Vol 1 Epilogue (1/2)

Final Play: The Joy of Your Desires —Evhe Smiles at Dawn—

Part 1

”Say Ada What do you think that is?”

In classrooe in the classrooes came over and stealthily whispered in Ada's ear Because she didn't see any chimera, she opened the closed curtains just a little bit and peeked outside

”What do you , isn't there?”

Although they exchanged places and she looked outside, all she saas the pitch-black sky spreading out endlessly

”Wrong way Look over in that direction!”

Serges's finger pointed in the direction of the campus They stared in that direction for a few seconds The sky riggling

”Eh”

Finally, she understood what her classmate had said

That wasn't the sky What she had thought was the sky, were actually deep blueish-purple flaht-colored fla overhead Their concentration turned to where the huge vortex of flames were concentrated at a s ChannelRecital Gate had been born Because it was so big, she didn't notice it until it had been pointed out

What is that? The ChannelRecital Gate that they didn't know the reason for, it ay too gigantic They had never seen such a showy ChannelRecital Gate before

The gate's radiance increased and suddenly burst open

That was proof that the Recitation had been completed

”Eh?”

Exhausted, Mio leaned against the railing on the rooftop

The ChannelRecital Gate's radiance grew Even she clearly understood that at that moment, the ChannelRecital Gate had completely opened

True Spirits called out by High noble AriasFirst Scale Recitations were extre in coreen wyvern, and other creatures suh noble AriasFirst Scale Recitations were absurdly huge

Just what sort of huge thing was coot to blink while staring, but, even though the gate had burst open, there was nothing co out

No way, did it fail?

Although she wanted to confir the caed into darkness for a second time

”What just happened”

The only thing that entered her vision was the gigantic shadow that had broken into the school grounds She didn't know the reason why, but that ed direction and set foot into the campus

If the recitation had failed, then there was nothing that could be done There wasn't enough tih noble AriaFirst Scale Recitation The hydra drew closer to the center of the cao But because of the darkness, she couldn't see his figure She wasn't even sure if he was able to escape

Rather, she didn't want to see hiht turned on

But, with alhts that had been off now turned back on The school lit up once again For a second time, the campus was brilliantly illuminated

—Please Don't be there Please have run away

Although her eyelids felt burned by that scorching radiance, nevertheless she stared at that place— and felt a burst of dizziness

I can't believe it

He reure of her friend as supposed to be resting in the hall

”Neight, Kululu, run awaaaaaaayyyy!”

Mio raised her voice from the rooftop There was no way they could hear her But even so, she couldn't help but shout At this rate the three of them would be trampled by that monster Eh? Three of them?

Her eyesight hadn't gone bad The boy wearing a deep blue colored robe, that was Neight The girl wearing the white dress, that person was Kluele The last person was also standing at the place where they was

That person was pitch black, like their whole body rapped in black cloth Who is that?

No Impossible

Although she had thought that the True Spirit of Night was soe, could it be—

'That' didn't materialize from the ChannelRecital Gate

Instead, at thearose out of Neight's shadow

The three-dihtened its back But even so, it was clearly sht In other words, not body length or size

Because, the thing before eyes had the figure of a human

Its body was jet-black, but gave a transparent impression A human clad in shadows Furtherirl drenched in pitch-black paint fro— In short, that was probably the closest analogy

But, not long before Kluele steadily gazed at it, the boy that it stood next to suddenly collapsed unsteadily

”—Neight?”

The boy was on the verge of collapsing backwards Barely in the nick of tiht shoulder But no matter how many times she called out, he didn't reply His eyes remained closed Was he unconscious? At a ti soon—

[Because that feeling of tension suddenly eased]

Kluele looked over her shoulder The True Spirit of Night had come and stood beside them

[However, he should be praised for doing such a good job holding on]

It stretched out a shadow in the shape of a hand The fingertip of the shadow gently stroked the boy's face

”Are you the True Spirit of Night?”

[It would seem so wouldn't it? Kluele-san]

Kluele was startled after suddenly being called by her name Just like the divine bird she had called out, why did even the True Spirit of Night know her name?

[Fufu, that child told me]

The True Spirit turned her head, looking upwards In that direction— Like it had assee creature flapped its wings overhead It was gigantic Although she only ht even be comparable to the hydra

The floating silhouette that the school's lights shone on Is that a dragon?

The hydra increased its speed, causing cracks in the earth While catching a gliht looked up at the sky

[Arma, I'll take that on as an opponent Go help Kluele-san and Neight hide]

——Understood——

The low, heavy tone was like the ringing of the lowest key of a pipe organ Was that truly its voice It made Kluele wonder whether the sound’s vibration would land on her head No, but more importantly

Arma? Wasn't that a name she know?

No way, this dragon overhead is

[Didn’t I say a long tio that I’ht now It's co]

The jet-black dragon landed right behind her The gust of wind caused her hair to sway

[Evhe, I'll leave that to you Little girl, carry Neight and quickly get on]

”Kluele-san—”

For a moment, Kluele saw the illusion that someone was behind her Just like the PhoenixDivine Bird of Dawn and Arma, that person had a voice that seemed to come out of nowhere The voice suspended in air was a human woman's voice

”Thank you very ht by himself would never have been able to call me out It is surely because of you that I aht's place, I thank you If you are able to, please continue helping this child”

'This child'? That was not a nor about her own child Isn't it unfitting for a True Spirit to use such wording when talking about humans?

Before she had time to decide whether to ask that question or not, Kluele’s body floated upwards Without any warning, the Night-colored dragon had grabbed the two of thes

”Wa-Wait, carry us more carefully!”

While still burdened with Neight, Ar very fast, because of the unstable footing, a little mistake could shake the in an aard manner Could it be a bad habit? Compared to the bird deity that she had come here with, he was too clumsy

[Because I haven’t flown in a long time]

He said brazenly with an innocent expression That arrogant tone of voice on was truly the Recited creature that she was familiar with

”You gigantic flying lizard”

[Do you have so to say?]

At the companion who always constantly returned her questions, Kluele shook her head in resignation

”Nothing More ie like that, you should have come out in the first place!”

[The <woin=””> and I are Duet-type Recitations If one wing isn’t called out, the other wing can’t come out either]

This was the first time she had heard of this special type But other than that, there were still a lot of things she wanted to ask

”Just who is that True Spirit?”

The True Spirit of Night still stood below them But somehow, it was different Exactly what it was, Kluele didn't knoever, it felt different froht-colored Lizard If there was a line dividing hu on the line

“You called her Evhe, right? Is that the True Spirit’s name?”

[She doesn’t have a nairl who voluntarily abandoned her own name]

Froon suddenly flew higher But despite the roar of the wind in her ears, the True Spirit's voice still retained its clear quality

[Evhe— The <woht Color Recitations into this world]

Brought the Night Color Recitations into this world? That reply made her stare at the boy she carried on her shoulder

“Eh? But, wasn’t that Neight?”

[You’ve probably heard about it The one who constructed Night Color Recitations wasn’t Neight, but his mother]

Kluele becaht's mother should have already passed away She understood that Neight's ht Color Recitations, but as the True Spirit of Night's name Evhe?

Before she could ask, Arave her a request

[Cover your ears There is so I must do]

”Must do?”

[Howl]

That one siht

Howl Wa-Wait aNeight There’s no way for me to cover my ears, so please restrain yourself—

Her as in vain When the jet-black dragon let loose a howl, Kluele lost consciousness for a single moment

Master’s single wing (transient s=”” (armadeus)=””>

[O she saira qersonie Laspha — Arht, invited by that righteous successor In accordance with the Recitation of Night, I will make it known to the world!]

That voice was not heard just at the school, but was even transmitted to the ends of the world

The hydra didn’t chase the dragon flying in the sky, but set its sights on the sround

It son However, even more unpleasant was the small True Spirit that still stood before its eyes

It could sense so from this True Spirit

The hydra spat out a long, scorching hot breath and once again changed the campus to a sea of flaht stood up until now had completely burned up

Without a trace, the True Spirit of Night disappeared fro Just before the hydra judged that it was too quick

”Too bad, but this school is also an important place to me”

The hydra heard that voice co in the direction of the voice, its five heads glared at its surroundings in search of the enemy

”Letwhatever you please”

Before long, ten eyes concentrated on one end of the caround

At the center of the ca, the jet-black True Spirit towered directly overhead

”Hey, Mirror, are we drea?”

Forgetting to even wipe away the sweat running down his face, Zessel continued to look up at the dragon overhead In the on that flapped its wings in the air was too large and majestic It should unmistakably be a Recited creature, but just what color did that True Spirit belong to?

”I just re tio”

The teacher ore glasses sighed

”How unexpected So did I”

Forgetting to blink at the Night-colored True Spirit, Zessel let out another sigh

Even though half of it had already settled into the deepest parts of his memory, he recalled the words that had lain dormant for ten years

—What I want to do is Night Color Recitations—

In the tiirl in the class who hadn’t socialized with anyone and sat by herself in a corner of the classroom When he had chosen to devote himself to Red Recitations, Mirror chose Blue Recitations, and Enne chose White Recitations, only one girl struggled to pursue a non-existing color

However, it couldn’t be her, could it? First of all, if she had coht Color Recitations, her nahout the world Just like the Rainbow Reciter’s had been

And then

At that on howled

Master’s single wing (transient s=”” (armadeus)=””>

[O she saira qersonie Laspha — Arht, invited by that righteous successor In accordance with the Recitation of Night, I will make it known to the world!]

In accordance with the Recitation of Night—

Daughter of the dark lonely night—

No Way

”Ha, Ahahaha, how could it be!”

With his hand on his forehead, Zessel let out a loud laugh Fro spilled out

He could only laugh self-irl who had been looked down upon by everyone in the classroolected by the teacher and the school And yet, isn’t this school being protected right now by her hands?

Should he praise her? Or should he mourn for her? What on earth should he do?

What have we—

”Just how foolish have I been, I wonder”

”Jessica-sensei?”

It was the one who should have been inside the school building leading students to refuge, Elfand’s former teacher

”You You were right, weren't you, Evhemary”

Without even wiping away her tears, the head teacher just wholeheartedly and repeatedly called out her former student's name

“Wha-What’s with that sudden howl!”

With her hands covering her still-buzzing ears, Kluele roared back From her point of view, it really was a terrible disaster

[The girl knew that her ti Tales like that can be found all over the world However, even thoughto accept her fate If I disappear without doing anything, then for what purpose did I exist— She wished to leave behind proof of her existence in this world]

In contrast to the prior roaring sound, with a voice like it was suppressing the silence, Ar to himself

[What she thought of was Recitations E the idea to create a new type of Recitation, she threw herself into her research But when her newly-invented Recitation was half-coun to erode fro uneasy and afraid, unsure if she had enough tied her fate]

After pausing for a while, as if hesitating to find the right words, Ar

[Not long after their encounter, the boy requested a competition with her Or e What they had bet on was— To see who could first ]

”Why did soe her fate?”

[Because the girl felt fulfilled Until then, she had always been lonely Because she knew her ti, she did not associate with other people Then she found soe her,someone ould remember her Because of this, she didn’t need to create a Recitation as proof of her existence anyan to waver]

Kluele also knew that feeling, to the point of being pained She also understood why she syirl

Because a few days ago, she had a similar experience herself

—Kluele-san is definitely suited to beco a Reciter—

Only because there was soe her, she was able to feel at ease

[Just like what the boy had done to her, the girl also wanted to become a person who could cure someone’s loneliness That was the conclusion she arrived at She wanted to travel across the world, co people with the same pain as her But even if she wanted to do that, she did not have much time left to live At the same time, she also sincerely wanted to fulfill the promise with the boy of who could master their Recitation first But no matter what she did, there was no way to accomplish both of those desires Therefore—]

The talkative creature’s crescent-htly

[For the sake of accoirl threay her name]

Regret Indecision Envy Laether in his eyes? Despite seeing it from up close, Kluele couldn't tell

[The so-called Recitation called out the things she longed for The girl thought, ‘Since it’s like this, could I be called out after I aly became the ruler of the Recitation she constructed— in other words, she became the True Spirit]

Such a thing, is that even possible? It wasn't so she could immediately believe

———And yet, why?

The eyes of the speaker seemed like it could compel anyone to believe it…… No, it caused others to have no choice but to believe, filled with an ice-cold yet beautiful sorrow

”That, was that a story about so that really happened?”

[Who knows? Perhaps there’s noto it, or perhaps it’s merely a fairy tale…… But……]

The corners of the dragon’s htly The facial expression wasn’t as clear as that of humans, but Kluele understood Certainly, that was a smile

[The roar froirl]

That girl? This time, Kluele didn’t ask the question, but instead shut her mouth

[Well, let’s take care of the chiht!]

Right now? While carrying me?

Don’t joke around With your clu around, and now to have a battle in the air? No h for this!

[This is a great opportunity to prove that I’m not an ordinary lizard, don’t you think?]

“……Didn’t you hear s……”

He grinned broadly But unlike before, the True Spirit had a clearly mischievous smile

Well then

Froht-colored True Spirit surveyed the acades and other buildings had all suffered dae In the dark sky overhead, a considerable nue around this place

—Please protect this school

That was that child'sthe Reciter's wish

Since the True Spirit had been called out, she had to fulfill her duty But s were to be considered, then that hydra had already coivable crime

Yes It's your fault that his arm is broken

”Even though it's our first reunion after about ten years, ruining it is a great sin!”

The <woin=””> leaped off the iron pole into the air

Her voice was filled with anger, but also included a faint feeling of delight

Part 2

One versus several tens Although they faced only one opponent, of the original nearly one hundred chimeras, less than half remained Just when she wanted to confirm the exact number, another one was shot down So tail, others were batted away by wings Their overwhele

“What is……that?”

It was only a single intruder, a dragon with athe hydra, this was Enne’s first tie body A True Spirit? But what Color is it?

“—Seems like it was in time”

The close voice made her jump The voice sounded like it came from directly behind her It was just between Xins and herself, from a place where their shadows overlapped

She didn’t reply Turning her head, she saw a “shadow” the size of a hu covered in black paint Instead, it had a transparent iht-colored luster Also, its shape reirl

A True Spirit? It was a First Scale Recitation’s Recited creature, surpassing things like noble AriaSecond Scale Recitation’s Will-o’-wispsmall yellow spirit and Salaenerally enoron, but it was the first tiure like this

“Enne”

When the Recited creature suddenly called out her name, her body automatically stiffened

“It’s already too dangerous here You should know, right? A fight between True Spirits will turn their surroundings into scorched earth I don’t knohen the sparks will start flying, so take refuge near the first-year school building”

Her heartbeat becaht— what did those words mean? This True Spirit spoke as if she seemed to know her

It was the first tiht, this should be the first time she had met the True Spirit ……But, why did she feel so uneasy?

“Xins and I will draay the hydra Those two friends by the first-year school building seeo help them out”

The figure of the girl threw at her a leather bag that she had gotten so out froemstones?

“Now, go”

“B-But—”

The True Spirit seeh and crossed her arms

“Enne Revinesia Your personality of being concerned about everyone still hasn’t changed”

“Eh?”

Forty-first key frooetia seventy-second=”” pillar=””>, Focalor

—orbie clar, dremre : Goetia : Focalor—

At that riffon ings the color of wet feathers floated up This is, using my shadow as a catalyst?

“Take her with you When you arrive, lend your assistance there”

[As you wish]

A low, heavy voice seeriffon began to flap its wings

“W-Why does a True Spirit know my full na-……”

The rest of her words were drowned out by the sound of the griffon’s wings

Just who are you? Before she received an answer, there was a breath of silence

The True Spirit’s body that was made of shadow had no eyes or ely, she knew that the True Spirit had winked at her

“Because I’m your classmate”

……What’s that supposed to mean?

The griffon picked her up and left the ground In the split second that she blinked, it had already flown up three stories high Xins and the round had become the size of her pinky

“Hey…… Really, who are you?”

She muttered, unable to be heard by anyone but herself Even if she shouted, they probably couldn’t hear her An e like she had been left behind remained in her heart

If you’re soo—

Long ago, just how far back is that? Definitely before I became a teacher Then before that… When I was still a student?

She thought back When she was a student, her dreaasus Zessel and Mirror were also now teaching students about Recitations They had also achieved the Recitation they wanted during middle school Xins had also beconized by everyone

Many people had achieved their dreaed by everyone Their Recitations were accepted by everyone nobody could laugh at their ambitions

—Speaking of which, hadn’t there been a child as the complete opposite?

A girl who always sat in a corner of the classrooed by anyone

But Enne couldn’t remember her name Only the Recitation she aimed for still remained in Enne’s mind

Night Color Recitations The Recited creature that she was riding on was the sa of which, the o was also the same color—

“No way…… Is it you? Hey, is it you———”

Why? Why?!

Although she see she couldn’t say was the girl’s name

Night Color Recitations Moreover, this is a First Scale Recitation, the True Spirit of Night?

Why the girl before his eyes was here, Xins instinctively realized It didn’t matter who had called her out As he clenched his teeth at the dull pain that came with every breath, he saw the sudden visitor

Was this by chance……

The voice of the True Spirit before hiirl in his ure Everything re happen?

Not even a drop of moisture reulp Unnoticeably, the pain in his left hand and the noise of his surroundings had faded away

He felt a strange sensation of floating, as if he had entered into another world

Just like a world in which only he and the True Spirit before him existed

“Is your hand okay? It’s fractured, isn’t it?”

All too suddenly, the True Spirit touched his left hand, so that a shadow shouldn’t be able to do He didn’t consider her to be acting too intile person he was this familiar with

Just one person In other words, there wasn’t any other person who caic feeling that he couldn’t put into words filled the crevice in his heart A crevice that had lasted more than ten years

“You acted rashly, didn’t you? How unlike you”

A finger that should have been made of shadow traced over his left hand There arer There was no way he could accept everything that was happening before his eyes But, he simply couldn’t deny that warmth

“……Is it you?”

A even he didn’t know eia and love Xins put all of these feelings he couldn’t understand into a word

—Evhemary

“I kept my promise”

It was unclear which was the front and which was the back of the jet-black figure But despite that, Xins certainly saw Froirl wore, she sly

“Are you surprised?”

Her si resounded in his chest

……You haven’t changed

She was just like before After a long tiirl he kneas in front of him

The rainbow color that expressed everything wasn’t there, replaced by a single color She was his only rival, the friend who acknowledged him, and possibly above all else, his companion

Narrowing his eyes, Xins shook his head

“I’ainst common sense”

Froround drew closer

Don’t you want an explanation? The girl seemed to say

“You kept the proh……”

The girl turned around So he wouldn’t see So he wouldn’t find out She rubbed her eyes

“But, I still haven’t seen your Recitation yet”

The girl turned to face the hydra that gradually drew closer

“He see Can you be my backup, Rainbow Color Reciter-san?”

He didn’t answer Si once, Xins turned around as his coat fluttered

[I’ve disposed of most of them]

Landing on the rooftop, Ar most, it would beup at the sky, there was only the pale whiteof the stars

“……I’ll never accoain”

For the sake of dodging the chi Kluele lose her breath As for the nuht-colored lizard did, she had lost count after ten Because of all that, Kluele felt like her lifespan had shortened She envied Neight, who had lost consciousness

“Hey, don’t you need to help over there?”

“You in=””>?”

Shouldn’t this dragon be suitable for fighting against the hydra? The size of their bodies was on par, and he probably wouldn’t lose in terth either So then as the True Spirit with the appearance of a girl purposely taking on the monster? That, she didn’t understand

[Leaving this war to do]

Like always, she didn’t get the point of this Recited creature’s words

[Those two have already crawled out of their shells That’s why I’ it to them There’s no need to worry]

“Who do you mean by ‘those two’?”

[The girl and the promised boy Those two have already wasted more than ten years, so it can’t be helped]

It was useless Before the lizard had started explaining, he was already in his oorld

Turning away fro

[Someday you will understand as well]

Kluele turned around at the ht burned her eyes Before she had realized it, the eastern sky had becohter

—Daas drawing closer

Part 3

The Night-colored spear that the <wo out an angry roar, the blue head spat out a large amount of water like a sudden rain shower A second later, it turned into an enormous block of ice Ihtning

The red snake spat red-hot breaths at the dodging girl

——[Blue SongRuguz]——

Just before the flaht, they were blocked by a film of water that Xins called out

……This is bad

As far as he could tell, the strengths of the two see pushed around

The disparity was probably because of the difference in their awareness of the surroundings The hydra was only thinking of knocking down his opponent On the other hand, the Night-colored girl was restraining her strength to prevent das