Uneventful End

Directly after the dramatic finish of the battle between King Gramont and Princess Henrietta's forces, three figures could be seen peeking their heads over a nearby hill that overlooked the battlefield and the Academy.

"Huh, that must've been the shortest civil war this world has ever seen." Michael remarks as Princess Henrietta begins her speech. "I was expected that Gramont guy to put up a bit more of a fight, but I guess he's just weak like his son, Guiche."

Tiffania shakes her head, "I think that the one with pink hair was just too strong... I don't think I could have beat him." she admits.

"You're right. Her name is Karin Valliere, the Heavy Wind. One of the most powerful Mages this world currently has. Her name is well known from Albion to Romalia, no one would willingly enter combat with her, not unless they were insane." Ralf states.

"You two are just wimps, I bet I could take her!" Deflinger interjects himself into the conversation, getting dull looks from everyone. "I-er. I meant that 'we' could take her... Whaddya say, Partner?"

Michael shrugs at the sword on his hip, "I mean, maybe? She's faster than me using her magic, but I could probably keep up with Blink Strike...?" he shakes his head, "Not that there's any real point to trying. We should try and meet up with Charlotte and see if she's found anything on the book, if not, then Louise probably already has it." he says, gesturing at the princess, "If we follow the princess back to wherever they are staying, I bet Louise will also be there."

Ralf shrugs, "Well, the only one of us getting into the Academy is you, Michael. We'll head back and meet you at the inn."

"Gee, thanks for the help..." Michael mutters as he stands and brushes the snow and frostbitten grass from his trousers.

"Don't worry partner, I'll watch your back!" Derflinger cheerfully offers.

"Er, thanks..."

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Michael sneaks into the Academy via the now open, scorched gates, his eyes scanning the familiar grounds which were now covered in blood and corpses, some bodies even belonging to students he'd seen before he was forced to flee this place. "It's gone full circle... I'm right back where I started." he sarcastically remarks as he walks towards the Great Hall where the remaining students presumably were.

Inside the Great Hall were the large tables usually used for breakfast, but each had many injured students laid atop them with people trying frantically to heal them with both magic, potions, and traditional methods.

Sadly, Charlotte wasn't present, so Michael leaves and finds himself back in the courtyard, though, he could see someone who might know where she was. He walks over and pats Sylphid on her side, minding the slowly healing injury, "Shh! Slyphid! It's me, Michael... I need to know where Charlotte is!"

The dragon bends its neck towards him, despite his invisibility. It huffs and gestures its head towards the tower where the student dorms were, which doesn't exactly narrow things down.

Michael shakes his head, "Look, can you just take me to her? I know you're a bit injured, but I'd rather not be here longer than I have to."

Fortunately, the dragon gives a reluctant nod and starts stomping towards a nearby tower, stopping outside of it and looking up at the number of windows above it. Charlotte's room presumably being one of those.

"Thats the best I'm gonna get then?... Fine." he huffs as he begins trekking up the tower, checking each room that correlates to the windows. Once he even walked in while someone was changing, not that they noticed.

Finally though, he reaches the last room at the top of the tower. He gives a couple knocks and steps back as... Kirche, opens the door, the girl glancing around at the empty hallway with mild confusion.

"Huh... Hello? Anyone?" she asks before shrugging and going to close the door, only for Michael to put his foot between it. "Wha-?" she starts but Michael ignores her and jabs her in the neck where Riki had taught him, knocking her unconscious as he catches her.

Her familiar, the Flame Salamander attempts to attack him in response now that he was visible, but he just casts Hex on it and locks it outside. Allowing him to finally spot Charlotte who was lying on a sofa on the opposite side of the room with a book in hand. "Yo."

"Yo? Is that the best you got, partner? You've just invaded this young ladies personal property and attacked her friend... The least you could do is offer a drink of some sort." Derflinger scoffs.

"Not now, sword... We already know each other, so I doubt she'd mind... Much?" he says, glancing at Charlotte to see her reaction.

The girl in question just shrugs and levitates Kirche's limp body onto a nearby chair, "Why are you here?"

"I'm here to see if you've found anything on the book... And to see if you're okay after that battle..." he adds the last part as if a last-second thought.

...

Charlotte goes on to explain that she'd asked Osmond and been told that he'd given the book to another Void Mage, all but confirming it in his mind that Louise was in possession of the book.

"Well, I guess that just leaves taking it then. Once that's done we'll be free of this shit hole." Michael says before looking over at Charlotte, "You should get your mother ready for moving. I don't know how long it'll take Tiff to learn the spell, but we'll be gone as soon as she does."

Charlotte nods, "My mother lives in our estate near Lake Lagdorian. With Illococoo, two-day travel."

"Alright... I'll get to finding the book then, will you stay here or go meet the others in Tristainia?"

Charlotte looks down for a moment, her eyes flitting towards the unconscious Kirche, "Stay here, will meet up later."

He nods "I'll see you then, Charlotte." he says as he leaves, the girl giving a nod of her own as she goes to attend to her friend.

"Hey, parter... Are you and that girl...?" Derflinger starts but Michael shakes his head.

"Ah, no... I think I prefer them a little taller... And bigger..." he says, mind drifting to Tiffania.

Derflinger chuckles, "Oh, I think I get you..."