“You need to calm down first. If the general is distraught, there’ll be chaos in the blink of an eye.”
Mazarini quickly whispered to the generals nearby. While Tristain was a small country, it was one filled with history. Its history included many righteous nobles. Of all the Halkaganian nations, the Tristain army had the highest percentage of mages within it's ranks.
By Mazarini’s command, the nobles created barriers of air within the openings of the mountains. The shells would hit them and break. But some of the shells got through. Screams could be heard with rocks and blood scattering.
“As soon as the enemy stops their bombardment, they will most likely stage an all out assault. There’s no other way but to face them,” whispered Mazarini.
“Is there a chance of being victorious?”
Mazarini noticed that the soldiers were starting to tremble before the enemy bombardment. They had advanced with great vigor but… there are limits to people’s courage. He did not want to tell the truth to the princess who had made him remember something he had forgotten.
“We’re evenly matched.”
Impact. The ground below them shook like an earthquake.
Marzarini sorrowfully understood the situation.
Three thousand strong troops formed the enemy's numbers, while their forces, crumbling from the bombardment, only numbered two thousand.
They had no chance.
Louise looked at the letters that appeared in the light.
It was… written in ancient runes. As Louise took lessons seriously, she could read the ancient language.
Louise chased the letters in the light.
Foreword.
Henceforth, I shall record the truth I know. All materials in the world are comprised of fine grains. The four branches intervene with these fine grains and apply an influence, which transform them into spells. This was how “Fire”, “Water”, “Wind” and “Earth” were formed.
Louise was filled with curiosity. With an impatient feeling, she turned the page.
The gods bestowed upon me a greater strength. The fine grains, which the four branches bore influence over, are comprised of even finer grains. The power bestowed upon me by the gods, does not belong to any of the four. The branch I wield intervenes with even finer grains and applies an influence, transforming them into spells. A Zero that belongs to neither of the four. This so-called Zero is “Void”. I name the Zero the gods have bestowed upon me “Void”.
“The branch of Void… Isn’t that a legend? Isn’t that the legendary branch?!”
Whispering to herself, Louise turned the page. Her pulse was racing.
Saito, who had wiped out the dragoon fleet, looked over the sky. Above the fields, he spotted the large warship between the gaps of the clouds, far away. Below that ship, was the port city La Rochelle.
“Partner, that’s the head. No matter how many small fry you take down, if you don’t take it down… nothing will change…”
“I know.”
“It’s impossible.”
Saito remained silent and opened the throttle of the zero fighter. It was at full boost. The zero fighter ascended towards the large warship.
“It’s impossible, partner. No matter how much you try, it is impossible.”
Derflinger, who had evaluated the power difference, told Saito in his usual tone. However, Saito did not respond.
“I understand… but your partner is an idiot.”
Saito brought the Zero fighter closer.
The right side of the ship shone. Aimed at Saito’s zero fighter, something was flying towards him. They were countless numbers of lead bullets. They pierced the plane with holes while shaking it. Breaking the windshield, a shard grazed Saito’s cheek. A trickle of blood ran down his face.
“Don’t go near it! They're using grapeshot!” yelled Derflinger.
Saito made the Zero fighter do a sudden dive, avoiding the second round of fire.
“Damn, they put small bullets in those large cannons!”
Saito bit his lip.
He couldn't even get close to the ship, much less sink it.
Behind the seat, Louise had lost herself in reading the Founder’s Prayer book. The thunderous noises did not reach her ears. She could only hear her own pulse getting louder and louder.
The one who is able to read this, will inherit my deeds, thoughts and objectives. They will become the bearer of this power. Be mindful, wielder of this power. For my brethren and I, who have died unfulfilled, you should strive towards retaking the “Holy Lands” stolen by heathens. “Void” is powerful. Yet, the incantations are of great length and consume much energy. Take heed, incantator. At times, your life will diminish depending on the power. Thus, I choose the reader of this book. Even when one not qualified wears the ring, they cannot open this book. Only when the chosen reader wears a ring of “The four branches” can they open this book.
Brimir Ru Rumiru Yuru Viri Vee Varutori (ブリミル・ル・ルミル・ユル・ヴィリ・ヴェー・ヴァルトリ)
Following, are my recordings of the “Void” spells I used. The first step of the very beginning. “Explosion”.
A spell in the ancient language followed after that. Dumbfounded, Louise whispered, “Founder Brimir, aren’t you forgetting something? If I wasn’t wearing this ring, I wouldn’t be able to read the Founder’s Prayer Book right? The stuff about the chosen reader… and the ‘take heed’ section has no meaning then.”
And then she realized. Chosen reader… that means…
I’m the chosen reader?
I don’t really understand but… I can read the words. If I can read it, I can probably perform this spell written here. Louise remembered how every time she recited an incantation, an explosion would result. That’s… in other words, that’s the “Void” written about here?
When she thought about it, no one could tell her the reason why she made things explode. Her parents, her sisters, her teachers… her friends as well… they only laughed at her for being a “failure”. They didn’t think anything of the explosions.
Perhaps I really am the chosen reader.
I can’t really believe it, but I perhaps am the chosen reader.
This might be worth trying out.
And also… There’s nothing else to fall back on now.
She was calm and cool. The runes she had just looked at were on the tip of her tongue as if they had greeted one another many times.
Like the lullabies she had heard in the past, the spell’s tune was somewhat similar.
I’m going to try it.
Louise stood up.
From behind the seat, she started making her way to the front through the gap.
“What are you doing?! Just stay still! Argh! I can’t see in front of me! Hey!”
Like a snake, she slipped through with the gap with her small body. She made her way to the front of the seat, where Saito was sitting. She sat her small bottom down in between Saito’s widened legs.
“…I can’t believe it but… I can’t really say it but… I might have been chosen. This could be some mistake though.” Louise muttered.
“Hah?”
“Just listen to me. Fly near the warship. It might just be a hoax… but trying it out is better than not doing anything. Besides, there’s no other way to sink that warship…. The only way is for me to do it. I understand. I’ll try it.”
Saito was dumbfounded by Louise’s ramble to herself.
“Are you alright? You’ve finally gone crazy from being scared?”
Louise shouted at Saito.
“I told you to go near it didn’t I?! I’m your master! Familiars obey their master’s orders obediently!”