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DISCLAIMER: The following work is a fan-based piece of literature. The characters, events, and locations of Zankyou no Terror, Code: Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion, Trigun, Darker than Black, and Familiar of Zero are all property of their respective owners.

"Words" - speaking

Words - Narration / Thought

(Words) - Location

Words - Japanese

X - Change of perspective

XX - Timeskip in scene

XXX - Change of scene

Chapter 8 - Fallout (II)

(Louise's dorm)

Inside the small, one-bedroom dorm, the Black Reaper stood, facing towards the room's lone window. Beside him, a short, pink-haired girl was begging, pleading for him to respond, tears marring her otherwise beautiful face, while a violet-haired princess stood on his other side, shakily pointing her wand at his skull. Behind them, ten female Royal Musketeers took aim, each levelling their smoothbore weapons with practiced skill and efficiency, their efforts led by a fierce, raging orange-haired woman at the center.

Yet, the Reaper did not move.

"Louise..."

"On your knees!" cried Agnes, her rough, calloused finger a hair's breadth away from the trigger.

"Louise...do you promise?"

"L-Li...please...stop thi…"

"Please…" whispered Hei almost inaudibly, his voice faintly cracking.

Briefly shocked by the sudden, broken tone she alone heard, Louise jerkily moved her head once, in unspoken response.

Hei returned a soft smile, before slowly raising his hands above his head, as he knelt down on the wooden floor. A strange emotion flickered briefly in his dark eyes, before falling away to emptiness, as the tension in his muscles finally dissipated

Two of the larger, stronger women immediately came forward, having holstered their muskets in preparation. One forcibly restrained Hei from behind, although he did not offer any resistance, while the other securely attached a large pair of iron manacles to his gloved wrists, binding them rigidly behind his back.

Roughly, they pulled the still-smiling reaper to his feet, before shoving him out the door, the weapons of the eight others still trained on his head. Henrietta, still shaken, followed from behind, as Agnes gently guided her out of the room.

The dorm, filled with a deadly, boiling tension mere moments before, had been completely emptied - save for the lone, crying form of one Louise Vallière.

The past minute had been a blur to her, a fast, terrifying sequence that before she knew it, was over.

Sixty seconds was all it took for Louise's entire world to be ripped away.

Tears streaming from her red, puffy eyes, Louise fell to her knees, before slowly curling into a ball on the cold, wooden floor.

XXX

(Vestiri Courtyard)

Briskly, Schneizel strode across the campus of the academy, with a practiced speed and power in his stride. Struck by his overwhelming presence, servant, student, and teacher alike rapidly moved aside to allow his passage. Yet, quite contrary to the annoyed, hurried mask he wore, internally, Schneizel felt nothing but excitement.

He had thrown caution to the winds of fate - his future, his destiny, were in his hands, and his alone.

Now, the only thing left to do was take it.

His eyes scanned the area before him, before landing on a certain, frightened serving girl, head dutifully lowered, as if hoping not to be noticed. His mind immediately identified her as the maid named Siesta - no last name, as they weren't given to commoners of this world anyway. No matter. With her association to Louise, she wouldn't hesitate to provide accurate information concerning the events in play, a risk he'd run by talking to anyone else.

"You, there. Black haired serving girl." commanded Schneizel imperiously, keeping up with his carefully-constructed facade.

"Y-Yes Sir Schneizel?" squeaked Siesta, her head instantly snapping upwards..

"Have you seen Miss Vallière's familiar? If so, where?"

A brief, almost imperceptible look of conflict appeared on her face, as if deciding whether or not to reveal the truth. Yet, when weighing it against the deadly repercussions of being caught in a lie, especially concerning Ms. Vallière's status, she resolved to tell the truth without omission.

"Sir Schneizel, I saw him being escorted down towards the main gate by princess Henrietta's royal musketeers! Please excuse this ignorant commoner, I know nothing more of the situation." she spoke respectfully and rapidly, afraid of deadly retribution from the noble before her.

"Much obliged, commoner." responded Schneizel, before turning away, resuming his brisk pace. Behind him, he could make the previously bowing servants let out a distinct sigh of relief.

Mentally preparing himself one final time, the ex-Prime Minister set out towards the gate.

XXX

(Tristain Academy, Main Gate)

Meanwhile, Hei was being ruthlessly led towards a large carriage caravan of carriages stationed at the front of the massive pentagonal complex of the academy. Hands bound behind his back in chains, he appeared as nothing more than a condemned prisoner, resigned to his fate.

He didn't want the situation to end up this way. But with such large-scale destruction at the manor, the nobility would definitely try to find a scapegoat for it, as it would be impossible for them to track down "Knives". And what better a person that the fallen noble coincidentally at the scene? Viewed as almost unanimously unfavorable by the caste system, the people in power would jump at the chance for such an easy trial, and the chance to wrap the situation up as quickly as possible. The serving girls wouldn't be able to testify, to ensure a guilty verdict, and any who dared to speak out against the nobility afterward would be at best dismissed as hysterical, or at worst…

It wouldn't come to that.

It couldn't come to that.

And Louise...she would be caught in their investigation as well, just by association as master to familiar. While she probably wouldn't be executed, her life would he effectively over. As a loyal familiar, he would have no choice but to…

Loyal familiar?

No, that's not right. Why would I think that?

Regardless, I…

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" came an irritated, powerful voice from behind him, cutting off any errant thoughts.

That voice...it could only be…!

Looking up in shock, Hei witnessed Schneizel rapidly walking towards the group. Yet, in stark contrast to the cold, analytical prime minister of before, he was now exuding a sickeningly overconfident, demeaning aura.

Just what the hell is he playing at?

X

I can see Hei, bound up in iron manacles, flanked by ten soldiers. The princess is at front of the group, clearly shaken, while an orange-haired woman mans up the rear of the "caravan", her unique uniform denoting her status as "Chevalier".

That coincides perfectly with my information - Agnes Chevalier de Milan, captain of the Tristanian Musketeer Corps, Henrietta's "Royal Guard", so to speak. Yet in reality, it wasn't worthy of being called much of a guard at all. While usage of firearms to bridge the ability gap between commoner and noble was a relatively novel idea, the technology of the world hadn't advanced enough to make it remotely feasible in actual combat - at the moment, it was nothing more than an idealistic farce.

Yet, the combat effectiveness of her personal group does not concern myself at this moment. At least, provided I play my cards correctly.

Taking a deep breath, I compose myself. After I take this step, I truly can no longer back out.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" I call out imperiously.

They stop moving. Perfect. I feel all their eyes upon me, with various expressions, ranging from mere annoyance, to downright disgust and anger. As expected, none of them appreciate the sudden appearance of a pompous, self-assured noble such as "myself".

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Hei's frigid stare, which I tactically choose to ignore. I'll have more than enough time to resolve that issue soon enough.

Presently, I have two options available: I can either address the princess directly, which would be difficult to do effectively as a mere "foreign noble", or, I can pressure the next highest-ranking individual: Agnes.

I choose to go with the latter.

It's hard to ignore Agnes's violently confrontational demeanor - she's not even bothering to conceal her anger at my interruption, and her right hand is resting on what I can only conclude to be a flintlock pistol buried within her white coat. As an individual who took the daring initiative to construct a guard exclusively containing no nobles whatsoever, this overtly hostile attitude falls within my expectations.

Predictably, the same attitude also makes her much easier to exploit.

Now, all I need to do to is apply a bit of pressure.

"What, exactly, do you think you're doing with my subordinate, Chevalier de Milan?!" I exclaim, carefully blending equal proportions of outrage and anger into my voice.

Her expression instantly hardens, before reforming into a stony mask, with her previous hatred barely concealed underneath. It appears she has at least some measure of self-control. How interesting...

"This "subordinate" of yours has been arrested for over one-hundred counts of premeditated murder." growls Agnes in response, her eyes somehow narrowing further. "I don't care who you are, but unless you want to join him for obstruction of a royal investigation, get out of my way."

That riled up already? Clearly, my assumption was correct - she was the blatantly emotional type.

I've laid my bait - time to spring the trap.

"You dare speak to me in such a manner, you impudent commoner?!" I roar in feigned shock and indignation. Immediately, I reach inside my Britannian robes for my imaginary wand, concealed within a make-believe inside pocket, while Agnes simultaneously draws her own weapon, only to be abruptly halted as Henrietta places a firm hand on her shoulder.

We both freeze - my right hand still hidden by my overcoat, while her pistol is leveled at my head, hammer primed, finger a hair's breadth from the trigger.

I have no doubt that if Henrietta had acted a moment later, my esteemed brains would've been splattered all over the granite sidewalk.

A bit closer timing than I would've liked, but it was absolutely integral that I force the princess into the situation directly. Everything should be easier from this point onward.

Slowly, albeit begrudgingly, Agnes slowly lowers the pistol, acting on Henrietta's unspoken command. Likewise, I allow my right hand to fall at my side, evidently having released my grip on my imaginary wand.

"That is enough, Agnes." commands Henrietta. Her voice is soft, yet the undercurrent within her tone is unquestionably firm. "We've witnessed enough death already, and I have no intention of allowing any more."

After her stern reprimand, she turns to face me, any previous traces of warmth in her expression vanishing.

"Sir Schneizel, the same goes for you as well. If you attempt to draw your wand against my personal guard again, then I will not intervene on your behalf."

A good threat, but an empty one, and she knows it. The "House of Britannia" doesn't exist within Tristain, I checked thoroughly. Thus, she had no choice to assume that I am of foreign origin - After all, the only individual who knows the true nature of our arrival is the headmaster, a variable irrelevant to the current situation. Regardless, the death of a visiting noble, by a commoner no less, would be tantamount to political suicide on an international scale.

Yet, pushing that issue will do me no good, at least not at the current moment, so I simply accept her words.

"Duly noted, your highness." I respond, my mask instantly switching, having replaced my previous "arrogance" with a calm, conversational smile. "However, the issue pertaining my subordinate still stands. At the very least, I request travel with your group to the place of his trial."

Let's see what she does with that information.

"I'm terribly sorry, Schneizel, but our main carriages are all full. Naturally, you may travel as a guest within the prisoner's carriage, if you so insist." replies the princess, a small smirk forming on her face.

I mentally applaud the approach. Calling "check", she forces me to pick between two moves, either losing even more face by retracting my words, or demeaning the status I flaunted earlier by sitting in a carriage designed for commoner criminals.

I take the third option.

"Thank you, your highness." I reply easily, maintaining my placid, friendly smile. "I'm grateful for your most generous offer, allowing me to converse with my trusted subordinate for the duration of the journey. After all, such is the custom of our society…"

"Really, now…" responds the princess, her eyes slightly narrowing. Yet I do not yield an inch, my mask impenetrable to her piercing eyes. I hold her gaze, until she is forced to look away, turning towards her carriage without another word.

Honestly, I'd expected a bit more of a challenge.

I watch as Hei is ruthlessly shoved inside the prison car, before calmly stepping inside myself.

XXX

(Outside Tristain Academy of Magic, Prisoner's Carriage)

Why is he here.

That's my only thought as I find myself bound to the carriage seat in chains, forced to stare at the placidly grinning prime minister sitting across from me.

I can't figure out what his game is.

Against someone as crafty and manipulative as Schneizel el Britannia, that's something I cannot allow.

In the few hours we've been together, he's said nothing to me specifically. Yet, his light-purple eyes have been constantly boring into mine, almost as if they were searching for something.

What that thing is, I haven't a clue.

But I can't take the silence any longer.

"Why are you…" I begin, before being cut off.

"Anata wa sore o shimashita ka?" (Did you do it?)

(a/n: Italics = Japanese)

I can't respond either way: any answer he'll be able to use against me. My only option is to stay silent.

"…"

My eyes narrow in response - I can tell he understands the implied message.

Schneizel places a finger to his lips and...smiles?

"Good. It seems that you still understand Japanese, if not able to speak it. That will make things significantly easier. Do not verbally respond, as I'm nearly certain that we're being listened in on, and possibly even watched."

My eyes widen. How could they…

Magic. Of course it would be magic.

I slightly tilt my head in response, to signify my comprehension.

"Excellent. Now, Hei, humor me for a bit, will you? I'm going to ask you a series of questions - blink once for 'yes', or blink twice for 'no'."

I give no response.

"Obviously, you can remain silent. I realize that I cannot force you to answer to me, Hei. Yet, if you choose to defy me, then I can guarantee you Ms. Vallière will be in the same situation as you within three days."

He wouldn't dare…!

My eyes instinctively begin to glow red, yet suddenly stop as I hear the loud "clang" of the chains behind me, preventing me from moving my body any further.

Schneizel returns a knowing smirk.

Grudgingly, I deactivate my contract, before ever-slowly moving my head to gaze directly at him.

"...You have my attention."

"I knew you'd be rational about this, Hei."

My eye twitches at the word.

X

For a split second, his mask slips. Yet as soon as it does, it is instantly replaced by his cold, blank eyes once more.

An interesting reaction. Yet, I have more pressing matters to deal with now.

"First question, Hei, simply for clarification's sake. Are you aware of why you're being detained?"

Blink.

"That makes things much easier. Second question: Were you at the manor when it was attacked?"

Blink.

That much I was nearly certain about. Now, for the harder questions.

"Was Louise there?"

Two blinks this time, in rapid, almost frantic succession. That much was believable - he wouldn't want her to see him commit a massacre.

"Good. One less variable."

Briefly I pause, if for nothing more than dramatic effect.

"Did you kill them?"

He doesn't respond - at least, not immediately. I do not move my gaze, and neither does he. His facial features remain perfectly impassive, obviously the result of countless years upon years of practice. Yet, within his eyes, I can see the faintest flicker of conflict, of indecision, of deception.

Finally, he blinks once. But it's meaningless to me.

I'd planned for him to admit to the killings, and then press him further to force him to my side...but to think that he didn't kill them at all!

No. I can't panic. I agreed with myself I'd go through with this plan. All I need to do now is to adapt to the situation.

I sigh with feigned exasperation.

"If you lie to me, then how, as your "employer", am I to assist you?"

"I don't need your assistance, Sir." he responds, through gritted teeth.

So he's even willing to tacitly admit he's not the culprit. Then why…? Why is he putting his life on the line like this?

Calm. I must remain calm. My original plan is still applicable - regardless of his actual guilt or innocence, he's still planning to martyr himself. If I change my approach slightly, then the desired results should still be attainable.

"Is that so, Hei? Then, I take it, as you haven't escaped yet, considering you have the complete capability to, then you intend to turn yourself in, in a futile attempt to protect that pathetic girl?"

I earn a violent glare in response - I'm headed in the correct direction.

"Hah! How laughable." I continue. "I suppose also that after the maids are barred from testimony to cement you as the sole, legitimate perpetrator, you'll then gallantly proclaim your complete and absolute guilt, protecting your so-called master from prosecution while heroically hanging from a noose?

A brief flash of astonishment this time, before the glare returns. Seems I've guessed right again.

"So you allow yourself to be captured, and with the testimony of her classmates, Louise might escape execution, while your suspended corpse is publicly desecrated, before being buried in an unmarked grave. Is that the culmination of the grand plan you've decided upon, Hei?"

He raises his head, a glint of cold determination in his eyes.

"If that's what it will take."

I begin to retort again, but stop. That response...I expected him to be emotional, but this...this is beyond expectations.

No.

This isn't just beyond expectations. This change, this attitude...the only possible explanation is a fundamental variable I've left out of the equation. If this was his genuine personality, that he'd throw away his life for a girl he'd known for all of a week…

Any assassin with that soft a heart couldn't possibly survive in his trade. I can only assume that although his emotionality was somewhat present beforehand, before being amplified into what it is now by something originating from this world.

And the only plausible reason would be…!

X

I see a flicker of contemplative concern flash across Schneizel's face, and he looks almost worried at my response. Yet, as quick as the emotion appears, it is gone, his face twisting into a cruel, mocking sneer.

"Sure, if you do this, Louise will end up alive. Possibly. Yet...she'll be mercilessly harassed and socially isolated for the rest of her life, demonized as even more of a pathetic failure than she was before. Did you know, Hei, that she is unable to cast normal magic? Or were you too busy indulging in your little self-absorbed fantasy, play-acting as some sort of fairytale knight?

"You dare…" I growl angrily, my voice subconsciously lowering.

"I dare to what? Point out your shameless hypocrisy? You'd go to the grave with no concern for anyone else based on a selfish, inaccurate notion of some noble 'heroic sacrifice', and you have the audacity to challenge my words?

My eyes begin to glow red - if he continues to recklessly insult me or my loyalty to Louise, to my master, then I'll...

"Of course, not that it'd even matter for much longer." he scoffs. "Picture it, Hei. An emotionally broken teenager, having bawled her eyes out over your mangled corpse, decides that she can't go on living anymore without her 'noble' and 'valiant' familiar."

"The central tower of the academy is certainly suitable for such an occasion, don't you think?

Through my anger, I feel a single, white-hot thought flash through my mind with terrifying power.

Kill.

The manacles binding me are nothing compared to my fury - I mercilessly shatter the ionic bonds holding their molecules them together with my contract.

Rapidly unsheathing the knife from my coat, my arm shoots forward, powered by my pure, unadulterated rage.

I'll kill him.

X

I can feel it. He's almost at his breaking point. Just a bit more…

"The central tower is certainly suitable for such an occasion, don't you think?"

Immediately, I can tell that I've pushed him over the edge.

The world seems to move in slow motion around me. Primal anger flares within his jet-black eyes, and I hear the shrill clanging of iron as it is forcibly ripped apart.

Hei's knife moves towards me with lethal speed - sparks already coming of the blade. If I allow it to contact my body, I'll be killed instantaneously.

Just as planned.

My hand is already in position to counter, and I strike the wrist with practiced precision, falling back on the self-defense training instilled into me by my countless tutors in Pendragon. With the energy from my strike, I'm able to divert the knife's path enough that it ends up impaling the carriage's wall, mere centimeters from my head.

Taking advantage of his momentary immobility, I quickly reach out towards his left hand, ripping the glove off with all my might, to reveal the inscribed rune, glowing brilliantly against the dark interior of the carriage.

I see the shock in his eyes, and his anger instantly subsides, replaced instead with a solemn understanding, as the knife clatters to the ground.

Secondary objective, complete.

X

I was a fool.

Somehow, in little under a week, I'd allowed my psyche to become twisted to such an extent that I was even willing to die for my "master".

I'd fought contractors like this before, and left them nothing more than charred, eviscerated corpses. But against a small, powerless teenage girl…!

I truly am pathetic.

If Schneizel hadn't stepped in when he did, then…

No. I couldn't allow myself to think of that possibility any longer.

I raise my hung head, and am greeted by a mild, sympathetic expression.

"I thought as much. No matter how emotional you truly are, something had to be influencing you, most likely subconsciously. I apologize for my previous statements, Hei, but I had to confirm it for both of us."

I can give no response.

"Do you understand the gravity of the situation now?" he asks.

I blink once.

"Good...However, given your certain...decisions, I hope you'll forgive me for not putting my utmost faith in your resistance of the rune's control. Thus, I've put in place a sort of contingency plan, if you will."

I fight back a flash of anger at the thought. But the emotion is not my own.

Just how long have I been blind to this…?

"When you, in your enraged state, attempted to impale my head with that knife of yours, you may not have felt our carriage's forward momentum abruptly cease, nor heard the footsteps of the guards rapidly approaching from the outside."

No...that would mean…!

"Albeit merely a hunch at first, I can say with certainty that we are, and have been, visually monitored."

My eyes widen at the revelation. In the time it took me to thrust a knife at his head, he'd been able to perceive that much?!

"Naturally, they would noticed the burning familiar mark on your hand, coupled with your violent act of aggression. Now, say, if you were to try to turn yourself in, who, then, would the majority of the blame fall on?"

I'm blinded with fury once again, as that coward dare threaten the life of my mast...

Stop.

Slowly, I come back to myself. My blade is pressed up against his throat, while my body is surrounded in a pale blue, a side effect of the Lancelnopt Synchotron radiation from my activated contract. I forcibly slow down my breathing, and feel the rage slowly subside as I take back control, carefully re-sheathing my knife.

Schneizel seems merely amused at the situation.

"It seems that you contain enough critical thinking to understand the consequences of killing me, whatever you are. Should you, by direct or indirect influence, attempt to cause Hei to disobey my instructions in any way, well...that would be very disappointing, wouldn't it?"

I feel a wild surge of anger almost begin once again, before it abruptly dies down, only to simmer just beneath the outer surface of my emotions.

I catch my breath once again, before silently returning his gaze.

"Good. Hei, I've nullified the issue of the rune's influence on you, at least for the duration of this affair. Yet, the predicament you've placed us into is not a particular easy one to resolve, especially due to the extremely unfortunate nature of the situation"

"...?"

"The official palace messenger is executed in his own home, while a hundred other commoner guards, working hard to earn a living for their families, are found dead alongside him. Now consider your position, as a "fallen noble", Cast out and disparaged by the nobility for lacking a title, and hated by commoners by sheer nature of nobility, someone of this unique status would make the perfect perpetrator for a crime such as this, regardless of guilt. You are their perfect scapegoat.

Is that all he has to say? I've already figured out that much by myself.

Noting my raised eyebrow, Schneizel merely laughs, before continuing on.

"Of course, if it was that easy, then this trial would've been a non-issue. All we would've needed to do is play the role of the defendant, simply win the case outright using ironclad evidence. But I'm afraid it's not that simple, Hei."

"Explain." I command.

"Right now, the political situation in this country is near its breaking point. The king has been rotting in his grave for three years, while the Queen mourns behind closed doors, incapable of leading herself out of her own bedroom, let alone the country. The princess, although loved by the populace, is a mere 16 years old, and the regent is somehow even more politically useless than she is. Meanwhile, civil war rages in the neighboring Albion, with the threat of a hostile invasion rising each day, while the loss of its raw materials are devastating the already-waning economic prosperity of the country."

I don't see the relevance, yet I remain silent.

"Imagine, if you will, that you are a Tristanian commoner. Economic depression is killing your already-weak family business. Nobles take more and more out of your already-meager income, all the while ruthlessly controlling your entire life under an ironclad caste system. The country has no effective ruler to combat the rampant political corruption at home, let alone the threat of an invasion by neighboring Albion - which would find you impressed to fight to the death against foreign invaders, while the nobility sits back and directs their troops from their armchairs - Nobility, may I remind you, whom exist in in a 1:45 ratio to the common class."

"Do you know what happens next, Hei?

Revolution.

A complete political and economic collapse of an entire nation just waiting to happen.

"This isn't just about one isolated incident anymore. Regardless of your innocence or guilt, the events of this trial are directly entangled with the stability of this country. It was a stroke of luck that you were there to the prosecutors - prosecutors who are backed by individuals at the highest levels of the Tristanian government. Every step of this trial will be contrived and manipulated to such a ridiculous extent to, with absolute certainty, condemn you to death."

"...Then, what will you do, Schneizel?" I respond warily. I can't see a way out of this situation.

"What will we do? Well, the solution to this is quite simple, really."

"All we need to do, Hei...is win."

Win?

Win the trial?

Win a legal case in a court managed leveraged by a government actively trying to find me guilty?!

"How…?"

"We'll fight them. Not on a battlefield, or on a duelist's square, but in that very same courtroom they've set up for the express purpose of putting your neck in a noose. No matter how corrupt their methods are, we'll fight dirtier. Coercion, bribery, intimidation, assassination, we'll use any and every trick in the book to leave them with no choice but to acquit you."

"Impossible."

"At this point, possible or not, if either of us want to make it out of this mess alive, this is the only option we have."

I can't argue there.

"Now I need to know, Hei...will you join me in this?"

Join him?

"I do have a plan to succeed. Given the current circumstances, I'd give it about a 65% chance of success. However, if we do not mutually cooperate, playing off of the best of each other's abilities, and most importantly, if there is any lapse in execution at all...we'll both be condemned to hang, with Louise soon to follow. So I ask you again, Hei. Will you join me?"

I stare at him, searching for any hint of deception or malice to corroborate the growing feeling of danger in my gut. Yet, I detect nothing.

Somehow, that doesn't reassure me.

...But it's not like I have any other option.

Taking the initiative, I extend my remaining gloved hand, which he reaches out to grasp firmly.

"So be it." I respond.

Finally, his calm mask disappears, and his amiable smirk morphs into a cold-blooded smile.

"Then let us begin."

XXX

(Louise's Dorm)

Li was gone.

That was the sole thought in Louise's mind as she lay motionless, faint sobs emanating from her small form.

In her 16 years of life, she'd been whipped, beaten, ridiculed, or flat-out ignored by nearly everyone she'd met - save Cattelya, Founder bless her soul.

But Li...Li was different.

He was one of the most powerful, ruthless mages she'd ever met, possibly even stronger than her mother. Someone like him shouldn't have even spared her a second glance, but he did. Even when she treated him like an animal, he stood by her, listened to her, comforted her when she cried...

Louise smiled softly, remembering the feeling of her head buried in his chest.

But it didn't matter anymore, did it? She'd finally met someone that protected about her, that cared about her, and they pointed guns at his head and took him away in chains.

Why? Why couldn't the world let her have happiness? What grievous sin had she committed against the Founder for her to deserve this? Why…?

Quietly, Louise continued to cry.

XX

Louise didn't know how much time had passed since they took Li away. An hour? A day?

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Dimly, she was able to make out a faint knocking on her door. But nothing mattered anymore, so why should she care?

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Again, the knocks came, more powerfully this time. But Louise couldn't bring herself to move.

The knocking had stopped, finally. Good. Louise wished that whoever it was, be it Kirche, Tabitha, or anyone else, that they would just go awa...

Knock.

The force behind the knock startled Louise, causing her to clench involuntary.

Finally, she pulled herself off of the floor, before hesitantly walking towards the entrance.

She slowly cracked open the large, oaken door an inch, wondering just who was outside, before her eyes widened in shock.

For standing before her was none other than the young, black-haired boy she'd summoned not a week before.

XXX

As always, thank you for reading!

-Kavaznya