First and last mission.

After he'd displayed his spells, he was handed a bastard sword and told to spar with Wardes. Without trying to kill him of course.

Wardes drew his rapier and it started to glow with wind elemental energy as the spar started, and boy, was Michael correct to try and flee from him before. Wardes wasn't only a superior swordsman, but he was easily able to enhance his speed with his magic. Making him faster than Michael even despite his Gandalfr runes being active.

It was obvious that Michael was physically stronger however, forcing Wardes to use hit-and-run tactics in order to pick Michael apart. Wardes easily slid around the training ground, parrying and counter-attacking with quick strikes, all while using his wind elemental magic to manoeuvre around as if he were on ice skates.

Five minutes pass and Michael was covered in scratches and light wounds, and the only thing indicating that Wardes had been hit were a couple tears at the bottom of his coat, where Michael had barely missed him.

The spar ends and Michael could see that both Cromwell and Sheffield were disappointed with his skills. Probably having thought he'd be a swordmaster if they just gave him a sword. Too bad the Gandalfr runes didn't work like that.

The trio discuss their plans for him and his eventual mission where he'd accompany Wardes to assassinate Prince Wales. This allowed Michael to know the relative time he was in compared to the anime, he hadn't really been able to keep track of things while on the run and getting tortured after all.

After all, was said and done, he was escorted back to his cage by the trio and ordered to rest. Allowing Michael to lie down on the ground that was still covered by his blood, flesh, and extracted teeth. They didn't deign to clean after him, so despite the smell, they forced him to live in this filthy place.

"You'll pay with your lives, Nobles." he repeatedly vows to himself as if counting sheep, and eventually falls into an uncomfortable sleep, where memories of his past treatment replay as if he were experiencing them again...

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Two days later :

Michael sits in front of Wardes on his Griffin dressed in some reclaimed Albion armour. It was essentially comprised of a gambeson over chainmail that'd been stolen from a Loyalist soldier who had been killed.

He and Wardes had journeyed back to La Rochelle and were both currently waiting aboard an airship that had been recently harassed by pirates... But Reconquista was aware that the pirates were actually the remaining loyalists who were trying to get supplies to fund their war effort.

The loyalists were on their last legs, and the only reason they continued to fight was because Prince Wales was still leading them. He was Albion's last legitimate heir, so if Cromwell truly wanted to conquer it, Wales needed to die.

Michael wasn't happy to be sitting in front of Wardes on his Griffin like this, but the man was far warier of him than Cromwell or Sheffield. The latter had tortured him yesterday to make sure he was under control and Michael had barely restrained himself from tearing her damn throat out with his teeth, but, after much self-control and mental promises of death, he was sent out.

Fortunately, it looks like his time with Reconquista would be ending fairly soon, if the approaching pirate ship was anything to say. The airship crew all immediately start running around in attempts to avoid the pirates or potentially fight them off, but the enemy ship was recognisably more powerful, forcing them to stop and surrender.

The trader airship only had six cannons in total, which wasn't much compared to the pirate which had around twenty from what Michael could see.

The pirates quickly noticed Wardes and Michael's presence and quickly escorted them onto their ship where they were led to the captains quarters after extensive questioning. Wardes displayed a copy of the letter Henrietta wished to send, forged seal and all, and the duo entered the room after leaving the Griffin on the deck.

Prince Wales was standing on the opposite side of the room with his most loyal men standing around, glaring at Wardes and Michael with suspicion and hostility, despite the fact that both of them had been searched and stripped of weapons when they came in.

Prince Wales looked like your typical handsome anime character, with short blonde hair and light blue eyes. He's what you'd think of when you think of King Arthur, or a handsome knight. He wears a blue outfit that looks as luxurious as it is practical, with a long sword and wand both strapped at on his hip. Though, Michael's eyes are drawn towards the silver ring that had a blue gem atop it on his finger... The Ruby of Wind Michael mentally affirms, remembering it from the anime... He didn't know if it had any abilities, but it's something that signifies Albion, so it should be special in one way or another.

Wardes kneels and Michael follows suit, following the orders he'd been given before they'd arrived on the loyalist airship. "Your Majesty, I am Viscount Wardes, Captain of Princess Henrietta's Griffin Knights, I come with a letter for your hands only."

Wales nods at one of his guards and they walk forward and take it, giving it to the prince so he can read it. He does so, and his expression all but collapses into a restained frown. The letter carried news of Henrietta's engagement to Germania's emperor, but it also included a declaration of love for him, which must've struck him especially hard.

Michael refused to pity him however, as he needed to plan for his escape. He knew the ship was currently flying over the coast of Albion, so he couldn't exactly jump off without making any other preparations... Plus the fact that he needed to get rid of Wardes before that.

He could betray Wardes now and announce his loyalty to the rebels, but there was a high chance that he'd escape, or perhaps even win against everyone here... No, he had to wait for the right opportunity... He wanted to kill Wardes personally.