Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for being patient with me. Sorry about the false update I just finally got around to fixing the chapters that I had to break into parts way back. I also came across a map a while back that shows which shield princess commands which fortress so I'll end up having to move some things. I hope you guys will continue to support me in the coming year .

Quick question, I have an idea for a plot device but it would mean turning this into a crossover. It wouldn't be anything unbelievable since the series I'd like to use is also a sort of set in fantasy world. Would you guys be okay with that? Can I get a ruling? Which series is it, well you guys will have to wait a while to find out.

I don't own Kuroinu or it's characters (except for OCs) in any way shape or form.

Kuroinu Chapter 13

It was late in the evening and Claudia was in her study, reading the notes from her meeting with Olga who had just left a few minutes ago with a lamp powered by light magic. Both Olga and Mark had both come home a little after night had fallen with Olga still clinging to Mark much like they had this morning however she was in a far more obvious better mood than when they left. While they were out and about Claudia carefully looked over the fortress' schematics and the forces under her control to see what could be improved upon in general after all there was no guarantee that Olga would actually cooperate but the meeting had been much more productive than she initially thought.

When Olga and she first sat down in her study to talk, Olga looked like a girl that had just entered the honeymoon stage of a relationship with her significant other but once Claudia started to "express" her displeasure with Olga's sudden shift in mood Olga eventually snapped out of it. Claudia had to admit that the information Olga had given her was far more useful than she had initially believed it would be and it helped point out some flaws in the fortress that Claudia was completely unaware of.

Claudia placed the notes to the side of her desk and sat back in her chair, pinching the ridge of her nose out of mental exhaustion. It couldn't be helped however, even though she was used to going days without sleep as she had spent a majority of her life as a knight fighting on the battlefield to go from one war into another without much respite and for one of her allies in this war to be none other than the very enemy that started the previous war it was amazing that she could contain her disdain for Olga enough to work.

Plus, there was Olga's odd attachment to her son to worry about as well. Olga had always been considered something of a full-on diva given how grand she had portrayed herself in the previous war. The woman's tactical prowess and magic ability would have possibly won her the war had Celestine not risen when she did but now here she was flirting with Claudia's son and based on the events from earlier this morning ready to seduce him at a moment's notice.

"Honestly what sort of nonsense is this?" –Claudia said to no one in particular before shifting the seat to face the desk once more only to find a paper on the desk that was not there earlier. Claudia picked up the paper and carefully looked over the contents before smiling and nodding.

"You've done well to collect all this information given when I summoned you. To think you would even get all the events up to the moment they left, if only all mercenaries had the level professionalism that you or Maia have. No one saw you correct, Elene?" –Claudia said as she shifter her gaze over to a corner of the room that was by the door covered in darkness.

Emerging from the darkness was a young woman in her early twenties dressed in black leather armor and armed with a short sword on her back and throwing knives strapped to her leg. She had white skin and short black hair which had two black cat ears sprouting from the top of her head. Her figure was small compared to most women but it was still attractive and her tail was wrapped around her waist making it look like belt if one did not see it too closely. Yet despite all that the most captivating thing about her was her feline like eyes, one was green and the other was blue. She was Claudia's greatest spy and source of information Elene.

"Obviously, I wouldn't be much of a spy if someone had seen me. Only you and a very small number of people know about me after all." –Elene walked forward and planted herself in a chair close to Claudia's desk.

"Given how quickly we found ourselves getting involved in another war one cannot be too careful. So, should I take it that this incident in the market place that you talked about here in your report with the guards was your doing then as well?" –Claudia

"Hey, when Larissa told me to keep an eye on your kid and the former dark elf "queen" I thought it be best if they had as little interference as possible. Although the thing with the kids was pretty cute, he's definitely your son Lady Claudia." –Elene tried to stifle a laugh as she leaned backed in the chair and recalled Mark's speech to the kids about villains as heroes.

"He has a good heart which is precisely why I want you to continue keeping a close eye on Olga. As much as it pains me to admit this his kindness can make him a bit naïve when it comes to women, doubly so with women like Olga. It'd be child's play for her to get my son wrapped around her finger. Naturally you will be compensated for your work and until something more important comes up that will be your only job." –Claudia opened a drawer on her side of the desk and pulled out a small bag which she placed in front of Elene. Elene sat up in her chair, took the bag, and gave it a good shake before opening it. She nodded once she confirmed her payment and got up.

"Well then since she's turned in for the evening I take it I have the rest of the night off?" –Elene smiled as Claudia nodded and quickly opened the window behind her before jumping out. Claudia watched as she flew through the grounds at fantastic speed and into the city before stretching her arms above her head and leaving the study for the night.

"You are sure you won't require anything today young lord?" –Larissa asked as she followed Mark out the front door.

"I will be fine Larissa. I still have plenty of money left over from yesterdays' outing. This is to help Olga learn as much as she can about the fortress in order to prepare it for when Vault and his men eventually attack." –Mark was once again taking Olga out as a follow up to yesterday's events. Thankfully she wasn't in his bed this time due to his mother having changed the lock on the door to his room yesterday and even had a few protective wards placed on it for good measure. Mark thought it was a bit unnecessary but then again, his mother was a very cautious woman when she felt something was going to happen.

As Mark and Larissa waited outside however they began to hear Chloe's voice come from inside. Mark could only sigh as he remembered how angry and noisy Chloe was when Olga and he returned home last night.

"But Lady Olga you must let me go with you! What if something happened to you yesterday!? That man would probably throw you to the crowd and run if you were exposed!" –Chloe closely followed behind Olga as she was walking down the stairs. Olga was once again wearing the glamour charm but this time she wore a light green dress with matching shoes.

"I spent the entire day with Mark yesterday and he had plenty of chances to betray me plus I walked back with him last night without my charm on and I was perfectly fine as well. No one approached us and the patrolling guards did an excellent job in keeping back anyone who even looked like they were going to try and attack me." –Olga

"But Lady Olga-" –Chloe

"Stay here Chloe and help Alexis and the other maids. That's final." –Olga made her way to the door, not even stopping to look at how Chloe had stopped on the final steps of the stairs. Chloe watched as Olga wrapped her arms around Mark's arm and began to quickly pull him away from the old maid and off the premises.

Her open hand slowly turned into a fist as she began to tremble in rage. It was because of him that Olga had been acting so strangely. Olga would always talk about him whenever he wasn't around during their trip to this blasted fortress and the way she always looked at him drove Chloe mad to no end. It was she that had always been by Olga's side, and it was because of her that she trained so hard and endured so much pain to be able to repay Olga for everything she did for her. But this man, this human man was starting to take Olga away from her.

"I'm sorry Lady Olga but there is no way I can follow that order." –Chloe quickly ran after them. Even if it caused trouble for her lady. If she saw him hurt so much as the smallest hair on Olga's body then she was going to give him a very intimate lesson as to whom Olga belonged to.

A/N sorry for the short chapter but I will get to work on the next chapter immediately and as you might have guessed next chapter will have some long-awaited conflict.