Zero no Tsukaima:Volume10 Chapter2

Chapter 2 - The Elf

Along the Ragdorian Lake, which was situated along the border between Gallia and Tristain, in front of an old-looking house nearby, a blue-haired girl who was riding a Wind Dragon alighted.

Although the Gallia royal family's crest could be seen at the door of the residence, it was humiliated by an unsightly cross-shaped dent. This was the house of which Tabitha's mother lived quietly...... It was the premise of an ex-Orleans residence.

Tabitha pondered on the contents of the letter which she had torn up completely last night. It was a letter with the Gallia royal family's seal. Something short was written inside:

“Charlotte Hélène Chevalier De Parterre. Deprivation of your title as my right-hand assistant, Chevalier, and your social status. PS: The aforementioned person's mother, ex-Duchess of Orleans, is restrained. For bail negotiations to be approved, within a week, the aforementioned person must be present at the ex-Orleans official residence.”

“Bail negotiations” is an extremely mild expression. Tabitha was certainly not deceived. In other words, it means “Because your mother has been made a hostage, surrender peacefully!” After that, a trial against Tabitha's treachery would probably begin. The result would be...... if she is lucky, the gallows. If not...... she did not really want to think about it.

Together with the refreshing breeze of the morning, the sunlight of spring made fun of her face. In an instant, that refreshing breeze was being a freezing, icy aura, as Tabitha took a step forward into the residence.

Sylphid, who was sitting down, let out a worried sound: ”Kyui!”

“Do you intend to surrender peacefully? Those eyes were asking.

“Chill.”

Facing the front, she told that to her faithful familiar, upon which “Tsush, tsush...”, Sylphid drew nearer to her.

Tabitha turned back, and stopped Sylphid.

“Wait. I'll finish this soon.”

Sylphid shook her head.

This wise dragon understood. Her master obviously did not have any intention to surrender. She intended to fight, and recover her mother. Naturally, Gallia's royal government should not have thought that Tabitha would hand over her wand peacefully. To win over that wind magic, they had definitely prepared many powerful users.

Because of her betrayal, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for them to continue using Tabitha. Since the start, the royal family had been wanting to dispossess Tabitha of her life. However, if she were to be murdered with her father as well, it would result in the ex-Orleans formal faction being enraged. Consequently, they assigned dangerous tasks to her, thinking that she would be disposed of that way.

Yet, Tabitha managed to accomplished those tasks well. The current king's faction should be certainly impatient now.

This time...... was the chance for them to deliver their full potential to kill her.

Sylphid noticed the unpleasant atmosphere enveloping the house. That air became a chilly sensation as if pricking one's skin, and Sylphid's scales were agitated.

“You understand, don't you? From now on the fight would proceed. In the same, usual way, wait for me in the air.”

Sylphid never joins Tabitha in her battle. “Because I don't have the legs to go back,” with that reason, she usually waits patiently in the air for her master's battle to finish.

However, this time was different.

Tabitha's enemy is the royal family of Gallia.

This is an opponent on a completely different level than the beasts, magi, or demihumans whom she fought against until now.

A kingdom against a person; no matter how she struggles, she has no chance of winning.

This ex-Orleans residence was already not the place of Tabitha's dear memories.

Nor was it the battleground.

It was a place where the executioner, who was dispatched to kill her, was waiting; her coffin, her cemetery.

If it were a “battlefield”, it was still okay; but her beloved master must not venture alone into this “cemetery”.

Tabitha gazed firmly at Sylphid who was staring at her with those brave eyes.

In a soft, instruction-like voice, Tabitha said.

“Because you are waiting, I can fight. Because I have a place to return to, I can fight.”

Although Sylphid was motionless for a while...... her eyes brimmed with tears, she nodded hard.

“Kyui!”

Gently, Tabitha stroked Sylphid's snout. Firmly, Sylphid raised her face, and soared to the sky.

Gazing at Sylphid which was circling the sky above the residence, with the same expression as usual, “Thank you,” she whispered.