Sora woke up early in the morning to find something heavy on his chest.
When he glanced down, he realized it was Louise.
Smiling faintly at the sight of her sleeping so adorably, Sora carefully lifted her up, slid himself out from under her, and gently laid her down on the grass.
He looked around. Guiche, Montmorency… and over there, Tabitha and Kirche.
Tabitha had already woken up. She watched him calmly over the top of her book—wand resting in her hand—and gave him a small nod.
Kirche, on the other hand, was still fast asleep, her blanket half off, a generous expanse of skin completely exposed without a care in the world.
After finding Delflinger, Sora jogged off toward a stretch of lakeshore a little away from the others.
There, he began his morning run and sword practice.
Body and technique—stop training for even a little while, and you start to slip.
By the time the sun had fully risen and was nearing its zenith, everyone finally began to wake up one after another.
Empty stomachs, hungry from the night and the long morning, growled loudly.
Sora couldn't help but laugh.
He and Tabitha had gotten up early to gather some fruit in the forest and catch a few fish in the lake.
Now, he brought them out.
The moment everyone saw the grilled fish and the pile of fruit, they forgot all about noble dignity and rushed over, grabbing and eating with both hands.
They sat in a loose circle as they ate, telling Sora everything that had happened the previous night.
"I see," Sora said, nodding once they finished.
But his thoughts stayed on the water spirit's ring.
Having received the water spirit's baptism, he was determined to help her get it back. One way or another, he would see it done.
He could feel the magic surging through his body.
The water spirit's baptism hadn't just improved his aptitude for water magic—it had also purged him of impurities, allowing him to advance further along his martial path.
With such a rare opportunity, the barrier that had held him at two dots of magic shattered naturally. Sora was now a proper Line-class mage.
After lunch, Tabitha and Kirche said their farewells to Sora and Louise.
They would be returning to Tabitha's homeland to report on their mission, while Sora and the others would head back to the Academy first.
"Goodbye. I'll miss you," Sora said, waving.
Tabitha nodded, raised her fingers to her lips, and whistled.
Far off in the sky, her blue Wind Dragon—her familiar—swooped down toward them at high speed.
Tabitha and Kirche leapt onto the dragon's back, and together they flew off toward the Kingdom of Gallia.
Sora and the others walked back to where their horses were tied and mounted up for the long journey back to school.
The road itself was uneventful, and by nightfall they finally returned to the Academy.
Sleepy and worn out, they said quick goodbyes and headed to their own dorms to rest.
Even Sora had no intention of teasing Louise that night.
It wasn't until the following day that everyone truly started to regain their energy.
On the third day, Montmorency finally finished brewing an antidote to the love potion.
After Guiche drank it, his expression changed dramatically, and he went chasing Montmorency all over the Academy, face flushed scarlet.
"Montmorency! Y-you actually made me drink something like that?!"
"I didn't want to either! You're the one who's always flirting with every girl in sight!"
"Aaaah, I'm so embarrassed! I—I…"
Sora quietly snatched up the remaining antidote, then took it and the leftover love potion he'd extorted earlier and locked both safely away in his dorm room desk drawer.
Sora and Louise then spent a few days enjoying their own little two-person world, just the two of them together, before they began to seriously plan their trip to Louise's hometown.
That night, after Sora and Louise had finished their intimate "lingering" on the bed, they lay there tangled together, too lazy to move.
Just then, a shadow floated past the window and slipped silently inside.
"Who's there!?" Sora snapped, his expression hardening. He snatched Delflinger from the bedside table and leveled the blade at the intruder.
The cloaked figure froze at the sight of their intertwined bodies, shoulders trembling.
Then the visitor reached up and pulled back the hood.
"Anrietta," Sora said, lowering his sword.
"Ah… Anrietta," Louise gasped, cheeks blazing red as she ducked behind Sora to hide herself.
Anrietta turned her face away, equally red. "Y-you two… hurry up and put some clothes on."
Sora laughed, jumped off the bed, and boldly pulled her into a hug.
The warmth and scent of his recent passion with Louise still clung to him, making Anrietta's head spin.
"It's fine," he said lightly. "Sooner or later, you'll end up just like Louise."
"What?" Anrietta blurted.
"What are you saying, you shameless pervert!" Louise shouted. She threw on her pajamas, grabbed her wand, and flung it at Sora. "How dare you tease Her Highness like that! You're dead!"
Sora tilted his head, effortlessly dodging it. He sat back down on the bed and wrapped the quilt around his naked body.
"Anrietta, for you to come to us at this hour, something must have happened," he said.
Louise reached out with both hands and took Anrietta's, looking at her earnestly.
"Yes. No matter what it is, I'll be on your side, Anrietta."
Anrietta's eyes softened, touched by her words. She leaned back and hugged Louise.
"Mm. I trust you, Louise."
Sora watched them with an amused smile.
After the two girls had exchanged a few warm words, they sat down on the chairs.
"Actually, I have an urgent and confidential favor to ask," Anrietta said.
She explained that not long after the King of Tristain had passed away, several ministers had seized control of state affairs and treated her with little respect. The outer dukes, too, were wary and did not fully trust her.
On top of that, Tristain had made the foolish move of provoking the great power of Gallia.
Beset by internal and external troubles, Anrietta had decided to marry the Emperor of Germania.
Sora's brow furrowed sharply.
"A political marriage, then?" His face darkened.
Anrietta seemed to understand something of the knight's fierce, stubborn heart. She looked at Sora with a trace of sorrow.
"I am the princess of Tristain. If my sacrifice can bring peace and stability to this country, then I am willing," she said.
"Tch…" Sora lowered his gaze.
Louise also looked stricken.
"Anrietta… isn't there any way you don't have to marry him?" Louise asked.
"There's no helping it, Louise." Anrietta sighed.
She continued. There was, in fact, another hidden danger regarding the marriage: the letter she had once written to the Crown Prince of Albion.
Back when their relationship had been good, there had been a faint, budding affection between man and woman. There were things written in that letter that, if exposed, would make the marriage impossible.
Sora's expression grew even darker. He turned away, jaw clenched in anger.
"That's why," Anrietta said, looking straight at Louise, "I can only feel at ease if I ask the person I trust most—Louise—to destroy that letter. Louise Françoise, will you take on this risk for me?"
Louise's cheeks flushed pink, and she answered with a tremor of excitement in her voice.
"Yes, please entrust it to me. For Tristain, and for you, Anrietta, I'm willing to do anything."
Sora's mood soured further. What is this? Are Tristain and Anrietta more important than me? And Anrietta is really going to marry a stranger for the sake of this country…
"You as well, Sora. May I ask this of you?" Anrietta turned to him.
If Louise was going to act, then in terms of direct, reliable combat strength, Sora was the obvious choice.
Sora didn't want to agree at all.
If the letter were never retrieved, the marriage between Anrietta and the Emperor of Germania would likely fall apart.
But Louise looked at him with wide, pleading, watery eyes.
"…Fine. I'll go," Sora muttered, clearly displeased.
"Sora, I knew you would!" Louise cried, throwing herself at him with a radiant smile.
Anrietta's shoulders relaxed with relief. "Then I will entrust this matter to you."
She drew a ring from her bosom—a water-blue gemstone gleaming on its surface.
Slowly and solemnly, she slipped it onto Louise's finger.
"This is the Water Ruby, passed down through generations of the Tristain royal family. When Wales sees this, he will know to trust you."
"I'll keep it safe, Anrietta," Louise said, holding the ring carefully.
"Knight Sora, when this mission is completed, I will bestow upon you the title of Baron. Take this seriously, and protect Louise," Anrietta said, turning to him.
"I don't need you to tell me that," Sora replied, turning his head away so he didn't have to look at her.
"For now, that's everything. You'll depart in three days. By then, I'll have found a strong escort for you," Anrietta said.
"Escort? That won't be necessary. I can protect Louise," Sora said, frowning.
"Sora, I believe in your strength. But having someone who knows Albion well will be a great help," Anrietta replied.
In the end, they agreed to accept the escort Anrietta arranged.
After that, Anrietta slipped quietly back out the window the way she had come, and Sora and Louise returned to bed.
Neither of them could fall asleep easily, their thoughts tangled with what lay ahead.