Editing BlazBlue:Phase Shift 1 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 2===

When he got outside, the sky had been dyed in bitter orange as if burning before he knew it.

The evening in Ishana which almost always had clear weather, save for a few rainy days, was lovely. The buildings and the trees were painted in the setting sun's vivid color.

Retracing his steps back through the academy's courtyard to get to the main school, Kazuma's cheeks got faintly hot as the evening sunlight blazed down on them like it did to the buildings and trees without exception.

Kazuma's manner of walking was nothing like a light walk. His gaze was dropped to the ground and the hand that didn't carry his bag was inserted into the pocket of his trousers.

He had been thinking.

The books that were kept in the Mages' Guild's Great Library practically couldn't be obtained in other places. They described stuff that was related to magic, sorcery, and alchemy around the world. The description of the past that hadn't been marked down in official history. There was no place but Ishana where such books could be found in any kind of number.

However, it was no good there.

The books in the Great Library were only the surface of the so called hidden part of the world. They were things that had been passed down to humanity without any kind of obstruction; or even, they had to be passed down. There was no Azure among them.

To approach the Azure, an even deeper information was required. Information hidden from the world, placed deep at the bottom.

For example, the Mages' Guild's highly classified information.

"But such a thing..."

For a common student who didn't have authority like Kazuma, there was nothing that could allow him to inspect those classified information. Unless he was a Sage, he wouldn't be able to do it.

Thinking about the Ten Sages reminded him of Nine again.

Desperate, maybe he should ask her directly. But he immediately dismissed that thought. It could be said that the possibility for her to pay attention to him was zero. In addition, Nine had strange wariness toward him.

"Haa... What should I do?"

His thin shoulders dropped as he sighed.

Even if the hope called Azure existed, he didn't know how to get to get to the entrance of the method he finally discovered.

Dragged by disappointment, he exited the school gate and headed to the dormitory. Disregarding the surrounding scenery while his feet carried him on autopilot, he approached the alley where he was attacked a few days ago.

He didn't feel like going there alone anymore.

As if seeing something unpleasant, Kazuma gave it a glance. A figure came out from the alley as if it had been waiting for him.

"Ah..."

Kazuma was startled and let out the small cry.

It was Terumi.

"Hey, Kazuma-chan. Returning from school?"

Standing with the burning red sky behind him, his silhouette was outlined in red and black, making it looked sinister for some reason. With the same usual unreadable expression and a crescent moon-like grin underneath the hood pulled low over his eyes, he got close to Kazuma.

"What's wrong? You look like in a bad mood. Something troubling you?"

"No. It's not like it's troubling..."

Getting tapped roughly on his back, Kazuma started walking after being urged by Terumi.

Avoiding the alley, they took the road that headed straight to the dormitory. Although he didn't really want to be seen by other people when he was with Terumi, he didn't want to go to an even more deserted street.

Walking onwards as the sun set, Kazuma stole a glance at Terumi.

Terumi was an odd man.

Even though Terumi knew a lot about him, Kazuma didn't know anything about Terumi. However, Kazuma once again felt like he knew Terumi from a long time ago.

Perhaps knew Terumi during the forgotten seven years before.

Since he would get dejected if his assumption was wrong, Kazuma couldn't voice it now. But someday... for example, if he could know more about it after getting the Azure, he wanted to have private conversation about Terumi.

Straying from the continuing stone-paved road, Kazuma turned towards a public park through an avenue. With the sun shining, the park was bustling with the voices of many children. The nice park was spacious with an unobstructed view.

Usually, Kazuma returned to the dormitory by taking a detour from this park. It was because he disliked the merry laughing voices of the children.

But now this annoying laughter gave him relief. Since the children were playing in the park like he expected, there shouldn't be anyone brandishing swords swooping down on him.

From the other day's situation, it seemed that beastkin had been avoiding there being any possible witnesses to his attack.

"The park is lively... just like usual."

As if grumbling, Kazuma more or less wearily murmured.

He usually only glanced at it from the outside, but the boisterous noise was beyond his expectation.

The children determinedly chasing after a ball as if there was fun in it. With the scene of out of his sight, Kazuma went through the avenue along with Terumi. It trees in the park and its vicinity had been growing since the island was first established. They stood considerably tall and imposing.

"Though the outside is in danger of world destruction, this island doesn't seem to give a damn at all."

Terumi walked at the same pace as Kazuma, making loud footsteps on stone tiles of the avenue. He was trying to act like he cared by shaking his head while letting out a sympathizing voice, but he failed badly.

The lively scene he gave a sidelong glance at didn't make good impression on him, Terumi distorted his mouth and blatantly averted his eyes as if bored with it.

"So, Kazuma-chan."

"Yes?"

"You seem to give the Mages' Guild's highly classified information quite an attention there."

Terumi began to spoke suddenly.

Kazuma's pace altered as he became puzzled.

"...Did I ever speak about that?"

"Hmmmm, no?"

Teasing him, Terumi smirked. His protruding chin slightly facing toward Kazuma.

"I know about it. Even if you don't say anything, I know it. I can read what you're thinking after all."

A chill shot down Kazuma's spine at the sound of Terumi's voice, which sounded as if he was threatening a small child. Before he could think it was untrue, he thought that it was possible if it was Terumi.

After he took a look at Kazuma, Terumi burst into laughter.

"Kukukuku. What, did you take it seriously? Idiot. Of course that isn't possible. I heard you talking about it back at the library."

"Library... Did you mean when I was speaking to Trinity-san?"

"Hmm. So the girl with glasses is called Trinity, huh."

Kazuma's face turned bitter as if he had been spat on by Terumi's affirmation.

Kazuma felt considerable gratitude toward Trinity who gave him a feeling of friendship which brightened his normally empty every day life. Should he laugh at that girl, criticizing her behavior? Or should he laugh along with her?

He almost laughed just now.

"It would've been fine if you had just called out to us back then. Eavesdropping is bad manners, you know?"

"Manners? I have bad manners!? Shit, you're making me laugh! Hey hey, Kazuma-chan. Just because you got imprisoned in this disgusting island for seven years, don't get so corrupted that you want to become a honorable magician."

"Hey, please don't talk like that in the middle of the city..."

The flustered Kazuma interrupted Terumi's words while being startled at the same time.

What a nerve to just casually speak ill of Mages' Guild while treading on the land of Ishana, which was under protection of Mages' Guild.

Terumi spoke with provocative tone like it was unclear whether he realized it or not, or realizing it but pretended he didn't know about it.

"Besides, you think it's okay if I called out to you? The atmosphere was really nice, y'know. Youth is really nice, isn't it~."

"Spare me already. Trinity-san and I don't have anything like that."

Kazuma was bad at that topic. Completely indifferent to Kazuma's tone of voice, Terumi put his hand on his forehead and shaking his shoulders like there was something amusing.

"Hahaha. Hehe, I see. Then again, women are frightening. Generally, they don't care about our intention. Don't you remember? Be careful, Kazuma-chan... Kuku."

"Thank you for the advice."

He was completely ridiculed. Kazuma's mouth was warped as he replied with cold nod.

Nevertheless, the still laughing Terumi still spoke a bit ironically.

"While I'm at it, I'll tell you something. The Mages' Guild's highly classified information... It surely exists inside the Cathedral. But that thing isn't like what you think."

Kazuma's expression tensed when he heard Terumi's manner of speaking. Couldn't believe it so suddenly, he looked at the hooded man beside him as if peeking at him.

The trees in the public park seemed to rustle as if to signify the unrest.

"Do you know the contents of the classified information?"

Terumi lightly nodded.

"Yeah, I know I know. Where might that be, hmm?"

"No way. There's only a few people including the Ten Sages who know about all of the classified information, isn't there? How can Terumi-san..."

It really didn't seem likely for Terumi to be deeply affiliated with Mages' Guild. No matter how he looked at him, Terumi looked like an outsider. How could he acquire the knowledge of this highly classified information?

Kazuma's voice was clouded with doubt. He looked at Terumi's eyes, which were glaring as if making fun of him.

"What, you don't believe it? Well, I don't really care if you believe it or not. "

"...Then please tell me. What exactly is the Mages' Guild's highly classified information?"

It was true for the Azure, but likewise, he didn't know anything about the matter called Mages' Guild's highly classified information.

Terumi stopped and turned around in a pompous manner at the questioning Kazuma who was testing him.

Kazuma also stopped almost at the same time. It was evening in the public park. While listening toa  distant sound that was like from different dimension compared to the merry voices of the children, he faced Terumi.

Terumi showed his usual smile. A smile that ridiculed people.

"You want me to tell you? I'm okay with telling you... But right now, you don't have any business with the classified information."

"I believe I have something to do with it. You were saying you have knowledge regarding the Azure and the classified information, but you won't tell me what it is. Even if you say so, I don't have confidence in your words."

"Haa. Kazuma-chan's such a worrywart~."

Kazuma undauntedly talked back to Terumi who was trying to get Kazuma into his pace. Terumi calmly laughed at Kazuma like he was offended by him.

"Don't be afraid. It exists, okay? Rea~lly exists. Maybe saying it's a way to reach Azure is better than giving you information."

"A way to reach Azure..."

"As for the meaning of it, find it yourself. Don't get people to tell you everything. Like they say, you should be willing to go through struggles. ...Right, Brother?"

As he spoke, Terumi grabbed Kazuma's shoulder and pulled him toward himself. Terumi's fingers were thin, but it dug to the flesh of Kazuma's shoulder with strength that could disrupt the joints.

Terumi looked at Kazuma who was grimacing because of the pain from the surprise attack as Terumi forced him to get close. He then showed a mysterious smile.

"Listen, you need to get to the Azure by yourself. This is what you'd call a fate that can’t be avoided, got it?"

Even if you don't get it, say that you do. With such atmosphere, Terumi whispered in low tone.

Kazuma cast his eyes down as if he overpowered.

Just what actually is the Azure? To begin with, why is the management on the Cathedral so secure? If it's to protect the highly classified information, then what actually is that information?

Numerous numbers of question accumulated in his chest.

But just like Terumi said, it supposed to be his fate. He must pursue the Azure. No matter how difficult that was.

Still looking downward, Kazuma muttered faintly.

"...Someone that isn't a Ten Sage won't be permitted to get inside the Cathedral. It doesn't seem likely for Mages' Guild to give permission either."

"Well, thinking about it normally, it's useless to try to outwit the Ten Sages just by words. It's a purpose the Mages' Guild has been continually doing for hundreds of years, y'know?"

Even before Kazuma, there should be people who had an interest with the Mage’s Guild's highly classified information for various circumstances. No one had been successful in making contact with the classified information.

Persisting to protect the classified information with obstinate security was why the Mages' Guild continued to have a great presence in the hidden side of history. The Mages' Guild's massive history seemed to indicate that it was a symbol of authority's foundation; a symbol that wasn't easy to associate with.

"But then, what should I do?"

"Use your head a little, dear student. Besides, I'm not much of a thinker."

Terumi who seemed to be really appalled had his mouth distorted. As he started to walk again, his black leather shoes crrunched as they trampled the pebbles below which were carried over from the public park by wind.

It seemed these were the only hints he'd get.

Kazuma dashed to catch up with Terumi. Advancing while giving a sidelong glance to the trees that were planted in regular interval, he kept thinking and concentrating.

The problem lied on the Ten Sages and securities who kept a watchful eye on intruders. They had eyes to see Kazuma, mouths to reprimand him, and brain to decide his punishment. Unless these obstructive people were away from the Cathedral, he couldn't do much.

"For example... When all the Ten Sages got involved in a situation away from the Cathedral..."

While thinking, Kazuma let out an incoherent muttering.

Beside him, Terumi seemed amazed and snorted.

"Good thinking... is what I wanted to say. Kazuma-chan, even a kid can think that much, y'know? That isn't the number one problem here. Think harder."

"...I know."

'I was about to think about that just now, so don't interrupt me' was what Kazuma's innermost thoughts bore. He then gave it a thought again.

An ordinary and inconspicuous student who casually walked along and then stopped by the Cathedral. A situation like that wouldn't draw much attention and he might be able to slip past the Ten Sages' eyes.

(But how can I produce such situation...?)

There was no meaning of it if the situation wasn't a situation that could only be resolved by Ten Sages, not the teaching staff and the town's vigilance committee. Then, his thought was interrupted.

"Aaah. As you were thinking, some dangerous guys got near."

Again, Terumi abruptly changed the topic. He stopped walking beside Kazuma before he could ascertain the reason.

"What are you talking about, Terumi-san..."

Stopping shortly, Kazuma asked him while surveying their surroundings. Then, he finally noticed.

It should have been the usual scene, but there wasn't a single one of those annoying children there. The same was also true of the parents who normally sat, having a pleasant chat nearby. The same for the elders who sat on the benches while gazing at the sky in daze.

With the exception of Kazuma and Terumi, there wasn't anyone else in the public park.

Terumi sneered like he was spitting at the thought.

"Not magic. Ars, eh."

"A-Ars?"

"Something like a counterfeit. Simply put, it's locked us up inside this public park."

"Locked us up? Just who...!?"

Even when returning home by deliberately choosing a path that had a lot of people, it seemed he would experience strange things again. Kazuma went to panic, having had enough of it.

While Terumi fearlessly raised his mouth, he returned his glance at Kazuma as if urging him.

"Who you say? Well, isn't it them?"

Blocking the avenue on the front and the rear side, three silhouettes of people outfitted with black clothing surrounded Kazuma and Terumi.