Two moons are casting pale, gentle light onto Tristain’s Magic Academy.
In a hall on the second floor of the main tower of this academy, which is one of the most prestigious and historic schools in all of Halkeginia, a banquet is being held, a typical sight for an aristocratic school.
It’s the Frigg’s Ball.
This ball, named after the goddess of the same name, is held every spring on the first day of the month of Ur. The purpose of this ball is to go beyond the normal boundaries of students and teachers and deepen friendships between them.
There is a legend surrounding this ball, that couples who dance together at this ball will be together going into the future… Naturally because of this the male students of Tristain are enthusiastically asking the girls they are interested in to dance, and the girls are chasing after those that they are coveting as well.
– A sight seen many times before, a boy asks a girl to dance, she gently rejects him, and he begins to bang his head on a wall in frustration.
An attractive girl is surrounded by male students asking her hand in a dance, and yet she keeps casting glances at a male student off in the distance that she would like to dance with, and yet he doesn’t even notice her.
However, there is one girl who is entirely absent from this convoluted and heated negotiation on who is to dance with who at this venue.
Her name is Tabitha.
It doesn’t take much to notice her beauty, with her short blue hair and clear crystal blue eyes. However, she does not attract anyone’s attention for two major reasons.
First of all… She has the body of a young girl.
She stands at a mere 142 santo and wrapped in a black party dress, she is obviously too short for someone who is 15 years old. Moreover her thin and child-like body made her both an uninteresting partner for a dance or as the target of someones affections. Essentially, she is flat chested. (TL Note: Santo is this worlds term for CM. She is 4 foot 8 for the Eagle people.)
The other reason is her personality.
Tabitha, after all, pretty much never talks. In fact, she so rarely speaks that some wonder if she truly understands what a conversation even is.
It is a widely known fact that Tabitha will rarely respond even when directly spoken to, so even if there was some drunk boy that was attracted to her flat and short body odds are he would still have to think twice about asking her to a dance. After all, nobles are a prideful lot, and not one to be happy about being ignored.
And so at this ball, like at every ball before, Tabitha was silently eating the copious amount of food around her, ignoring the music and dancing.
“Hey you, you know how to dance, right?”
Walking up to Tabitha is a woman with fiery red hair, accompanied by a number of male students clearly interested in her curvy and mature body.
It’s Kirche.
Tabitha nods without showing any interest or even looking at her best friend.
“Exactly! The main characters at this ball are us, those who caught Fouquet. What is the point of having a ball if the main people here aren’t having any fun?”
Just yesterday Tabitha and her friends had captured a thief mage called Fouquet the Clod. For capturing this notorious female bandit who had managed to steal the Staff of Destruction from the academy, the dean of the academy, Sir Osman, had given them his seal of approval, saying “tonight, you will all be the star of the ball”.
“you have more right than anyone else here to enjoy today’s ball! Look, even that normally straight-laced Louise is dancing! … Albeit she is dancing with her familiar though.”
Kirche points to a corner of the venue. There, a pink-haired girl and a black-haired boy are dancing, both of their cheeks dyed a deep red. The black-haired boy continues his clumsy steps, but even still the pink-haired girl does not complain, instead lightly swaying her body in time with the boy’s steps as they continue their dance.
“Seriously, darling told me that he would ask me to a dance later, but still… That pisses me off.”
Despite her saying that it was obvious that she wasn’t really angry. While Kirche has multiple times shouted out something like “I am in love with Saito!”… It doesn’t seem like she is serious about that. Kirche and that pink-haired girl, Louise… They don’t get along well, so odds are this is all just a ploy to steal away her boyfriend or whatever he is to her.
Regardless Tabitha couldn’t care less about that, she isn’t interested in romance. Kirche narrows her eyes at Tabitha and then puts her arm around her shoulders.
“Do you need an excuse? Than this is an order from your best friend. Regardless of the reason I want you to enjoy this ball, at least this one. Don’t just sit here quietly eating the food. I will find you someone to dance with right now, so just wait a minute, okay?”
Kirche gave Tabitha light kiss on her cheek before leaving and disappearing into the crowd, her entourage of hopeful young men following her. Alone again Tabitha reaches back out for her salad plate.
Then…
Amidst the music and the dancing a homing owl flew in through an open window. Flying straight up to Tabitha it perches on her shoulder.
Tabitha’s expression hardens ever so slightly at this. Picking up the letter on the owls leg, it has a brief message:
(“Turn yourself in.”)
A strong light began to shine in her eyes. A light filled with various emotions. Tabitha after putting her plate down heads straight for the deserted balcony.
Tabitha whistles while leaning over the railing. Leaping off of the railing shortly after she falls into the night, the only sounds one could hear being the flapping of a large creatures wings.
“Tabitha, I looked through all of the candidates and picked out a few for you. Choose one you like… Huh?”
Upon returning to the table where Tabitha had been eating with about a dozen potential dance partners for her, Kirche noticed that her best friend has seemingly disappeared.
“I wonder where she went?”
Kirche looks all around her, however the short blue-hair girl is nowhere to be seen.
Kirche lightly tilts her head.
“I mean, how does she disappear so quickly!”
Lutèce, the capital of Gallia, the largest power of Halkeginia and located southwest of Tristain…
Built on the outskirts of the capital, in a corner of the magnificent Palace of Versailles, there is a smaller palace with pink walls.
This smaller palace is aptly referred to as Petit Trois, and within its walls its owner waits with her head held high, waiting for a specific visitor.
“Hey, is that loyal dog girl here yet?”
It is Isabella, the daughter of Joseph, the King of Gallia, and she is asking her servant with an irritated voice.
She is a beautiful girl with long blue hair that reaches just above her waist with a pair of crystal clear beautiful blue eyes. However, these traits are offset by her wicked smile.
The maid began to tremble, frightened by the princess’s displeasure and remained by her bed.
“Well, it should be about time now…”
“Let’s make a bet, it should help with the boredom.”
When Isabella mutters that, “Hiiiii!”. The servant began to tremble even more.
“If that doll shows up within 10 minutes you win. Otherwise I win. What do you think?”
The maid could only tremble. Isabella lets out an irresistible smile, and began to stroke the maids cheek with her wand.
“If I lose, well, I will make you a noblewoman. Handing out a title or two isn’t a big deal for me after all.”
The servant girl began to tremble and shake even more violently, it was as if she were a the epicentre of an earthquake.
“But, if you lose… I will take your head.”
At that moment the maid faints from the fear, and just as she fell forward a sentry guard runs up to Isabella and whispers something in her ear. Snorting as her boredom began to slightly ease.
Tabitha emerges from beyond the curtain at the door to Isabella’s room. Seeing Tabitha in her black party dress a smile began to creep its way onto Isabella’s face.
“You are unusually well-dressed, aren’t you?”
Tabitha doesn’t reply, instead she stands still awaiting her orders. Isabella languidly picks up the parchment letter from the table next to her and tosses it at Tabitha.
Upon receiving it Tabitha bows briefly before beginning to leave the room.
“Wait.”
Isabella got up off of her bed, ran towards Tabitha and picks up the hem of her party dress.
“This a really nice dress you are wearing. I doubt you get enough allowance to afford something like this. I hope you didn’t steal this.”
“It is my mothers hand-me-down.”
Isabella’s face flinches but for just a moment. After quickly regaining her composure,
“Why don’t you play a game with me as some practice for your next mission?”
Even though she had been asked this Tabitha hadn’t read the contents of her mission yet. However, not caring about this Isabella pulls a coin out of her pocket.
Flipping the coin, she catches it in the palm of her hand. and covers the coin
“Tails or head? If you guess right I will give you 100 gold coins. But if you are wrong, you have to give me that dress. Do you accept?”
Tabitha stares intently at the palm of her hand… But then shakes her head from side to side.
“Ahahaha! You are a coward, huh!”
With a relieved look on her face Isabella laughs and pokes Tabitha’s cheek.
“I don’t know how such a cowardly and incompetent person like you can take on the duties of a Chevalier Knight! Ahaha! Aha….”
While laughing Isabella catches a glimpse of Tabitha’s eyes. Her cold and icy eyes. Eyes so transparent that you would feel like you were being sucked into them if you stared too long… Overwhelmed by an incomprehensible force lurking deep within Tabitha she instinctively recoils away from her. While Tabitha’s eyes might be the same colour as her own… The depth of them was like comparing a puddle to an ocean.
Isabella turns her chest away, desperately trying to regain her dignity before casting a challenging look at Tabitha.
“Hmph. I will personally explain this mission to you. A gambling parlour has opened up on Berkut Street, and they are openly extorting large sums of money from those stupid aristocrats. I could use the military and palace to take the place down but this would end up embarrassing the whole lot of them, so such an obvious answer isn’t an option. So, that is why you will resolve this issue. You are to go an shut down that cheeky little gambling establishment… And you are going to do so by exposing just how they are making their money.”
“……”
“This mission will be a little bit different than your usual ones, such as dealing with monsters or demi-humans. Heh, just because you know how to fight doesn’t mean you are an expert any anything.”
Isabella let out her wicked smile again, then threw a purse containing gold coins at Tabitha’s feet.
“Here, its funding for your mission.”
Tabitha picks up the bag, expressionless.
“At the gambling den you are to call yourself Marguerite, the second daughter of Count de Sullivan. Got it?”
After saying that Isabella this time asks Tabitha to leave her room.
Lutèce, the capital of Gallia… On the northeast side of the city, across the sandbank, there is a downtown area that extends outwards in all directions, with the Lutèce Municipal Theater at its centre.
Berkut Street, a downtown street that stretches from east to west, is lined with high-end shops frequented by aristocrats and upper class citizens. A tailor, an inn, a jewellery store, a ristorante…
At this time of the day, just before noon, there are many ladies with lots of time on their hands, spending it by walking up and down the street. All around are well-dressed wives, accompanied by their maids as they slowly parade down the street.
Meanwhile, amongst that crowd is a master and her maid with an usual appearance.
It is Tabitha and Sylphid disguised as a human.
“Big sis, you look even cuter than normal today! Sylphid is so cute! Kiyu!”
Sylphid, wearing a white dress with leather shoes, began to squeal happily. Tabitha is wearing men’s clothing, which recently has become rather popular among noblewoman.
Blue riding clothes and knee-length boots. As well as a big top hat.
Tabitha might have the body of a child, but when she dresses like this she easily pulls off the appearance of a boy. She is carrying a large staff on her back, and walks along silently.
Sylphid is carrying a parasol and holding it above Tabitha as she follows her from a half step behind. It looks like an aristocratic lady and her attendant who has come along for a shopping trip.
“So, onee-sama, what is this mission? I doubt your mission is to very difficult if it involves getting dressed up and strolling through the city, kiyu.”
Sylphid began to happily sing.
“This must mean~♪ I won’t get hurt~♪ After we can eat delicious food~♪ Ruru, ru-ru-ru-ru-“
Sylphid began to sing a song in her normal high pitch, with Tabitha giving her a curt and quiet complaint.
“Loud.”
“I am only singing because I am bored. And on top of that, you even shoved me into such tight clothing. If you don’t want Sylphid to sing then you better explain this mission to me! Kiyu!”
Sylphid grabs Tabitha’s head and began to turn her around to look at her.
“You wouldn’t understand.”
Tabitha says this in her usual cold and emotionless voice which caused Sylphid to get even angrier.
“I hope you aren’t making fun of me! After all, Sylphid is a descendant of an ancient and intelligent species! Of course my skills and knowledge might be different from a humans! Yet… You… And yet you make fun of me for that! You are pitying me like im an idiot! I won’t forgive you for that! Kiyu kiyu!”
People pass by look at Sylphid with confusion and suspicions as she began to throw a fuss in front of her master.
Tabitha gently bops Sylphid on her head with her staff.
“Ouch, owww.”
“Quiet.”
Noticing the gazes of those walking by, Sylphid quickly and awkwardly scratches her head before speed walking to catch back up to Tabitha.
“That… was a line I heard from a play I watched yesterday. Kiyu.”
Naturally the fact that Sylphid is a member of a once thought to be extinct species needs to be kept secret. Her very existence would cause an uproar after all. Tabitha silently prods Sylphid with her staff to remind her to keep her mouth shut.
“I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry. I wont say it again, kiyu! Kiyu kiyu!”
While their conversation continues, the disguised rhyme dragon and Tabitha came to a jewellery store. Extravagant display shelves with large wooden frames and glass windows are built into the building on either side of the stores entrance.
Inside these cabinets are jewels with various cuts set on silver, gold, and platinum pedestals be it necklaces, rings, or earrings. Sylphid, a lover of shiny and beautiful things, instantly stuck her face to the glass and began to make a scene.
“Uwaa! They are all so pretty! Sylphid wants one! So cute! Kiyu kiyu!”
Tabitha ignores Sylphid, who is nearly drooling at this point, and heads into the store.
The inside of the store is spacious, with countless pieces of jewellery lined up in magically processed glass cases. Tabitha, showing no interest in the jewellery, heads straight to the back of the store.
There she finds a large blue diamond shining in a particularly beautiful showcase. While staring intently at the blue diamond a store employee immediately comes running up to her.
The clerk, a middle aged male clerk with black hair brushed with styling oil, bows reverently to Tabitha before saying,
“Welcome, young lady. What are you looking for today?”
Tabitha points to the blue diamond in the glass display.
“This.”
The clerk shakes his head.
Young miss, I apologize for the inconvenience and don’t mean to sound rude, but this specific piece of jewellery is now for sale.”
“This is what I want.”
Tabitha repeats her request. At this, the clerk’s eyes light up.
“I can give it to you for 20 million écu, however…”
The asking price for a single piece of jewellery is exorbitant to the say the least. It is comparable to the total assets of a wealthy and famous aristocrats family.
Despite this, Tabitha nods.
“I will buy it.”
The clerk continues speaking in an unfazed voice.
“Now then, for your payment…”
Tabitha silently takes out three copper coins and puts them in the clerks hand. This amount of money on the other hand is so minuscule that the Clerk is likely to say “Is this meant to be a joke?” before becoming red with anger.
“Payment has been received. Now please, follow me…”
The clerk against all expectations smiles before walking away. Tabitha follows him, entering a back room separated from the rest of the building with a curtain before pulling on a rope attached to the side of a large shelf.
Suddenly a magical mechanism became activated and the shelf slides sideways into the wall, revealing a large door.
“Please…”
The clerk pushes open the door. After passing through the door there is a staircase leading into the basement. Tabitha without a second doubt heads down the stairs. At the bottom is a large iron door, with a small counter next to it.
On either side of the door is a door man clad in a back stuffed collar suits who bow to Tabitha. Standing in front of the counter is a black-clad butler, who speaks with reverence to Tabitha.
“Are you an aristocratic guest? Well then, let me take and hold onto your staff for you.”
Sylphid, who it seems had managed to catch up to Tabitha after her earlier episode in the jewellery store, looks worriedly at Tabitha. A staff is worth as much to a mage as their own life. Without it a mage cannot cast magic. The act of giving her staff to someone else meant that the Chevalier Knight Tabitha would simply just become Tabitha, a normal girl.
Still, Tabitha without making any other movement or act of resistance hands her staff to the butler.
After carefully wrapping her staff in cloth and putting it away the butler smiles and looks at the two doormen.
The doormen nod before opening both of the large doors. As the doors open a flood of bright lights, sounds of people, and the scent of alcohol and pipe tobacco pour out from the now open doors.
“Welcome to our underground social gathering place, Heaven!”
Suddenly a woman dressed in a risqué outfit approaches Tabitha as the passes through the entrance. Apparently, she is a rather attractive woman entrusted with dealing with new customers.
“Wow! You are so small! Young master, did you come here with someone today?” (TL Note: Master as in someone of higher standing, nothing sexual/romantic.)
Tabitha lightly shakes her head.
The woman begins to lightly touch Tabitha’s neck in an overly familiar manner before lifting her head to look at her.
“Ara, looking closely you are actually a girl! What merchant families home are you from? Regardless, this is no place for a young child!”
When the woman says that out loud a large and fat man suddenly appears from the back of the room. He must have been around 40 years old. While physically he looks like a friendly and easy-going merchant, his eyes were doing anything but smiling.
“Don’t be stupid. Never mistake a noble’s daughter for a merchants daughter again.”
The man scolds the woman before sending her back into the room.
“I apologize for the rudeness of the waiting staff. I am Gilmore, the manager of this casino.”
Tabitha begins to look around, paying no attention to the man in front of her. All around her are various types of gambling taking place. Dice, cards, roulette… And everyone crowding around these spots of gambling appear to be rather wealthy. All around are tragi-comedies as well: One is a woman carrying alcohol to stumbling guests, some are laughing wildly at their wins while others hold their head in their hands lamenting the loss of what could be assumed to be an exorbitant amount of money.
“Are you wondering why would someone build a casino in a basement? Is that what you are thinking right now? My apologies for reading your mind like that, when one wants to pursue a business like this you must be able to understand what a person is thinking purely based off of their facial expressions.”
The man, who had introduced himself as Gilmore, continues to speak.
“As I am sure you know casinos are legal here, but there are limits on what one can bet. However, our casino offers wagers that will satisfy even the heads of wealthy merchant families and famous aristocrats. Therefore, are able to operate our business in even a small and underground location such as this. However while our bets can be quite high, we are more than happy to also entertain a noble daughter such as yourself…”
The man reverently bows his head.
“Since the safety of our customers is our top priority, we must ask your name out of an abundance of caution.”
Tabitha gives him the fake name that Isabella had given her.
“Marguerite, second daughter of Count de Sullivan.”
“Thank you, Miss. Marguerite. What kind of game are you planning on playing today?”
Tabitha slowly looks around the casino before pointing at a game.
“That.”
The table that Tabitha points at is a simply dice based gambling game.
The rules of which are quite simple. You simply roll three dice and guess the total outcome. Tabitha exchanges some of her gold coins for chips and then immediately begins to play. Curious, Sylphid peeks out from behind Tabitha to watch.
At first Tabitha seems to be tense, somehow smaller than she already is.
“Don’t stretch out your chips so small. Make them last longer.”
Tabitha is silent, staring at the dice on the board.
She rolled a three, one, and a four.
It is a “small”. Tabitha’s eyes widen as her chips are collected by the dealer.
“Ah! You lost! But it was only one chip, so at least it wasn’t more!”
While Tabitha sat there tense and silent, Sylphid who was standing behind her was furious. However… Even though they don’t have a lot of chips the lowest value of a chip is one gold coin. Tabitha began to understand just how this place operates… It is a casino with a fairly high conversion rate.
Tabitha remains silent. She already lost about 100 écu. If she were to continue losing at this rate she would be out of money in no time.
However, watching Tabitha continue to put one chip after another seemingly without worry is causing Sylphid to feel a bit nervous.
“Ah, um, onee-sama. This is starting to look bad. Look, you lost again. Why don’t we leave for now, Sylphid is starting to feel very hungry after all.”
Out of fourteen tries Tabitha only won two or three times.
However, for the fifteenth time… Tabitha’s eyes sparkle as she looks at the dealers hand as she rolls the dice.
Tabitha quickly piles up 30 coins.
The numbers on the dice: Six, four, three.
It is a “large” role.
A pile of chips forms in front of Tabitha.
At this Sylphid cannot help but jump for joy.
“Onee-sama! Amazing! Kiyu kiyu!”
Sylphid began to nibble on Tabitha’s neck and rub her cheek against Tabitha’s. Tabitha then began the process again, stretching her chips wide, watching, waiting for the moment to bet a large amount. Her chips only continue to grow at a steady pace.
After several hours…
A pile of chips was piled up in front of Tabitha, numbering in the thousands of écu.
Sylphid looking at the pile of chips “I want to play too!” and grabs a few chips before disappearing. Not knowing the rules or tactics she quickly loses them all before coming back.
However such a loss doesn’t bother her at this point. The fact that such a little girl managed to make so much money had gathered a crowd around her. Every time Tabitha won, a loud cheer erupts from the crowd.
Suddenly a young and beautiful man with long hair took a seat next to her, the scent of perfume wafting off of him, his smile impeccable.
“Young lady, this is quite an impressive feat. Would you like me to order you a drink?”
The ladies in the crowd quickly voice their dissatisfaction at this turn of events. Apparently, this man is quite a popular waiter at the casino.
Brushing back his long silver hair, long slits for eyes appear. His gaze is like a knife, and yet it has a rather friendly air to it. His face is what many would consider to be attractive, male or female.
“My name is Toma, and I am in charge of customer relations. Please, let me help you make yourself at home…”
Sylphid looks at the man with suspicion in her eyes before muttering to Tabitha.
“Onee-sama, this man is leering at you.”
“I am doing no such thing.”
Toma smiles.
“I just feel a strange attraction to this young lady and wanted to get closer to her.”
Tabitha orders with minimal words, without even looking at Toma.
“Sparkling Wine.”
Toma bows his head to her and leaves.
“Onee-sama!”
Sylphid rubs her cheek against Tabitha, shaking her in the process.
“Today, Sylphid needs to clarify something. In the past, Sylphid has told Onee-sama to “get a lover”. Because of that Sylphid is not angry that you are showing an interest in men. Actually, Sylphid is happy to see that side of you. But you know what? That guy is no good! Sylphid can smell something weird about that guy! If you get involved with a guy like that you will definitely end up unhappy! Yeah, I know I’m right about that! Kiyu!”
Sylphid is simply worried about Tabitha, but her excitement is just a little… No, very annoying. Apparently this rhyme-dragon only intends to let those of the opposite sex that she likes approach Tabitha.
As per the usual of course Tabitha ignores Sylphid and her yapping, and was about to continue betting, when… An angry voice suddenly rang out from the table next to her.
“What the hell is going on! Are you trying to mock me!?”
All eyes in the casino turn to look at whoever is yelling. The one who is currently trembling with rage is a middle-aged nobleman.
Judging from the quality of his cloak, he must be a low-ranking city official. His face is both pale and yet bright red and trembling with anger.
“What seems to be the matter, sir?”
Gilmore, the casino manager, approaches the nobleman with a smile on his face.
“What’s the matter? It is absurd for the Four Fires to appear all at the same time! There must be some kind of trick! Like magic!” (TL Note: No clue wtf this means.)
“I will not stand for that insult and accusation. As you know, our casino has a rule that when an aristocratic customer arrives they are to leave their wand or staff at the door. If someone where to cast magic here it would either ruin our reputation or destroy this establishment! Naturally, the same conditions applies to us, the House. As you can clearly see no dealer or shooter here has a wand or a staff. However, if you are so sure, why not cast detect magic? I do not mind even if you were to use it on me.”
“Nununu… Then you must be cheating without using magic!”
“You were the one who cut and dealt the cards. In gambling where the player interacts directly with the dealer, we do this to ensure fairness and to demonstrate the integrity of our establishment…”
Although the manager has a lower social stance than the noble, his tone is somewhat mocking. The aristocratic guest then began to move closer to the exit with great strides.
“I am sorry for causing you any trouble.”
Gilmore bows his head to the onlooking customers who had been staring at the commotion in shock. But… The real commotion happened shortly after that.
The aristocratic guest from earlier appears again, this time with a staff in his hand. When he had gone back to the counter to have his staff returned rather than leave he turned back.
“This damn commoner’s attitude… Disrespecting nobility!”
The customers who a second ago were playing games suddenly began to scream and run away.
A huge ball of fire suddenly appears at the tip of his staff held by the nobleman. The moment the fireball appears, it was hit and sucked into Gilmore… Or at least, that is what it looked like happened.
A quick moving shadow rolled over, holding Gilmore safely.
“Toma!”
The guests watching all let out cries of surprise and shock. Indeed, the swift shadow was indeed Toma, the waiter from earlier.
“You!”
The enraged noble moved to cast more magic. However at that moment, Toma let go of Gilmore and jumped to his feet, running right up to the noble mans chest.
The gap in his sleeve began to shine brightly.
In the next moment the staff the nobleman was holding was cut in half right at the middle, the tip rolling uselessly on the floor.
“Wh-, wha-!”
A dumb voice began to leak out of the noble mans mouth. Toma quickly grabs the noble mans right hand and points the dagger hidden within his sleeve at his throat. To even the naked eye it is obvious that Toma is a highly skilled dagger wielder.
“The use of magic is prohibited within the gambling hall, your excellency.”
“Ugh… I’m sorry…”
The nobleman began to growl, his eyes turning black and red with anger and shame.
“Please leave no-…”
“Do you think you can get away with doing this to a nobleman!?”
“I am afraid that your position as a nobleman would be in jeopardy if people were to hear that you had your staff cut in half by a commoner…”
Toma smiles as he speaks.
The nobleman is shaking with anger, but clicks his tongue loudly before leaving the gambling hall. The other guests look on, bitter and conflicted, but the commoner guests burst into applause. Toma bows gracefully in response.
“That guy is amazing. It seems he is not just a good talker. I cannot believe he was able to handle a nobleman so easily! Kiyu.”
Sylphid spoke in a surprise voice. Tabitha stares at Toma for a short while, but then returns her gaze to the table and began to become tense again.
Toma’s technique… He pulled the dagger out from his sleeve, and for some reason Tabitha felt strangely drawn to it. It is as if she had seen it before… But cannot recall from where.
Tabitha slightly closes her eyes, pushing that thought out of her head. Right now she has to concentrate on the table before her, otherwise… She will lose.
As the night progresses, Tabitha, who had won a considerable amount of times, found a gigantic pile of chips had formed in front of her. The total is about 10,000 écu. Indeed, it is a stunning profit.
Before she knew it, basically everyone had gathered around her to watch.
And suddenly, after dozens of bets…
Tabitha bet a small fortune of two thousand écu.
The shooters face, which already had a pained look to it, became even more flustered than before. Rolling the dice while dripping cold sweat…
The three dice have two matching zeros. The shooter holds her head in his hands, the gallery erupting in a roar who had been watching with bated breath.
The chips in front of Tabitha suddenly double in size, the shooter slumps at the table, shaking her head from side to side.
The entire gallery could only roar and stare stunned at Tabitha’s gambling skills, skills unbelievable for anyone never mind such a young girl.
Suddenly Gilmore comes in, massaging his hands together.
“Young miss… That is a very big win for you. It is nearing night time, surely you will be calling it for the night…”
Tabitha’s wins have already far exceeded what the manager had anticipated. There are fears beginning to form should she win anymore and make off with her profits. Tabitha’s response met the managers expectations.
“Continue.”
Another roar erupts from the crowd around her.
Gilmore’s eyes narrows slightly. With a snap of his fingers the shooter gets a relieved face, bows her head, and steps away from the table to disappear.
“I am sorry, but that shooter has fallen ill, so this table is now closed. Now then, isn’t it about time you got tired of small stakes?”
Tabitha nods. Sylphid, unable to read the atmosphere, began to squeal.
“Onee-sama! The key to winning is knowing the essential time to stop! Kiyu!”
“Oho, it seems your companion is not keen on the idea. .. What are you going to do?”
“Kiyu! How much meat do you think you could buy with all this!”
To control the out of control Sylphid,
“Continue.”
Tabitha said.
“Thank you very much. Being able to gamble with such a strong customer such as the young miss is the greatest joy for me as a casino manager. Please feel free to continue to play and win.”
Gilmore bows, giving a flattering compliment, then bows.
“Okay then, let me prepare a seat for you.”
Tabitha shakes her head.
“Oh, have you changed your mind?”
“I want to take a little break.”
In order to rest, Tabitha was provided with a separate room with a luxurious bed and desk. It would seem that only high ranking guests are allowed to stay here. Next to the bed is a doorbell, and there are multiple paintings and sculptures on the wall. The room is quite luxurious and comfortable, odds are created to retain customers who had won too much.
Sylphid began to complain sharply to Tabitha, who is now sitting on a chair and taking out her book as is the usual for her.
“So it’s true… The ones who wins the most also live the best. Ah wait, this is all just a lure! They lured you here to make you cough up all your winnings! Kiyu!”
Tabitha doesn’t turn her face from her book.
“I am not here to win.”
“But you cannot keep playing if you only lose!”
Tabitha pulls on Sylphid’s ear. Perhaps she is wary of eavesdropping using magic, so she whispers softly into her ear.
“… Our mission is to destroy this gambling house.”
“Kiyu.”
“They are definitely cheating here somehow. I will find out how and then tell the customers. That is all.”
Understanding Sylphid nods.
“So, you are just waiting for that opportunity, right?”
Tabitha looks Sylphid in her eyes and shakes her head. Sighing and confused, Sylphid grabs Tabitha by her head and turns her to look at her.
“You really are a silly little girl, aren’t you? Don’t forget that your secret mission here is to win and buy lots of meat for Sylphid with the money. Don’t forget that, alright?”
Tabitha responds as she usually does.
“With that as the mission goal then Sylphid will help! You need to figure out how they are cheating first than, right? Kiyu!”
Tabitha finally raises her head from her book to look at Sylphid. Then, shaking her head from side to side,
“You cannot help here. This is a battle of brains.”
Sylphid angrily declares.
“Are you saying that Sylphid doesn’t have enough brains?”
“I didn’t say that, but it’s close enough.”
In response Sylphid, kiyu kiyu! Began to squeal in protest.
“Thi-, this little mage manages to summon me, an ancient species, and acts as if I am not good enough to help her!”
“… Finding a cheater in a game is a different task entirely than helping me in a battle.”
Tabitha says in a calm voice.
“Even still, Sylphid wants to help…”
“Your feelings of wanting to help is enough. Be quiet for now.”
Sylphid, seeming to have given up,
“Whatever, okay. Keep making fun of. But still, I am so bored! This is so boring! I’m going to go for a walk!”
Offended and frustrated, Sylphid opens the door and went into the hallway. There are about ten similar luxurious doors lined up along the hallway. It would seem that the rich citizens of Lutèce would stay here overnight to gamble multiple days in a row.
“There must be a lot of money here. Kiyu. I wonder what Tabitha really thinks of me…”
Sylphid began to walk while muttering to herself.
Tabitha, now alone, turns her attention back to her book. A line of cold sweat began to drip from her forehead. She had been reading the book earlier to calm her down, but… Whatever she was reading was entering her head.
She had said that she would find out how they are cheating, but… She couldn’t find a single clue.
Her wins earlier had been partially due to seeing through the shooters habits and partially due to luck. Once the stakes are raised is when the mission really begins but Tabitha could not foresee what moves they would use.
Then she remembers the violent aristocrat from earlier.
Are they using magic to cheat?
No, that cant be true. The manager had confidently stated that he could use detect magic if he so wanted to, and his confidence was the real deal. I guess they aren’t using magic.
However there was something else…
That waiter and his sleight of hand skills, Toma. His skill in drawing the dagger from his sleeve and cutting the staff in two… It was so fast that even Tabitha, a wind user, couldn’t see it.
Could it have been some kind of sleight of hand trick involving the cards?
Now, the nobleman had been the one to cute the cards.
The more she thinks about it the more her thoughts become jumbled. Indeed, in a different sense than the missions before this is a formidable mission. In fact, Tabitha has had less trouble dealing with demi-humans and mythical beasts.
“After all, mans greatest enemy is man…”
While she was deep in the labyrinth of her thoughts, suddenly there came a knock on the door. Is Sylphid back? No, Sylphid would have not knocked on the door.
“Who?”
“It is Toma, the waiter. Miss, I have brought a drink for you.”
From the other side of the door came Toma’s voice… Tabitha’s eyes narrow.
“Come in.”
The door opens and a smartly dressed Toma enters the room. Bowing respectfully to Tabitha he places a wine bottle and glass on the table.
“Here. For you.”
Despite putting down the wine and glass, Toma does not turn around to leave.
Tabitha silently picks up the bottle of wine.
“I know this might be rude, however… Young miss, were you born into a distinguished family?”
Tabitha shakes her head.
“Being in this line of work, I can easily tell what kind of person someone is just by looking at them… The young misses demeanour has a dignity that cannot be done by the average aristocrat. You must be from a rather prominent family in Gallia.
“……”
Tabitha stares at Toma.
His long slit eyes… they bring to mind a memory for Tabitha, and Toma does not miss the slight change in Tabitha at hearing those words.
“It has been a long time. Lady Charlotte.”
“Thomas.”
Tabitha mutters, her voice slightly tinged with emotion.
“That is right. I am Thomas, the son of Donald, the head cook at the mansion in Orléans.”
That nostalgic name, Thomas, who appears to go by Toma here, bows deeply to Tabitha.
“It must be some kind of fate for us to be able to meet again in a place like this. When Lady Charlotte had appeared through that door when she first arrived here I was so surprised that I nearly jumped.”
Nostalgic memories of Thomas began to flood Tabitha’s mind.
Donald’s son, Thomas, has been the son of the head chef at the mansion in Orléans since Tabitha was a child. He is five or six years older than Tabitha and had always been Tabitha’s playmate. Although her butler, Perslain, had warned Tabitha to not associate with commoners any more than necessary, the games that Thomas had taught her were as interesting to her as reading, which was her passion at the time, and she often visited him in the kitchen behind Perslain’s back.
“You were dexterous.”
Tabitha began to recall the magic tricks that Thomas used to do. Without using any magic at all Thomas would pull out balls and pigeons from his pockets, guess the patterns on cards, and even put on a cloak and disappear.
Tabitha always had a cheerful and big smile on her face whenever the two would play together…
“I was never able to see through your tricks.”
“Yes, that is right.”
Thomas began to laugh.
After that, as if remembering her past, her beautiful face became distorted, a sad expression and a dark blue colour appearing in her eyes.
“After that hideous incident the house was run down, the servants scattered, and my father became completely depressed.”
“What happened to Donald?”
“He passed away soon after. I was worried about his health up until the very end.”
“I see…”
Thomas raises his head.
“However, the fact that I am able to be reunited with the young lady like this must be due to the guidance of our ancestors. I am glad to see you safe. We, the servants, were never informed about the young ladies condition. All we have heard are rumours. Some had said that you were sold to another country as a slave, others that you were turned into a commoner, some said that you were imprisoned in a castle, and some even claimed that you had become a nun… And more.”
Thomas gave Tabitha a innocent smile.
“However, looking at the young lady now, it seems that those rumours were unfounded. From what I can see, she seems to be rather wealthy now, and adopted by the Earl de Sullivan family. Ah, no, that is too much for me to say.”
“And you?”
Tabitha’s simple question makes Thomas smile.
“Are you concerned about me? I see that the young lady is as kind as ever. Yes, after losing my father I began to shamefully live like a thug. However, at a time like that… I was picked up by Mr.Gilmore, the manager at this casino.”
“….”
“Mr.Gilmore is a fine man who has taught me to read and write and gave me a job. I am only who I am today because of him.”
Suddenly, Thomas’s face became serious.
“Now then, I have some advice for such a nostalgic meeting with the young lady.”
“advice?”
“Yes. With me I have 90% of your earnings from earlier turned into a convertible bill. You can exchange this for cash at Shire Bank. Please take this with you and escape through the back door.”
“Why?”
“For reasons I cannot say why exactly. However, the system has been set up so that you can never win again from now on.”
Tabitha says nothing, staring at Thomas. There was truly nothing but concern for Tabitha’s safety in his eyes. His words are not a trap. Tabitha came to the conclusion that he was telling the truth and continues to speak.
“Tell me why.”
Thomas began to shake his head in annoyance, but he began to speak, as if convinced that Tabitha would not listen to him unless he told her what was going on.
“This gambling den is a kisha.”
“Kisha?”
“Yes, that is right. It is a gambling place created for the sole purpose of extorting money from the rich to distribute it to the poor. Therefore, the structure is set up so that those with money will always lose.”
“Who made it?”
“That would be Mr.Gilmore.”
Tabitha recalls the greedy face of the manager of this casino. If Thomas’s story is true, that would surely be an example of people not being who they appear to be…
“Please, for that reason give up 10% of your earnings as alms to the poor. The rest will be returned to you at my discretion. Please help me help you.”
Tabitha doesn’t answer. Seeing Tabitha’s state of affairs, Thomas seemed to believe that understood, so placing down the bill he bows before leaving her room.
Three hours later…
At the private table prepared for Tabitha, the manager, Gilmore, is waiting for his opponent to arrive. When the table was ready he sent a waiter to her room to announce that it was all ready but found her room empty.
“She didn’t run away, did she?”
Toma, who was standing next to him, spoke in a bland voice,
“Now that I think about it, she had recently asked me to turn her winnings into a bill…”
Gilmore rolls his eyes.
“You idiot. Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?”
“I gave it to her since she was a child. I did not suspect something like this.”
“Dammit, maybe she changed her mind and left! Why didn’t you try to stop her!”
Thomas bows his head with a solemn look on his face.
“I am sorry. However, she had left 10% of her winnings as a tip. Although she is a child she is a fine nobleman.”
“Have you forgotten our mission? It is the noble job of taking money from the nobles to distribute back to the poor.”
“I did not forget sir.”
“in that case please do not praise that nobleman.”
“I am very sorry.”
At that moment, Thomas felt a sigh of relief.
The door of the private room suddenly began to slowly open. At that Thomas’s face contorted slightly at the sight of the blue-haired girl standing before them.
“Young lady…”
It is Tabitha. At this Gilmore smiles broadly and stands up, offering Tabitha a chair.
“Oya oya! Come com! I have been waiting for you!”
Tabitha sits down across from Gilmore.
“Oh my, I was worried that you had gone home! If you don’t teach me more of your gambling tricks I think I might die from curiosity!”
Thomas begins to shake his head with a depressed look on her face. Gilmore on the other hand is unaware of his waiters strange behaviour and began to explain the rules of this gambling game.
it is a game using cards, specifically a game called Sanku in which players compete for winning hands using the five cards that are dealt to them.
“I will be your partner, but in the interest of fairness I will leave the role of cutting the cards to you, young mistress. You can cut the cards however you like.”
Tabitha began to inspect the cards, however she couldn’t find anything suspicious with them, nor did she suspect any kind of magic going on. If the cards were magical even without casting detect magic a mage as skilled as Tabitha could detect the slight traces of magical power.
It is just a plain deck of cards… Nothing strange is going on with them.
Tabitha looks up and speaks to Gilmore.
“I want to choose where we play.”
– For a second Gilmore looks taken aback, but quickly puts his smile back on.
“well well. You are a very careful person indeed! However I want to clarify that there are no tricks here. So on that note, I see no problem with changing the table.”
Tabitha leaves the prepared room and walks down the hallway. Upon noticing a kitchen she points there, thinking that no tricks could be possible in such a place.
“What a difficult and yet interesting location to choose!”
The cooks and servers in the kitchen are kicked out, with a chair and table brought in.
And then, the game begins.
Tabitha began to lose chips at an alarming rate. Her usual winning pattern is to watch and wait until she is sure to win, then goes for a big win.
But this time, such a strategy quickly began to backfire.
In such a high stakes game, when it comes down to the wire your opponent is just one step away from a victory. It is a losing fight, which explains why the aristocrat from earlier had gone on a rampage.
A small bead of sweat begins to appear on Tabitha’s forehead.
With only a few hundred chips left, Tabitha’s chance finally came. The cards were as follows: 13, 12, 11… 9… Of the wind. If the wind of 10 were to be drawn it would be Royal Rafale Avenue, one of the most powerful hands possible.
And the number that she pulls… Is the 10 of wind.
Tabitha completed the noble wind road.
Tabitha was about to bet on her hand, but Gilmore doesn’t back down either.
The entry bet is high… And Tabitha put up everything.
“My my! This turned out to be a surprisingly big game! Now then, let us reveal our cards!”
Tabitha reveals her cards with an unusually nervous look on her face. Gilmore’s eyebrows move slightly as he looks at the perfectly arranged Royal Rafale Avenue.
“No, my hand is another near-miraculous hand…”
“…..”
“There is a proverb that says “a miracle that occurs twice is the desire of the founder”. And so, I guess that this is the founders will.”
Gilmore reveals his hand.
There… Are cards number from 9 to 13 of the flame. According to the rules of the game, a Noble Wind loses only to a Noble Flame. And that hand is the exact one that Gilmore has.
This is too lucky to be mere coincidence.
Somehow Gilmore is cheating, but Tabitha has no idea how.
– In less than an hour Tabitha’s winnings from earlier were completely gone. It was an overwhelming and total defeat.
Tabitha, who had quickly become penniless, refuses to leave her seat. What kind of cheating had he done? That is the only thought in her head. And in any case, if she cannot get him to reveal his method, her mission will be a failure.
“Well than, young lady, it seems like you have run out of chips… If you still want to continue though, you are welcome to buy more.”
Tabitha shakes her head.
“Well well, I guess we cannot continue the game anymore than. In that case it is time you go back to the main lobby and leave than… However, you can borrow money through your family’s name, can’t you?”
Tabitha shakes her head again
Before Tabitha could notice, a crowd had formed peeking in through a window facing the hallway. It must have been interesting to see a little girl like Tabitha competing against the manager. Perhaps with the audience in mind, Gilmore came up with an outrageous proposal.
“Young lady, how about this? If you do not have money to gamble with, why not your clothes?”
The proposal was met with jeers, wild cheers, and angry shouts from the assembled audience.
Tabitha nods. She has yet to see through her opponents cheating… She cannot leave until she has. And so, the game begins anew.
However, still… Tabitha cannot see through her opponents moves.
First she lost her jacket.
Then her shirt.
Then her pants…
After four games Tabitha was left wearing only her lacey chemise. Her small chest began to rise and fall as she began to become frustrated.
Gilmore began to smile seeing a noble girl in such a state.
Regret began to swell inside Tabitha.
In a battle of magic Tabitha has never lost before… But… Once the location and method of battle changes is she really so incompetent?
A lace chemise… If that were to be lost as well all that would be left is her bra and panties.
“Young lady, would you like to continue?”
At Gilmore’s words Tabitha nods. Thomas, who is shaking like crazy next to Gilmore, runs over to Tabitha.
“Young miss, please just stop. Nothing good will come out of falling prey to your competitions words! If things continue like this your legacy will be that of a joke! If you are truly the young Charlotte that I once knew..”
Tabitha’s words were short.
“I am not Charlotte anymore.”
“Young lady.”
“My my, so you two know each other!”
Saying this Gilmore began to look at Thomas with suspicion. His face seems to suggest that there is doubt as to just how much Thomas had told Tabitha.
“Then, for your next bet will be that Chemise…”
Tabitha frantically began to cut up the cards, then dealt the card slowly, ensuring to pay attention to every little detail.
There is nothing strange happening. This must be an opportunity.
But the real question, does Gilmore have a stronger hand than her?
Tabitha doesn’t know.
Tabitha doesn’t know what to think anymore, actually. All she knows is that no matter how much she tries, she cannot grasp the cheaters tail. She began to grit her teeth at this helplessness.
Her hand is revealed.
And as expected… Gilmore’s hand is one step ahead. How can one control both his and his opponent’s cards to such a degree?
“Now then, please take off that lace chemise.”
Tabitha places her trembling hands on the shoulder straps of her chemise. Just as she is about to take them off…
“Wait!”
A frantic voice rings out from the hallway.
Turning around it is Tabitha’s faithful blue-haired familiar Sylphid, standing at the doorway and looking at Tabitha. At once everyone’s gaze turns towards her.
“I cannot forgive you for disgracing Onee-sama!”
“My my, you are not supposed to be here. We are in the middle of an important game. Please do not interrupt us.”
Sylphid, with a rare and fiery anger in her eyes,
“But what I cannot forgive even more than that is this!”
When Sylphid thrusts forward the basket that she was hiding behind her back, Gilmore, who has had no change during the entire match, suddenly had his face change.
“You! Where did you find that!”
“No matter where you dirty humans hide your crimes, this ancient species… No, the great Sylphid will see all! When I went out into the hallway I heard a voice calling for help! Yes, a voice calling for help in a language that only Sylphid can hear, a language created by the “Great Will”!”
A small weasel suddenly appears from the basket that Sylphid was holding. However, unlike ordinary weasels, this one has large blue, clear, glowing eyes.
The moment that creature appears… The cards that Tabitha and Gilmore had been holding transformed into the same weasel-like creatures.
“This is “Echo”! A great and ancient mythical creature! It is a great insult to the Great Will to use the ancient magic of Echo as a partner to cheat in your cruel money-making venture!”
Apparently, this creature called Echo can change its appearance using the ancient magic “transformation”. Suddenly it all made sense. This type of magic doesn’t use magical power, hence why Tabitha couldn’t detect it. Using the power of spirits, ancient magic, is a fundamentally different process than the magic systems used by mages.
The Echoes, who had been disguised as cards, run towards Sylphid, crying out in a high and clear voices. Sylphid spoke to them with a few words in the same voice. With that all of the Echo’s began to cling to her.
“How dare you force such cute creatures to do your bidding! I’ll see to it that Sylphid deals with the likes of you soon!”
The moment Sylphid yells out and was about to pounce…
The customers at the window behind Gilmore jump.
“You bastard! You deceived me!”
“Hang him!”
However… Toma stands in front of them, blocking them.
In front of the crowd of guests he smoothly pulls out a dagger from his sleeve.
“I will not allow you to attack Mr.Gilmore.”
The customers, well aware of Toma’s skills, quickly stop their movements. However at that moment Toma pulls something out of his sleeve and rips the top off with his mouth. With that a phosphorus of some kind is released into the room, causing a heavy smoke to form and causing panic among the guests.
Once the smoke clears… Both Toma and Gilmore are gone.
“Mr.Gilmore, this way.”
Following Toma’s guidance, Gilmore exits through a hidden door that leads out into an alley. It seems that the alley was a gathering spot for the local strays, with money squealing and running away when the crack wall suddenly began to slide open.
“Still, that girl who had been accompanying her… How did she manage to hear the Echo’s? Their speech is such a cry that humans cannot hear them…”
Gilmore spoke in a confused tone.
“Save the questions for later. For now, let’s hide and try to make a comeback when things calm down.”
“Uh, Sure…”
As they were about to walk away, a small shadow stood in front of them.
“Young lady.”
Tabitha.
She must have run there in a hurry, as she is just wearing her chemise and a cloak, looking cold. But held in her hand is a gnarled staff.
“How did you know about the hidden door?”
“I followed the wind.”
Tabitha spoke without thinking of who she is talking to. The air flow in the underground casino is oriented in a specific direction. However the flow of the wind is not something perceivable by someone unless they have a very keen sense for such a thing.
Tabitha quickly held out her hand.
“Sile Bank Key.”
Tabitha is asking for him to give her the key to the bank safe where they had deposited their earnings. Before he could have the chance to withdraw anything she would gather the money to return back to the customers. There were many aristocrats who would be humiliated otherwise.
Hearing those words Gilmore suddenly realized something and fell to his knees.
“Are you a government official? If so please, just ignore us! We are righteous thief’s! We take a little money from the rich to return to the poor…”
When he had said that Sylphid suddenly appears from behind Tabitha.
“That is a big lie! That is what Echo and the others told me! You never gave out anything at all! You put it all into your own pocket to live life as you wished!”
Gilmore stood back up in frustration, pulling out a flintlock pistol from his pocket in the process.
“No shit! Tell me a single person who would ever give away the money that they had been saving! Toma! Get rid of these two!”
At this Toma gave a worried look, stepping forward as if to protect Gilmore.
“Thomas.”
Tabitha called out to Thomas in his real name, as if to change his mind. But still, Thomas shakes his head.
“I knew that, but still.. Gilmore-sama… He was my benefactor who took me in when I had nowhere else to go.”
Then he glares at Tabitha, however his face is full of regret.
“Are you a member of the royal government, young lady?”
– After a few seconds Tabitha nods.
“But why? Why would you, the daughter… Cooperate with the royal government who killed your father? I don’t understand. I am not an aristocrat, so I cannot claim to understand the thinking of an aristocrat, but Lady Charlotte… Why?”
“I am not Charlotte anymore.”
Thomas lowers his stance, slightly, like a feline waiting to pounce on its prey. Before she knew it, his right hand was resting on his left cuff.
Tabitha casually keeps her staff hanging in her left hand.
“I do not want to hurt the young lady. Please drop your staff. At this distance a mage is no threat to me.”
At this Tabitha began to think of the Thomas she saw earlier who had made an example of that aristocrat. Would he use the dagger? No, there is no guarantee. Realistically there is no way for her to know what move he would use.
Tabitha readies her staff.
“There is nothing more sad to me… Than having to deal with you, Young Lady.”
“….”
“The young lady has never seen through my tricks.”
Thomas’s long and beautiful slit eyes further narrow.
Tabitha chants a spell.
“Il fura…”
Before she could finish though, Thomas’s hand moves.
What protrudes from his sleeve is a gleaming throwing knife, flying precisely towards Tabitha, forcing Tabitha to use her cast, Air Hammer, for defence. The knife is easily deflected by a lump of air and pierces into the wall to her side.
However, the knife was a mere feint.
Then Toma bites off the top of another smoke bomb. Smoke quickly fills the narrow back alley, turning everything white. The sound of a dagger being drawn could be heard coming from Thomas’s left hand. Since his days as a thug he has been in conflict with wealthy mage aristocrats, and has long been accustomed to fighting them.
In a situation like this… The mage will always try to return their field of view, using a spell. Once Thomas hears them chanting it is time to strike…
That is how her has managed to win countless times.
And it will be the same this time.
All he has to do is wait for her to cast her spell…
So when Tabitha suddenly appeared in front of him, Thomas was quite shocked. Her cane sinks into his solar plexus faster than he can thrust his dagger forward.
Thomas then mutters in a somewhat relieved voice.
“Using a staff as a weapon without chanting any spells… I do not think that is how a noble is supposed to fight.”
“The trick to magic tricks is that the hand you show is always a decoy. You taught me that.”
“I see. On the contrary, your magic was to lure me…”
Nodding in satisfaction, Thomas collapses to the ground.
Tabitha sadly closes her eyes.
Grabbing the key from the terrified Gilmore, Tabitha puts him and Thomas to sleep using magic before entrusting them to an inn on the outskirts of town.
Having not received orders to arrest them, she had zero intention of informing the Royal Palace about their scheme or whereabouts. She has zero intention of pursuing them or charging them with any crimes. She had won already and there was no need to keep playing, just like in gambling.
Tabitha reported her success to Petit Trois bringing a close to her mission.
Isabella had glared hateful at Tabitha who against her expectations had managed to succeed, commented on how lucky she must have been, and then went back to her bedroom.
In order to return to the magic academy, Tabitha once again straddles Sylphid and takes to the skies.
“still, I can’t forgive those guys! They were using Sylphid’s friends who are far, far, far, no, they are too far away but still are like relatives to me! That man named Gilmore happened to meet Echo as a child in a forest a long time ago and had taken him home. He then saw Echo’s child disguise them-self as a withered leaf and learned about their abilities! Then he took the child away, and told Echo that if they listened to him he would return its child!”
Tabitha was playing with the cards in her hand in silence.
While playing with them, she began to think back on this mission.
And upon thinking that, she noticed blind spot.
Ancient magic cannot be used by humans. Because of that preconception, she had never considered the possibility of “using a mythical creature to cast ancient magic”.
Even now Tabitha is immature and lacking experience. She vows to herself to experience all kinds of battles and further hone her skills. If she can do that… One day she can fulfill her true desire. Her deepest wish.
“By the way, onee-sama, what did you do with the money given back to us? The 100 écu?”
“I returned it.”
Tabitha says casually.
“EHHHH!? I cannot believe it! Do you know how much meat you could buy with that!? Kiyu!!”
“…..”
“Sylphid deserves the praise this time! If it weren’t for me you would have exposed your snow white skin to the public eye! You should be grateful to me! Kiyu kiyu!!”
Tabitha holds out a gold coin in front of Sylphid.
“But, — I kept one.”
“Yay! Meat! M-e-a-t!”
However Tabitha doesn’t respond back, instead she flicks the coin up, catches it, and in a crossed motion thrusts both hands above Sylphid’s head.
“Which hand? If you guess right I will use it to only buy you meat.”
Sylphid’s face bikun! With a surprised expression she began to tremble.
“Eh, uh, um… I think its the one on the right, but it also feels like the one on the left… Umm… Uh…”
“Which?”
“Wait! I am thinking right now! Based on your habits, would you put it in your right hand? Or on your left but subtly hint it’s your right?”
Sylphid began to growl in frustration. At this rate, she wouldn’t be able to decide before they reach the academy.
Tabitha looks away from Sylphid and instead looks beyond the clear blue skies.
(“I have to become stronger… Even stronger.”)
That is true in every sense of the word.
Through the clear blue sky, a troubled young dragon carries a determined person, flying towards the Tristain Magical Academy.
Silvered Tongue Reborn 