VIII.

"Hup! Ow!"

The princess was not quick enough to dodge most of Madoka's simple strikes. She has shown Elise how to dodge most attacks and anticipate them though she simply claimed she was not coordinated enough. Madoka knew that with more practice and pain the princess could learn a few Cherish sword style movements. She could use them in the future, Madoka figured.

"It's not fair!" she whines, as Madoka bats her side with her wooden sword. "Ach! I chose to be a support mage for my character job class! Ach!"

"I'm not hitting you that hard," Madoka sighed. "Or going as fast as I could be."

"What did you say to me?"

"Nothing, Elise," Madoka feinted a strike to Elise's right side, but tripped her with a sweeping kick instead. She toppled over like a crumbling wall of variegated bricks.

"N-Now that was just cheap," the princess dusted herself off. She once again refused to accept Madoka's hand to help her up.

"Don't be mad at me," Madoka closed her eyes. "This was your idea."

"I know, I know," the princess got back up.

"Dodge like this. Learn my reach," Madoka demonstrated, pivoting herself with her feet. "You've seen me do this many times while using your magic on me."

"You just want revenge!" the princess scoffed.

"Well, it's easy to get right now," Madoka teased.

"You!"

A water beam shot at her, but Madoka blocked it with her wooden sword. Elise shook her head.

"A shame I can't just use magic in this training," the princess sighed. "I could probably test it later but you know why I won't for now."

"Basics," Madoka guessed aloud. "For what it's worth, princess, you're getting better."

"Bah!" Elise focused on her feet and muttered something.

The birds above were circling above them. Their thoughts were carefree. It was a hot day for training, Madoka thought. She will wash the princess off tonight.

"Madoka?" Elise was asking Madoka something. "You here?"

"Oh, sorry," Madoka wiped some sweat off her forehead. "It's quite warm out today, isn't it?"

"Right?" Elise agreed. "We could go to the lake!"

"That will have to wait until your training is done," Madoka chastised her. The princess sulked.

"Nae waah," she whined. "Now I know what training under Uncle Leo is like."

The name made Madoka pause again, her attack stopping right at the princess's ankle. Elise jumped over it anyways.

"Lord Leopride," Madoka trailed off. She has not forgotten the duel between the two, though she was not sure if it was real or not. She assumed that the duel was not real though the scar on her palm was. "Is he still here?"

"What about him?" Elise looked puzzled for a moment. "Of course he's around."

"Ah," Madoka contemplated it for a moment. "Will he return soon?"

Elise stuck her hands to her waist and scrutinized Madoka. Was that jealousy on her face? Madoka could not guess why.

"Why are you asking for him?" Elise asked with a frown. Madoka resisted the urge to look at her scar and instead looked away. Elise was muttering something, but Madoka could hear her. "Hmph! I'll show you I'm better."

Elise was motivated to improve over the following weeks. Madoka could no longer surprise attack her easily and her movements were no longer sluggish. They did more hiking outdoors, though she did not like those as much as doing her duties. She found herself riding Ciara more and more, with the struggle of getting Elise on horseback not getting easier. Madoka sighed whenever the princess dragged her to the forest, but she was her maid and somewhat of her bodyguard.

They traveled further and further in until Madoka was convinced they no longer were in the Northern Estate's territory now.

"So far, I've mapped most of this forest out," the princess pulled out a notebook and scribbled more on it. "There's still two notable places that we've yet to check out."

The pair rested from the sun beneath the shade of trees. Elise would not be afraid of the fuzzy bugs if she could not see them, so Madoka chose not to say that they were around them. They walked by a few, but Madoka was not in the mood to point them out. The birds were chirping above, too high up to hear their thoughts.

"Notable places?" Madoka asked. She could pick out bits and pieces of the letters that Elise was teaching her how to read at nights in the library, although there were symbols not quite any letters in the books she was learning. Elise also had the map from the library.

"Remember the labyrinth I mentioned way back..." Elise stopped when she realized Madoka clearly did not. "Anyways, that's around this area. There's also another place I'm interested in investigating before I really start expediting plans."

"Right, plans," Madoka absently kicked a stick as they rested, ignoring her remarks about another place. Elise jumped up and nodded. She wore a strange hat, made of straw and leather. Her outfit was also strange. The princess apparently requested from a tailor in the village to make it. She called it her safari explorer outfit and urged Madoka to not laugh at how silly she looked. It was odd, since she was not sure what a safari is if she was the only one observing wildlife around her.

"Yup, yup! Plans, Madoka!" Elise said, but looked bitter. She checked her map. "Now it's a few hundred meters ahead... that way! Catch me if you can!"

She took off. Madoka grabbed her heavy axe and followed her.

"Don't run off!" Madoka chased after the princess. The two were laughing, though. It was careless but Madoka felt freedom in the forest. The princess was quite agile, improved from Madoka's supposedly brutal training the past few weeks. The two hopped over a fallen log. There was an unusual silence from beyond. Elise paused and waited for Madoka. "I... I gave you a head start."

Madoka breathed. Elise chuckled.

"Just beyond these trees should be the labyrinth's entrance," she bumped shoulders with Madoka. Madoka shot her a concerned look. "W-We're not going in mind you! Just going to uh, look at it!"

"For some reason, princess," Madoka said as she followed Elise. "I don't believe you."

"Relax," Elise said. "The entrance should be closed. Ah, here it is."

The two passed through a clearing in the woods and came into view of what the princess was talking about. Madoka was in awe of the towering ruin. A large structure, overgrown with nature, stood in the center of the opening. On its face had a large door sealed tightly shut. Madoka was relieved that it was at least closed, so the princess could not open it easily.

Madoka figured she would have enough time to restrain the princess if she tried to pry it open.

"I'm not going to open it," Elise sighed, pulling out her notebook and marking her map with it. Madoka shrugged. "Yet."

"Please don't joke with me like that, Elise," Madoka shot a stare at her. The princess looked back at her but said nothing and returned to writing notes in her book.

"According to legends," the princess said, tucking the book away. She contemplated for a minute, before taking it out again. Madoka sighed. Elise forgot what she read already. She cleared her throat after Madoka snickered and read a passage. "The labyrinth distorts time and space. The first floor connects to one entrance near the Palace and various other places for quick access in case of emergencies. There are no monsters... yet."

She shut her book and tucked it in. Madoka felt uneasy about monsters.

"It makes me feel a lot smaller in the world," Madoka mused, looking up at the towering door. There were runes on each side of the door. For a moment, a sick curiosity struck her and she wondered how to open the door.

"Right?" Elise said in amazement. "It's totally cool, like... oh. Ach!"

Elise clutched her arm. The tattoo on her arm, Madoka realized, was moving again. The princess rolled up her sleeve and checked it.

"This tattoo, as you might have heard," Elise explained. "Is a Mark of Ascension, kinda like a key for a labyrinth. I guess this body's previous owner had that right and passed it onto... Nevermind me! I'm fine."

"So that marking can open the door?" Madoka asked, scared that Elise would try it. Elise still waved her hands at her alarm.

"Yes, but it's complicated," Elise said, holding her arm as the tattoo wriggled on her skin. "It's kind of a mark that shows a person has already been there before... But I'm not sure how I got it."

"I told you, remember?" Madoka reminded her, though she did not know why. "You had a nightmare and used magic in your sleep."

"I guess so," Elise murmured. "Anyways, this is the first spot I wanted to see. Let's go home, Madoka, before this mark tears my arm off."

The mark seemed to be pulling away towards a certain direction. The two watched it tug towards another clearing in the woods. Elise suddenly had a mischievous grin on her face.

"I thought you wanted to go—"

"Yo! It's like a videogame puzzle!" Elise headed towards the clearing. "Come on! Come on!"

The usually careful Madoka sighed but could not stop her princess. They were inevitably going to get into dangerous things but that is what their training is for, she supposed. The two approached the clearing and found the remains of an overgrown metal plate. Elise kneeled on the ground and palmed the earth off of it.

"Is it a round shield?" Madoka looked at the object.

"It's a plate to stand on!" Elise got up and stood on it. As she did, the plate embedded itself further in the ground with a clicking noise. "Uh, don't comment on my weight."

Madoka would not have said anything but then the earth trembled. A flock of birds scattered out their perches amongst the branches like white petals in the wind. Both girls hung onto each other until the tremors stopped abruptly.

"Do you think that the labyrinth door opened?" Elise asked. Madoka helped straighten her up. The two peered closer at the labyrinth entrance. Only half the door was cracked open, with the runes glowing with magic. An ominous feeling slipped through the opened door, making Madoka's skin crawl. "That's totally wicked."

Elise checked her marking again to discover it was pointing towards another spot. Even Madoka could guess another plate lay across from them. Her guess was correct as the two approached it. Elise did not waste any time and stood on the mossy and dirty plate. A click was heard as it sank into the ground with blue mana strands pouring out from beneath the princess's boots.

"That didn't happen before," Elise said but was cut off as the earth began to tremble again. The two held onto each other as they wobbled. "N-Not again!"

They barely withstood the violent shaking, though the forest became silent once more. Elise looked back to the labyrinth's opening. Her jaw dropped and she pointed to it. "The door is open, Madoka!"

"T-That's wonderful, Elise," Madoka's legs quaked, regaining their senses. The two inspected the newly opened labyrinth but not up close. "It makes me feel uneasy."

"Me too," Elise said. "My legs feel like jelly. We should definitely get back home now. Tomorrow or the next day we can search for the next location."

Madoka looked back before following the princess back. Its ancient stone steps beckoned all who looked. Is it fine that we can just leave that open? She thought. She realized the princess mentioned a second place which made her nervous.

"What other location?"

The princess turned and faced her with a grin.

"Those spooky ruins!" She said with a wicked look.

"You mean the ones we have to walk around?"

"Yeah!" Elise said excitedly.

"Isn't that a sign of danger? Everyone tells us to avoid it!"

"Yeah!"

The princess teased her with a funny face. Her enthusiasm seemed to be increasing much to Madoka's dismay.

"Are you scared, Madoka?"

Madoka scoffed, but she definitely did not want to go to those ruins. "Are you sure you're not afraid of the ruins yourself, Elise?"

"Yeah!" She repeated herself again. Her enthusiasm was beaming. Madoka rolled her eyes. "Come on, I can picture the scary stories we can tell. We can call them the 'Madoka and Elise Adventures!'"

Madoka was not sure about it but they traveled home without speaking of the labyrinth. She could only imagine what her father, the King, was thinking when he let her loose up here. As they pulled up to the gate, Madoka halted Ciara and an ominous feeling overwhelmed her.

"Madoka?" Elise asked.

Was it truly...? Madoka sensed no tension from Ciara but she knew someone familiar was there. They were rounding the corner. Now!

Madoka climbed up on the horse's back and leapt off, her axe drawn. She landed squarely on the familiar figure's chest and knocked him to the ground with her knee. Ciara neighed, nearly shaking Elise off her back, but Madoka had her axe drawn to the Cherish-man's neck already.

"Madoka?!" Elise shrieked.

"Lord Leopride?" Madoka was hostile and confused. Yet, she looked intently at an equally shocked Lord Leopride staring up at her beneath her axe. She had one question for the Cherish-man. "How are you alive...?"

IX.

"You've certainly kept up with your training," Lord Leopride kept up his composure. He was out of breath from Madoka's attack. She kept the axe at his throat.

"Madoka!" Elise approached Madoka. "What the hell are you doing? Get off of him!"

"I killed you the night I destroyed the rocks," Madoka said, her voice calm. "So how is it you are here right now?"

Lord Leopride's eyes shifted in confusion.

"Let him go!"

Madoka felt the full weight of Elise crash against her body, her weapon’s tough blade narrowly missing Leopride as she lost hold of it. No, she realized Elise managed to knock it out of her hand away from Lord Leopride's neck. The two girls tumbled into the dirt. Madoka heard the scared thoughts of Ciara as she neighed. The horse was fearful for Madoka's safety, but was hesitant to do anything. Elise managed to restrain Madoka, but she did not offer any further resistance anyways. She instead clicked her tongue in frustration.

Her answer to her question was already there. The Leopride that attacked her was an illusion and the real one was alive. He did not seem to have any bloodlust or hidden agenda at all since he could have simply ordered her to die for her insubordination at any moment. Still, Madoka did not understand what that illusion was. Her hand still had the scar.

Elise was on top of Madoka, breathing heavily. Leopride was getting up, dusting himself off and slightly perturbed but Madoka did not care. Sunlight made the princess's face glow, skimming orange stones over the reflection of her eyes. Madoka was swallowed in the view.

"You look beautiful up there, princess," Madoka said absentmindedly, recalling that was the same line Elise used when they tumbled together trying to put out a fire she made.

"Are you back?" Elise said, with a hint of fear that Madoka might attack again. "No funny business right? Everything is okay between you and Leopride?"

Madoka's head spun as the pounding of adrenaline receded but she nodded obediently. She refused to apologize, however Lord Leopride laughed.

"Truly marvelous," he clapped. "The form of your attack. Honed. As expected, my dear."

Madoka lay there for a moment trying to regain her bearings. Elise got off of Madoka and Lord Leopride held his hand out to help her up. Madoka accepted it. She eyed him awkwardly but he held no bitter feelings.

"I have been dodging the princess's spells to keep up with my training, sir," Madoka said, recalling the princess's water spells during her training. He picked up the axe and held it up. The fading summer light glinted off its blade as he admired it. Satisfied, he handed it back to her. It now slung comfortably around Madoka's waist, its weight as light as a feather.

"I can tell that you've been working hard," Lord Leopride said, but grew more stern. "But you need to rest more! Your judgment and discernment of what is real will become useless. It will be your undoing. So do not neglect your rest, you understand?"

"I understand, sir," Madoka hung her head. Elise patted her shoulder.

"That's my Madoka, right there, Uncle Leo!" Elise cheered. "She's always working too hard."

"And you, princess," Lord Leopride directed his attention to the princess who seemed to shrink beneath his gaze.

"Eep!"

"You've been working hard, too, I trust?" Lord Leopride snapped incredulously. "Look at what you are wearing. Ridiculous! And need I remind you to not go venturing out there?"

"B-But!" Elise protested. "I have her! She's a beast! You saw how she took you down from the top rope, like—"

"You work her too hard!" Leopride was having none of her nonsense.

Lord Leopride growled at the princess who made a squeak in a mock-fear. The exchange between Madoka reminded her of their time at the Palace, making her laugh out loud. The two paused and listened to her as she did. At first she did not notice the two's quarreling died down, but after she did Madoka quickly stifled herself.

"M-My apologies," Madoka bowed her head. She truly missed those simple times dearly.

"That's, like, got to be the first time I've heard you laugh," Elise remarked, beaming at Madoka. "You sound lovely!"

Lord Leopride grunted in agreement.

"S-Stop that please," Madoka begged the two out of embarrassment. She made an excuse that a servant should remain quiet, but she could not help herself.

"Now then," Lord Leopride said. "The reason I am here is to inform Your Highness of... ah private matters. And of her. Your Highness should come inside first and the both of you should clean yourselves off."

"Yes, sir," Madoka gulped and bowed before she dragged the complaining princess to the washing room.

"Come to my chambers tonight," Elise said as Madoka washed her back. "We have a lot to discuss tonight."

"As you command, Your Highness," Madoka said. She nearly dropped her cloth and felt suddenly unwell from the oncoming feeling that came with the shift of Elise's tone. A pang of guilt lingered in her throat as she washed herself off. Her reckless and foolish attack was definitely going to be declared unforgiven.

"Aw, Madoka," Elise sighed and fell silent.

Madoka was in trouble but said nothing as well. She dried her princess off and sent her off to meet with Lord Leopride. She was instructed to wait by her chambers, but Madoka preferred to stay busy and clean the entire hallway while waiting for Elise to return. She was trying to fend off the overwhelming sense of anxiousness flooding her senses but she was just a mere twig in a raging wave. She did not even notice the princess's return when the twin moons hung above in the night sky.

"Madoka," the princess folded her arms. Madoka snapped straight and bowed. "Please, I didn't mean to startle you like that. Come."

Madoka obeyed as if her being dutiful now would save her from the impending disaster, leaving the duster behind. As she was led to Elise's chambers, Madoka felt her offhand being pulled by the princess; her thumb tracing the outline of that scar. As soon as they entered, Elise shut the door before Madoka could. She stood by as the princess closed her eyes and looked up.

Like her father did with her when she was younger. Madoka felt like a failure at the age of 13 for letting the princess face trouble on her behalf.

"What's with you, Madoka?" Elise paced before her. Her voice was tense and angry. "That was out of line, even for you. I am shocked, like, astounded how you did not get killed by him or the guards."

"F-Forgive me, Your Highness," Madoka fell to her knees. The fear of getting punished by a Royal crept back into her heart from the shadows. The princess frowned in thought. "You can have my head, now."

"What? No! This... this wasn't in my plans," her eyes flitted back and forth, like she was searching rapidly for something Madoka could not see. "I mean, thank God that we were able to play it off and it was Uncle Leo, however... That doesn't make it an excuse for you to put yourself at risk like that! I don't want your life, I want you to live, dammit!"

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Madoka was sobbing as her head planted on the carpet. She has failed her duties as the princess's maid. How could she face a day like this? Was she forgetting that she was nothing but a slave?

"Madoka?" Elise's voice quickly drained of her anger and was concerned. "D-Don't cry! I wasn't angry that you did it, just that... I'll get a handkerchief!"

The princess frantically searched for something to dry Madoka's face.

"Here, here," the princess cooed. Madoka shifted away from Elise, refusing her help. "Come on."

"Why do you care so much about me?" Madoka mumbled. "I'm a slave and I have failed you by attacking your ally."

"Well, you're the woman- '' The princess started.

"Enough," Madoka cut her off. She scooted away towards the doors and buried her face in her knees. In the heat of the moment, Madoka hid her unworthy self from Princess Fiara but she had so many questions for so long. "Be truthful to me! Why do you scheme so? You could have lived as a brilliant ruler! Why am I a part of your plans? Am I just a part of a game Royals play?"

She received silence in response. She cared little for the answers. She only sought after one answer to one of her questions.

"Why me?" she sobbed, her voice dying down like the last embers of a dwindling campfire. After sometime, Madoka felt Elise's back lean against hers. She did not bother turning to face the princess. It was just the two of them sitting on the floor with the princess in the twin moonlight and Madoka wanting to slip away in the shadows.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," Elise said, her voice almost as soft as the wind outside. Madoka heard a sniffle. Was the princess crying too? "I was so worried that Leopride would act like the rest of those men and take you away from me."

"Why me?" Madoka repeated in a defeated voice. She felt a hand place itself on her own offhand, once again tracing the scar stretching across her palm.

"Something that looked like him must have attacked you," Elise whispered back. "This scar is a sign of the changing times. Someone must be watching over you, testing you. I believe in you Madoka, no matter if it was Lord Leopride or someone else. I can't explain to you my visions.... I simply cannot bear this world if I lose you, Madoka."

She did not know how times were changing, but for some reason it made her feel less pain. The changing of times- the shadow that attacked her, the supposedly fast growth in combat, the princess. All must be a part of the kind gods' plans.

Madoka instinctively squeezed Elise's hands in response.

"Please, Madoka," the princess sounded like she was begging. "Don't do anything wild like that anymore."

Another squeeze was given and the night sealed itself for the two girls once more.

X.

Madoka was the first to wake up on the rugs of her princess's chambers. If times were to change, Madoka still would rise earlier than Elise. She shuddered and folded her hands between her arms. Her body felt the draft of cold air whisper their chills across her skin.

Her skin was quite sore and she ached as she propped herself up. She has done more sleeping on the floor in the past month than she would care to admit. The princess's hand was on her leg, so Madoka peeled it off.

"Wi-fi!" Elise mumbled suddenly. She yawned and crumpled back on Madoka's leg. "Signal... Where is the signal? Why do I have such low bars?"

"Good morning, Elise," Madoka said, though she knew that the princess was not actually awake. Elise opened one squinted eye at her and squeezed it back shut. A snore escaped her mouth.

"What did you do to my phone?" she whined. "Give it back."

"What is a phone?" Madoka could not help but wonder aloud. Elise barely budged as Madoka poked her cheek. "Well, we can't have the princess sleeping on the floor, can we?"

Madoka unfolded her legs to stand up. With a grunt, she scooped the princess up in her arms and tucked her away in the bed. She began to quietly fold her princess's clothes and clean her chambers. Madoka was lucky Elise was quite a heavy sleeper. She also did not want to talk to Elise anyways, especially on what happened yesterday. She recalled Lord Leopride needed the two of them today, but perhaps she could stall and hide away.

Madoka smiled to herself, for those thoughts were like the princess's thoughts. Instead of lingering for too long here in her bedroom, Madoka figured the best way to stall was returning to her own room to finish her exercises. However, when she reached for the door's handle she heard a noise. The princess was stirring.

"I'm still here," the princess mumbled, her voice filled with disappointment. "In this stupid world."

"Good morning, Elise," Madoka chose to say her princess's name. The princess sat up, her eyes squinting in the sunlight. "Let's get you ready for today."

"Bah!" Elise laid back down and pulled the covers over her head. "I don't wanna, Madoka! I want to pop!"

"You cannot pop or whatever you said," Madoka sat on the bedside, waiting for the princess to make the mistake of letting the covers go. "Lord Leopride is probably waiting to speak for you."

"Let him wait longer!"

"Elise, you have nothing better to do," Madoka sighed.

"Not true!" Elise mumbled. "I have sleep to do!"

"Then tomorrow will come and I will still be here," Madoka told her pouting princess. The princess stirred again for a second as Madoka vigilantly scanned for Elise to let go of the sheets.

"You make that sound like a bad thing," Elise mumbled. She poked her head out and yawned. She peered at Madoka, her gaze held long enough to make the maid blush. "How do you look so good every morning? You don't have any makeup or tricks up your sleeve, do you?"

With that, Madoka seized the opportunity and swooped the sheets off the princess's bed. She was naked, of which Madoka was used to the sight. She apparently kicked off her attire to the back of the bed. The living tattoo wriggled its way across her shoulder blade to her arm. Elise did not even react after Madoka pulled the dress out from the crease of the bed frame.

"It's cold," Elise complained. "Maybe you can warm me up with your—"

"Up you go!" Madoka interrupted her and pulled her up. "Wearing clothes will make you warmer, you know."

"Awh, Madoka. Where's your romantic side?" Elise complained, but did not resist Madoka when she got her ready. Madoka took her readiness as a sign of things to come. She did not want to guess what the princess had in store for today but the princess explained anyway.

"Today's the day," Elise said with a sigh. What does that mean? Madoka did not ask. "We're going to do a mock battle. A duel between us, could you believe that?"

"Why?" Madoka always found the idea of fighting her princess abhorrent, but since she's been training Elise to be a better fighter she considered it to be another test of those two Lords.

"To see if we could go deeper into the woods, of course," the princess stretched her arms. Madoka realized she wanted to go to the ruins as she inspected both herself and Elise in the mirror. Madoka noted that both of their heights were similar, with Madoka being taller by a few inches. That would not make much of a difference in fighting, but if what the princess spoke about in her visions was true then they would be fighting people possibly.

Even with all her training, Madoka shuddered at actually fighting for real. She did not know how to find her resolve should the time come. The princess chuckled. Madoka gave her a quizzical look from behind her in the mirror.

"It's funny," she says, turning. "I've never even held a sword before I arrived here. It's cheesy. I truly am in a videogame. Could you go easy on me?"

"What would be the point in that?" Madoka poked Elise's head.

"Bah!" Elise pouted. "Nae waah! You're a fighter class, though! I'll have to go extra hard!"

"Remember your training," Madoka shrugged. "If we were to fight today, I can make no guarantees."

"You're no fun," Elise sighed as the two marched to the foyer where both Lord Zeron and Lord Leopride stood. They eyed each other like rivals then back at the girls.

"It's time!" Lord Zeron bellowed out a laugh. "Let's see who's precious student will win."

"You old coot," Lord Leopride crossed his arms. "The point is to see if she is ready to travel—"

"Nonsense!" Lord Zeron retorted.

Madoka bowed to them both while the princess cleared her throat.

"Bah, let's get this over with!" She stomped outside. Lord Zeron howled with laughter while Madoka silently followed Lord Leopride through the sun-filled doorway. Soon, Madoka found herself facing Elise out in the training yards. The crushed rock formations still remained behind the grounds. Lord Leopride and Lord Zeron handed them each a sword.

"Remember your breathing," Lord Leopride instructed Madoka. "She is your friend and the Princess, but do not let that stop you in your goals of protecting her."

Her heart was not into it. Lord Zeron spoke encouragement to the princess, whose grip on her sword focused.

"I won't go easy!" Elise said while Madoka said nothing. Last time she said that, her voice was not confident at all. This day, however, Madoka could tell that Elise meant it. After a small moment, Lord Zeron shouted something.

The match has begun.

The sword in the princess gleamed the sunlight in Madoka's eyes, but she was able to avoid the trick. Much to her surprise, the princess was on the offensive. Her strikes were even and refined, though Madoka blocked each one. Madoka's technique and skills were better and she could easily keep up with the princess, but she felt like something was missing. Sparks flew as their swords clashed.

Madoka finally saw Elise's eyes as their blades held against each other in a bind. Sheer determination filled her beautiful irises, her brow furrowed in concentration. Madoka felt something new. Elise's strength was rising and Madoka was losing her footing in the bind. Elise was mouthing something. A spell? Madoka reinforced her grip and pushed Elise off to get distance again. She was not sure if magic was allowed to be used but she tossed that thougt aside.

Elise was mouthing something directly to Madoka. It was not a spell, to her surprise.

"I'm sorry, but I need this," Elise said, and Madoka sensed something off. Elise was preparing an attack. Was that killing intent? "Here I come!"

The strong, negative emotion from the princess broke Madoka's concentration as the princess launched one final attack. Madoka hardly had any time to react, instead she narrowly blocked the advance. The next thing she saw was the view of her own sword flinging into the sunlight and falling somewhere nearby before she crashed to the ground.

As she lay on the ground she heard clapping. A wave of dust and emotions settled on her. Was she supposed to feel humiliated that she lost? It was not the feeling of humiliation that caused her to slip up, but the hopeless feeling that the princess was willing to kill her to achieve her goals. Madoka could not help but slowly fall back to those old questions of the night before. She was clearly hiding her true strength and Madoka could not fathom it anymore.

What was that killing intent? Madoka wondered. Dirt got in her hair and stained her clothes. It dwarfed even that of the illusory Lord Leopride's killing intent she fought that one fateful night. The flash of the princess's negative emotions was gone the moment Madoka heard footsteps approach her as she lay on the ground bewildered. Elise stood above her and extended a hand to help her maid up.

"Looks like I won!" Elise said with a smile, facing away from the two lords. "That was tough!"

"So I was right," Madoka whispered to Elise, not accepting her hand. "I am nothing but a pawn in your games."

The two eyed each other, with Elise suddenly turning pale.

"It's not like that, Madoka, I—" Elise was about to say, but Lord Zeron interrupted the two with his laughter.

"The winner is the Princess!" Lord Zeron clapped. Elise returned to her cheerful state around him, though Madoka knew that she was pretending. Lord Leopride rolled his eyes. Just what lies and truthes did the princess have?

As they headed back to the Estate, Lord Leopride gestured at Madoka to wait a bit to have a private conversation with her. As the two entered the gates, Lord Leopride spoke up.

"I am not disappointed in you, Madoka," Lord Leopride said. He stood with a certain dignity that made Madoka stare. Madoka was too busy wrapped up in her thoughts that she had forgotten that Lord Leopride wanted her to win the duel. "The winner has learnt nothing from victory. But you and your heart — they have grown stronger and will learn deeper. Be a dear to Her Highness, will you? You will have more opportunities to be better than her."

Madoka pondered if perhaps he meant other ways than battle. Perhaps she did find it upsetting that she lost the duel, but more at herself instead of at Elise's sudden and vast improvement. She would review the duel in her head later on. If she could not defeat the person she was supposed to protect in a mock battle, how could she be of use? Lord Leopride simply chuckled. It was as if he knew what she was thinking.

She wanted to ask him if he sensed the bloodlust from the princess, but she did not want to seem like she had gone mad. So Madoka nodded instead. Elise probably will explain it later, so Madoka chose to forget it. Lord Leopride smiled and gently guided her to the entrance. He refused to let her open the door for him so she went in ahead of him.

"We will celebrate the both of you tonight," he said.

"The both of us?" Madoka asked him. "Why not only her? She beat me."

"It was not about who was winning, despite what that old fool says," Leopride said with a sigh. "It's a celebration of your training's end."

"The end...? Of my training?"

"Yes, Madoka. I have no more things to teach you. Only that you continue your exercises and grow with the princess," Leopride stated as she stopped and looked at him in confusion. The twin moons hung over him in the night sky through the windows. He continued. "You should be proud of yourself. I am proud of you."

The two glanced at each other before Lord Leopride gestured towards the dining hall. To Madoka's surprise, there were several nobles and Cherish nobles gathered inside. This must be the princess's faction.

"I did my training as you taught me," Elise was explaining to Lord Zeron. Madoka entered with Lord Leopride and several maids. She bowed along with them. "Besides, I'll have you know I have done a lot of water coloring in the past. Water coloring? Oh, it's, like, super physically exhausting and grueling..."

Her voice trailed off as she saw Madoka.

"About time you two showed yourselves!" Lord Zeron laughed. He shoved a glass of wine in Leopride's paws and raised his own. "Cheers! Let us celebrate!"

Elise smiled and raised her own glass, but avoided looking at Madoka. Madoka had trouble guessing what could be going on in her princess's head, so she just remained quiet as the night went on. Later on, Madoka caught Elise walking off alone to the balcony. The very balcony she mentioned she hated. Madoka knew she wanted her to follow and it was her duty to, after all.

Elise was looking at the palace, far away yet still shining brilliantly upon the hill and nestled under the light of the twin moons. Madoka opened the glass door and stood by the entrance.

"You'll catch a cold if you stay out here for too long, princess," Madoka faked a scolding voice. The princess chuckled.

"I'm sorry for all of this, Madoka," Elise turned and faced Madoka. "Uncle Zeron thought this whole party up. As for me, hell is other people. The introvert in me gets, like, overloaded and—"

She trailed off as Madoka nonchalantly walked up next to her and leaned against the balcony's balusters.

"Did you truly want to kill me?" She asked softly. A small breeze pushed her hair in her eyes, but she did not need to see anything. Her ears yearned to hear a simple answer.

"No! I would never!" Elise said, holding a hand above her heart. "Why would you ask me that?"

The truthfulness in her princess's words spoke with conviction and that was enough for Madoka.

"I— I think I let out a lot of pent up frustration during that fight," Elise admitted with a sigh. "Nothing to do with you, but my memories of my past. And what's to come? That whole thing."

"What about your birthday?" Madoka ignored the princess's ramblings about a future.

"My... birthday?" Elise asked. "I forget that birthdays are a thing. Never lived to be fourteen years old, even in my past. Even now, Madoka, I'm simply winging everything. Who knows if you or I will live to see age fourteen anyways.... Madoka, I..."

Madoka turned and faced the princess. The wind has tossed her hair about, covering all over her face. Was she crying underneath it all? Madoka pushed it back to discover that the princess was somber looking.

"We'll just have to see," Madoka said. "The kind gods will see us through it all."

The princess did not respond to that statement for a while. Madoka did not mind the silence. In her heart, the doubts she had in her princess's motives subsided. The princess outstretched her arms.

"Dance with me?" She asked Madoka. "Like old times!"

Madoka crossed her arms.

"Please? Pretty please?" Elise pleaded with her eyes. "I don't like this balcony or men at all, but it's so rare we get to dance now—"

Madoka grabbed both of her princess's arms without another word. She was satisfied that at least if she was a pawn, the princess whom she trusted deeply did not want to throw her away needlessly like the other nobles. She will embrace the princess as she is for now. The two danced under the stars and the twin moons into the night.

XI.

Madoka lay in her old bed questioning herself. She wanted to dance and hold the princess but she also wanted to rematch against the princess and win. Elise made her head go to war with her heart. Madoka's body felt too small for these feelings.

Was this what she meant when she said she was going to pop?

Madoka tossed herself to the other side of the bed. Some of the idioms the princess used were absolutely bizarre and unheard of. Some of her thoughts and concepts were the mark of her genius. Still, despite those things she could not communicate well. Madoka knew the princess was much smarter and stronger than Madoka had any right to be, since she practically raised her all alone in the palace. That was the reason she felt like she was rapidly falling behind. Perhaps she was never in the lead at all.

The princess has since spoken about what she plans to do in regards to the futures that she's seen. Madoka could not understand despite being told over and over. She was ordered to watch over the princess by the king himself. Madoka did not know why she thought so hard about these things.

Still, both Lord Zeron and Lord Leopride made it clear to her that she should protect Elise with all that she has got. Lord Leopride gave a salute before the both of them departed with those other guests. Madoka stayed quiet around them, as a maid should. She also did not trust any nobles.

The truth was, she never had time to even meet with her fellow servants. Only passing smiles and small conversations were exchanged between Madoka and the maids. There were not too many servants in the Estate anyways; Elise had sent most of her staff back to the Palace and set most of them free. Even most guards and mages were sent to the villages and towns surrounding the estate.

Madoka refused the princess's personal offer of freedom.

"Fool, you think you could get rid of me so easily?" Madoka scolded Elise at the time. Elise looked sad for a second but smiled at her decision.

So Madoka was left to attend to Elise in her daily endeavors. Despite the harsh training, Madoka found this experience enjoyable. She feared something was wrong with her. Training until she sweat head to toe, getting beaten and broken until she could get back up... It certainly was not ladylike in the slightest.

Madoka would process it all by praying to all of the kind gods she knew of. She also needed them especially for today because the princess planned to head into the wilderness beyond the labyrinth. She shuddered at the thought of the labyrinth. How were they to conquer the ruins?

Still, Madoka could only stall the inevitable for a little while. She rolled out of bed and inspected herself. Her muscles and scars showed their imperfections clearly in the setting moons' visage. Just what did Elise see in her that made her declare Madoka as the one in her dreams?

It was a question for another day, she supposed.

The maid got up and slipped her uniform on then headed out to wake her princess. To her surprise, the princess was already awake when Madoka knocked on her doors. She urgently called Madoka in. "Come in! Come in! Help me!"

"Excuse me," Madoka entered the room with a bow. The princess was standing over several folded sets of travelers' garbs. Madoka sighed. She thought the situation was like one of her night terrors. "Choose the brown or green one. The white one will be harder to hide the stains."

"Wha-" Elise turned to her. "How did you know what my question was going to be? Are you some kind of mind reader?"

"It's not healthy for you to lean over your bed like that," Madoka ignored her. "You need to stand up straight."

"Guh, just let me live my little life, you workaholic maid!" The princess crossed her arms as she straightened herself up. Then she chose the brown cloak. "Speaking of work, we have a lot of that to do!"

"I guess we do," Madoka said, resigned.

"Don't be that way!" Elise said as she let Madoka put her cloak on. "We're going on another adventure!"

Madoka groaned.

"A-Are you sure you want to go there?"

The princess stopped and placed her hand on her chin in thought. Then she nodded.

"Truth is, I'm not a fan of it, but we're going to have to reach those ruins," Elise said. "I don't even think they're actually ruins. Nothing in this world makes any sense though, so it makes it worth the trouble investigating before everything goes down in flames. Plus..."

She trailed off.

"Plus what?" Madoka pressed. She knew she refused to leave when the princess offered, but she figured she might as well ask what Elise was thinking.

"Plus the gods told me to go there."

The kind gods spoke to her? She always talked down about them. Madoka could not tell if the remark was a joke but she let it go. The sun was rising soon. They would have to get on Ciara and depart quickly if they wanted to get ahead of the heat for a while.

After eating and struggling to get the princess to sit on Ciara, they were off to the forest. The estate was near empty as they left. It felt strange that no one greeted them as they passed through the gates. These changes were gradual but of course, one only sees the dust once it has all piled up.

Ciara's mane raised once they approached the labyrinth's entrance. It has remained undisturbed since they last opened it. The strange door with runes glowing a faint white light beckoned them like a predator luring its prey. Madoka pat Ciara's head and neck, soothing the beast as it shyed away from the labyrinth.

"Ah, this brings back memories," Elise hopped off Ciara.

"So you can get on and off the horse," Madoka scoffed as she also got off Ciara. An odd sense of deja vu struck her as she saw Elise turn to her and feigned being offended. She pulled out her notebook. The strange tome was practically attached to Elise's hip now, just like Madoka's own weapons. She was looking at the map.

"According to the map," she traced a line where they were. Madoka looked over Elise's shoulder as she was lost in thought. "The ruins are a bit further ahead. The last time we took the bordering path to the town. This time, we're coming from behind it. You see?"

"Uh huh," Madoka said unconvincingly.

"You're so close...!" Elise blushed. Their lips almost brushed against each other. Madoka felt her cheeks get warm before scooting away.

"Don't think anything of it!" Madoka dismissed the princess. "I don't get this map."

"I have a lot to teach you," Elise sighed. "Anyways, we'll be approaching it with it fully in view. Ruins or not. If some spooky stuff happens we can hightail it out of there. We should've figured out how to close this door..."

She inspected the nearby plates. Elise rolled up her sleeve, looking for the tattoo.

"Where is that little guy," she raised her arm awkwardly. The tattoo was beneath her elbow, but it escaped further to her shoulder. "Dammit, what a little bastard."

"What if you used magic on the door?" Madoka wondered aloud. Elise's face lit up.

"Good idea!" She exclaimed. "I've actually been working on my magic theories a lot. It's a lot easier than I first thought! Or maybe I'm just getting more magic muscle! Hiyah!"

The ring of magic at the center of Elise's chest flared as bright as the sun. Madoka had to look away. She concentrated, her eyes narrowing on the labyrinth entrance.

"Go!" Elise yelled. Two large gusts of green wind rushed from Elise's sides as if someone threw two curved swords at it. Both of them crashed with the labyrinth's doors. Ciara neighed, but Madoka calmed her down. The two waited for a minute in apprehension but nothing happened. Madoka was amazed that Elise could use the Wind element. "Well, I give up."

"Amazing..." Madoka said in awe.

"Huh?" The princess looked at Madoka quizzically.

"You can use wind magic, fire magic and water magic..." Madoka gawked at the door. Traces of the green wind magic still shimmered along the door's runes.

"Oh, that's a great idea!" Elise exclaimed. "I could try fire magic!"

"No!" Madoka restrained Elise. "You'll cause a forest fire!"

"Oh, right," Elise sighed, but leaned in Madoka's arms and watched her. Madoka stared back at her, puzzled. "Are you sure you can't use magic?"

"I am simply a commoner, princess," Madoka straightened Elise up and took Ciara's reins again. "I can't use magic even if I tried."

"Commoners can use magic. Odd," Elise stared at something around Madoka. Or many things, perhaps she truly did not want to know the unseeable around her. "The mana I see, well, I call those things mana anyhow. It gathers all around you. You're practically glowing, Madoka. Glowing!"

Madoka certainly did not feel anything weird about her, but something about what the princess said made her self-conscious.

"We should get moving," Elise kicked the plate. It did not budge and she stumbled over her boot. "Ach!"

Madoka rolled her eyes.

"Get back on, then," she instructed Elise, but Elise shook her head and refused.

"I-I'll be on foot, okay? The place isn't too far away from here."

Foot it is, then. Madoka led Ciara while following the princess. They tread over moss and grass mixed with mud. They could have brought soldiers along. What were both the Lords doing? Madoka guessed that they were sent away by the princess. This past month was eerily quiet. The last month of the Summer of Light.

Madoka's mind wandered, but she was afraid to bring anything she was thinking up. So she joined the silence as the pair walked. She has not heard the princess talk about the King for some time. She used to talk about life in the palace, but lately she remained sequestered in her chambers. The King did not visit at all, nor did her brother after a while. His soldiers were seen in the town a few times, yet less activity seemed to flow across the whole Estate. Madoka could not help but feel angry over their cruelty. Did they truly disown Elise?

"You've a dark look on your face, Madoka," Elise was looking at her. "What's shakin', bacon?"

The odd phrase shook her out of her thoughts. Madoka could decipher some meanings and contextual clues from her tone of voice. A skill she's had to learn over the years that yielded varying degrees of success.

"Your Father," she led with that. Elise cocked her head. "He has never once bothered to come by."

"You're thinking of my old man?" Elise frowned. "Even I forgot he existed for a second."

She laughed bitterly.

"I think I have to face him by the end of this month," the princess said. The look of fear was overtaking her usual cheerful demeanor. "Things are going to get really scary for me the next time I see him, Madoka. That's why I got to kick this off the list really quick before they summon me."

"What for?" Madoka asked. Ciara's thoughts were nervous, but the maid was distracted. Elise looked away and did not answer. Madoka tugged her hand. "I'll go with you."

"I wish you didn't have to suffer with me," Elise said with a sigh. "I've mentioned this, haven't I? I am a heretic. A witch to be arrested. My dear brother must have found an opportunity to change the King's mind in sparing me by now."

"Is this all in your future visions?" Madoka pressed. Elise stopped walking, holding an arm to keep Madoka from taking another step forward. She gestured to be silent.

A rush of birds and wildlife flew out of a tree, like a flurry of torn out pages from a book.

Run!

I'm scared!

Ominous!

Get away!

Run!

Move!

The cacophony of thoughts was so strong that Madoka released Elise's hand.

"Gah!" Madoka covered her ears, like that would help. Ciara neighed, her hair standing stiff. She refused to budge. Elise was saying something while holding Madoka. Lots of birds' and bats' wings fluttered like a rainstorm, taking leaves with them. Madoka grit her teeth and focused up. This terrifying aura and the fleeing creatures meant that the ruins were close.

"Are you alright now?" Elise checked Madoka all over. "What was it that was hurting you?"

She could not tell what was affecting her? Madoka contemplated telling the princess the truth. Why was she keeping it a secret?

"I hear the thoughts of animals," Madoka blurted. Elise looked oddly at her but then relaxed a little.

"So that's how you and the horse get along so well," Elise noted. "So interesting. You're, like, some kind of animal whisperer."

"The thoughts have faded," Madoka said. Elise helped her up. "That means the ruins are close."

Elise nodded. After some effort, Madoka was able to get Ciara to move. Her thoughts were only expressions of terror. Everything in the forest around them was unusually quiet. Only the sound of their boots crunching over grass and dirt remained. The forest was opening up into a clearing, revealing the ruins to them as the girls approached. Madoka was shocked at the sight.

A circular platform with towering pillars dotted around it was there, remaining inert and still. It appeared to be an altar. Madoka felt odd, like something was twisting her stomach into knots just looking at the strange structure. Elise covered her mouth as she walked closer to it.

"Elise!" Madoka hissed. Her voice was lowered as if noise might disturb the altar. Elise stared at the circular platform. Madoka noticed strange runes etched onto its sides along with the perfectly symmetrical indentations within its exterior. This altar was unlike anything she's ever seen - if it was an altar to begin with.

Elise reached out to trace the runes with her fingers, but withdrew them after Madoka shot her a look.

"These runes..." Her eyes widened at a sudden revelation over them. "They kind of look Egyptian-ish— No, they look Sumerian. What is this structure?"

"Seems like an altar of some kind," Madoka suggested.

"There's got to be more to this," Elise started to walk around it. "Why is this writing script here? This whole altar seems like it's straight out of a science fiction movie. Like Star Something or whatsit. Star Travels? Whatever."

Madoka had no idea what Elise was talking about, but Ciara suddenly started neighing in distress. They had left her at the edge of the clearing where she refused to approach the altar.

"I'll get her," Madoka said, but Elise tugged her hand.

"Don't leave me here! I-I'm coming with!" Elise said. Madoka felt goosebumps marring her skin. Both must have been feeling equally nervous around this altar. As both turned to head towards the horse Madoka heard a voice. An icy chill ran down her spine and rooted Madoka's feet to the ground. Elise started breathing heavily from the stress. It was evident that she also heard the voice speak.

「Finally, we meet, Audrey.」

Madoka could not understand what the voice was saying but to her shock, the Princess responded to the voice in a language she's never heard. Or was she speaking in tongues? Ciara's neck braced upward and her ears twitched. Madoka sensed the fear overwhelming her and the horse bolted away.

Elise gestured to Madoka to get Ciara while she conversed with whatever the voice was. Madoka cursed in her head. Dammit, what in the world is happening? Who or what is that voice? She could see Ciara cornered with her legs in a wide stance, backed away from the altar. Madoka approached her slowly for fear that she might run again or buck.

"Easy, easy," Madoka calmed the horse down and then tied her to the tree. Ciara neighed loudly, but Madoka raced back to Elise. "Elise!"

The princess was doubled over, clutching her head as she leaned against the altar.

"Gah," Elise groaned. Madoka knelt down to inspect her princess. Her skin was pale; all the way to a sickly white. She barely looked at Madoka before stumbling and stopping herself from falling by catching an indent on the altar with her hands.

"What happened? Are you alright?"

Elise looked at her and did not speak for a moment. She looked as if she was drowning. Madoka realized her hands were still on the altar and the symbols on it were glowing a faint orange. She tore her hands off of it and caught the princess as she tripped. Madoka noticed as soon as she stopped touching the altar the runes went dormant again and lost their glow.

"Goddamn," Elise breathed heavily.

"Are you okay? What do you need? Ciara has our lunch, I can—"

"It's alright," Elise interrupted the worried maid. "Just let me catch a breath, okay?"

Madoka just held her tight. The strange feeling around this place seemed to have lifted and the sunlight peeked between the branches again.

XII.

"Can you walk now?" Madoka asked her princess. Elise had fully burrowed her head into Madoka's shoulder. She was on high alert, since they were still very much in the middle of the woods amongst the horrible ruins. Or altar.

"Mmm," Elise made a noise, trying to get up.

Don't leave me.

I am waiting here.

Come to me quickly.

Madoka heard Ciara's thoughts as she helped Elise. At the rate of the danger they were in, she cared not what that strange voice she heard was at the moment. The alien and unnerving presence she felt from the altar faded away, but Madoka remained vigilant. She was her princess's shield and axe, after all. Or maybe the saying was sword and shield?

The princess was muttering something, but Madoka could not understand her.

"It's been awhile," she chuckled. "Since I last spoke English."

"Was..." Madoka was terrified at the realization that the princess was speaking about the tongues. "Is 'English' the language of the Gods?"

"Ha," Elise laughed. "Perhaps I should teach you English."

Madoka gulped. Was it even possible that she, a mere commoner, could speak the language the gods spoke?

"I-I don't think I'm worthy of such knowledge," Madoka stammered.

"Come on," Elise said. The two found Ciara waiting for the girls to come. Madoka sent a prayer to the kind gods in thanks that the horse was unharmed. "You already know, what, like three languages?"

"Commoner, Noble, and Royal," Madoka stated. Commoners used a reverent form of Noble to speak to nobles while the nobles themselves used a reverent form of Royal to speak with the Royals. She remembered her training in Royal. The ancient language itself was being phased out, even the princess herself said that nobles get away without using reverent Royal to address even the King. The princess admitted she did not learn Royal, but knew only key phrases. "Still, is this English language not the one that god used?"

Commoners were not to dare speak to a Royal, Madoka thought some more about English. The language even gods use, perhaps Royals would use a reverent form of English to speak with the gods. And here Madoka was, speaking in Noble with Elise like she was equals with her. It was the princess's personal request.

"Trilingual," Elise said with surprise in her voice. Why was she surprised, Madoka thought. The princess herself could speak three languages, one which no one has ever heard before. "You're smart!"

Madoka suddenly felt her throat feel constricted. Something felt wrong when she looked at the princess now. She was not talking to the real princess. She was talking to... Why was she feeling so...? The shock slowly settled on her skin like a disgusting form of sunlight. She was facing the fact that everything the princess told Madoka about herself was true. It was Madoka's turn to lean on Ciara, pale from this revelation. Elise was not the real Elise. A kind god... spoke to the princess.

"Madoka?" Elise asked her. "English isn't that hard. Hell, there's not even rolling R's. Although, it's a pain in the ass to understand that some of its rules are contradictory... It's decided. We will learn English together when we get home. Madoka?"

Madoka let out a laugh. She did not know why. Her princess was a being from another world. Was she a demon like the nobles in the Palace said? Her head was falling apart in a spiral but all she could do is laugh in disbelief that she was forced to believe. Her own eyes have seen Elise be different. Her own ears have heard otherworldliness. Madoka's hands have fought off the shaking for too long but now she was a mess in hysterics.

Elise just remained silent, quietly placing a hand on Madoka's as she laughed and cried. Madoka instinctively yanked her hand away as if it was a poisonous snake. Did Elise understand the position she's placed Madoka in? Madoka did not care. She was terrified of this new Elise.

"I'm sorry," Elise whispered. "You must hate me now."

"H-How long has it been?" Madoka mused after she finally calmed down. She was really just talking aloud. She was just staring at the spots on Ciara's body since she did not want to face Elise. "You were... how old were you?"

"Seven," Elise confirmed softly. "When you first saved me. Look, I'm prepared to face this alone. There's still time for you to leave— Eep!"

Madoka slammed a fist on the trunk of the tree Ciara was tied to. It was harsh, but Madoka realized that she did not know whoever the original Princess was. Madoka turned and faced Elise. Elise shrunk beneath Madoka's gaze. Madoka thought she was adorable. The woman standing before her was her Elise. Her friend who she attended to for many years. Her princess she's chased up and down the hallways of the Palace. For whatever reason those thoughts calmed Madoka down.

Madoka truly was becoming a burden to her again. She held Elise in her gaze for a moment longer before she broke the silence.

"I'm sorry, Elise. I think I'm fine now," Madoka said finally and clasped a hand on Elise's.

"You don't dislike me?" Elise asked meekly.

"I-I realized," Madoka had trouble articulating her thoughts on the matter. So she did not. "I'm your servant. Hmph! Now get on Ciara!"

At the sound of her name, Ciara's ears perked up. Elise's sad eyes lit up again, but also needed to be lifted up on the horse's back. That is right, Madoka concluded. She was serving her friend as she always has been.

"That... god... or whatever," Madoka trailed off. Ciara was eager to get out of the forest so Madoka let her move faster than a walk following the markings she left to backtrack. She could not stop her curiosity from running rampant in her mind. "What did it say?"

"Ha... god, huh," The princess scoffed when Madoka called the voice a deity. How could Elise deny it was a god? "They granted me certain... let's just call it knowledge? For my magic. Also they said they were not the one who sent me here. Could you believe that?"

Madoka stayed quiet. The kind god helped her princess's magic? She resigned herself again realizing that if what the princess's visions were true then Elise will need all of the help she can get.

"Yes, I can believe that," Madoka pushed Ciara into a gallop as soon as they were out of that dreadful forest. The Estate loomed in the distance as they rode with the princess screaming the whole way.

The princess was huffing and puffing as Madoka slowed Ciara to a halt.

"Elise," Madoka rolled her eyes. "We have arrived. You can let go of me now."

"That's it!" She wheezed, getting off the horse. Ciara was quite pleased with herself. Elise pointed a finger at Madoka. What was the princess planning this time? "You're learning English, dammit. I am teaching you. We can work on reading while we're at it."

For some reason, learning how to read and a new language daunted Madoka more than her physical training.

"Starting with the alphabet!"

"Why?" Madoka complained. The princess smirked, seemingly pleased with herself that the maid was capable of complaining. "I don't want to learn!"

"Because," Elise turned before entering the Estate's door. Madoka had forgotten how empty it was. "It'll be like a secret language! We will be the only two people in the world to speak it! And the whole, uh, God thing."

As the last month of the Summer came to a close, Madoka found herself learning to be able to speak English. It was odd to her how easy she found learning language was, although she could only speak certain phrases confidently. To Elise, that was all she needed. Given time, Madoka would learn how to speak the language of the gods easier. She frequently asked Elise how to say something while the princess giggled at Madoka's accent and said it was cute.

"You probably would be really good at math and science," Elise spoke in English most of the time.

"D-Don't tell me you're going to teach me more things," Madoka complained. She still had a hard time with certain sounds, but it seemed the princess could understand her. Elise laughed. She held up another tome with Madoka's writings on it.

"Bah! I wouldn't teach you math. Who needs it in real life?" Elise said. Madoka could not tell if she was being sarcastic. "By the way, your homework is finally passing! Yippee!"

Madoka sighed as the princess danced around with the papers. Outside, a loud horn was blown. Both girls looked at each other.

"Are we under attack?" Madoka asked, ducking beneath a window.

"No," Elise said. "It's the end of our Summer of Light."

"We are here for Princess Elise Fiara!" Called someone from outside. Madoka and Elise headed outside to be greeted by a row of soldiers. A carriage awaited them. They bowed. Madoka realized that their crests matched Elise's Brother's crest.

"What is this commotion for?" Elise spoke in Royal, this time. Madoka was glad that she still remembered their native languages.

"Forgive us," the captain of the soldiers bowed. Just then, the carriage doors opened and out stepped Brother Fiara. Prince Fiara. Madoka's heart sank in nervousness as he smiled. The soldiers backed away from Prince Fiara as he strode confidently to the princess and her maid.

"Greetings, Dear Sister," the Prince's voice was light and gentle but Madoka sensed something unnerving beneath his Royal words. Elise appeared to be defiant but deep down she was scared, Madoka could tell. "Our Father calls for you. Oh, and you can come with us, too, faithful servant of my sister."

Madoka bowed and quietly followed the two Royals to the carriage with her fears welling up a tempestuous storm inside of her. She left her weapons inside. What could she possibly do?

The carriage was pulling away further and further from the Estate as if it was taking Madoka and Elise to hell itself.