.
“Ubiquitous Dell Wind…”
When the spell was completed, Wardes' body suddenly doubled.
One… Two… Three… Four… Wardes' doubles, together with the real body, surrounded Saito.
“Doubles!”
“It is not only "Double". It’s "Ubiquitous Wind", uneven distribution… The wind is unevenly distributed. The place where it blows is not just a matter of appearance, but it has a substantial power too.”
One of Wardes' doubles suddenly pulled a white mask from the cloak and wore it.
Saito's body trembled. He was shivering with anger and fear. The masked man was Wardes! The man who was standing next to Fouquet… The one who hit Saito with a blitz was none other than Wardes!
“Masked man… You… Then it must be you who helped Fouquet to escape too. What a treacherous and handful spell. You can appear anywhere.”
“Indeed. More so, each one has the power of the original. I told you, right? ‘Wind’ is unevenly distributed!”
One of the Wardes jumped on Saito, while the other uttered the spell, making the cane shine.
"Air Needle", the same spell that pierced Wales' heart before.
“The cane is surrounded by a magical whirlpool, so the sword cannot suck it in!”
The cane was shaking as the whirlpool was rotating around it forming a blade, of which tip was aimed at Saito’s body during the attack.
Derflinger blocked it, but the impact of the blow still hit Saito’s injured hand and he fell down.
Wardes laughed.
“Not bad for a commoner. After all you are the legendary Gandálfr. However, this is where it ends. You are no match for my "Ubiquitous Wind" spell!"
Gradually, Wardeses surrounded the fallen Saito.
“Hey, legendary sword! The one that ‘Gandálfr’ used! Derf!”
“That’s what I am. What is it?”
“If you are so legendary, then do something or else we will be killed.”
“Well, I am shining and sucking in enemies' magic, am I not?”
“No, not that, something more? Like some special attack? Like blowing the enemy away with a single hit…”
“What? I’m just a sword.”
One of the Wardes flew up and tried to hit Saito with his cane.
Saito jumped up, defending his body with his sword and dodging the attack.
“Useless! What kind of legend is this!”
“But not to this extent!”
The Wardeses kept on attacking violently, but because Saito's back was supported by the wall, only three of them could attack at the same time. Somehow he managed to block all of their attacks.
“At this rate I'll be defeated! And killed!”
“Good grief, my deepest sympathy!”
Meanwhile… 15 feet from the place where Saito was fighting, Louise woke up. When Louise saw Saito fighting hard, her face was momentarily blank with surprise, but then she grasped her wand.
“Run away while you can! Idiot!”
Saito shouted, but Louise didn’t stop. The spell was uttered and the wand was aimed. She chanted the ‘Fire Ball’ spell. The spell aimed at Wardes exploded hitting the floor beneath him.
Boom! With that loud sound Wardes disappeared while Louise watched amazed.
“Eh? Disappeared? Because of my magic?”
The remaining Wardes tried to jump on Louise.
“Run away!” Saito shouted, but Louise stubbornly started to chant the same spell again. However, she was blown away by Wardes' cane this time.
Saito stared with astonishment.
He started shaking with anger. When Louise’s body hit the wall right before his eyes, a beast-like roar escaped his mouth.
“How dare you to do that to Louise…!”
Once Louise's body was blown off again, the remaining Wardes clones concentrated on Saito trying to press him further. However, Saito's movement gradually increased speed.
All of the Wardeses' breathing became irregular and rough. Still, even then, their expression didn't change.
While blocking the sword, Wardes asked.
“Why did you come back to die? To risk your life for Louise who despises you? Can’t understand how a commoner’s mind works!”
Saito shouted while swinging the sword. “Then why did you bastard try to kill Louise!? You were her fiancée!”
“Hahaha, you are still in love with Louise? A servant's hopeless love for his master! That’s really funny! That arrogant Louise will never turn to you! Mere compassion mistaken for love! Fool!”
“So what if I fell in love!”
Saito shouted while biting down his lips.
“However…”
“However, what?”
“It is beating!”
“What?”
A puzzled expression floated on Wardes' face.
“Aah! When seeing that face, my heart is beating faster! This reason is good enough for me! Therefore I will defend Louise!”
Saito screamed.
Runes started shining.
Matching the light, Derflinger also shone brighter. “Good! That’s good partner! Right! That’s the key! I remembered! I know the source of Gandálfr’s power! Good partner!”
Finally Saito’s sword cut down another Wardes.
“Wha?”
Wardes grimaced in an unbearable pain.
“Gandálfr's source of power is feelings! Anger! Sadness! Love! Pleasure! Anything is good! And now you seem to be really shaken, my Gandálfr!”
Saito rounded up the sword. Because of its terrible speed, Wardes was not able to react to the sword in time and disappeared.
“D-damn you…”
Only three remained now.
"Do not forget! You are fighting me! You can’t surpass my skills!"
Saito leaped high up into the air, holding his sword. Wardes also flew.
“The air is my element… Do not forget! Gandálfr!”
Each of the Wardes’ canes were aimed at Saito, but he brandished Derflinger like a pinwheel.
Derflinger shouted.
“That’s the way to fight, Gandálfr! Swing me in the rhythm of your heart!”
The next moment, all three Wardes were torn up in the blink of an eye.
Saito landed.
With ‘'Uneven Distribution’ defeated, the remaining real Wardes' body fell down on the floor. <-The spell name changed...which to use? This one makes more sense. ~Dan->
His cut off left arm, landed there after a few seconds.
Saito also landed on the ground, but he stumbled and had to support himself with his knee. His tiredness had reached a critical limit.
Wardes stood up staggering and stared at Saito.
“Damn… This ‘Flash’ really defeated me…”
Saito tried to stand up and run up to him, but his body stopped obeying him.
“Ku…”
“Aah, partner. Don’t act foolishly now – Gandálfr cannot move after wasting his energy. That’s because this familiar was created to defend his master while the master chants the spell.”
Derflinger explained.
Wardes gripped his cane with his remaining right hand and floated upwards.
“Oh dear, it seems that I managed to accomplish only one of the goals. Anyways, now you are mine ‘Gandálfr’ – a large army will soon burst in. Hey! Can you hear the sound of horses' hooves and dragons' wings!?”
Indeed, one could hear the noise of cannons and sounds of fire magic explosions outside, as well as the roaring voices of nobles and soldiers mixed up in a battle.
“You and your foolish master will be turned to ashes! Gandálfr!”
Throwing these last parting words, Wardes disappeared through the hole in the wall.
Saito, who used Derflinger as a crutch for support, stumblingly walked up to Louise.
“Louise!”
Saito shook Louise trying to wake her up to no avail. Saito put his ear to Louise’s chest in panic.
Thump, thump, thump…
Hearing the faint heartbeat, he breathed out a sigh of relief. Louise was worn-out. Her mantle was torn, and her knees and cheek bruised.
And there must be more bruises under the clothes, too.
Louise’s hand was grasping her chest. Her breast pocket button came off, and one could see Henreitta’s letter peeping out from the inside. It seemed that, even unconscious, Louise was still protecting the letter.
Really, I am so glad you are alive. I came just in time. Saito thought.
“But partner… What do we do now? The Eagle already left the port…”
That’s right. To save Louise, Saito jumped down from the departing Eagle's deck.
“Eh?”
“Eh? Really. Can you hear the shouts outside? What do you think Wales' men would think seeing his body lying on the floor? They would think we are traitors for sure.”
Indeed, explosions and battle roars were getting closer and closer to the walls. It was only a matter of time before they would come bursting in here.
Saito quietly laid Louise on the chair.
And then stood up before her, standing guard.
“What are you doing?”
“Defending Louise.”
When Saito said this, Derflinger trembled while twitching.
“Ha. Other than that. I understand. Partner Gandálfr, it was nice to know you and this noble girl, your master, partner.”
“Stop joking around.”
“Hm?”
“Louise and I, we will both survive.”
“Were you listening to the king’s speech? There are 50,000 enemies.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
Saito, with his last remaining strength, grasped the sword. Even 50,000, even 100,000 he felt like he could win. Today he could defeat any mage, even if he was extremely tired.
Derflinger’s shaking became louder and louder.
That’s right! That’s the way I like it. Who cares about 50,000. Let them come to us!”
And Saito, holding Derflinger, stared at the entrance of the chapel.
They waited, for sooner or later an enemy to come…
But then…
The ground, near the place where Louise was laid, rose up.
“What?”
Saito watched the ground.
“Is it an enemy? Digging under?”
He lowered the sword towards the hole, out of which a brown animal soon popped it’s head.
“Aaaaaaaan?”
And then that brown animal started groping Louise’s body that was lying near sides.
“You… you are the huge mole Verdandi! Guiche’s familiar!”
Saito shouted, and soon enough from the same hole that Verdandi came out, Guiche's face appeared.
Hey! Verdandi! You can dig a hole anywhere! Good boy! Gu….”
Guiche turned his soil smeared face from Saito and noticed Louise lying nearby, then said pretending not to know.
“Ha! You! You are here!”
“W-what are you doing here!?”
Saito shouted.
"Not that. After winning the battle against Fouquet the Crumbling Earth, and after a short break, we decided to follow you. It is our duty as princess Henrietta’s honor depends on it, right?”
“But this place is in the sky! How did you get here!?”
Then, near Guiche, Kirche’s face popped out.
“Tabitha's Sylphid.”
“Kirche!”
“We reached Albion successfully, but since it's a foreign country we didn’t know where to go. But then, Verdandi started digging a hole all of sudden, so we followed him.”
Meanwhile the huge mole was pressing his nose to the ‘Ruby of Water’ that was shining on Louise’s finger. Guiche nodded.
“Indeed. He followed the smell of the ruby, and started digging a tunnel to here. My cute Verdandi, because of his love for jewels he was able to follow from La Rochelle and dug a hole to get here.
Saito opened his mouth in amazement. He surely, never planned to be saved by a mole.
“Are you alright? I almost captured Fouquet again, but she made a narrow escape. That woman, though being a mage, surely does run away a lot. By the way, darling, what are you doing here?” Kirche asked while wiping off the dirt from her face with a handkerchief.
Saito laughed nerviously.
“Ha, ha, haha…”
“Dear? Is something wrong dear?”
“We’ll talk about it later! The enemy will burst in soon! Let’s run away!”
“Running away, and the mission? What about Viscount Wardes?”
“We have the letter! Wardes was a traitor! Return back now!”
“What? Well I do not understand it, but it seems everything ended already.” Kirche said in nonchalant voice.
With Louise in his arms, Saito slowly made his way through the hole. But then he remembered something, left Louise in Guiche’s care and hurried back to Wales in the chapel.
However, Wales had already died.
Saito shut his eyes and silently said his prayers.
“Hey! What are you doing there! Come back quickly!” Guiche called Saito back.
Saito looked at Wales' body. He looked for some keepsake to give to Henrietta. He noticed a big ruby on his finger.
The ruby belonged to Albion’s royal family.
Saito removed it from the finger and put it in his pocket.
“Brave prince… You won’t be forgotten.” Saito muttered.
“I swear to you that I will also defend the things I believe in.”
Saito said bowing down, and ran back to the hole.
The same moment Saito dove in the hole, the noble soldiers and mages broke through the door and jumped into the chapel.
The tunnel Verdandi dug ran right under the Albion’s continent. So the moment Saito got out of the hole, there was nothing but clouds beneath, yet Sylphid successfully caught all four falling people and a mole.
The mole that the wind dragon caught with its mouth, let out a protesting cry.
“Please try to endure it, my cute Verdandi. Bear with it until we get off in Tristain again.”
With powerful wing strokes, the wind dragon broke through the surrounding clouds and changed direction to the Magical Academy.
Saito, with Louise in his arms, looked up at the continent of Albion.
Clouded and empty, blue inside, the Albion continent disappeared. Though it was a short stay there, Saito had various things to remember, as the white country faded from view.
Saito watched Louise lying in his arms. Her white cheeks were dirty with blood and soil, yet even in this state, one could see her aristocratic features. There were two stripes from her eyes down her cheeks left by her tears.
Saito wiped Louise’s face with his sleeve. He could not bear to see the face of his pretty master dirty.
Louise was still unconscious from the shock. Looking at Louise’s face was somehow painful to Saito. “Dear Louise. Louise. My Louise…”
Beat beat, his heart was beating loudly.
Now Saito looked only at Louise’s face pressed gently to his chest.
Meanwhile, Louise was absent-mindedly wandering in dream.
The dream in la Vallière’s place, in her hometown.
A pond in a forgotten courtyard…
There a small boat was floating… Here Louise was lying down when facing difficulties. Louise always hid herself and slept there. Her world that no one else intruded in. Her secret place…
Louise’s heart was in pain.
But Wardes didn’t come here anymore. Gentle viscount Wardes, her childhood noble crush, her fiancé of marriage arranged by their fathers' mutual agreement…
Young Louise sobbed softly, there was no Wardes who would take her from her secret place anymore. He was a dirty betrayer that murdered the courageous prince, those kind hands belonged to a murderer…
Louise cried in her shallop.
But then, someone came.
“Is that you, Viscount?”
Louise asked in her dream. But she shook her head at once. No, the viscount didn’t come here anymore. Then, who?
It was Saito. The sword was hanging on his back, when he without hesitation about getting wet stepped into the pond and approached Louise’s shallop.
Louise's heart throbbed.
Saito picked up Louise out of the shallop and held her in his arms.
“Have you been crying?”
Saito asked. Louise nodded childishly in her dream.
“Stop crying. Louise. My Louise.”
Louise tried to get angry. This familiar, how dare he call me ‘My Louise’. But when she opened her mouth to scold him, her lips were closed again with a kiss. Though she wriggled in rage at first, the strength soon left her body.
Louise woke up on a wind dragon's back, in Saito’s arms.
She became aware that she was held in Saito’s arms. They were sitting near the wind-dragon’s tail, and Saito sat there embracing her. She stared at his face from the side as it seemed like he didn’t notice that she was awake.
Kirche, Tabitha, Guiche – all three of them, were sitting on the front of the wind dragon’s back.
The wind was blowing against her cheeks.
“Aah, this isn’t a dream."
Then…
"I survived.”
Louise’s mind was filled with feverish thoughts.
I was almost killed by that traitor Wardes, but then Saito jumped in. Then I fainted. Then I woke up again and chanted some magic. After that, though, I lost consciousness… maybe Saito won again.
But only we survived, maybe the royal army was still defeated.
Wales died as well.
The happiness of surviving mixed with sadness almost made Louise cry. However, not wanting to cry in front of Saito, she closed her eyes.
She was also ashamed to say thank you. Though she could not understand why, she was comfortable with Kirche, Tabitha, Guiche – with all of them. But thanking Saito before everyone felt really embarrassing. Therefore, Louise decided to pretend she was sleeping.
Nevertheless, Louise still secretly watched him from the corner of her half-closed eyes.
Saito looked into her eyes. He looked directly at her.
Those eyes made Louise recall her last dream.
The air dragon increased speed.
Strong wind hit her cheeks.
But that wind felt pleasant.
That wind and Saito’s burning gaze, aah, Louise couldn’t hide her feelings.
Her mind was in turmoil…
Traitor Wardes.
Crown prince’s death…
Noble union’s ‘Reconquista’ victory…
Report to the Princess…
For various reasons, and while Louise felt sorry for them all, right now all Louise’s thoughts were blown away by the wind.
After nearly escaping death, she wanted to savour the feeling of life for a while.
Like that, savouring the feeling of life without limits, while pretending to sleep…
Saito’s face moved closer.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Saito's lips overlapped Louise’s.
Louise instinctively lifted her hand to push him away…but returned it back to her chest instead.
Strong wind hit Louise's cheeks, as Sylphid flew through the sky.
Something warm filled her heart, a heart that was wounded by sad events was healed.
Some time ago she was struggling violently against the feeling in her dream.
But at least for now…
The pleasant wind blew from a different world…
Resting her cheek against his chest, she silently fell asleep.
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