Chapter 9: Urchins Singing

The problem with the assassin was his skill in stealth.

It might've been a strange thought to have when his first reaction to receiving a letter from Tristan Barielle was to gasp in pain and keel over, unable to keep consciousness once again. But unfortunately, because of his oversight about changing too much at once, Lelouch couldn't be sure if the mansion or the Witch's scent led to her rather aggressive pursuit of his life.

If this was the Witch of Envy and not just some illusion that some kind of poison or curse cooked up, then Lelouch could understand why people feared her. Emilia would be hard pressed to gather any support like this, but the people only know rumors of the Witch, her story, so there was still a chance.

When Lelouch came by, his eyes slowly opening, he woke up inside the room where Felt was receiving a massage from Ferris earlier. The soft blue glow and energy were moving over his back, and Lelouch had the chance to prevent his earlier mistake.

"Ah." Lelouch drew a sharp breath. The last time, it was just the knife wounds, this time, it was worse. The pain was unbearable, and staying unconscious until the healing was done sounded like a preferable alternative. Reinhard knelt down in front of him, looking him in the eye.

"Lelouch," he said softly. "Can you understand me?"

Lelouch nodded, the pain in his neck gone.

"Can you tell me what happened? Ferris was telling us that this might have been a curse-"

"Maybe," Lelouch said. "Did he find any trace of it?"

His voice was weak, but he asked the question clearly. Reinhard looked up.

"No," Ferris said. "If it was a curse, it's either gone or too deep inside you to find it. I'm not proficient enough in them."

"Aren't you the greatest healer in Lugnica?" Felt asked. Ferris made a high pitched noise, seemingly uncomfortable about the scrutiny of the little princess.

"I'm a healer," Ferris said. "I treat wounds, and I might be able to treat a Mabeast's curse, but I'm not a curse breaker."

"I see," Lelouch said. The pain was dulling, almost to the point of the knife wounds from the last loop, but not quite there yet. "Reinhard, could you do me a favor?"

"Anything," Reinhard said without hesitation. Lelouch smiled softly.

"I've received an invitation from the Barielle's, if I remember the servant's word correctly," Lelouch said. "I'd like to accept, but unfortunately, I don't feel very good."

"Do you want me to help you there?" Reinhard asked. Lelouch hadn't considered simply getting help against the assassin from Reinhard for this loop, but… it might not be bad. The debt would not be to him, but to the knight who saved them, or the assassin might not attack at all.

"That'd be kind," Lelouch said, gritting his teeth when Ferris' hands moved down his back. "I'm going to play some chess with him, it shouldn't take too long."

"Alright," Reinhard said. "I'm not sure if I can leave Lady Felt alone here, though. And without invitation, they might not let me in-"

"Don't worry," Lelouch said. "I'll simply write them a letter, Tristan Barielle seems rather insistent for me to come today, so he'll have to accept two more guests."

Reinhard laughed, and even Ferris seemed a bit amused. After a few minutes, the pain was gone, and Ferris' hands were still okay. Lelouch stood up after Ferris removed himself from his back, rolling his shoulders and stretching.

"Thank you, Ferris," Lelouch said. Ferris saluted.

"I'm only doing what Reinhard paid me for!" Ferris said, smiling like a cat.

"Still, thank you both," Lelouch said. "I'll be sure to pay you back."

"Don't worry about it," Reinhard said, crossing his arms. "I can't watch a friend in agony."

Lelouch sighed through his nose. Indebted to the chivalrous knight. Giving the man a small smile, Lelouch nodded. "Of course, I already owe Lady Felt a few coins already, do you think you can take that over for me?"

"Nope." Reinhard gave him a thumbs down, grinning widely. "She's already emptying my pockets whenever I pitch her something she doesn't want to do."

Lelouch laughed, and Ferris giggled. Felt was crossing her arms, looking to the side and pouting.

"I'm not that bad," she muttered. She definitely was.

-#-

The Wind Dragon carriages, a name that Lelouch had finally learned after some time of just using 'the carriage', was a wonderful invention. The Wind Dragons weren't just used for carriages, but sometimes for delivering letters. Due to their special Blessing, they were capable of reaching incredible speeds, and after writing the letter quickly, Lelouch expected an answer after breakfast.

Sitting at the dining table, Lelouch enjoyed the meal, his hands steady and his body free of all ailments. Ferris sat there too, playing with his food.

"Hey, Ferris," Felt said, drawing all attention to her. "Why are old man Rom and that old fart missing together since yesterday?"

"I don't know~" Ferris said, pressing his knuckles onto the top of his head. Felt grunted. "I think they know each other. All old people do."

Reinhard laughed, but Felt didn't look very satisfied with the answer. Giving him a disapproving stare, Felt stabbed the fork into the food in front of her.

"How'd some guy from the slums know a noble like that?"

"Well, Rom is a giant," Reinhard said, taking a handkerchief. Felt had a few crumbs around her mouth. He was unnaturally big, but actually a demi-human? Lelouch couldn't tell the difference most of the time. His size could've just had to do with the magic that flowed around the world, after all. "And considering how old he is, they might have met once in the demi-human war."

The conflict where Wilhelm made a name for himself.

"That makes sense," Ferris said. "So they're old comrades?"

"Maybe," Lelouch said. "Or maybe they're old enemies."

Wiping the crumbs away from Felt's mouth, Reinhard spoke up. "We could just ask them when they're back."

A knock on the dining room door echoed a bit later, and a man stepped in, holding a letter.

"Lord Barielle has answered," he said. Lelouch nodded.

"Could you summarize it, we're currently eating," Reinhard ordered. The man nodded, opening the letter.

"Unable to accept these conditions under current circumstances, Lord Barielle would like to invite Lelouch Lamperouge, Sir Reinhard van Astraea and the Royal Candidate Felt to the public park, where the rose trees bloom."

"Rose trees?" Lelouch asked. Reinhard sighed.

"The public park's not so public noble spot," Reinhard said. Felt grumbled.

"I don't want to meet some shitty nobles in a park," she said.

"Oh?" Lelouch said, grinning. The assassin might actually ignore him in such a public spot, and if he suddenly felt itches all over his body, he knew that not going to the mansion was the variable that led to his rather painful demise. "You wouldn't want to sit in the park with all those open pockets brimming with gold?"

Felt twitched. Reinhard gave Lelouch a disapproving look. The former emperor just shrugged at him, what can you do when money calls?

"And all that jewelry," Lelouch said. "Wouldn't there be-"

"I'm going!" Felt said, smashing her hands on the table as she stands up. "I'm so going! Reinhard, get the carriage ready!"

Reinhard sighed, giving Lelouch a glare that spoke of the betrayal he felt. Ferris snorted before breaking out into loud laughter.

-#-

Where 'Ghetto', 'Residental district', 'Castle' and 'Market district' were separate and large on their own, the park itself was also a huge part of the city. Closer to the ghetto than to the residential district, on the northern side of the city, the park was presenting itself in beautiful lush colors that were muted by the clouds hiding the sun.

The Wind Dragon carriage stopped nearby, and a servant opened the door for all of them to step out. Ferris had decided to remain behind, probably reporting whatever he had found out about the curse to Crusch like he had done before. At least he wouldn't have to deal with the backlash of him hurting his hands again.

Felt was in a dress, a shorter one, as she walked next to Reinhard, following a paved path towards trees with actual roses in their crowns. The red and green tinted trees were on the top of a hill, with half a dozen of knights standing at guard everywhere around. Normal knights, not the Royal Guard, though. Lelouch couldn't tell just how different they were in terms of strength, but from what he had seen, the Barielle guards were mostly useless.

"Hm," Felt said, stopping. Before they even arrived at the guards surrounding the rose trees, but close enough to see that Tristan Barielle and Henry Miload were standing near a lot of other finely dressed people, the group came to a halt.

"Is something the matter, Lady Felt?" Reinhard asked. She was looking towards a group of children, playing in the dirt with a ball. When he saw where her gaze went, Reinhard blinked, but said nothing, waiting for her answer.

"I was one of them," she said. "I'm still one of them."

"You aren't," Reinhard said. She glared at him, but he just smiled back. "I understand what you mean, but the worlds you live in right now, they're different."

She growled, as if she wanted to retort. Sighing, she crossed her arms.

"I guess I'd not react any favorably to nobles suddenly deciding to walking up to me if I was in their shoes," she said. Lelouch scowled slightly. That was true, but he could see she felt bad about it. "That's why I want to help them when I'm queen."

When. Not if. The girl was becoming more confident by the day.

"I suppose the Urchin Queen should be taking care of the urchins, shouldn't she?" Lelouch asked. A poke in the right direction. "What would the nobles say if they saw one who might become queen play with the dirty children in the park…"

Felt twitched slightly.

"Reinhard," Felt said, steel in her voice. "This is an order."

The man bowed, his hand on his chest.

"Yes, my lady?" he asked. Felt smiled widely, grabbing the hem of her skirt and ripping it apart with her hands. He winced at the display, but waited for the command.

"I'll go mingle with the commoners," she said, a bit of humor in her voice. "Don't complain."

"Yes, milady," Reinhard said, nodding. Lelouch grinned at the display, taking out the invitation and stepping towards the line of guards. One of the urchins threw a ball at Felt, and she just caught it, throwing it back.

"Halt," one of the guards said. "I don't recognize you."

Handing over the invitation, Lelouch waved towards Tristan, who was walking down the hill towards him. With the guards and nobles capable of magic like this, he finally had a chance.

"Let him through," Tristan said. "He's my guest."

The guard didn't even take a second look at the invitation before nodding, handing it back and letting Lelouch step through.

"I see you've not exaggerated about your condition," Tristan said. Lelouch was still rather pale, and even the healing didn't completely remove the tiredness of dealing with such a mental strain from the pangs of pain in his back. "Please, have a seat and some tea."

Lelouch nodded. "Thank you, sir."

Lelouch sat across Henry.

"I don't believe we've met yet," Henry said. "My name is Henry Miload."

"I've heard a lot about you," Lelouch responded, smiling. "Will I be playing against you today? I've assumed that the invitation was a challenge by Lord Barielle."

"Yes," Henry said. "I've heard him talk about your skill and I just had to see if it was true. I'm rather infamous in that regard as well."

"I see," Lelouch said. He glanced to the side, where he could see some nobles whisper while glaring daggers towards Felt. "Then I suppose I should let you offer the bet, as my challenger."

"As you wish," Henry said, throwing three golden coins on a second table. A chessboard and pieces had been prepared already, someone approached with tea, a young woman in a maid outfit. "Thank you."

The servant girl bowed and left. Tristan took a seat in another chair, looking nervous.

"Say, Lelouch… are you a supporter of Lady Felt?"

Lelouch grinned. The same conversation, just a different background.

-#-

When the match was finally finished, there were quite a few nobles who had gathered around them to observe. Henry, polite enough to avoid the topic in such public, had not revealed Tristan's debt. The fact that the match was over quickly and that the day was still young helped immensely.

Lelouch relaxed slightly. No assassination. No itches.

It seemed that messing with the Witch's scent was a bad idea, but not going to the mansion was alright.

"Ah," Henry said. "More challengers, it seems."

Someone approached the table. A young man with black hair.

Lelouch tensed, fear bubbling up inside him. But he had nothing to fear. He knew it was him, so he had the advantage. All he had to do was block any attack of his until Reinhard rushed here to help them. And the possibility of being wrong also remained open. If the young man wasn't the assassin, he had something to earn.

"Hello," Lelouch said, smiling softly. Henry stood up, letting the man sit down as Lelouch reset the chessboard. "Do you wish to play?"

"Yes," the young man said. His voice was rather rough, yet diminutive. "I'd like to challenge you."

"I'm happy to oblige," Lelouch said. More nobles around him. Most of them probably capable of magic. "What are you offering?"

"This," the young man said. He pulled something out of his pockets. A small glass box with a silver crystal inside.

"Ah, I'm not familiar with this object," Lelouch said. "Could you explain it to me?"

"That's a Geis," Henry said. Lelouch's eyebrows twitched at the word. "It's a special magical artifact, incredibly rare. It holds the power to force two people to comply with a condition."

Lelouch's hands twitched to his pocket.

"It's worth over a hundred sacred gold due to the difficulty of obtaining one," Henry continued. Sagging with his shoulders, Lelouch sighed.

"I see," Lelouch said. "I'm afraid I have nothing that equals this, sir."

"Don't worry, this one isn't worth as much," the young man said. "It already has a condition engraved onto it."

The young man held the Geis and held it out for Lelouch to take. Leaning forward slightly, Lelouch grasped the object.

"Haven't they been outlawed?" Tristan asked. Henry shook his head.

"Only in Gusteko," he said. "I heard they used them for death matches-"

It exploded, driving shards into Lelouch's and the black haired young man's hand. Tricked? He had been tricked by something these magically adept pieces of shit nobles should be able to recognize easily-

He got angry. Why? It wasn't in him to be irrationally angry at people, they needed to commit a bigger evil, a greater mistake. He messed up by touching it, but he was still angry.

Gritting his teeth, Lelouch stepped backwards, knocking the chair over as the shards of the Geis spread around them, forming a sphere of mana that pushed all the nobles back.

The young man began to laugh.

"I knew it…" he said. "Greedy piece of shit, disgusting boy-molesting fruit, degenerate rich asshole…"

The young man's insults became louder and louder, and more insulting each time.

Lelouch could see Reinhard outside of the sphere, trying to stab it open with a sword from a guard.

"It doesn't matter if you're the Sword Saint or not!" the young man shouted. His fine appearance suddenly looked a lot more disheveled. Slightly hunching over, he pulled out two northern daggers, the same kind that Elsa had used. "The Geis is absolute!"

"Sabal," Lelouch said. A dagger appeared in his right hand. "So this thing forces two people to comply with the condition engraved on it?"

"Yes!" the young man shouted in glee. "The last two people who touched it need to fight to their death, and anyone trying to break it will kill them both!"

That made Reinhard stop. The sphere stopped expanding, leaving an arena open.

"Of course," Lelouch said. He had nothing to fear from death, information could be gathered even if he failed, but just letting himself be killed wasn't high on his list of reasonable decisions. "Do you have a name, assassin?"

"I'm Omairat, your executioner!" he said, pointing the daggers forward.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you," Lelouch said, raising his empty left hand towards his chest. "That assassinations work better when they're done in secret?"

Omairat's face twisted into an angry grimace, and he jumped into a wall, using inhuman speed to keep him going and defying gravity in his rush towards Lelouch.

"Pieri," Lelouch said. A golden glow surrounded his body, destroying all traces of tiredness and increasing his strength. Raising his hand towards Omairat, he continued, summoning a shield. "Lumus."

The two daggers hit the shield, and Lelouch felt his arm's increased strength fail against the onslaught. Attempting a stab to Omairat's torso led to the young man dodging, flipping backwards until he was on the other wall again. The increased power wouldn't hold long, and he would be very tired afterwards, but Lelouch could see easily how this place would be his advantage.

"Reinhard," Lelouch said. The red-haired man looked towards him, worried but listening. "Get Ferris real quick. I'll be fine."

Reinhard nodded. If he wasn't able to find him, then any water mage among these nobles should do. While many ran away, some watched in sick fascination. This dome wanted to make him angry, but he ruled anger, he controlled it.

Raising his arm towards the sky, Lelouch held the shield forward and considered the concept of the spells for a moment. One can increase the power of a spell by adding syllables to the incantation. One could change the intention of the spell by changing syllables in the original incantaiton.

"Ul Sasam," Lelouch said. Intent and words. Praying for a miracle, Lelouch and Omairat both looked up as hundreds of golden needles appeared. "Ul Lumus."

The shield formed around his body and was draining his mana. The dome stopped the needles from spreading too far and had them rain down within seconds. The golden shield stopped him from seeing through, but did not stop the sounds.

"Youuuuu!"

Omairat's angry shout was drowned by screams and Lelouch felt his body give out when the needles impacted the shield. Unable to see what was happening outside, Lelouch dissolved the shield when the sounds of screaming stopped.

The dome around them shattered, and Lelouch fell onto a heap whole and dissolving needles, right into a puddle of blood from where Omairat had attempted to scratch open his shield. The man's body was still twitching.

Henry rushed to him, helping him away from the needles.

"Is anyone here a healer?" he asked. Lelouch hissed in pain as he pulled some of the needles out.