Once no one was around, Saito, as one would expect, collapsed on the ground. Then water was sprinkled on him.
“Dog. Exhausted already?”
Being called a dog made Saito clink.
“Sorry, but my name is not dog. My name is Saito.”
“If you want to be called by a human name, become an equal person.”
Then she pulled out a wooden sword.
“Next – swords.”
As soon as Saito struggled to his feet, she turned around and drove it straight into his belly.
“I-I haven’t taken the stance yet… w-why…”
When he muttered, fainting in agony, Agnes smiled.
“Do you think ‘taking a stance’ would matter in actual combat? First of all, you need to train your basic physical strength for half a year and only then start training the skills…”
Agnes then turned again and thrust the sword out at a high speed.
“Fighting is not elegant. Skip the ‘art’. I’ll teach you the meaning of the word ‘sword’.”
After one hour, Saito collapsed again. He fainted. Agnes poured a bucket of cold water on him again.
Saito, who woke up, stared at Agnes absent-minded.
During the one hour… Saito burbled and received a lot of damage. Saito’s sword didn’t even scratch Agnes. She just dodged, blocked it, and then hit any part of him with her sword.
“Do you know why you cannot land a hit on me?”
“I don’t know.”
“It’s because our swordsmanship is not the same. Do you understand at least that?”
Saito nodded. If you swing a sword at Gandálfr’s speed, there is no need to avoid enemy attacks.
“It works if it is a surprise attack. However, if the enemy anticipates it, then you will never hit.”
“Yes.”
“Alright, halt your own attacks and wait for the chance to attack the opponent. Use your eyes to seize the opportunity.
“If there is no opening… then what do I do?
“Create it.”
Until the evening, no matter how hard Saito wielded sword against Agnes, he could not graze her.
Laying on the ground, exhausted, Saito muttered.
“Why… why can't I even graze…”
Agnes said in an amazed voice.
“Pfft, with the sword, the swordsman gain a noble's fame. Without actual combat experience, you are just an amateur to be defeated.”
“…A little while I had this thought. I am useless after all. I am no good with blades.”
Saito whispered, to which Agnes answered.
“There is no time to ridicule yourself; take the sword. A dog doesn’t have the right to belittle itself.”
Chapter Seven: Louise's Decision
The cold night continued.
It seemed like the night would last forever. But, when at last morning came, she fell asleep. She woke up at noon and went to sleep again. It was a mentally exhausting cycle.
Two weeks passed… after using Summon Servant and learning about Saito’s death. All during this time, Louise never even took a single step out of her room. From time to time she got off the bed to eat the dishes placed at her door. She didn’t care anymore who it was placing it there.
Only in her dreams could Louise meet Saito. So Louise tried to sleep all day long. Whenever she could not fall asleep, she drank wine. For Louise, the distinction between morning and night had already lost its meaning. The curtains in her room were always closed, so it was always dim.
Such a way of life gradually devours the boundary between day and night.
The boundaries between dream and reality become ambiguous too.
However, this was the only world that Louise longed for.
She wanted to stay forever in this dream world, where she could meet Saito.
Even if someone knocked on the door, Louise did not answer. In order not to hear if someone called for her, she stuffed her ears with cotton. All locks were locked, preventing anyone from entering the room. She hugged her pillow as if it was Saito… closing her eyes and pressing her cheeks against it.
Saito in her dreams always… gently embraced Louise, holding her close.
And did it many times with love.
This was the ideal Saito of Louise’s subconsciousness.
From the bottom of her heart, she wanted to be with her beloved familiar.
…On the evening of that day, Louise had a dream about Saito.
They were strolling together besides Ragdorian Lake.
“The water is beautiful.”
“Yeah.”
Hand in hand, the couple walked around the lake.
Louise was wearing a black dress and black beret, like on her first date with Saito. That appearance was mirrored by the beautiful surface of the water.
“Here, the Water Spirit was seen, right?”
“Yeah.”
They did not talk much.
All words seemed plain and useless.
It felt that uttering them would break this little world of theirs.
A warm world of illusions of cracked glass, even if it was swallowed further and further by the darkness – that’s how it felt.
“Louise, hey, come here. This light reflected on the water is very beautiful.”
“Waa, truly beautiful!”
“But, not as beautiful as you, Louise.”
“S-stop saying silly things!”
“It is true. I think you are more beautiful than anyone. So, I want to be together. Always together.”
“Then, you won’t go anywhere, right?”
“Aah, I won’t go anywhere.”
Deep inside Louise knew; this was just a dream. But she kept on repeating a badly acted play between Saito and herself. In fact, she was the only spectator watching it.
“I have something to tell you.”
“What?”
Louise muttered embarrassed as she stepped into the water.
“Stop it Louise. The water is cold, you’ll freeze.”
There was something special about words spoken in this lake. Perhaps it was because of the Water Spirit, the spirit of oaths; oaths forged here could never be broken.
In a dream, Louise wanted to tell it to Saito.
“…I want to swim. Why don’t we swim together?”
“All right. If you get cold, I’ll warm you up.”
So…
It was a dream.
True, Saito is not that gentle.
Still… she was happy. Because it’s impossible in reality for her and Saito to meet again…
-Pachpach- Saito entered into the water.
She thought he was going towards her, but was wrong.
Steadily, Saito went further into the lake.
“Saito… Where are you going?
Saito waved her back with a smile.
“Stop! You’ll drown!”
Slowly… Saito's body disappeared in the water. Louise ran after him.
“Wait! Do not go! Please!”
However, Louise's shouts did not reach him. Saito went fully under the water.
Louise ran towards him, splashing the water.
Seeing Saito, as if asleep, sinking further to the bottom of the water, Louise went in a half-frenzy.
“Wait! No! No, don‘t go there! I said stop!“
Saito’s figure became smaller and smaller.
“Wait! Please!”
“Wait!”
Louise sprang to her feet. It was pitch-dark in the room. It was night, apparently. Waking up at night led her to despair. Though it was not much different than waking in the morning, waking at night was more exhausting.
Yet, Louise was not relieved that it was a dream. It is the same – dream or reality. Either way, she felt the same pain, the same guilt.
That day, when Saito left, she berated him non-stop.
“Where are you, Saito?”