Zero´s Partner

Louise and Saito walked slowly through the streets of Tristain, taking in the vibrant atmosphere around them. The city was particularly busy that afternoon, with the sound of wooden carts echoing through the stone alleys and the constant chatter of merchants trying to lure customers to their stalls. Fine fabrics, embroidered with gold thread and dyed in vivid colors, swayed in the breeze, displayed on stands decorated with colorful ribbons. The sweet scent of freshly baked bread mixed with the aroma of exotic spices imported from the East, creating a warm, almost magical ambiance.

Louise walked beside Saito, her pink eyes scanning the scene, but her mind was elsewhere. She felt restless, her heart beating faster than usual. For a brief moment, she considered reaching for Saito's hand, but the thought made her self-conscious. 'Would it be inappropriate? What if he thought she was being foolish?' Her noble upbringing demanded composure, and any impulsive gesture could be misinterpreted. But before she could decide, she felt an unexpected warmth wrap around her fingers.

Saito had taken her hand.

The rough texture of his skin, hardened from constant sword training, sent a shiver down Louise's spine. Her eyes widened for a moment, and her mind was immediately flooded with an embarrassing thought. He was a man. Of course, that was obvious, but after what she had seen that morning… Her face turned red at the memory, and she quickly looked away.

Saito, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease. His relaxed smile gave him an air of natural confidence, and his green eyes gleamed under the sunlight filtering through the market stalls.

"There are a lot of people here. I don't want to get lost," he said casually, as if holding her hand was the most natural thing in the world.

Louise opened her mouth to reply, but hesitated. Her racing heart was making it difficult to keep her composure. Why was she feeling like this?

"I-I wouldn't get lost! I know exactly where we're going!" she retorted, turning her face away and lifting her nose in a haughty gesture.

Saito chuckled softly. "Good to know I have such a reliable guide. But even so… I'd rather hold your hand."

Louise felt her face grow even hotter, but she didn't pull away. In silence, they continued walking through the city streets, heading toward the weapon shop. Meanwhile, Saito admired the architecture around him—stone buildings with large arched windows, iron lamp posts with enchanted lanterns glowing even in daylight, and towers rising majestically in the distance, like something out of a fairy tale. Everything here looked straight out of an RPG.

"This feels like something from an RPG…" he murmured, looking around in fascination.

Louise frowned, confused. "RPG? What kind of magic is that?"

Saito smirked. "It's not magic. In my world, it's a type of interactive story where you can explore places and fight enemies."

Louise huffed, crossing her arms. "Sounds childish."

"It's pretty fun," Saito countered, holding back a laugh. "And, well, I guess I'm living one right now."

When they reached the weapon shop, they were greeted by the metallic scent of freshly forged blades. Behind a sturdy wooden counter, a burly man with graying beard and calloused hands was arranging some swords. His eyes lit up when he noticed Louise's noble attire, and he quickly adopted a more formal posture.

"Welcome to my humble shop, esteemed customers! Feel free to browse my collection. But of course, for high-status customers such as yourselves, I can recommend something truly special…"

Louise raised an eyebrow at his overly courteous tone. Saito, already used to this kind of treatment whenever he was with a noble, simply sighed.

"I'd like to see some swords. Something with good balance, preferably," Saito said, stepping forward.

The shopkeeper shot him a quick glance, clearly underestimating him. To him, Saito was just a commoner accompanying his lady. But since Louise said nothing, he decided to entertain the request.

"Give me a moment. I'll fetch a blade worthy of your… company." His slightly condescending tone did not go unnoticed by Louise.

As soon as the shopkeeper walked away, Louise crossed her arms, visibly irritated. "I hated the way he looked at you. I could tell he judged you the moment he laid eyes on you!"

Saito gave a small, bitter smile. "Ah, princess… If you weren't here, I doubt he would have even welcomed me. That's just how it is for commoners. Not too different from my world, really."

Louise's eyes widened, surprised by his words. "Your world also has this divide between commoners and nobles?"

Saito hesitated before answering. "Not exactly like here. But there are still divisions. People judge you by the clothes you wear, the money you have… even the color of your skin. In any world, those who have more are treated better."

Louise sighed, uncomfortable with the truth. "That's ridiculous. You deserve to be treated better."

Saito looked at her, surprised by her sincerity. A warm feeling spread through his chest at her words. "Thanks, princess."

Before they could continue, the shopkeeper returned with a golden-bladed sword, its hilt encrusted with gleaming rubies. The shine was dazzling, making it look more like a jewel than a weapon.

"This is one of our finest blades! Made of pure gold, as beautiful as it is deadly!" The shopkeeper took a sheet of paper and ran it along the edge of the sword. The paper split instantly, impressing Louise. But Saito, who knew better, frowned.

He took the sword in his hands and immediately felt something was off. The runes on his hand didn't react. There was no connection at all.

Louise was about to confirm the purchase, but Saito cut her off with a firm decision. "Let's look at other options."

He placed a hand on Louise's waist, guiding her toward another part of the shop.

"He's trying to scam us. Gold isn't strong enough for a real sword. Besides…" He raised his hand, showing the dormant runes. "They didn't react. Even with a regular knife, they glowed."

Louise nodded, accepting his logic. Together, they continued browsing the shop.

That was when Saito noticed something in a dark corner, discarded as if it had no value. An old sword, its blade worn and its leather scabbard frayed. But when he touched it, he felt something strange—a connection. The runes flickered faintly.

The shopkeeper scoffed. "That one? It's junk."

Saito smirked. "So it's free, then?"

"Not free…"

Saito's smirk faded as he replied, "Then name your price…"

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Night had already fallen when Saito and Louise returned to her room at the Tristain Academy. The sky was dotted with stars, and a gentle breeze rustled the treetops around the castle, carrying the fresh scent of the night. The torches lining the corridors cast flickering shadows on the stone walls, giving an almost ethereal feel to their walk back. The distant sound of crickets and the wind whispering through the leaves created a soft melody, a perfect backdrop for the silent tension growing between them.

Louise still held Saito's hand, their fingers unconsciously intertwined. She wondered why she didn't want to let go. The warmth of his hand was comforting, a steady presence that made her feel safe, even if she would never admit it out loud. Her heart beat faster with every step, and no matter how much she tried to convince herself it was just exhaustion, deep down, she knew he was the reason. Saito. The only one who could stir this confusing whirlwind of emotions she couldn't name.

Saito, on the other hand, walked beside her in silence, feeling the comfortable weight of his new sword strapped to his back. The blade had perfect balance, and holding it gave him a strange sense of belonging. As if the sword had always been a part of him. But at that moment, more than his connection with the weapon, what truly occupied his thoughts was Louise. He noticed the small details about her—the way her bangs softly fell over her eyes when she looked down, how her lips moved ever so slightly when she murmured to herself, and most of all, how her hand remained firmly in his, even after they had reached her room.

As soon as they stepped inside, Louise let out a long sigh, as if relieved to finally be alone with him. She removed her cape and tossed it over a nearby chair, revealing the delicate curve of her shoulders that her mage's dress barely covered. The candlelight flickered, casting soft shadows on her face, making her delicate features stand out even more.

"You know, Saito... I've been thinking about my magic..." she began, her voice carrying an unusual hesitation. "I know people think I'm a terrible mage, but maybe I've just been trying to use it the wrong way. Maybe if I..."

She stopped, biting her lower lip slightly, as if unsure whether to continue. The look she gave Saito was different from usual—not one of irritation or impatience, but of uncertainty. A silent plea for reassurance. And that stirred something inside him.

Saito watched her, taking in every detail. The golden candlelight reflected in her pink hair, and her eyes—deep and filled with emotion—pulled him into a storm he didn't want to escape from. He felt the tension between them grow, like a string stretched to its limit, ready to snap. At that moment, more than anything, he wanted to close the distance between them, to feel the warmth of her lips against his again, to finish what had almost happened before.

He stepped closer, his breathing growing slightly heavier. "Louise..." he called softly, feeling the weight of the moment.

She blinked, snapping out of her thoughts, and looked at him. "What?" Her voice was barely a whisper, and Saito could hear the faint tremble in it.

He smirked slightly, leaning in. "Can we continue from where we left off earlier?"

Louise's eyes widened, and her breath hitched. The memory of their almost-kiss burned in her mind, and her face flushed violently. "I-I..." She averted her gaze, her hands clutching the fabric of her dress. Did she want to refuse? No. Did she want to run? Not that either. Her heart was in complete turmoil, but she knew she didn't want to stop. Even embarrassed, she gave a small nod. "Y-yes..."

That was all Saito needed to hear. He leaned in slowly, giving her time to pull away if she wanted. But Louise didn't move, her eyes fluttering shut just as their lips finally met. The kiss started hesitant, shy, but deepened as Louise, almost without realizing it, gripped Saito's shirt, pulling him closer. The world around them seemed to disappear, and the only thing that existed was the warmth they shared.

Until a rough voice echoed through the room.

"Partner..."

Louise let out a startled scream and jumped back, nearly knocking over a chair in the process. Her face was even redder than before, but now from a mix of shock and frustration. "W-what was that?!"

Saito, still catching his breath from the interrupted moment, looked around in confusion. That's when he realized the voice had come from the sword leaning against the wall.

"Partner, it's me. The sword, partner."

They both stared at each other, still in disbelief. A talking sword?

Slowly, Saito got up and picked up Derflinger. "You can talk?"

The blade glowed faintly. "Yes, partner. I am Derflinger. A pleasure to meet you, Saito. And you as well, Lady Louise."

Louise took a step back, still processing it. "T-this isn't normal!"

Saito was just as surprised, but there was something else in Derflinger's voice. Wisdom. Experience. And then, the sword continued.

"I was forged long ago by the first bearer of the Runes. And now, I can feel their presence in you. But there's something more about you, partner. Your soul… it's stronger than any human I've ever encountered. There's a power within you, something beyond ordinary magic. I can't fully explain it, but I can tell it's only just beginning to awaken."

Saito frowned. "That doesn't make sense... I come from a world without magic. How could I have something like that inside me?"

Louise, now more curious than scared, crossed her arms. "If this is true… then we need to find out what it means."

Derflinger chuckled lightly. "Maybe it's time to explore that, partner. Tomorrow, perhaps?"

Saito and Louise exchanged glances. Tomorrow seemed to hold more secrets than they had imagined.

Silence filled the room, until Derflinger, in a teasing tone, added:

"But for now… I'll let you two get back to what you were doing before I interrupted."

Louise let out an indignant noise, and Saito chuckled, amused. But despite the playful remark, they both knew they still wanted to continue what they had started. Yet, with Derflinger there, the mood had been completely shattered.

Soon after, they settled into bed, quickly drifting off to sleep, excited for what the next day might bring—but also with a growing feeling that something much bigger was about to unfold.

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