Chrono clenched his fist.
"They escaped…" he said. "They seemed to have betrayed their allies. The attack hit them just as hard as it hit us. If they hadn't been medics…"
Amy nodded. "You'd probably be deaf forever. That attack sure was something," she noted. "Still, their medicinal abilities are impressive, for such a primitive planet."
"No, the medic who healed me is. If what Jiraiya told me is true, we were healed by the single best medic in their world and her apprentice. They're certainly well above most if not all doctors I've visited before, but I doubt the world lives up to that standard," Chrono noted, shaking his head. "Still, it seems that while the attack hit them unexpectedly, they still returned to the village all the same. Sneaking in now will be more difficult now that they know what we actually look like."
"But your conversation with this Jiraiya person… he is clearly open to us, and he understands," Lindy interrupted. "The Knights won't listen to us, and they probably don't care either way—"
"They're supposed to be unfeeling automatons. But we know that they're at least capable of anger," Chrono said. "Nanoha, Fate, you fought them… what are your impressions?"
"They're definitely not unfeeling," Fate said, instantly.
"I agree. Vita-chan… I could feel her love for her mistress, and her fear and worry. And, well, she was also very angry," Nanoha mentioned, frowning a little. "My father used to say, when training by siblings, that by fighting all out, we can understand each other's feelings and… I feel I understand her a bit, now. She's deathly afraid of something. She was really, really desperate when we fought. What about you, Fate-chan?"
"Signum wasn't any different. She seemed to be outwardly controlled, calm and even cold. She certainly looked unfeeling, but… I could see it just as clearly. She respected me. But… beyond that, below that outer layer, I could feel it too. She was afraid and desperate. I could tell by the way she got more and more aggressive as she was worn down, and the fight dragged on."
Chrono nodded. "Given the devotion to their master that they showed… I believe that's the source of their worry and desperation. Jiraiya confirmed that their mistress, Naruko is dying from some malady, possibly related to the book itself. They were seeking out the world renowned medic who healed us to see if she could help," Chrono explained.
"Yes, that matches up. Vita-chan kept rambling about us trying to kill someone… So that's why they won't talk to us. They fear we're out to kill their master," Nanoha muttered.
"In a way, they are right. There is no saving the Master of the Book… not yet, at any rate," Chrono noted.
Lindy nodded. "Yuuno will find a way. I'm sure of it. However, now we know for certain where they are. From now on, we'll start a hunting operation."
"Um… We lost our devices," Nanoha stated. "Raising Heart took more damage than I thought."
"Bardiche, as well," Fate added. "They knew that our devices were more fragile than theirs, and used that to their advantage. That's how they defeated us."
"I've been meaning to talk to you two. Both of your devices are rather old, and due for an update since a long time ago," Lindy explained. "Even storage devices, such as S2U, have to receive regular updates to not become obsolete."
Chrono nodded, confirming her words.
"Up until recently, I'd thought they were good as they were, and… they really are," Nanoha said. "But…"
"A stronger frame wouldn't hurt. Especially for me," she mentioned. She remembered the ease with which Laevateinn dented and cracked Bardiche, and how much energy had been wasted in that fight powering the self repair system so that Fate could still use her weapon.
"Leave it to us, then. We'll make sure that Raising Heart and Bardiche are back and stronger than ever in no time," Lindy promised, smiling at them both. "You'll have to stay here, though, it could be dangerous to be alone without devices…"
Nanoha shook her head. "No, we won't be alone. We'll take Arf with us," she said. "And… if we don't have devices, then they won't attack us."
Lindy blinked. "Are you certain?"
"Yes. Signum considered me a worthy opponent…" Fate said, shaking her head. "It'd be an insult to attack me while I can't defend myself."
"They are Belkan Knights, after all. They could've killed us, but let us go," Chrono said. "… I don't think that they'd be in danger if they performed Recon. And unlike me, they have managed to find a friend to guide them around the village."
"Very well… you're all dismissed, for the time being. Nanoha, Fate, you two should return to your hotel room in Konoha. We can insert you discretely. Remember… be careful."
The two nodded.
***
"Is what we're doing the right thing, Fate-chan?"
Nanoha was sitting on the upper bed on the room that she and Fate shared. She'd already changed into her bedclothes, and Fate blushed slightly at her near naked roommate. Fate herself was a lot more overly conscious, and had actually changed in the bathroom into a floor length gown. By contrast, Nanoha's sleepwear was a simple long shirt, which had probably once belonged to one of her siblings. Likely her brother, given that it looked like it was a man's shirt. Nanoha claimed that she'd forgotten to pack her sleepwear in her excitement, but she'd had it in the Asura… "I… don't know," she admitted. "And I don't think there is a right thing to do."
"Yeah… you're right," Nanoha replied, nodding at her. "If we don't do anything, then the Book will kill everyone in this world and then move on to another one… but if we do, then we'll be condemning someone to be sealed forever… someone who might not have done anything… I can't do that to an innocent."
Fate climbed up so she could sit next to Nanoha, placing her full weight on her arms as she leaned back and looked at the ceiling once she did. "I know… I want to help save this person, like you saved me…"
"The knights… they love her a great deal. I could feel it…" Nanoha explained. "The kind of person who would inspire such love and devotion… it can't be an evil person."
Fate nodded. "But what can we do?"
At this, Nanoha frowned. "I don't know, Fate-chan, I don't know… But Yuuno-kun might have figured something out!" Nanoha said, smiling. "Yeah! Yuuno-kun is the best researcher, I'm sure he's figured something out at the Infinite Library!"
"Yes. I'm sure he has. And if he hasn't…" Fate said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, "then we'll think of something ourselves."
"That's the spirit, Fate-chan!" Nanoha said, pumping her fist in the air. "We'll save the Master of the Book, no matter what!"
Fate smiled and nodded. "Then… tomorrow, we'll go out into the village! We'll find the Master, and convince her to make them stop and talk…"
"Ne, Fate-chan," Nanoha began, looking completely serious. "Do you think that the Naruko who Sakura-chan confused you with might be the same Naruko..?"
"I don't know how common the name may be… but Signum didn't have any special reactions to my appearance… It might be," she admitted.
"We should ask her to introduce us all the same, don't you think?" Nanoha asked.
Fate nodded. "If nothing else, it'll give us an excuse to check."