Zero no Tsukaima Volume 15 Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Carca.s.sonne[]

Residing on the Southern parts of Gallia, Carca.s.sonne is a medium sized city around 400 miles west of the capital Lutèce.

On the surface, that is.

Spanning 50 metres wide, 2 miles long, this narrow but long city was built hanging on a cliff like a bridge. If someone views it from the sky, it would almost look like a giant winding snake.

Roofs made from layers and layers of red tiles, which were the snake's scales. Because of this, the city also has an alias named Maroon. Containing a population of around 2000 citizens, this city has a long history.

This city has successfully prevented Aren people(??) from touching its streets numerous times. In its streets today, a familiar and its master were frantically running.

"Stop! In the name of the Queen's official Louise Françoise I order you!"

Saito panted heavily, running for his life on the stone paved roads. The pedestrians looked at this pair of fascinating master and familiar accompanied by Romalian army with astonished expressions.

Louise, wearing clothes of the academy, launched herself and grabbed Saito's waist tightly. "Thump!" the two fell onto the ground.

"Let, let go of me!"

"It's time I teach you a good lesson!"

Louise sat on top of him and pointed at his face, her face thoroughly red.

"I'm sick of it! You say it everyday!"

Yes. It has already been two whole weeks after the Myozunitonirun led Golomonta army have been crushed.

During this period, Louise had been blaming Saito non-stop. That is because of.... the content of the memories about Saito flowing into Louise's heart.

Unable to stand Saito's departure, Louise pleaded Tiffania to erase all her memories about Saito...

Unknown if it was the bond between a familiar and its master that's hard to break, or Louise's desire for her familiar..... anyhow those memories flowed into Louise's heart when they kissed.

From Saito's perspective, the couple's memories were rebuilt, including all sorts of other stuff. It can also be said that this memory does not only consist of things that happened in reality, but also of Saito's daily fantasies.

For teens at Saito's age, his "fantasies" can only be about one thing.

"I'll let you off for now about the 'education in the toilet' a while ago. It may not be something good, but it's understandable"

"Understanding that, you've grown as well"

Saito teased happily, Louise turned even redder

"B-but, but...... But!"

At the last "but", Louise clenched her fists.

"'Closing eyes at the court' is not negotiable! Impossible!"

Louise beat Saito to a pulp.

The Ondine Water Spirit Knights, Tabitha and Kirche extended their heads from the balcony of the tavern to watch the last part.

"Really.... this is almost becoming their daily routine."

Guiche chuckled while gulping down wine.

Reinard pushed his gla.s.ses up from slipping and said

"But if you think about it, Louise is pretty troublesome. Saito fights so hard for Louise.... even if he had some weird dreams, it isn't exactly unforgivable."

"Reinard. Do you also like doing perverted stuff to girls as well? Huh~ even someone as stubborn as you too...."

Being made fun of by Gimili, Reinard blushed

"It's not like that! If...if you are a male, you would think of these things more or less... I don't have a high interest in these things, just of normal interest...."

"Then would you confess these kind of things to normal girls?"

Reinard gulped down his gla.s.s of wine silently.

With this, an intense discussion on the topic of Louise being easily angered and their pity on Saito began.

"Honestly, Louise is just like a child!"

"Saito has an impressive endurance, don't you think? If I were him, I couldn't have handled this."

One member of the forum shook uncontrollably with anger.

That boy was none other than Malicorne. Using one hand stabbing and twisting his food cruelly, he said

"Is there a problem with your eyes?"

"Uh? What do you mean?"

"It's not what it looks like."

Malicorne jabbed his fork with hanging pieces of meat at Louise and Saito. Louise was beating Saito and Saito was defending against her attacks. It's a common sight around the boys.

"What does that look like then?"

Confronted with his mates' doubt, Malicorne tipped his head in the same direction again

"Watch again closely."

The band looked again at Louise and Saito.

And was kept in that posture staring.

Although Louise was punching Saito.......... the punches only landed on his chest lightly. Saito accepted her attacks and was wearing a carefree face, just like comforting a child.

Louise paused her punches and bit her lips as if flirting and turned her head away from him. She then used her index finger to hold down Saito's hands and started twirling.

Saito pulled Louise close, mumbled for a while in her ear, then Louise bowed her head embarra.s.singly and said something.

"......Idiot. Must be saying 'you naughty boy' or whatever......"

Malicorne lip-read Louise's script with a tone almost sighing. Such highly skilled techniques.

"You would make me do even more d-d-dirty things....... Don't be stupid. Is this all...... Really?.....Really? Of course it's true..... But, Louise doesn't like you fantasizing like this....."

Malicorne spun around, about to puke. He quickly regained himself and jumped up, crying out with a fierce face.

"Using an ironic expression to put this makes this sound laaaaaammmmmeeeeeeee!"

Malicorne suddenly saying things so willfully gave his counterparts sitting next to him a scare.

"Which means that the main dish is yet to come? Signs of flirting with each other, this, this kind of thing..... as a n.o.ble, it should be done in absolute secrecy......"

"Ma-Malicorne......"

Guiche stood up and grabbed his mate's shoulders.

"Ah!"

Malicorne's fist hit Guiche's cheek.

"Putting on this kind of show so brazenly, they really fear nothing, do they?"

Saito and Louise ignored them and went back into their own world again shamelessly. Only they would think that fighting is a part of flirting.

Louise was hugged tightly by Saito from behind, her hands joined by Saito's, acting all shy. Saito stared at Louise's face from the side, but every time Louise would turn away in embarra.s.sment.

"Welll.... I know males are a completely different creature from us.... because you were by my side all the time."

"Hmmmh? Louise, how should I say, that is only an extreme case....."

"Why are all boys like this, thinking these things?"

"How should I explain it, that...."

Saito shook his head. The tension at the scene was like a matured apple about to be fall on the ground, but bounded so tightly by iron wire that it was almost cut into the flesh. Must correct Louise's misconception, even though it's not a misconception at all. However, that would be too much for an illogical Louise to handle.

The girl you like falling in love with yourself, and also in an environment that spells "do whatever you want" out loud..... yet Saito just had to screw things up at the crucial stage.

If he doesn't come up with something quick....... after some frantic processing in his brain, Saito, being stuck in a stalemate, came up with a shocking excuse.

"I say, actually there is a little devil living in my heart. That guy always imprints these heinous thoughts into me."

Louise's shoulder's tensed up

"Little devil?"

"Mm. That guy would tell me to do a lot of things with bad intentions, is a terrible guy who needs to tempt even me. Even so, I am still fighting with him everyday. It's hard to deal with since it's full of charming lies..... No, it may be charming, but it only works on men."

Louise hated these kind of excuses. Although she feels really sorry for Saito's wild fantasies, but in reality, she isn't as angry as she seems. A half is actually used to cover up her shame, as for details, we'll leave it for later. Saito being so conscious of her had made her very happy.

This is the obvious truth, but he just had to tread on "a little devil in his heart", these kind of lame lies. Even if you had to lie, find something better. Or does he not take me seriously? That's right, it must be it. Huh, there must be a limit to believing someone to be dumb

Louise focused all her energy into the tip of her foot. With this in addition to the torque generated by turning her body and kicking it out, it would unquestionably land on Saito's weak spot..... in other words, between his legs. Just as Louise was considering this, Saito opened his mouth and continued.

"Hmm, letting the little devil speak for himself might be good. But anyhow, my feelings for you are real."

Last time Saito was at the inter-cla.s.s grand baseball compet.i.tion, he had never made a homerun no matter how hard he tried. On the contrary, this hardly spectacular sentence had successfully made a homerun pitched by Louise.

The white ball flew over the wall, out of the stands, and fell towards Louise again, knocking her out in the head.

Louise's soft body lost its source of power, and leaned on Saito.

"Put aside the little devil talk. Say, I really like beautiful things. The same goes for romantic ones. Therefore, the washroom stuff, you are whose dog whatever, I hope you will never think of these things, How should I say it, it feels like it would dirty important pieces."

Saito kept nodding and hugged Louise close to him gently.

"Understood. I will try my best."

"If it really is like that, I would be very happy."

"Let's make up."

"Mm, alright."

Saito lifted Louise's jaw. Louise closed her eyes like she was angry. Just as Saito's lips were nearing close ......

A sudden gust of wind from behind pushed the couple to the ground.

"What!"

Saito jumped up. Behind him was a giant "ghost" standing with his legs crossed.

"It's me, Malicorne......."

The couple trembled with fear as they observed the slightly chubby teen telling them his name. The reason he looked so huge was that the fury emitting from his body was too shocking to get a clear view.

"......Ma-Malicorne!"

"That's right. My name is Malicorne. I will be representing the citizens of Carca.s.sonne to punish the flagrant 'heretics' with the hammer of G.o.d!"

Malicorne said, laughing darkly.

Saito and Louise crawled backwards in fear, attempting to flee. The rage leaking at such a ma.s.sive scale from a dot ranked mage was enough to scare the legendary void user.

Thunderclaps sounded in the air. His fury had triggered lightning. Although lightning magic is mainly composed of wind elements, it almost belongs to top level spells, which a dot ranked Malicorne wasn't supposed to be able to use. Yet still, around his surroundings, lightning sparks fired all around.

The spell's power had magnified because of his jealousy.

After Malicorne had finished chanting, a cloud condensed above their heads.

"St-stop! Malicorne!"

A lightning bolt hit Louise and Saito right on. The two held each other, drenched in the enormous amounts of current, and fainted.

Even so, Malicorne's madness has still not been dispersed and kept stomping on the couple's bodies.

Her fiery red hair waving in the wind, Kirche raised her eyebrows at the look on the Ondine Knights as they rushed out to stop their hot-headed friend.

"Oww. Those guys, no matter where they're headed, lack a sense of emergency"

She commented, astonished, spreading her arms open.

"Speaking of which, at the start I was thinking 'how would this turn out', but I never could have imagined that we're already here now."

The day Pope Vittorio announced the commencement of the "Crusade" was in the month of Lutos (??), Teraz(???) week and Ingot(??) day. To now, it has already been two weeks. The Romalian Army was only able to conquer the main part of Gallia because of the help from a real rebellion out of the dual-use fleets which triggered this war in the first place.

As Myozunitonirun's Golomonta army was overran, fleet captain Claville himself awoke from his nightmare.

The King may have promised him the "land of Romalia", but that did not justify his actions either. Therefore, in this case where a "Crusade" was even started, Halaweiluin completely lost his will to fight. Gallia may be powerful, but making the G.o.d these people believe in as a symbol for enemy would result in a complete failure.

Resolving to make this decision, Halaweiluin reacted to it rapidly. After shaking off the Romalian fleet's chase, he flew fast to San Marin. There, he honestly spoke of Gallia's conspiracy, then asked the entire crew if they were willing to surrender to Romalia.

Although Halaweiluin may not be a natural-born commander, the time he spent as a soldier was well-fit for his job. The number of crew members supporting his actions were surprisingly high, due to the fact that many of the soldiers already had their opinions to the ill-prepared operation. In the end, almost all of them agreed to rebel.

Officially becoming a real "rebellion", the news of the dual-usage fleets rising up against its home country spread across Gallia in no time.

The unsatisfied subjects of Joseph, who were already holding back their desires, left the capital as their official response.The Crusade and the rebellion of the dual-usage fleets.

These two incidents, to the distrustful and unhappy congressmen, were the perfect timing for them to overthrow the Government,

Like a chain of dominos, the Marquess of the land directly connecting Gallia and Tiger's Highway Funsaludar (?????) were the first to cooperate with the San Marin areas.

Marquess Funsaludar have held a deep grudge against the government for reclaiming his land the year before the last.

In addition to announcing his defiance, he made a declaration to Romalia, giving them permission to allow troops to pa.s.s through and offered aid from volunteers on his land. Guarding the borders of Romalia and Gallia for many years, the well-known Funsaludar's betrayal successfully persuaded counterparts of shaky loyalty to his side consecutively.

Eventually, the lords of southern Gallia, quite some distance from the Capita,l followed suit and allied themselves to the rebels. Now, the Romalian army were able to audaciously walk into their lands holding a Crusader's flag without staining the ground with a single drop of blood, up to this city of Carca.s.sonne.

Unfortunately, the chain of dominoes also ends here.

Across the Lelian(???) river flowing through the north side of Carca.s.sonne, an army sworn loyal to Gallia awaits. Its army is of size 90,000. Even when half of the country has abandoned the Gallian flag, they were still capable of recruiting an army this humongous size, proving that its t.i.tle of being the most powerful country of Halkengia is well deserved.

Including the volunteers from the rebellions, the Romalian army has only 60,000 soldiers. They may be carrying the flag of a Crusade, but to overcome the disadvantage of the large difference in army size isn't just any easy task. Although the dual-use fleet are already part of their force now, but this doesn't mean that they can march directly into the Capital without putting up a good fight either.

On the other hand, in comparison to its advantage in army size, the Gallian army has a low morale to fight. Swearing loyalty does not mean that they do not know of the dangers through swinging wands towards the Crusaders.

All sorts of different reasons knitted together, the result? Both armies stood across the river glaring at each other.

"Oh, that reminds me, why aren't you going to save your knight? Look, he's being fried by lightning with his master"

Though Kirche questioned, a young girl hair s.h.i.+ning bright blue- Tabitha continued to read her book without a sound.

Kirche froze gazing at Tabitha. Originally she thought that her friend was no different from usual. But after a few more glances, instinctively something says otherwise. It's so minute that only Kirche who always sticks near her can observe.

"You..... are nervous right?"

This is the center of Gallia. The person wearing this kingdom's crown is her father's largest foe..... Not long ago Tabitha herself was almost driven crazy by this uncle king.

Her most hated enemy may still be attempting to get closer, but her presence is no longer as dismissed as previously. Today she brings forth an army capable of reversing the tables.

Feeling nervous is expected.

"No. Not at all"

Tabitha shut her book then stood up, afterwards, walking away at a quick pace.

Kirche glanced at the balcony across this one. In between the two steep cliffs, enjoying the amazing view of Carca.s.sonne is one of the best sights you would want to see before you die. Below the cliff is a field of pastures, sprinkles of the radiant sun reflecting upon the Lelian river. On both sh.o.r.es the deadly shadows of the Romalian and Gallian army.

Afterwards, Kirche focused on Saito and the others. The Ondine Water Spirit Knights were taking care of Saito and Louise burnt black by Malicorne's lightning.

And eventually her eyes landed on Tabitha's silhouette.... To other people she is as common as she can ever be, like any other day, but Kirche can see through her disguise easily.

Something was alive inside her heart.

What might it be...... though Kirche's woman instinct might have noticed, but the things that's troubling Tabitha is still a mystery to Kirche.

Resting her jaw on her hand, Kirche thought, tilting her head sideways.

"Wait, if it's that child..... I don't think she's that simple"

Standing on one side, a Romalian guard walked behind Tabitha, never making a sound. These people will tag like a shadow on any of Louise's friends as soon as they lay foot outside the apartment. Their watch over Saito and Gallia's descendant of the King Tabitha are even stricter.

Whether they drink wine and chat, or picking up fights in a bar, they do not care at all. However, no matter the time, or where they are headed to, the guards will stick to them like bees to honey. They may not follow their targets inside their room, but will stand guard outside for the whole time.

In name, it's to "protect the important people".....

"How is this different from a hostage" Kirche moaned, then corrected herself

"No.... I should have said, they are hostages"

Not long after Malicorne's commotion, Louise and Saito returned to their bedroom, and sat down on the bed and let out a breath of relief.

Louise stuck out her tongue towards the Romalian soldier outside her door.

"What do they mean 'please don't make too much trouble, Halkengia's Saint', huh? Saint? Didn't you make up the t.i.tle on your own?"

"Heard you were very excited and accepted it"

Saito gave Louise a cold stare after commenting. Louise blushed

"Be-because.... I couldn't help it. Back then I thought it was the right decision"

Louise explained shyly. With only memories about Saito gone, all the rest were perfectly left behind in good condition. It is an undeniable fact that back then Louise saw herself as one of Halkengia's n.o.bles, and it is a must to follow Romalia's justice.

"You really...... if I chose to go home at that point, those people planned to kill me on the spot! Thank goodness I'm not a coward, so I can live til now."

Saito said with relief, a contrast to Louise's tremor of anger

"This incident, I will never forgive them! The Pope dared lie! What is this world made of!"

"Umm, that wouldn't have broken the contract even so"

"How so?"

"Those guys promised you to 'send me back', but did not ensure my survival. It's just that"

"Is not! This is quibbling!"

Louise crossed her arms and made a pouty face.

"Ahh, don't get too angry yourself"

"How can you be so calm! I have never been so ashamed of myself as a Romalia Pilgrim! It's just like switching factions with the desert devil!"

Louise quietly complained. If other people heard it, it may become a scandal.

"Is it not good? Now both of us have what we want from each other. As long as we a.s.sist them, those people will not do anything weird again. So, before we defeat Gallia, let us take advantage of those guys as well"

"Huh. I wonder if it's so convenient"

"Oh it'll be fine. Did princess also went back to Tristain by doing so"

That's right.

After the last appearance of Henrietta, hearing the incident from Saito and the others, she bit on her lip hard, and said with a deep expression to Saito and Louise

"Leave it to me. I will gamble on my own life to stop this foolish 'Crusade'"

Her face was filled with incredible determination, exactly the same as the solemn look she had on her when she ran out of the conference room, just hearing the news of Albion's army headed towards them.

"Although her majesty has decided to carry this heavy load for us..... but if it were deemed 'unnecessary', then so be it. The Romalia bunch are not so generous to share with us any of the details."

Louise may have said it worryingly, but Saito was still bright as ever

"No problem"

"Why!"

"Because Halkengia's Saint is the hero who destroyed the entire Golomonta army on Tiger's Highway. It may be an embarra.s.sing name, but to those people, you are unquestionably one of their most important chess piece. Which is also why they will not undermine your hard earned reputation. All of these things affect their morale, you see."

Louise looked at Saito motionless.

"Are you alright?"

"Hah! You actually said it sensibly"

Well, Saito's words did make sense.

"I said, this Ondine Knight vice-captain isn't just here for looks. There are a lot of things you can't win by waving swords or wands, so I decided to learn a little"

While saying this, Saito's face had an inspiring expression.

Wow.... his looks can get this cool. Louise heart pumped so heavily that she could feel it from the outside, making her face red while looking at Saito.

"What?"

"No-nothing"

Louise fl.u.s.tered and turn her head away, putting her fists under her knees and hung her head. Seeing Louise act weirdly like this, even Saito realized how shocking his words just now sounded to Louise.

Saito held his fists, cheering "Good! Good!" over and over again in his heart, thumping with joy. That really came out of nowhere, ha. Louise is certainly not very capable of handling things like this......How should I say it? Reliable? I have already grown to be able to say these things naturally! Saito praised himself, full of himself.

Ho ho, it was definitely the right choice not to go back....

A shy Louise looked as if she were trembling. She is not someone who can easily express her feelings......But, just because that she is more righteous than anyone else, it's also the reason why she will never change her decisions once made. That's the kind of stubborn girl she is.

It's also why Saito was attracted to her.

Louise, compared to before, had changed a lot. Towards the Henrietta that she used to blindly trust and Romalia Pilgrims, she would speak out loud as soon as she feels that something is not right.

On the other hand..... she underlying parts have not changed at all. The gentleness and care when taking care of Saito in a coma for 3 days and night after being beaten by Guiche, her fearlessness against facing threatening Golomontas, these areas of her have not changed at all.

Moreover, the attractive face of hers capable of making one's heart restart again...... Louise bit her lips lightly, her long long eyelashes occasionally shaking up and down.... This living miracle a.s.sembled from these components' perfect reflection, has modeled Louise into an incomparable beauty.

Saito's mind was in a very peaceful state.

Liked by the girl you like, Saito couldn't think of any moment more pleasing than this one.

His throat suddenly drying up, Saito was driven by the urge to push Louise down on the bed.

Louise will definitely not refuse. Animal's instinct has made Saito aware of this point.

Saito gently lifted Louise's face. A peach coloured hair beauty obediently closed her eyes. Not knowing if she's planning to let Saito do whatever she want or to cover up her shyness, Louise pouted as if angry. Revealing the answer, her cheeks shaded in the same peach colour as her hair, letting anyone see through her feelings right now. Saito easily stuck his own pair of lips onto hers, Louise hugging him tightly back.

Louise's cute little shoulders were trembling, making Saito feel from the bottom of his heart Louise's cuteness. This small body guarded by Saito, from now on, ever and ever......

Saito's memories once again flowed into Louise heart through the overlapping lips. Most likely it'll be Saito's imaginations again, but Louise has already decided not to be shocked no matter at what she sees.

After all, males are that kind of creatures. They have a reason different from her to act. It can't be helped once in a while.

This time, the "memory" flooding her is, the image of them at the Academy in her own room on her own bed, sleeping with Saito and Siesta together.

Annoying...... even when Siesta is sleeping just right aside, he still reaches for me. Speaking of which, he didn't kiss me when I'm asleep, did he?

Louise's heart cried out. No such thing. This is a disgrace! A disgrace!

Saito in the memory extend his hand to Louise, gently shaking her.

Ohh. So he was trying to wake me up.

I do not have this kind of memory....., so this is only part of Saito's fantasies. At this moment Louise suddenly discovered a thing. Even her memories now.... aren't they all from Saito's perspective?

Then how I 'so strongly determine' that this did not happen in real life? Thinking of this, an uncountable number of memories..... her own ones, all ones about Saito has awoken.

"And why is that?"

this is something that cannot be explained just by using the bond between a master and his familiar.

Unfortunately....... Louise's sudden query was blow away by the contents of the memory.

Because in the memory, Saito also gently shook Siesta awake.

"Then the three of us......"

Louise dropped out of Saito's embrace and pushed him aside expressionless.

"Wha......Louise?"

Saito stared at Louise in disappointment and confusion. Although Saito can take a guess at the reason, he did not know which one. To make a long paragraph short, boys of Saito's age have an unlimited number of wild fantasies.

"Wha-what?"

He may have guessed the correct reason, but is uncertain of which one. Despite knowing, Saito still asked Louise

"Toilet, court and whatever I have already endured it, but I just can't stand being treated like everyone else!"

Watching Saito still racking his brains for "which one is it?" Louise unforgivably kicked at Saito's face with the back of her shoe using all her might.

That's right. Stowing away so many fantasies!

Louise sat down, crossing her arms and facing Saito with her back and blamed

"Boys, are really stupid"

Tabitha was lying on the bed in the room a.s.signed to her. Because of the knocking sounds, Tabitha straightened her body.

"........Who?"

For some reason, Tabitha was very looking forward to this.

The one knocking did not reply, but opened the door. Tabitha winced her eyes.

Standing there with the Ondine Knight's cape on is Saito.

Tabitha pulled her sheets up. She is only wearing pajamas now.

".......What?"

Responding to Tabitha's question, Saito walked up to the side of the bed, and sat down next to Tabitha.

"I'm sorry to disturb you this late in the night, but I have something to say"

"Something to say?"

Tabitha asked for more while her chest was shaking with expectations.

"Unn. I mentioned it to you before, is about the Ondine Water Spirit Knights. We finally came to Gallia. Your hated foe is right inside this Gallia kingdom. We want to avenge for you, therefore wouldn't it be more convenient if we wore the same coat of arms?"

So this was the "thing". Tabitha felt a hint of disappointment.

"Unn. Join us!"

Saito looked at Tabitha and grabbed her hand. Tabitha nervously flung away his hand. In Saito's eyes colours of sadness can clearly be seen.

"My bad..... Said something that would be difficult for you. Sorry"

"It's fine, don't mind"

Why she threw away Saito's hand, did not imply that she does not want to join the Knights. Of course, it's not a sign of rejection either. Just.....feeling shy, but afraid to display this kind of feeling. Therefore Tabitha also turned away.

Awkward silence fell around them. Tabitha usually barely talks, therefore if the other also goes silent, there wouldn't be anything to say between the two of them.

"Actually there's one other thing" Saito's voice broke the stillness.

".....What?"

"That...., just wanted to see you"

Tabitha felt her heart contracting to an unbelievable size, but did not show it on her expression since she is trained this way. Only subtle difference is the tiny trembling in her voice.

".....Why?"

"How should I say it. Must be because I like you"

"But, don't you already......"

"I like you even more"

Saying like this, Tabitha couldn't keep a poker face anymore. The long suppressed emotions revealed on her face. Her cheeks grew hot, maybe they're already red. Tabitha would do anything to cover her face with her hands, but was caught and pulled towards Saito. Naturally, her face stuck on Saito's chest.

Her lower jaw caught by Saito, irresistibly, Tabitha closed both eyes. The nearing lips kissed her eyelids. As Tabitha slowly opened her eyes......, dream ended.

Her eyes widens, her surroundings just as dark. Tabitha glanced at the mechanical clock placed on top of her closet, 4 a.m. in the morning.

"...Dream."

It was only after a considerable length of time before Tabitha made this kind of dream. Ones where Saito appears and makes his love confession....

Tabitha was very clear when did she start making these dreams.

Going forth to Albion to welcome Tiffania, and battling with Myozunitonirun's Golomontas...

Tabitha once even kissed Saito in order to trigger an exhausted Louise's emotional waves.

Of course, that one was to make Louise feel jealous, did not contain any other meaning. Saito is a knight she should help. Never did she every imagined of having these feelings upon Saito, and never will either.

But.... since that moment, Tabitha started dreaming about Saito. These dreams, little by little gave Tabitha a change in emotions.

Every time she meets Saito, her heart felt like it was being bounded tightly.....

Tabitha calmly denied that feeling in her heart. The knight she was determined to serve would easily simulate love like emotions. Her own situation is none other that this.

Tabitha only knew these knowledge on the surface.

But similar to this time, there was another incident happened once that made her almost deny these things as well.

It was when Saito and the Ondine Knights were peeking at the girl's shower..... Tabitha saved the trapped Saito from the furious girls.

In the dining hall where they were hiding, holding their breath, Tabitha told Saito "don't look at me". She may have said that because she was naked, but she wasn't ashamed afterwards by the knight she serves seeing her body either. Although the she back then decided to make this sort of decisions, but yet she told him "not to look".

Tabitha understands the reasoning for that.

Because if Saito sher her skin......, deep inside her heart something would start to accelerate. Tabitha hugged her knees and bit her lips.

"Is because I was too excited?" Tabitha asked herself. It because she's too excited about being near Lutèce where Joseph lives, that's why the frequency of these dreams also increases.

But..., compared to the idea of revenge once all over her brain, the time spent thinking about that dream was much much longer.

".....Why is this? Am I in love?"

Tabitha recalled all the topics she knows to define her current state. So far there has not been a single book she does not understand. That's right. Not even if it's a book about what she thinks.....

Yet....., Tabitha recalled all the books she have read, and there was not a single one describing a method to confirm what she is actually thinking.

Tabitha dully looked at the direction of the window. Sylphid's face appeared inside the window frame. With a "flap", she turned to human form and came in from the open window.

"You should not change to human at this kind of place"

"Now's not the time to say this! Sister, why are you showing this kind of expression!"

"...What?"

"Seriously! I am the Sylphid always protecting sister! Let's leave that for now! Sister, your expression shows that there's obviously something in your mind! Look! Your face is all red! What kind of dream did you make, tell it to me!"

Sylphid lay naked in the room, a face full of expectations and excitement.

"Then"

Sylphid stood up and put her hand on top of Tabitha's head.

"Then, who would be the person Sister is secretly dating in her dreams"

Sylphid's question was extremely direct. Embarra.s.sed, Tabitha did not reply but covered her head with her blankets. Sylphid snuck in the bed and laid next to her, once again showing her face to Tabitha.

"Say it."

"None of your business"

"Of course it is, it's very very important, no, this may be Sylphid's long awaited moment! Leave it to me! I Sylphid will definitely help Sister succeed"

"Don't be mistaken. There's nothing like this"

"Was not! From ancient times to now, if you're in the state of 'seeing each other in dreams', it will turn into 'only seeing each other in dreams'. To not let this end, there must be some sparks between you, otherwise you will be hurt, otherwise how are you going to lay eggs"

"We don't lay eggs"

"It's only a different vocabulary. Anyways, say it. A little?"

Sylphid jabbed Tabitha's face.

"Talk"

In the end, although this conversation continued all the way til morning...., Tabitha insisted not to tell his name to this stubborn familiar.