Editing BlazBlue:Phase Shift 1 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 2===
Ishana, also known as the Mages' Guild, was a particular institution that didn't belong to any nation.

In this age when science and technology were being developed, this institution was the only one that specialized in magic and alchemy. For that very reason, there was no activity that made them stood out globally. But behind the scenes, they had connections with many nations, establishing a self-government that was neutral and completely independent from other countries.

A powerful barrier created by magic was spread around the whole island. It repelled any kind of slight interference from the outside. Furthermore as invasion from the outside was certain, a strict check would be performed when leaving from inside the island.

Therefore, Ishana was said to be the safest city in the world.

Of course, there were all kinds of facilities in the island that provided the minimum needs. As the island community grew, so did residences and companies, as well as vigilance committees and judicial systems in place.

Above all those significant facilities, it was an educational institution.

There was a magnificent academy located on the center of the island. Under the control and management of the Mages' Guild, it taught magic and alchemy in addition to basic education.

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Hidden behind the history where machinery and science continued to evolve, sorcery and alchemy had been constantly handed down while concealing their presence. Passing down that vast knowledge and skills to the next generation was the biggest purpose of the academy.

There were dormitories in the academy. Living in dormitory was a requirement, with the exception of the students who lived in the island with their families.

Whatever the form, the students who had determined to live on the island commuted to the academy every day to make an effort to study and practice magic.

Kazuma was also one of the students at the academy.

But unfortunately, Kazuma didn’t know why he attended this particular academy. Did he wish for it? Did his supposed guardian enlist him?

When his memories began, Kazuma had been registered as a student of the academy. The dormitory room where he should be living in had been arranged, his school life began after a week as if it was natural.

And while he was dumbfounded, no less than seven years of time had passed.

He was already used to the academy's uniform which consisted of white tunic, black trousers, and short mantle which seemed to have the image of a magician.

(With random students like me able to wander around, the management here is surprisingly lenient.)

During the recess between classes, leaning against a window on the corridor that was wide open while looking outside, Kazuma complained when he thought about it.

He wondered if he shouldn't be thinking about trivial things like the lenient management.

Maybe it would be different if Kazuma were a popular and excellent student. Unfortunately, his grades were so-so. They were amazingly average.

In any case, he was grateful to be placed in this spot. It was because other people didn't have any expectation toward Kazuma.

(Memory... huh.)

Looking up at the clear sky, his mind faintly muttered.

Just like now, he sometimes wondered about it when he wasn't doing anything.

...He had forgotten something really important.

Of course, since he couldn't remember anything of his past, it should be obvious. However, he had a feeling like that there was something special, something that he must not forget. And it had to be remembered no matter what.

He had a feeling like that.

But... if felt a little scary.

What would become of him if he remembered the 'something that had to be remembered no matter what'? If the memory he desperately tried to remember would overturn the foundation of his current self, in that case, it would be worth nothing

When that time came, what would be the best thing for him to do? In the first place, what would become of his current self when he regained his memories? Could he keep on being here as if there was no difference?

"...Well, it's not like it'll happen to me though."

Kazuma let out a small sigh as he spoke to himself.

Thinking about futile things made his head feel unpleasant. Giving up on thinking about it, he once again looked outside.

With only a few clouds on the sky, the soft sunlight was shining down. The weather was nice today.

Regardless, Ishana always had fine weather.

Having a mild climate, the spring was warm enough to wake up and still be half-asleep at the same time. The autumn was fairly cold.  No day hot enough to sweat, no day cold enough to be freezing.

There wouldn't be war if there was no hunger. There was never any sort of a natural disaster here.

The days in Ishana were really peaceful.

That was why Kazuma sometimes forgot.

Taking a step ahead outside the island, the whole world, with the exception of this island, was approaching the crisis of destruction.







Today was 2106 AD.

It started six years ago, 2100 AD, January 1st.

In Japan, an island nation located in the Far East, an unidentified monster appeared suddenly.

With an appearance like a snake that had numerous heads, the black monster was gigantic. Only, it had an instinct to lay destruction and massacre indiscriminately.

Furthermore, in the same time as the appearance of the monster, a substance called seithr began to overflow everywhere.

In exchange for neutralizing any harmful substance, as if it was a touch of a living being, the seithr sensed the existence of humans and informed the monster. Then, it occasionally became a guide and a lane, summoning the monster.

Following the seithr, the black monster would appear in unexpected places and at unexpected moments. When all that lived there weren't quick enough to get away, it would easily destroy everything entirely.

Using nuclear weapons, humanity tried to annihilate the monster by striking the unfortunate country called Japan. But the result ended with failure.

On the contrary, judging by the fact that the destructive being was no longer in Japan, the jet-black apparition bared its fangs toward the whole world.

——The Black Beast.

Facing the apparition which was referred to as that, humanity had tried every means they had.

But nothing was proven to be an effective method... Before anyone realized it, people could do nothing but struggle to escape from Black Beast again and again.

In this very moment, some part of the world might be facing destruction because of the Black Beast.

Despite that, there were lush green parks, roadside trees, and variously colored flowers blooming in Ishana where Kazuma lived.

For the Black Beast to be in this island, it would be like an illusion as if it was a nightmare.

"...Hm?"

Kazuma, who had been dazing with his arms placed on the window frame, suddenly took notice of a part of the scenery.

The academy's courtyard could be seen from the windows on the corridor. Naturally, the courtyard had school buildings and an auditorium which the students used there. There were many Mages' Guild's facilities constructed there.

Among those, there was a single pure white building which was called the Cathedral. Several people were busily going in and out of it.

The Cathedral was the most sacred place among the Mages' Guild. It wasn't only used by the Guild's people to hold important meetings or when there was a ceremony. With the exception of when there was a special class for the academy's students, it was prohibited to trespass without reason.

Judging by the robes they wore, the people who were going in and out seemed to be the Mages' Guild's officials. If it was only that, it shouldn't be unusual. However, there was a single person wearing a big, triangular hat on their head.

The hat, noticeable from distance, held a special meaning for the Mages' Guild.

"Ten Sages..."

The Ten Sages were the directors among directors who possessed top-class authority within the Mages' Guild. So to say, someone who had been chosen, a privileged class.

It wasn't an exaggeration to say that they were the one who presently set the Mages' Guild in motion. No one would be permitted to approach the Mages' Guild's most highly classified information that was seemingly stored in the deepest part of the Cathedral if they were not one of the Ten Sages.

Kazuma watched the movements of the Sage who was giving instruction to the restless subordinates. The mark of the chosen one on the big hat moved right and left.

(Come to think of it, it's said that there's a canonization ceremony for a new Ten Sage today.)

It was a very rare occasion.

Ten Sage was a privileged class. Therefore, to be appointed, one must have an authority over the fitting knowledge and experiences, a degree of contribution toward the Mages' Guild, and most of all, the required strength of magic. Hence why, since the Ten Sages were introduced, the number of Sages had been less than ten people for a long time.

The Ten Sage this time seemed to be an active student.

In addition to the rare appointment of a Ten Sage, it was unprecedented for a student to take up a post there.

With that 'unprecedented' coming from his classmates, it drew a somewhat interest even from Kazuma who normally just spent his days lazing around.

(If I'm not mistaken... it was Konoe Mercury)

She was undisputedly a super excellent student who had been hailed as a prodigy ever since she came to the Mages' Guild. Because of her gorgeous appearance, in addition known to have a very up-tight personality, she was a very well-known person in Ishana for various reasons.

Having no such grades, and also plain appearance and personality, Kazuma was the polar opposite of her.

(In this world, there are people who walk a bright path of life.)

Feeling discouraged, he let out a sigh. It was a world which didn't have much relation with Kazuma.

It was no use looking at it continuously as if he was being jealous of his neighbor's green lawn. As the class would begin soon, Kazuma went away from the window. Granted, there was hardly any jealous feeling left toward the Ten Sages position.

At that moment, suddenly.

————.

A voice was heard.

Kazuma looked back.

But unsurprisingly, there was only an opened window. There was no figure of a person.

"...Huh?"

He felt that he had certainly heard someone's voice just now. At any rate, he had a feeling that he had surely been called.

"I don't like this... Hallucinating after having a memory loss. It seems I can no longer laugh it off."

While scratching his head as if he was disturbing his hair, Kazuma turned his back on the window once more.

The timing was just right as the bell that informed the start of the next class echoed throughout the corridor. Kazuma reflexively looked up at the ceiling and trotted back to the classroom.