It was indeed Siesta.
“What’s wrong? You couldn’t fall asleep as well?”
Siesta shook her head. Her body was trembling.
“Wha-what happened to you?”
“Saito-san…”
Louise sprang to her feet from the bed.
“What about Saito? Hey!”
“In the forest…”
“Forest!”
Louise rushed out, gripping the Founder's Prayer Book. Saito was alive after all! Was the only thought she had. She wasn't alerted by Siesta's tone.
“Which way?”
“T-that way.”
Louise started to run after Siesta.
The light of the two moons falling through the openings between the trees was their only signpost.
Their feet were almost completely covered with darkness.
Louise fell down many times. However, Siesta, as one would expect from a peasant girl, accustomed to the forest, went fast ahead.
“W-wait…”
By that time, Siesta’s silhouette was swallowed by the forest darkness.
“I'm here!”
Only her voice could be heard in the dark.
Desperately, Louise ran after that voice.
Meanwhile, the moon came out and illuminated the opening. Everything shone under the silver light. Even mushrooms looked like they were glowing.
Siesta stood up and looked at something.
“Hey, Saito-san is there…”
“Where?”
Though her eyes were searching frantically, she could not see Saito anywhere.
Can’t she see because of the darkness?
Impatiently, she tried to recite ‘light’ spell, but then…
Siesta gripped the leash of the bag on her shoulder with Founder's Prayer Book in it.
“Hey! What are-!”
However, Siesta didn't change her expression. With a strange smile on her lips she continued to pull it forcefully.
“You… are you being controlled?”
Seeing an odd sparkling in her eyes, Louise kicked Siesta away. If so, she could not afford to hold down at a time like this. Siesta fell to the ground.
Louise promptly pulled out the wand that was attached to her thigh.
Quickly, she started to chant:
'Dispel Magic'.
Because the spell cast time was short, the range was very narrow as well. Yet, it was enough to put Siesta under Dispel.
Siesta's entire body became covered with light.
She is indeed controlled by some spell… she thought.
“…No it is not a control spell.”
Siesta suddenly disappeared. What on earth?
Louise blankly stared at the empty space where Siesta was lying.
Then… she saw a small doll lying there.
She saw that doll before.
The other day, back in Rosais… it was the same doll playing a hero.
“Alviss…”
Indeed.
It was a downsized version of a gargoyle, moving on its own will due to the influence of magic.
So why was it here?
Hearing footsteps echoing behind her, Louise turned around.
“…Who?”
It was a black shadow, covered with a black robe. The shape was one of a woman. Louise recalled the figure of the highroad artist in Rosais.
It was her.
“What are you trying to do? Who are you?”
Louise at the same time set up her wand and started to chant.
“Identify yourself.”
“Well… what do you think my name is?”
“Stop joking.”
“You don’t know me as it seems, I introduce myself as Sheffield. Yet, it is not my real name.”
Louise uttered a spell.
“Explode…”
The spell was unleashed at once. The explosion launched towards the woman in black robe.
However, after the spell hit the robe, she was not there anymore. When she came closer she saw another small doll lying there. Apparently, Alviss, with the help of magic, could become human-sized.
“That’s cheating! Show yourself!”
Then…
From the dark, many women clothed in black robes showed up.
She couldn’t tell which of them were Alviss' and which was the real highroad artist.
All of the black robed women opened their mouths at once.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Vallière. User of the great Void.”
She knew that I am Void's user, just who is this woman?
“…Gargoyle user?”
“I can use more than gargoyles.”
Louise tried to chant the cantrip.
She was going to finish Dispel Magic in a dash.
“Stop. Your spell is useless against my dolls.”
Suddenly… the women clothed in black robes turned into many knights - gargoyles.
One after another, the number of dolls increased. Their swords and spears… were looking frightening.
Surrounded by tens of gargoyles, the woman, who called herself Sheffield, muttered.
“Shall I teach you about my ability?”
“Ku…”
“God's left hand, your Gandálfr, can use all weapons. Right?”
Louise did nothing, but silently glared at Sheffield.
How does she know that?
And who is this woman that knows it?
“I am god’s mind, Myoznitnirn. I can use all magical items.“
Myoznitnirn?
Though not a mage, she can use all magical items?
Are gargoyles moving because of that ability?
Unlike Golems, which require constant control after creation, gargoyles move by their own will. Therefore, the corresponding spell is needed. Using a great number of gargoyles at the same time is impossible even for an experienced mage. How did this woman have so much magical power?
The woman in a black robe, abruptly took off her hood.
Characters where shining on her forehead.
Ancient runes. It had been some time since Louise saw those.
The runes imprinted on Saito’s left hand…
“Do these ancient runes look familiar?
Louise’s face turned pale.
“You…”
“Indeed, I am a familiar of Void.”
Chapter Ten: Swordsman
Meanwhile…
At Emma’s house, Saito, who wasn't able to fall asleep, was spending the night with Agnes. Because Louise was staying at Tiffania’s house, Saito lost his lodging. In only a single room, Saito and Agnes were sitting at the table. In the bed nearby, Emma was already asleep.
“So, you don’t have the ability to protect her?”
Agnes muttered after listening to Saito’s story.
“…Aye. Because I am not Gandálfr anymore.”
After thinking for a while, Agnes asked…
“You were defending Miss Vallière because you were Gandálfr?”
“Indeed. Because I was Gandálfr, I could protect Louise.”
“That’s not it.”
“Eh?”
“It is not the meaning I was implying. It was a question about will. There is a different meaning between ‘able to protect due to being a Gandálfr’ and ‘protecting due to being a Gandálfr’.”
Saito was startled.
“So, who was protecting Miss Vallière? Was it Gandálfr? Or Saito Hiraga? That’s what I want to hear.”
“That…”
Saito looked hesitant before answering.
“It’s easy to belittle oneself. It’s easy to mutter ‘I can’t’ and give up one’s courage. But…”
Agnes continued.
“To risk your life for a woman, is worth a whole lifetime.”
Looking at Sheffield, who introduced herself as a Void familiar, Louise asked,
“…Is it some kind of bad joke. How can there be another Void familiar.”
“It is up to you to believe or not. You are free to not believe me. It’s your choice. Now, be obedient and give me that Founder’s Prayer Book…”
Louise responded with a bitter expression,