Zero no Tsukaima:Volume19 Chapter1

Chapter 1 - Maidens of Des Ornières

The fourth day of third week of Niido in Des Ornieres turned out to be very hot. Halkeginia's summer is rather dry than hot, heat is usually not a problem. But every now and then there is a day like that.

There were no air conditioners in this world. Coolers based on water magic existed but they were rather expensive and unreliable. Continuous spell cast was difficult to control and losing control was dangerous. Magic was rarely used for air cooling.

This is why a big fan was installed on the ceiling of mansion room. It was repaired during renovation. Magic rotated the blades creating flow of air. It didn't help Louise much.

"Uuuu...," - Louise wiped sweat from forehead. "I can't fall asleep."

Second or third day she couldn't get enough sleep. Louise stared in disgust at rotating fan.

Heat wasn't the only problem. She looked to the left.

There, serenely sleeping, mouth ajar, laid a black-haired girl. Siesta. Napping was her favorite pastime, she was a genuis in falling asleep. If there ever was a Falling Asleep Championship she would win hands down.

Ah, its impossible. Pillow is humid and hot and it only gets better when someone breathes on your nape. Just perfect.

A rope connected wrists of Luise and Siesta. Its like a painter that keeps ship at pier. Untie it, and Siesta, little unfaithful boat, will start her travel to port Saito, sleeping in other room.

And it wouldn't be good for anyone. It would only lead to unnecessary violence. No one wants that, right?

Louise looked at the rope to check that it was well tied, then turned to the right where blue-haired girl slept peacefully with hands folded on her chest.

Tabitha.

She also was falling asleep easily. Naturally for her, who seen much harsher days, mansion felt like heaven.

Her hand, just like Siesta's, was also tied to Louise. Although Tabitha shouldn't be able to untie it herself, she had a very capable familiar, so Louise should still be vigilant.

Louise looked at the ceiling with a deep sigh. I wonder how it's going to be. She shook her head.

When windstones in depths of Halkeginia reach critical mass and raise it into the air.

Ah, maybe then I will be able to sleep...

I wonder if all the land will fly?

Louise imagined islands floating in the sky like Albion.

One of them... A small island, with herself and Saito on it. Just hundred mails across, with mansion and a small pond...

Maid sleeping on the left couldn't sneak in anymore. Hehe. She could only look at them from below! Then Louise felt ashamed of herself.

She shouldn't waste time on such silly dreams.

The place where she lives is about to disappear, how strange is that?

Wave of anxiety hit Louise. When it passed, she wanted to go to Saito. Every passing moment brought closer the cataclysm that could carry her away.

Eleonore, her elder sister, forbade Louise to sleep in one bed with Saito until marriage, this was the main reason of her insomnia.

Before that she had no any problems falling asleep. Initially there wasn't anything special in sleeping in same bed with her familiar. At some point, unnoticeable for her, it become necessity.

"Eleonore is unfair. I can't fall asleep, neither can he. Sleep deprivation is unhealthy."

She whispered her complaint about sister sleeping in the next room. Suddenly she opened her eyes.

Impossible. I can't sleep. Its too hot and Saito is not here.

How can I fall asleep? Louise blushed lightly.

A kiss. Right. Gentle one. Light touch. Three hours passed, three hours. Sleep tight charm is faded.

Ok then.

Just a little sneak, about five minutes. He is a moron, so if I say "meow", he will be extremely gentle to me. Hmm, which is it - extreme or gentle... Whatever, both are fine.

Louise thought about extreme variant and blushed furiously.

"I can't. Eleonore would kill me. She would never allow it."

Anyways, God and sister have to forgive what will happen in next five minutes, Louise thought untying the rope. Then the door opened and cheerful voice rung in the room.

"Yes! Hi! Kyuikyui!"

It was Sylphid. Her long hair had same blue color as her master's. Sylphid briskly started to chew rope tying Tabitha to Louise.

"What are you doing?" - asked Louise.

"Decided. Taking big sister."

"Where?"

"Your familiar room."

Louise tried to stand up but was pulled back by the rope and fell on the bed with a yelp. The rope was still intact, Sylphid couldn't bite through it.

"Kyui! Durable rope! Pink Runt!"

"What did you call me?"

"Hair pink, and tiny."

Louise forgot about the rope. Sylphid tried to bite through the rope again when her teeth lost contact. Bam! - blow came.

"Why?"

"The beast can't barge into noble's room whenever it likes".

"Arrogant human. Rhyme dragons ancient powerful race. History and culture different from yours."

"Huge difference! You are trying to bite through the rope with your teeth! Stop it!"

Louise pulled the rope, Tabitha and Siesta woke up.

"...what?"

"What is going on?"

Sylphid hugged Tabitha, happily cooing "kyiu".

"Ah! Sister awake at last! So good. Sylphy release sister, carry where sister want. Climb."

"What are you talking about? What about our agreement? One day turns?"

Siesta approached Louise.

"Just a dumb dragon tries to take an unnecessary initiative."

"Not unnecessary. Just follow master's feelings!"

"Stop talking and get out. Dragons sleep outside."

Louise and Sylphid glared at each other, Siesta asked Tabitha:

"So, does stupid dragon speak for miss Tabitha?"

Tabitha paled, bit a lip lightly and looked away.

Siesta said "excuse me", lowered her head, and started exploring Tabitha's chest with both hands.

"Miss Valerie."

"Grrrr."

Sylphid and Louise were pressing each others foreheads with sullen growls.

"No, its miss Tabitha."

"Grrrr."

"Obviously we are in estrus."

Tabitha reached the cane with her free right hand and cast silencing spell on Siesta. Ignoring Siesta's attempt to make signs she bashed the head of dumb dragon.

Louise, with red face, nodded to Tabitha and muttered few words to her year. Tabitha looked at her with wide opened eyes. Louise nodded to her again and said few more words. Cold sweat covered forehead of trembling in fear Tabitha. Her mouth opened.

"You know what, I will go to Saito's room in the middle of the nigh and pretend to be you. Its wrong, he is a good guy. Things only can happen if he is tricked. What do you think?"

Tabitha stiffened. Louise's spell was a too strong stimulus for innocent Tabitha.

"Ah, sister grew enough to lay eggs. Do your best!"

Sylphid, as if nothing happened, continued to gnaw on the rope. Then she forgot about the rope and tried to grab Tabitha's book.

When chaos calmed down a little, room door burst open. A beautiful women with long blond hair stormed into the room.

"Miss Eleonore!" - shrieked Louise.

Dressed in negligee Eleonore, angrily fumbling her glasses, yelled.

"Do you have any idea what time is it?"

Louise straightened up and said with trembling voice.

"Oh, were we noisy?"

Enraged Eleonore came closer and hit Sylphid.

"Why?"

"Sit."

Under Eleonore's intimidating gaze Sylphid become quiet.

"Why would you start this party in the middle of the night?"

"We didn't," - mumbled Louise, but Eleonore didn't hear her.

"I heard the word 'estrus'. What was that?"

"Its... its just that this maid is really noisy."

Siesta felt that she should say something and looked at Tabitha. She quietly cancelled the silencing spell.

"Nonsense. No way. Miss Valliere is horrible. Didn't you mean to complain about miss Tabitha?"

Tabitha silently hit Siesta.

"Anyway, you don't seem to realize your responsibility as noble ladies."

"You know better miss Eleonore, but I am just a maid here."

"Quiet dames."

"Sylphy dragon."

"Silence!"

Eleonore frantically folded her arms, looked at quiet Tabitha and sighed.

"Even though the member of Gallia royal family is our guest, the responsibility for your education is on me. Mingle with great to become great, this is what I think as an elder daughter of La Valliere family. Get ready, I will not go easy on you."

Slap! She fetched a riding whip and hit the bed with all her strength. Everyone yelped.

"Maid, dragon, royalty - as long as you live in this house you will behave as a lady or a servant according to the proper etiquette. I will teach all of you. Any questions?"

"No!" - everyone replied briskly.

The "lesson" lasted about two hours. Apparently it purpose was to entertain woken up Eleonore. Mostly they were training to walk properly under relentless stream of Eleonore's homilies.

Louise was confident that her gait was appropriate for a noble but this night nothing was good enough for Eleonore, she had to repeat "exercises" again and again.

First Siesta and Sylphid fell on the spot defeated by sleepiness. Then Eleonore fell asleep on Louise's bed. Tabitha collapsed next to her.

It was just about an hour till dawn.

"What a preposterous night," - Louise said to herself when the noisy company fell asleep. She sneaked out and went to Saito's room.

When she opened the door, Saito was sitting on a sofa.

"Are you awake?" - he said smiling.

"Yes. Can't sleep for some reason. You too?"

Louise replied blushing, strangely embarrassed. Saito seemed to be lost in thoughts until now, his face had been serious and absent. Its like he instantly become two or three years senior. A year at least.

It was already mentioned that year in Saito's world was a little shorter than year of this world. The lenght of day seemed to be about the same. Their worlds were not all that different.

It meant Saito was about the same age as her. Yet, just moment ago, he seemed to be an adult. It was unusual. She always considered contemporary boys to be just kids. Always spouting some nonsense, boorish and rude creatures. Until she met Saito she wasn't much interested in love. And not so long ago he was one of those creatures.

But he matured very fast.

I wonder why? A lot had happened recently. But one crisis he faced was obviously the greatest. He left his world. Did it change him?

"What is it? Did you want to discuss something?" - said Saito to silently looking at him Louise.

"What? Ah, no. Nothing special..."

Then he calmly said.

"Ah, you just wanted to see me?"

Not so long ago Louise would get angry and responded "no I didn't!".

But not now. Embarrassing.

"I also wanted to see you. I can't sleep. Its so hot and sleeping separately is strange. Unusual I mean."

Louise sit next to Saito and gently snuggled to him, it was a new habit. She took his hand. Saito took a hint and lifted her chin. Louise closed her eyes. Their lips met and sense of security filled Louise. After a while she asked.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Well, the crusade," - Saito said flatly.

"Not convinced?" - she asked with concern. Indeed, she didn't want to fight elves herself. If negotiations fail, she will...

Its inevitable. Otherwise half of people in Halkeginia will have nowhere to live. And for the other half life will change completely.

"No, I understand Pope's position. People will have no place to live. It doesn't get more serious than that. But elves are such a strong opponents."

"Well," - Louise also become serious.

"We don't have much to bargain in negotiations. Usual magic ineffective against them." Louise knew it. But if four of four worked together they would be able to use much more powerful magic.

Louise thought about words written in Brimir's Founder's Prayer Book: "read when necessary."

"Maybe we will be able to use Void magic when we need it. This is how it worked before."

"Right..." - said Saito with concern.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"What is it?"

"Tiffania. I mean, her mother was an elf. It might be hard for her to fight against her mother's people."

Louise was startled. Indeed. For them elves were bitter enemies. They definitely didn't want to fight them, but if it had to be done, there wouldn't be much rejection. But Tiffania is different.

And they couldn't do it without her.

Saito stood up, took a letter from a table and showed it to Louise.

"A letter from Tiffania."

"A letter?"

"Oh, an owl brought it."

Louise read the letter. According to it Tiffa was going to Des Ornieres by Pope's request.

"I will arrive tomorrow... What? She is going to summon a familiar!" - said surprised Louise.

"Its not completely unexpected. Pope gathers four of four together. To use full Void potential."

"Right, but..." - said worried Louise. Crusade wasn't something new, but now it become real for her.

Gathering of Tristain invasion army started again. Judging by previous campaigns invasion is unlikely to go smooth.

Nothing unusual, but this time she was directly involved. Louise was nervous. Future of entire Halkeginia beyond any doubt depended on tiny and unreliable her.

She didn't find what to say. Saito noticed her nervousness and tried to reassure her.

"Indeed, elves are good negotiators. They probably will return Brimir's magic device, they don't need it."

Louise was ashamed. She didn't expect this responsibility and she was afraid of it.

Anyway, Pope had a plan of some sort. It didn't inspire any optimism though. Saito was different, he wouldn't expect something impossible of her.

"It belongs to them."

It was indisputable.

"I will study elves," - Louise said. In any case it's good to know your adversary. She noticed Saito's sadness.

"You don't want to fight?"

Saito shook his head.

"Its inevitable. Well, I hate it, but its just how it is, there is nothing to like or dislike. First we will properly explain our problem to elves. If they reply 'whatever, tough luck'" - he squinted his eyes - "I will fight. For myself and my friends. There is no doubt about it."

"Thank you."

"What for?"

"I mean, this is not your world. It doesn't concern you..."

Amazed Saito said.

"Still on this topic, huh?"

"No. Just a little. But, really, thank you."

Louise put her cheek on Saito's chest. He gently stroked her hair for a while. "This is my place" thought Louise. Of cause this wasn't something she would say aloud.

"I will fight too. To protect this place."

She finally fell asleep.

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