by Yuu Miyazaki
“Ooh, now we’re talkin’!” With a grin that Ayato had never seen on her face before, Irene quickly reached for the food, only for Priscilla to slap her hand away.
“Irene! Mind your manners.”
“Aww. Come on, what’s the big deal?”
“It is a big deal! This dinner is to show our thanks to Mr. Amagiri, and if you start eating first—Hey!”
“Bone-appetite to me!” Ignoring Priscilla’s rebuke, Irene pinched tidbits from one dish after another.
“Really, Irene?!”
Julis giggled and whispered in Ayato’s ear, “Lamilexia is being hospitable in her own way.”
“Huh?”
“She’s like the royal taster.” Julis’s shoulders shook with quiet laughter.
“C’mon, dig in. Priscilla’s cooking is awesome.” Irene continued to stuff her face, leaving no doubts about her healthy appetite.
Priscilla admitted defeat with a sigh and turned to her guests. “Sorry about this.”
“No, really, we don’t mind,” Ayato said. “Well, let’s eat.”
Although their meal began haphazardly, Irene had not been exaggerating.
“Th-this is really good,” Julis murmured in surprise after a bite of mushrooms.
Indeed, every dish was exceptionally delicious. It was not high-end gourmet cuisine, but the flavors had a homey touch, warm and relaxing. Which was not to say bland—each dish had a twist that made it interesting.
“Oh—Thank you,” Priscilla said.
“Mhm! Told ya so.” Irene proudly puffed out her chest.
“You know I wasn’t praising you, right?” Julis said in mock exasperation, but it was clear that Irene took enormous joy in compliments directed at her sister.
“So, this might be a weird question at this point, but… Why do you have an apartment?” Ayato finally remembered to ask.
Irene, who was glugging down her drink, replied bluntly, “It’s my apartment. I’m usually here. What about it?”
“Usually…? What about your dorm?”
All six schools in Asterisk had dormitories. As a general rule, students were not permitted to live in the actual city.
“It’s a privilege for Le Wolfe’s Page One students. I mean, obviously it’s under the table, but.”
“And I stop in sometimes to cook and clean for her,” Priscilla said with a wry smile. “Irene almost never goes back to her dorm… But for this, it came in handy. We can’t exactly invite you two to Le Wolfe, after all.”
“That’s a lot of freedom… True to Le Wolfe’s style, I suppose,” Julis said.
“But why did you get a room out here?” Ayato wondered if the dorms at Le Wolfe made for a poor living situation, but quickly realized he had the wrong idea.
“…The Rotlicht isn’t too far from here. It’s convenient,” Irene said, a little uncomfortably, even as she continued to devour her dinner.
“I see. For your nightlife,” Julis sniped.
Irene scowled further. “It’s not for fun. I need money, so I earn it.”
“Money…?” Julis paused. “Yes, I heard from Ayato—you had some disagreement with an illegal casino.”
“What about it?”
“There are other ways to make money. Why get involved in something so dangerous?”
“Other ways, huh? I’d love for you to tell me about those,” Irene said somewhat self-deprecatingly.
“Why would I need to tell you? Isn’t that the reason you’re fighting in the Phoenix?”
“Oh, right. You came to this city for money, didn’t ya? Witch of the Resplendent Flames.”
“H-how did you know that?!”
“We have pretty decent intelligence.” Irene chuckled at having taken Julis by surprise. “But I’m coming from a different place, with different reasons, you know. Even if I win the Phoenix, they won’t grant my wish. That’s the deal I made.”
“What deal?” Julis said suspiciously.
Irene’s glance strayed to Priscilla.
“Oh, I should check on the oven.” With an awkward smile, Priscilla stood and went to the kitchen.
Once her sister had left, Irene sighed, and her chair creaked as she leaned back. “So, putting things simply, I’m a pawn for Dirk Eberwein, the Le Wolfe Black Institute’s student council president. A while back, I borrowed a huge load of money from him, so he’s already granted my wish. And now I follow his orders to repay him bit by bit.”
“The Devious King …” was all Julis said, looking disgusted.
Ayato had heard the name, too. He knew it belonged to a person with one of the worst reputations in all of Asterisk. Ayato had heard countless bad rumors about the man, but not a single good one.
“According to the deal, I can only fight in the Festa with his permission, and even if I win, I can’t use the reward to pay him back. I guess he wants me as his minion for as long as possible. Nasty piece of work, that guy.” Irene shrugged. “But I don’t wanna work for him forever. So I’m working night after night to pay him back as soon as possible—blood, sweat, and tears.”
“You really owe him that much money?” Ayato remarked.
“I don’t even know how many decades it’d take if I worked an honest job.”
That did sound like quite a sum.
“I see. So the reason you’re in the Phoenix to begin with is Eberwein’s doing,” Julis said. “I take it that you have some other objective besides winning?”
Irene smirked, then looked at Ayato. “Bingo. The order Dirk gave me…was to crush you, Ayato Amagiri.”
“What?!” Julis got to her feet, but Irene showed no signs of hostility.
At least, not yet.
“Why are you telling us?” Ayato asked.
Even if it were true, there was no reason for her to let them know about it.
“I’ve still got my own code of honor, okay. I owe you for saving Priscilla. I’d feel like crap fighting you with that hangin’ over my head. So sit and listen, Witch. I’m not going to attack you here.”
“Why is Eberwein after Ayato?” Still wary, Julis slowly sat back down.
“According to Dirk, he wants to take care of Amagiri now because that Orga Lux of his could be trouble.”
“The Ser Veresta? It is a powerful Orga Lux, but why go that far?”
Irene nodded in agreement with Julis’s doubts. “I wonder about that, myself. Dirk is as cold-blooded and low-down and dirty as they come, but he’s not incompetent. Or a coward. If the sword’s got him that concerned, there’s got to be something more to it.” Then she turned to Ayato. “I don’t know what Dirk’s planning, but there’s something I figured out from hearing him talk. I think he’s seen someone else who could use that Orga Lux before.”
At that, Ayato nearly jumped up.
“Which is weird. Looking at the public usage record, no one’s wielded that Orga Lux in more than ten years. So, when and where did he see it in action…?”
Ayato’s heart was pounding.
This could only mean that Dirk Eberwein knew the person who had last used the Ser Veresta—Ayato’s sister, Haruka Amagiri.
“I thought maybe that had something to do with why he’s after you. Based on that reaction, I’m guessing I was spot-on.”
“Yes—I think so, anyway. Thanks.”
Ayato had come to Asterisk to seek out his own path. His sister had left home willingly, and she must have had her reasons. It wasn’t that he had to find her. He had faith in her.
Still… He couldn’t deny that he wanted to find her. Especially now that he had a clue.
“Good. Then we’re even.” Irene looked as if her mind was at ease.
Just then, Priscilla emerged from the kitchen carrying a large iron pan. “Thanks for waiting. This is seafood and mushroom paella.”
Sizzling with a sweet aroma, the dish promised to be absolutely delicious.
“Mhm! Priscilla’s paella is a real masterpiece. You better enjoy it,” Irene said proudly.
Priscilla blu
shed. “Come on, sis. Hurry up and serve our guests.”
Sis…
Looking at the two of them, Ayato felt an inexpressible emotion well up inside him.
“Well, I guess we should be going soon,” Ayato said.
“Yes, let’s,” Julis agreed.
Having drunk their after-dinner coffee, the two exchanged glances and stood up.
“Oh, leaving already? You could stay and relax for a bit…”
Priscilla tried to detain them, but Irene stopped her.
“Cut it out, Priscilla. No matter how cozy we get, we’re gonna fight them tomorrow. We both got what we wanted to do out of the way. So this is enough.”
“But—”
“Sorry, it’s nothing personal,” Irene said to Ayato, “but I’m still working for Dirk. So now that we’ve repaid you, we’ll be going all out to beat you to a pulp tomorrow. If you don’t like that, you can just back out.”
“Don’t go too hard on me,” Ayato replied, trying to smile, and started to leave.
“Oh, please let me walk you out…!” Priscilla trotted after him, and Irene made no effort to stop her.
“Thanks for dinner, Priscilla,” he said. “It was delicious.”
“Oh, it was nothing. Um… I’m sorry about my sister.” Chagrinned, Priscilla was about to bow in apology, but Julis gently held her back.
“No, I can understand the position Lamilexia is in. We’re going to give it our best tomorrow, too. I hope you don’t think too badly of us.”
“Oh… I see,” Priscilla said, crestfallen.
“You don’t really like fighting, do you, Priscilla?” Ayato asked.
That would be natural for an ordinary student, but for a student in Asterisk—and especially one at Le Wolfe—it made her an anomaly.
There was no denying that an apron suited Priscilla’s personality much more than a weapon.
The sort of ordinary girl one could find almost anywhere—that was the real Priscilla Urzaiz.
What would bring such a girl to the Phoenix stage…?
“My sister is fighting for me. It would be wrong to run away from that.”
“Even if she drinks your blood?” Julis said bluntly.
Ayato was still reeling from that little detail.
Priscilla shook her head. “That’s nothing. Irene’s protected me all my life. I’m happy that I can help her. It’s just…” She trailed off.
“Just what?” Ayato prompted.
“…When Irene uses the Gravisheath, she scares me.” Priscilla’s voice was barely audible. “At first, I thought it was because she wasn’t used to the weapon, but…when she’s using that thing, she’s so savage. Like she’s a different person. And lately, it keeps getting worse…”
She went on, murmuring to herself, then looked up with a gasp.
“I’m so sorry! Oh, I’m talking nonsense…,” she apologized, frantically waving her hands.
They’d made it to the foyer, so Ayato and Julis parted ways with their host.
“See you,” Ayato said, waving to Priscilla as she bowed politely. He and Julis left the apartment building.
They walked through the lamplit streets in the night. “What do you think, Julis?” Ayato ventured after a bit.
“About the Gravisheath? I don’t know. It seems to me like Lamilexia is plenty savage on her own, so I can’t tell the difference—Don’t tell me you’re feeling sorry for them?”
“I’m not—Well, I am, but that’s not what I mean.”
Seeing Ayato sulk, Julis shrugged with an awkward smile.
“I’m only kidding,” she told him. “I know what you’re trying to say—But the fact is, there’s nothing we can do.”
“…Yeah.” She was right.
“We have our own battles to fight. We have to concentrate on that first.”
“My goodness, Ayato. What do you need at this time of night?”
After he’d returned to his room, Ayato had called Claudia’s mobile. The air-window opened after a long pause.
Eishirou had been gone for several days on summer vacation, so Ayato had their room to himself.
“Sorry to call you so suddenly, Claudia. I just wanted to ask you something.”
“You do? I’m glad to hear it. Well, what might it be?”
“It’s about Orga Luxes.”
Claudia’s serene face tightened ever so slightly. “I see. Then it would be best if we met in person. I’d like to tell you I could meet you now, but unfortunately my schedule is still full. I won’t be free until quite late—Is that all right?”
“Sure, whatever works for you.”
“In that case…let’s meet at midnight tonight, in my room.”
“Uh… Um, all right.”
Ayato would rather avoid sneaking into the girls’ dormitory, but he was in no position to be picky.
“By the way, Claudia… Are you feeling okay?”
“Hmm? Why do you ask?”
“You look a little tired, that’s all.”
Her smile was as tranquil as ever, but missing a bit of her usual verve.
Claudia raised her eyebrows, genuinely surprised—a rarity for her. “Why, that’s…perceptive of you.”
“Oh, no, I just had a feeling.”
She laughed softly. “Then again, I’m not sure you really are that observant. But I suppose you do pay some attention to me.” The thought seemed to lift her spirits. “I’ve just been swamped with work, but I’m all right. I appreciate your concern. I’ll see you later.”
After the air-window closed, Ayato checked the time. The analog clock pointed to nine.
“She’s working so late… Student council president isn’t an easy job, huh?”
The match was tomorrow, and Ayato wanted to rest. But there was no guarantee that he would be able to get ahold of Claudia before then.
“I hope I’m just overthinking things,” he muttered to himself and glanced out the window. The moon hung fat and eerily red in the sky.
No matter how many times Ayato snuck into the girls’ dormitory at night, he could never get used to it.
Sweating nervously, he managed to climb up to Claudia’s room and knock on her window.
It appeared to be unlocked, but there was no response—just like the last time.
He could hardly stay there with his back pinned to the wall of the building forever, so he let himself in to find a few faint bright spots floating in the shadowy room. Several air-windows had been left open.
Straining his eyes, he could see Claudia asleep facedown on the desk. There was an almost mystical beauty to the way the pale light of the air-windows illuminated her figure.
The sight captivated him for a moment, but soon Ayato noticed that there was something wrong. The expression on her face was strangely intense for ordinary sleep.
Her brows were tightly drawn, and painful moans escaped intermittently from her rosy lips.
Is she having a nightmare…?
He ought to wake her anyway. Just as Ayato opened his mouth to address her, two silver streaks of light cut through the darkness to attack him.
It was sheer luck that he had an instant to avoid them. In his normal state he was hardly able to evade a strike like that. With his power sealed, the brief span of time it took for Claudia’s Orga Lux to activate and draw out its blades had saved him.
“Claudia…?” Ayato called to her as he backed up against the windowsill, still unable to grasp the situation.
Making no reply, Claudia stood up like a ghost and readied the uncanny twin blades she held with her dangling arms—the Pan-Dora.
Moonlight coming in from the window revealed her figure, but her head was down, hiding the expression on her face.
“H-hey, wait! Claudia!”
She sprang into action as if on cue.
Her strides appeared slow, but in the next moment she was already upon him. Ayato released his power for a split second to dodge the blades striking from both directions.
—Or so he t
hought.
“Augh!”
The blades he had meant to elude drew crescents through the air and swung inches from his face. It was as if they had anticipated his movements.
He twisted away from the second attack with only a hair’s breadth to spare, but he lost his balance and fell on his back. Never pausing in her fluid motion, Claudia climbed astride him and silently raised the two swords above him.
“Claudia!”
Calling her name for the third time, Ayato reached out in desperation. His fingers barely, just barely, grazed her cheek.
Her body convulsed once, and her upraised arms snapped to a halt.
“Aya…to?”
For a few moments, Claudia only stared emptily down at Ayato. Then she came to with a gasp and leaped off him.
“I-I’m so sorry, Ayato! I…”
Surprise and regret covered her face, but most of all, terrible distress. Ayato had never witnessed such an open emotional display from her before.
But at least his life was no longer in danger. His hand went to his chest in relief.
Meanwhile, Claudia returned the Pan-Dora to standby mode and stood with her back to Ayato. Shoulders heaving, she slowly forced her own breathing back in order.
“I truly am sorry. I must have let my guard down.” When she turned toward him to speak, Claudia had returned to her usual self. She gave him a deep, contrite bow.
“You sure scared me. What in the world was that?” Ayato asked as he got to his feet, trying and not quite succeeding to make a pleasant expression.
That was putting it lightly. To be honest, he had seldom been more terrified. Claudia’s technique was keen and impeccably precise, and even bore comparison with Kirin’s. Of course, Kirin’s skills were more polished, but Claudia was no ordinary fighter—That much was certain.
“Let’s see, now—Where should I begin…?” Claudia made a show of being deep in thought but soon smiled as if she had all the answers. “Very well. Now is as good a time as any to tell you. And what I’m about to say might not be irrelevant to the questions you have.”
“What do you mean?” Ayato cocked his head quizzically.
Claudia motioned for him to take a seat on the sofa while she returned to the chair at her desk. “But first, will you hear a request of mine?”
