Vol 13 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Cadenza Road Itto: Part 1
A faint blue dis
A stone without any taint Its surface was transparent like a ht like water No one knehere the light ca this faint light? But the light was not enough to chase away the darkness Light and dark colooht
”This is?”
Words seeded with doubt echoed faintly The sound rippled in the dis stirred
”This is the inner court of Grendan,” Alsheyra said in a low voice behind her
Alsheyra reached out a hand behind Leerin Unlike before, that long and elegant finger guided Leerin's gaze A hand that had been decorated The decorations adorning her hand sparkled lightly in the darkness It was also a strong hand The hand of a guardian as stronger than any Military Artists in Grendan
The door
It didn't look any different than the wall But there was nothing behind them here, so Leerin understood this was the door
The door was in front of her
No, it existed here
Alsheyra continued her narrative Synola, the person ent to school together with Leerin was in fact the Queen who governed Grendan Facts were always accompanied with an element of surprise Leerin was surprised at that tiuise cah Synola to the real identity that was Alsheyra Almonise
”Inside this place is the person who is connected to the beginning of the world She is the prototype of all Electronic Fairies She lived in the very first Regios She is the first guardian to the human race All Electronic Fairies are copies of her That way of putting it ht be less It was both wrong and right Leerin's right eye knew
That person was connected to the creation of the world That person had been reborn in order to guard the human race However, that wasn't her wish She was anticipating the person who had helped her regain her lost identity She lived till noait for his reappearance In fact, she didn't care about the fate of this world All she prayed for was his safe return
He was the true owner of Leerin's right eye What lived in Leerin's body was just his shadow And the origin of that shadoas
”Is it really all right?” Alsheyra said
Leerin thought of her words
”Since ill happen next wouldn't be that bad The worst situation o past this door and no need to know the truth Even so, do you still want to?”
The knot in Leerin's heart tightened at that question
”Don't you understand?”
”Huh?”
”Do you not understand anything? Things ht sith the real body If that doesn't happen, what about next tiht happen soon! Isn't that so?”
”Yes, I don't deny that Things are starting to move, but I don't knohat speed The flow of ti our preparations, a hundred years ht have flowed past”
”I don't know Didn't we just arrive here?”
”Yes Either e don't know”
”That's e should do our best in the present”
”That's the right choice But is it really all right?”
Alsheyra's repeated question stabbed Leerin's heart The question stabbed deeper than the initial question,it hard to breathe
”Why, why are you asking?”
”What we need now is the ”correct choice” that everyone can accept Isn't that so?”
”What we need now is also the ”correct choice” of your feelings Right?”
Leerin clutched her chest tightly, feeling the pain,herself accept Alsheyra's words She did it because they ords she wanted to hear and words she couldn't disobey But the temptation in the words and the pain both landed in her heart She was determined to untie that knot in her
Perhaps that was the truth
No, she already knehat the ”right” choice was But she couldn't accept it, and she couldn't be persuaded She didn't even kno things would turn out if she took action
”So I”
Oncethe wall, she walked close to the door
”I knew from birth that this day would come, so I could walk this path without confusion But Lee-chan's different The sudden realization, the sudden involvement It's okay as you only learned now of the burden of fate you carry No one would blame you I wouldn't blame you”
”Thanks”
But Leerin's steps did not cease She would just keep on walking That wayIt didn't matter
◇
Nina Antalk slept The golden goat was near her Sparkling light exuded fro fro her
Where is this place?
It wasn't a real place At least, it wasn't some place she was familiar with Not Zuellni Not Schneibel An alien place
This wasn't a real place because Nina knew she was sleeping
The Haikizoku Only he atching her
”You are”
She tried to get closer, but the goat retreated at the sah Perhaps this was the distance of the oat That hat a drea here Everywhere was dark Nina and the Haikizoku floated in the darkness Time flowed The two kept silent No, did ti one was in a dream, only a few seconds would pass in reality Tiless In that case, perhaps the silence between the to Nina
She wanted to say so The silence made her uneasy
”What is your naoat that had kept still like a statue finally htly
”As an Electronic Fairy, you were once a city's consciousness? I saw it That was your city, wasn't it? Then you should have a nae A na I only desire for the person ill use me and the person who can use my power”
”You mean me?”
”For now, I look at you to see whether you can coe or as the fla flame Or turn my face into that of a person who is like a beast of ill-o”
”Who are your enemies?”
She knew of the Haikizoku's pohen it was on a raed by its hatred for those who had destroyed its city, the Haikizoku had transforerous power that could be lent to a Military Artist, and its target was the filth o on a rae, and it had entered Nina's body If she didn't have Zuellni's help, she wouldn't be able to suppress its power After that, she had coainst the Wolf Faces To put it another way, a certain huge power had ht be connected to Dixerio While preventing the Wolf Faces' plan fro that was connected to Dixerio
But that ht not be the cause of herof the two of them had caused a simultaneous movement Perhaps this had occurred for the first time since the Haikizoku's power entered her body
”The negative substance that wishes for this world's destruction The person who spreads it The people ant to bring their ideals into reality I belong to this world I exist in this world It's natural for me to battle and bet on this world's existence”
”The Wolf Faces too”
”Of course”
”Just what are they?”
”They are planning souys don't care for the deaths of Electronic Fairies and their cities I understand we ”
”” The Haikizoku was silent
”I don't knohy they do what they do You know, don't you? Then tell me”
”” The Haikizoku was silent
”Tellbad” isn't an explanation I can accept”
”” The Haikizoku re behind that silence? ”Tell ? What is the point of it? I want to knohat other threats there are to this world other than the filth er”
That was the battle in Zuellni against the giants The sound of Military Artists who craved for battle rose and fell It was a hopeless and hated scene for the Haikizoku He cursed his impotence As a city's consciousness that worked to protect humans, he had failed to take up his responsibility
This scene haed to live by feeding on his despair It searched for a Military Artist it could entrust its power to battle the filth monsters, the Wolf Faces and the unknown ene in Nina's body Even so, why didn't he tell her everything?
”I too, I've sighed at my i the pain in her memory This memory started from Schneibel She had failed to save the little Electronic Fairy After that, she had come to Zuellni to train herself But she still felt powerless even though she was in Zuellni A loss in the previous Military Arts Competition had left Zuellni short of supplies
”We cannot lose next time We must win in the next Military Arts Co this belief In order to strengthen her resolve, she had left team 14 to start her own 17th platoon She had invited Sharnid, who had left team 10, to join her Later on, the Student President had recommended Felli Harley had become the platoon's Dite technician, and the platoon had started its activities despite its low member count
Nina had felt uneasy Perhaps her first step rong Perhaps it rong to strengthen her resolve under those circu power, nor did they have any brilliant tactics Perhaps it was more correct to work under the captain of the 14th platoon and let him draw out her potential That unease had always occupied her heart Perhaps she should disband the platoon That thought had coain, but she had stomached all the weaknesses of the team
At last, Layfon appeared
His existence was so bright His power drew Nina in the right direction Though there were many accidents, they had finally won in the intercity match with Myath Zuellni was released froh this wasn't the last Military Arts Co, Zuellni probably wouldn't lose
Zuellni had been released froood to have formed the 17th platoon? What had the platoon that reflected her will have offered in the battle? Did everything else beco as Layfon was here?
”I actually didn't do anything Aren't I still a less and powerless existence? Haikizoku, you chose to live in my body But that power is yours I'ht, I'?”
Her chest hurt Her breathing hurt She had left Schneibel for a certain goal What had she achieved now? She was jealous of Layfon, and she disliked herself for being unable to hate hi when Karian reproached Layfon for relying on her as his reason to battle? What was she feeling when she fought the giants and was almost taken over by the Haikizoku? Was she here just because of her oillfulness?
”You who comprehend your powerlessness”
The Haikizoku spoke as she sank into negative thought
”You understand the heart of an Electronic Fairy It was a correct choice to stay in your body But your resolve is not enough Perhaps you have experienced the hell of this world, but your resolve to strive for the future is not enough”
”I , you little Military Artist You who have become my son”
This wasn't the Haikizoku's voice A new existence was now in this darkness, in this incredible dream
”You are”
She sucked in a breath as she watched her So beautiful So unexpected Looking from a human's perspective, her appearance stood on the fine line between beauty and ugliness She had a hus took over her ar feather like a bird's tail feather Feathers grew on different parts of her body, and her feet were the claws of a bird's
Half beast and half man
”Schneibel?”
That was Schneibel that Nina had seen when she was little
”Great mother,” the Haikizoku called her
A faint smile adorned Schneibel's face She looked at the Haikizoku then surveyed her surroundings
”Melnisc, I've made you carry a painful memory You others, no need to hide Show yourselves”
A change occurred The world reround
It was a four-legged beast with long fur, and the other
”Zuellni?”
The Electronic Fairy that had grown after obtaining so from Falnir stood by Nina's side
”The three children who have chosen a cruel fate This is your first tiether?”
”As we're connected closely by En, no need for first tied beast said
”Yes, Grendan Though I'irl, it's not so for others This is the first ”
Melnisc Schneibel had said it That ed beast ”Grendan” Lance Shelled City Gorneo had said it before There was another Electronic Fairy in Grendan An existence that slept and was called the true will So this four-legged beast represented the will of the sleeper It was a Haikizoku that drove the movement of the Lance Shelled City
And there was Zuellni, lowering her head unobtrusively beside Nina Why did she appear with these two in here? Why did Schneibel say ”The three children who have chosen a cruel fate”? What had Zuellni chosen?
”Grendan, has Saya awakened?” Schneibel said, ignoring the confused Nina
”Not yet, but it's close The person with the rose and cross crafted into her and the person who possesses great power have appeared”
”They should be in one body, but now it looks like it won't go so ss will progress in this situation”
”The shadow has becoh that shouldn't have appeared, this is the first ofto see what happens next What I'm worried about is just mere worry”
”Perhaps not, that's e need to make preparations”
”As you said, and there's also Zuellni”
Schneibel's gaze turned to Zuellni The tiny Electronic Fairy looked at the mother of all Electronic Fairies without fear
”You, who have chosen to hide in the di What has happened to her?”
Nina watched Zuellni The Electronic Fairy that had never spoken opened her h she had heard the Haikizoku – Melnisc's voice, she had never thought that other Electronic Fairies could speak Zuellni could speak What was her voice like?
Though this wasn't the time to notice that, it still bothered her
”That person has not changed”
Zuellni's voice was gentle and healing
”As in the past, an upright person”
”The same as the person that I know?”
Schneibel's voice also felt gentle
”I'm not sure I do not know the person that mother knows”
”Then, what do you feel about her?”
Zuellni crossed her ar behind that s place in darknessShe thought about it and soh her irl whose beauty was like that of a teht the Haikizoku had left her bodybut the girl had returned Melnisc to her body
She was the topic of this conversation in the dark
”She's an upright person She hasn't changed since our firstWhat she likes, she likes What she dislikes, she dislikes She's clear about that”
”You really do like her,” Schneibel said
Zuellni smiled her usual smile This was the Zuellni that Nina knew
”So I'll put h Zuellni tagged Nina onto her word, Nina was finally mentioned in the conversation
”Um, and Grendan?”
”I've already obtained the inforirl froh I don't think her virtues will change, since she's deterth”
”Both of you have agreed, but the ultimate decision rests in your hand, Melnisc You too, Nina Antalk The children who are the knights protecting Schneibel”
Schneibel's gaze found Melnisc The golden goat lowered its head
”I”
”You pitiful child who knows the will of destruction just as Grendan You pitiful child who has been baptized in despair yet still lives strong Why do you hesitate?”
”Is it because revenge burns in you still and you've seen that beast?”
”Is that it? But you can't becoh you both have the same form, he lives a different existence An Electronic Fairy that is not my son, that shouldn't exist in this world No, he isn't an Electronic Fairy He lives in the same dimension as Saya”
”Zuellni is clear about him too? The darkness you protect nurtures hi?”
”I”
”The fight with the Wolf Faces is as expected, since between theive and take relationshi+p But after that, where do the beast's fangs point? Where are they pointing at now? Do you know?”
Zuellni fell silent She looked troubled At the same time, they seemed to be on alert
”Unlike them who are closely tied by promises, we do not have a symbol That's e can't do as we please In order to break free froend, we cannot use the legend as our aiend?”
What did Schneibel mean? Was this what all Electronic Fairies wished for? No, just as their aie?
”Zuellni?”
Nina looked at Zuellni, the first friend sheat the Academy City But Zuellni remained silent
This was a dream
This was Nina's dream That should be what it was
But Nina failed to find a way to break this silence She failed to wake from the dream
◇
He was in the dark
”What? Isn't it already out?”
”Because isn't this ?”
Dixerio took down the mask from his face as he watched the scenery beneath hi into the air It was a face like a beast's One see theof which, aren't you gonna explain what just happened? After all, I'm at your beck and call”
”Ala, isn't it nor to obey its owner?”
”Tsk”
Dixerio left
He stood on one of Grendan's ios of this world?”
”Yes You've been here s happened every time I visited I never had the time to appreciate its scenery”
”But I think there are many faotten They aren't worth re Besides, they probably don't re unable to become familiar”
The fierce wind blew Nelphilia's hair into curls, swaying her dress Originally, Dixerio wouldn't let it go like that He also didn't accept hihtly
”Are you letting loose the sadness in you?”
”You saw through it?”
”That's not like you”
”Fu~”
Bearing the strong wind, she looked at Grendan
”Speaking of which, the prey has appeared”
”Then capture hiirl?”
”Bring her along She's my woman”
”Ah, when did it become that kind of relationshi+p?”
”Since she interfered with my plan”
”So troublesome SheZuellni a nursery rhye”
”Then I can prepare her a doll”
”Ah, that's a headache”
The scenery was peaceful The unusual event of contact with an Academy City had ended Normal citizens had returned to their normal lives That was the sa hard to renew the desolate city Though Grendan's citizens were still perplexed about the incident, they had given the i to understand the situation in the other city while being banned fro with them
What peaceful scenery No one would know the next huge as about to hit Everyone thought the rain had passed
”So when is your hunt going to end?” Nelphilia's gaze moved from the city to Dixerio's back
”Until I've hunted the boils a dead rabbit This ti of green Kei appeared around Dixerio as he replied Green Kei The flaht be sloaking up
Her gaze shi+fted to the deep blue sky and saw the faint shadow of theclose”
The h the sun continued to rise in the east and fall in the west
”It seeed?”
”Then let new fangs be grown”
The Dite in his hand had not been restored This was a new Dite given by Nelphilia It was made of metal that would never shatter no matter how much Kei was poured into it This Dite sy as Nelphilia lived However, at present, it was rusting Not the Dite but Dixerio To say it clearly, it was the fang living in his heart The reason for the rust didn't ste His skill was not either
Yet the rusting never stopped It continued to invade and s the depth of Dixerio's heart
”Let's go”
Dixerio jumped into the city It was his will to silently bear the destruction of his body
”Perhaps it's a good thing for you”
◇
She was very dissatisfied She absolutely did not co the reasons and what she didn't comprehend side by side in her s were incoe part of the like a premonition
”Geez”
Claribel walked in the palace
She had originally wanted to see the real Queen but the Queen had left the palace with an unknown girl of Claribel's age Lintence too Why did he bring in the unfairl? No She could tell he had snatched her away
Claribel saw the Acadeirl a student in this city? Though the filth ht, the crisis had been safely averted Claribel had heard the only people over in that city were boys and girls of her own age She wanted to look but her grandfather had stopped her
”What did you say?” she didn't get him
But she had a premonition
She stopped in the corridor She could see a part of the city from here The scenery was the usual Grendan It was dry on the outside but full of energy in the inside Though she knew she could feel the unexpected vitality if she was to walk the street, from here all she felt was silence Perhaps this had to do with the layout of the buildings Perhaps it was the influence of the tower?
What she saas probably different froushed out again
”Shall I go and see?”
Though her grandfather had stopped her, it was her freedom to listen to him or not If she was found out, what awaited her would be harsh scolding But either way, she was the only one ould bear it
So it should be okay?
That hat she was considering Besides, wasn't Layfon over there?
”Layfon But I have so to confirm too”
Her hand reached naturally for the Dite at her wrist
Let's just head over to the Acadeed Claribel Layfon was there He becae ten He was also the first Heaven's Blade to be exiled to another city
”The person who once held the Heaven's Blade that I can't obtain”
She wasn't that interested in his experience What he did after beco that had happened, and his deed that a Military Artist shouldn't have committed Not interested at all – because she had already investigated them all She even knehat the disabled Gahard Baren threatened Layfon with The three royal families and the Heaven's Blade successors all knew
Even so, it was not enough to placate the anger of the citizens Layfon had told the norh he had only told theh for thee Only fellow Heaven's Blades could suppress a Heaven's Blade And the Queen whose strength far exceeded all Heaven's Blades had no opponent
They could destroy the entire city if they were to use their full strength
Layfon possessed such power, and he had left Grendan to dwell in the Acade place for immature people
For hi with
Had he matured? Or was he still immature? She really wanted to test him
”What should I do? Today”
She looked at the city and turned her gaze to the sky
Looking at herself
A feeling of electricity had beenbehind her back It wasn't just here and it wasn't just her who felt it Everywhere else in the city felt the sah Grendan's streets were silent, behind it was a force, waiting to move
A chaotic presencewould erous And it felt as if everyone had forgotten the principles of Military Artists and washad happened yet Was it because Grendan's Military Artists weren't foolish enough to react to the influence in the air? Or did everyone think that this dangerous air was nothing co storm? Or
”Claribel, what's up?”
”Ah, sensei”
The direction that the voice caet up? It's rare to see you not sleeping”
”Ah, I'otten used to the exciting life”
”Only getting into the idealistic now?”
”That's one part of it” she shrugged, knowing her sensei's personality
”Has Layfon appeared?”
”Ah? No I didn't see him Lintence and Rui severely injured”
”Savaris-sama?”
”He didn't have the Heaven's Blade with hi a duel He would have died if Lintence hadn't sewn him up”
”Did Layfon do that?”
”Seeood”
”Has he becoed much froh I don't think it's good not to change, I can't say change is the bench is dependent of the situation”
”Just what are you trying to say?”
”Uncertainty The ending Lintence set isn't quite bad”
”Lintence designed it? Then”
Is he already dead?
”Still alive Though I didn't hold much expectation for Lintence's naivety, I didn't feel the presence of death Well, whether that guy lives or not doesn't matter to me What do you think, Claribel?”
”I've learned the sa studied under you for five years”
She reached for the Dite at her waist She touched it and wanted to pour Kei into it But not yet Sparks flew It wasn't enough to burn up the tension in the air that was liquefied seleniuh we still don't knoill happen”
”Doesn't o to the center of the festival”
”Uh?”
”That's what a festival is, isn't it? The battlefield that only the chosen can enter Though I don't like it, I'm still part of the Ronsmier family”
”And then? Do you still want to play in the bush with guys you like rather than dance around the bonfire of the festival?”