BlazBlue:Phase Shift 2 Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Indigo Heart, the Conception

Part 1

Where might the proof that one is oneself be?

Where might the significance that one is oneself be?

This is the memory of a man who bears the name Hakumen.

The memory of when he began this new life as himself.

And the memory of when he chose his fate to fight——.

——An old castle nestled in eternal night. The residence of an old vampire who had lived a thousand years.

Jin was there, deep underground.

Although there was nothing but endless night there, the place had a darkened basement in addition. No light was supposed to flow in; only that from the flame inside the lamps which were furnishing the wall. The light from the lamps flickered, warmly shining down on the place eerily.

Between the wavering lights, an old-fashioned wooden door stood still, giving off a dignified air. It looked so heavy as to be immovable with the strength of one man. If he wasn't underground, it would be easy to imagine that a castle's scenery awaited beyond the door. Being indoors, it seemed rather out of place.

Sitting in his wheelchair, Jin looked up at the door.

The last time, he had woke up to the presence of the castle's master, Clavis, before fainting again. Apparently a few days had passed since then. Most of the paralyzing injuries on his body had healed poorly, but it was enough to enable him to sit up on the bed.

Nonetheless, it was impossible to stand on his own. Wearing easily removable sleep-wear, his appearance was unsightly as he was covered in bandages. He was forced to move around in a wheelchair due to his injuries.

Valkenhayn had pushed Jin's wheelchair to this place.

The master of the castle, whom Valkenhayn usually accompanied, Clavis, sat in front of Jin. The old vampire was unable to walk. He moved his own wheelchair with magic.

Standing close to Clavis was Rachel. When the light from the lamps flickered, its color was reflected on the young girl's silhouette. It highlighted her unusual charm.

"All right... We have arrived."

Stopping before the door, Clavis smiled wearily, as if tired from the long journey up to here.

The closed door had been subjected to strict seals.

It had a weathered feel to it, it looked rather like it had been crafted from rock. Clavis held out one wrinkled hand to the surface of the steadfast door.

In response, bluish-white magic circles rose to surface. With a few words, Clavis incited the magic circle to recognize its visitors. After that, a bleak light slowly encircled the hand he held out, to examine it. Before long, it dissolved and vanished.

After a short pause, the door opened by itself without needing to examine anyone else's hands.

"Ugh..."

For a moment, Jin felt a numbness as if a lightning was running across his skin. A side effect of the door's seal.

The locking seal had not been broken, it was unlocked by its key: its master.

Despite that, he still felt unsettled by the residual power of the engraved seal.

There is something I want to show you.

Having said that, Clavis led Jin inside.

Jin frowned as he wondered what could possibly need so strict a seal. The discomfort from passing through the door only served to compound that foreboding feeling.

Clavis moved his wheelchair forward with Jin, pushed by Valkenhayn, in tow and Rachel following on foot.

A strange darkness clung to the edges of the door.

In Rachel's tiny hand was held a lamp, similar to those that illuminated the castle. The flickering magical light inside the glass shone with an intensity that did not at all reflect its size as it illuminated the surroundings. Other than the doorframe's eerie shadow, it lit the hallway which stretched far ahead inside.

They slipped into a strange and mysterious space, their surroundings no longer reminiscent of a castle. Other than the path straight ahead, everything was completely drowned in black.

As Clavis advanced, the door behind them closed by itself. As it swung shut, the large door made no sound, as if all noise was being absorbed by the surrounding darkness.

Not just the noise, but the flow of air and time also seemed to stand still.

Clearly, this realm was out of the ordinary.

Clavis proceeded without hesitation, followed by Rachel and Valkenhayn. They must have already known where this place was, its purpose, and what was inside.

Jin felt rather uncomfortable, as the only clueless member here, with no opportunity to ask questions and no ability to halt his own procession down the soundless hall.

"By the way, Sir Jin."

Clavis spoke gently from up ahead.

Glancing back at Jin, the withered face was mellowed by an affection that didn't suit this dark, gloomy place.

"Has your memory recovered at all yet? It seems you have calmed a little."

No sound came from the wheelchair's movement. Despite that, the unheeded voice sounded strange.

Jin took a glance at his soundlessly moving chair before opening his mouth.

"…Your information regarding this world contradicts my memories."

"How so?"

The strained, cracking voice urged him to continue.

"In my memories… the Black Beast was been killed in the distant past. It was a key event in history. The ones who defeated Black Beast were the Six Heroes… As for who they were..."

Jin frowned again. The memories were still murky. He should have known more about them than just that the Six Heroes existed.

But he couldn't remember.

"Is there anything else you can remember?"

Clavis' voice sounded muffled in Jin's ears. The concentration gave him a dull headache, but Jin managed to pick words from his memory, as if tearing fragments of them from cloth.

"…Ragna. My… brother…"

Clavis turned his head slightly, to face Jin.

Jin had dropped his sight while prying through his memories, the small gesture was lost on him.

"And then…"

Inside the hazy memories, there was a face that emerged vividly in Jin's mind. It was awfully nostalgic, and truly warm… but somehow weighed heavy on his heart.

"…Tsubaki."

The moment he spoke the name, an intense headache struck. The pain was like a hot steel had pierced his skull. Jin grimaced, holding back a gasp of pain.

He was struck by a wave of emotions, most of them unpleasant. A mixture of drowning sorrow and burning hatred.

His powerless hands creaked as they formed into tight fists..

Why? How? Rejection, a feeling of helplessness, wrath, fury. Fragments of emotion and unanswerable questions came one by one and burned his brain.

Then, a voice cut straight through his fog of painful memory. A soft and modest voice, it pulled the hot iron from Jin's skull. It suppressed and eliminated the headache that was causing his body to tremble.

"Please, calm down."

Jin raised his eyes. The pain had withdrawn, but a dizziness, born from the headache made his head spin.

Exhausted, Jin sank back into the wheelchair. Clavis squinted as if sympathizing with him.

"More time will be necessary to regain all of your memories. ...It is alright, you certainly will remember. Therefore, you should not tire yourself searching for memories."

Jin rewarded the friendly tone of voice with sharp glare. Sweet words seemed obnoxious to him. Words that somewhat made light of his feelings did not amuse him.

Realizing he had stopped moving, Clavis slowly began to move his wheelchair again.

In the long pathway that was illuminated by the light Rachel held, there were many more seals to take care of. These magic circles weren't on doors, like the first had been, but rather floating in the air, slowing their progress.

While quietly unsealing them one by one, Clavis spoke again.

"I am certain that you came from the future and were washed down the timestream into this age. ...The manipulated future."

"Manipulated future...?"

The feeling of dizziness remained. It wasn't helping Jin to make any sense of this new information.

Clavis' thin shoulders dropped along with a sigh.

"It is an old story. Long before the repeating, barren history of the world... Before the Black Beast materialized. Humanity had come into contact with the Boundary for the first time."

Again, Clavis' hand undid a seal.

Coupled with his narrative tone, it seemed as though the old vampire was unraveling a history which he had been seen with his own eyes.

Proceeding past the now unlocked seal, the group continued moving.

"The world gained a will by the hands of man. In accordance with its will, the world has determined the path on which humanity should tread. There are some disparities, but with the same base state, humanity will repeatedly pursue the same process and be led to the same fate."

"The future... has been determined...?"

"Perhaps it is easier to comprehend when put in that manner."

Gently and slowly, Clavis spoke as if picturing a distant scenery. Although the crimson pair of eyes had deep foresight, they were also brimming with swaying emotions rather than simply being two calm pools of serenity.

"...Let me give you an example, young man. Your coming from some other future, and arriving in our era was also one of the procedure which has been determined by the world."

"Tsk, DON'T MESS WITH ME!!"

Yelling, Jin hit the wheelchair's handrail with his fist.

"To hell with the world's will! Screw determined procedures! Then my brother... Tsubaki... ARE YOU TELLING ME THEY WILL FALL TO THAT FATE!?"

Filled with vigor, Jin flared at Clavis and tried to push himself out of the chair. But his weak and injured body wouldn't support his weight.

Even so, Jin violently squirmed as if trying to shake off something. Valkenhayn had to pull him back to keep him in his wheelchair.

"Be quiet! Surely you realize that your body is too damaged to move! Be aware of your own situation, kid."

"Ugh..."

The strength left his body and pain and dizziness suddenly came rushing to fill the void its exit had left. He was unable to move again, but Jin's shoulders rose and fell with his ragged breathing. He glared at Clavis.

Paying no mind to Jin's outburst, Clavis' wheelchair continued forward.

Rachel gave Jin a cold stare. In contrast, Clavis' gaze remained warm.

"…It seems you are filled with sorrow."

"I don't know… I can't remember why! But… but…"

Ragna and Tsubaki. A while ago, those names didn't mean anything to him, sunk deep inside the mist of his memory. When his subconscious raised them to the surface for a moment, a whirl of emotions followed.

He couldn't remember even a fragment of the specifics as to what he had gone through with them. Despite that, he felt an awful sorrow, frustration, and agony. His eyes, grown weak and tired, now burned hot with emotion.

Clavis turned to look forward once more; he slowly closed his eyes as if deep in contemplation.

"This world is like a dream seen by god. God has seen the same dream many times over. Its story is a repeating cycle of life and death... The dream of fate."

While listening to Clavis' story, Rachel held the lamp up high. The end of the passage could be seen in the distance; a simple wooden door, surrounded by a magical seal.

"I do not know if you are able to put an end to that dream. Unfortunately, I cannot see through this world's future..."

Clavis' wheelchair drew closer to the door. His bony hand's touch caused the magic circle to fluctuate and ripple. After a few patterns had been drawn on the surface, it gently vanished.

Within the dark room that had muted all sound except voices, the creaking from the wooden door broke the eery silence.

As if stepping aside, the door opened. Another darkness awaited on the other side. But this time, it was quickly revealed that this was a small room.

Valkenhayn wheeled Jin to the entrance of the room.

In the center of the room, something stood alone. Something white. A silhouette.

"What is this...?" Jin inquired, peering at the front of the white frame.

Clavis didn't enter, stopping his wheelchair beside the door. As his red eyes gazed into the room, he sluggishly opened his mouth.

"...It is something humanity attained by chance when they discovered the Boundary in the past. Do you know of the objects named Original Units?"

"Original Unit..."

With a voice that was practically a sigh, Jin murmured.

It was very likely that this wasn't the first time he had spoken those words. He felt a tug at the corner of his memory, but the knowledge slipped from his grasp. He couldn't remember.

"To put it in simple, human terms, perhaps... they are the three gods who created this world."

Even without voicing a reply, Clavis could guess Jin's thoughts by his face. Clavis looked troubled as he continued to speak in a wheeze. Leaning back in his wheelchair, he linked his thin fingers atop his stomach.

"There are three Original Units, the Sankishin. The Master Unit Amaterasu, the Tsukuyomi Unit and this one here is the Susano'o Unit. ...Though, it has nothing inside. It is simply a vessel."

Although he said 'simply', even Jin could easily see that this was far from common sense. Clavis' speech was erratic, and yet his extraordinarily old voice was appropriate; importance and truth could be sensed from it.

Even without a word or presence, the still object was clad in an odd sense of intimidation. It exuded power.

"It has passed through many hands since its discovery. However, I am its owner now. ...Young man. If you believe it to be necessary, then I will hand it over to you."

Even though his gentle voice made it seem like he was telling a fairy-tale, Jin was bewildered. He looked back at the old vampire.

Clavis calmly looked at Jin. As if picking up the thought in Jin's heart; looking at it while carrying affection.

"...Your body is no longer functioning as it should be. If that still does not matter to you, you are welcome to remain in this castle until the day your life meets its end. But if you need legs to stand and an arm to wield a sword... I believe that vessel is appropriate for you."

Jin stared at Clavis again as he spoke. He was looking for the real motive hidden inside that pair of deep crimson eyes. Still, no matter how doubtful he was, there was nothing but honest warmth.

Clavis took a single deep breath. There was a hint in his sigh that he had grown weary.

"...There is still time. Do consider it. You must decide your own future."

"Even if it follows the plot of this god's dream you're talking about...?"

Jin's words held a hint of sarcasm.

Clavis smiled pleasantly. The wrinkles on his face grew deeper.

"What a high spirited young man. However, you are right indeed. You have to choose. No matter how much of it is part of the world's wish, the limit to keep on choosing is none other than your own decision."

While speaking, Clavis moved his wheelchair past Jin and out of the room.

"Well... It seems I have become a little tired. Rachel, is it alright to leave the rest to you?"

"Yes. Please have a good rest, dear Father."

Her eyes, once cold were now bright with faint warmth.

Clavis gave Valkenhayn a look. Understanding what was meant by it, Valkenhayn moved behind Clavis and gently began to push the wheelchair.

Before he left, Clavis stopped his wheelchair for a moment to give Jin a final piece of advice.

"Young man. Please, live true to your own heart."

The old voice held a deep affection.

Clavis looked back at Jin with a worried, strained smile.

"...Once, I said something similar to someone who was very much like you, but... Oh dear, it seems I am not able to remember who the person was. It appears I am being reduced to a part of the repeating dream, too. It has to be my age."

After he spoke, he leaned back into the wheelchair as if sleeping. Valkenhayn walked them both back down the path and out of that place deep underground.

Rachel turned the lamp in her hand toward Jin, while Jin turned his aching body toward The Susano'o Unit.

Rather than worried, the young man's face looked more determined. Rachel interrupted his concentration, her voice chiming out like a ringing bell.

"...By accepting and uniting with the Original Unit, you will cease to be human. There won't be a second chance to return."

"What will I be if it not human?"

Jin whispered like he was asking himself.

Rachel's charming and lovely eyes slowly blinked.

"Who knows. Perhaps you won't become anything. At the very least, you won't be like you are presently."

His current self.

Jin looked at himself, sitting on a wheelchair.

His powerless self. He was no doubt alive, but his body was so impaired that he couldn't do anything by himself. It didn't amount to anything if it couldn't wield a sword to fight.

Where might the proof that one is oneself be?

Where might the significance that one is oneself be?

Jin questioned himself. Those were vague questions, but he arrived at the necessary answer quite easily.

It was natural. It was because Jin already found his resolve long ago.

"I am me. I don't need anything beyond that."

There were only two options.

Live unable to fight, or live to fight.

Only two choices came into his mind.The thought of choosing either of them pierced sharp and deep into his heart like a blade of ice. Cold pain was running through his mind.

The black silhouette he saw inside flames. The Black Beast. Both were something that had to be killed.

The man he called brother. The young girl with the name of a flower. Both were people he had lost repeatedly within the repeating dream.

He must fight.

If the Black Beast was here, then he would follow the wish of his instinct to kill it.

If he wanted to sever the repeating tragedy, then he would follow the protest of his sentimentality to decapitate it.

He could hear a voice from the standing white silhouette.

——Be the white void. Be the cold steel. Be the just sword. Take blade in hand to reap the sins of this world and cleanse it in the fires of destruction.

The immovable arm moved. He ended the life of the man named Jin, and chose to tread a new stage.

Part 2

Time had passed quickly. Only a four months remained before the black beast would awaken.

A large scale encampment had been set up half a month away from the last day of 2107 AD. They were carrying a plan to ambush the Black Beast as soon as it awoke from its one year sleep.

For that reason, a meeting was being held in the council room in the Mage's Guild of Ishana.

The participants were the warriors who would play a central part in the strategy. Jubei, Valkenhayn, Trinity, Terumi, Hakumen, and Nine.

They were surrounding a floating orb in the center of the room. The orb had unfolded a map which they were staring at with grave looks on their faces.

"As revealed by the previous data, it was certain that the Black Beast made its appearance from the vicinity of Cauldrons. Before that happened, those Cauldron had been discharging intense levels of seithr. In short, there's high possibility that The Black Beast will appear near the Cauldron which is leaking the most seithr."

Nine, acting as the commander, nimbly waved her finger. Then, a great number of tiny lights appeared on the map, functioning as markers.

"We have a specific approximation regarding the location of Cauldrons around the world thanks to Terumi. We've been observing whether there's a change in the influx of seithr from any cauldrons among this data. And here they are."

Several green markers were now glowing red. Their numbers roughly amounted close to twenty.

She had already received and understood the information, but Trinity's face grew dark.

"It's everywhere... We have to start deploying the armies quickly. Besides, even if they arrive before its appearance, I'm not sure if they can make it stay in one place..."

"There's another nature in The Black Beast's appearance. The thing's drawn to life force. It'll sniff out the most abundant and splendid life force and hunt it."

Although he looked unmotivated, Terumi spoke while wiping the map with his hand. Around half of the red markers turned blue. The blue lights were concentrated in Eastern Europe.

"Taking that in mind, the monster will appear from the Cauldrons around here. ...Though, they're not locations that can be easily visited anyway."

Having said that, Terumi chuckled.

Valkenhayn knitted his brows. Jubei shifted his attention as if to calm Valkenhayn. Like usual, Hakumen didn't move nor talk.

Celica was watching the meeting intently, sat on a chair placed alongside the wall of the council room.

She just sat there with nothing to do. Next to her was Nirvana, her long arms dangling.

Celica didn't have any part in the plan. She was here because Nine insisted she not be left alone for even one second.

She wasn't being overprotective. Nine was being cautious in relation to Seven and Eight's proposed plan.

Around a month ago, Nine had left Ishana, but got a report from her confidants that Seven and Eight had taken the opportunity to approach Celica again.

Celica thought they had probably had given up after that occasion, but it seemed Nine was still suspicious of their actions. Nine's excuse was that it would be problematic if they made another pass at Celica in this key stage of planning, so soon before the Beast's awakening.

Although she had Nirvana to protect her, Seven and Eight were Sages. Since she couldn't afford to be negligent, Nine tried to keep Celica with her while she was on the island, one way or another.

Celica felt grateful that her older sister was being protective of her. The feeling alone was very valuable.

But as it was, she had been made to attend this meeting where she was just aimlessly sitting around, unable to do anything. Unnecessary thoughts popped up in her head as a result.

For example, there was an overwhelming difference between her and the six people she shared the room with. She was often seen with them, but she was self-conscious that she wasn't on the same ground as them.

It didn't come out of boredom nor from doing something useless.

But a bit. Just for a bit.

"......"

Celica raised her head, noticing that silence had fallen over the room.

It seemed she had unwarily been leaning on Nirvana's arm. Nirvana, who was standing at her side, looked down at Celica.

"Ah, sorry."

In as quiet a voice as possible so as not to disturb the meeting, Celica apologised to the large doll. Celica straightened her back.

Nirvana's large hand lightly hit her on the head head. The gesture was intended to be more a caress than a scold and it warmed Celica's heart.

(Come to think of it, I used to get this feeling before...)

From that person. From Ragna.

She was surprised to realise that soon it would be one year since their parting. She suddenly realised how much she missed him.

If Ragna were here, she would be able to tell him how she was feeling. And then he would say something. No matter what she told him, he would say 'idiot' and then laugh.

"...It's okay. Thank you, Nirvana."

Both human and doll had a similar personality, both sharing a special kindness. While thinking about it, Celica gripped the hand of her affectionate guardian. The hand was cold. The hand was big. Currently, the hand felt reliable.

After once again explaining that she was fine, Celica turned to the meeting. Straightening herself, she made sure to listen diligently.

It was because her sister and the others were about to begin the discussion of their important fight.

After stealing a quick glance at Celica, Nine once again manipulated the blue markers on the table and changed five of them to white. They were the spot where the location of several cauldrons were comparatively concentrated.

Without hesitation, Trinity relayed detailed information about the spots that had been turned white.

"We could probably get a more definitive specification if the proximities were closer; but considering the required time, we can no longer postpone to notify more countries to deploy their armies. Our discussion this time will be to estimate which is the most likely place where The Black Beast will appear."

"Are ya gonna deploy the armies to all of these points? Even if they all gather at the wrong point, there's a lot of distance between the cauldrons."

Jubei wrinkled his nose.

"I know," nodded Nine.

"That's why as soon as we confir its appearance, we're going to be forced to move a large number of units. It's preferable to teleport each of them, but I can't use teleportation magic strong enough to transport troops. Therefore... can I ask that of you, Valkenhayn?"

With a sigh, Nine folded her arms below her chest and shifted her focus to the grimacing wolf-man.

Valkenhayn frowned deeply.

"Are you requesting Rachel-sama's assistance?"

"Her teleportation is able to transfer whole squads of personnel. If the scattered parties can be teleported to the place where The Black Beast appears..."

"I refuse."

Interrupting Nine's words, a clear, bell-like voice shook the room. At the same time, a faint scent of rose bloomed and a small figure appeared near Celica.

It was so sudden that Celica jumped out of her chair and grabbed Nirvana's arms. Nirvana quickly put herself on guard.

Her black dress was decorated with frills. Her beautiful golden hair was tied into two long tails by big ribbons. Her eyes were a deep crimson colour and her skin was pale as snow. The vampire who lived in a castle surrounded by an endless night, Rachel Alucard.

From the start, her appearance here made Celica's eyes open wide. Rachel had just displayed the teleportation magic that was presently being discussed.

But Ishana was concealed in a secure barrier. Furthermore, the Mage's Guild's council room had a further protective barrier applied. It shouldn't have been possible to directly teleport into this place.

"A-Amazing..." Celica couldn't help but let slip her respect at seeing the Mage Guild's strongest enchantments bested.

It was as one would expect of teleportation magic capable of moving an army as Nine had asserted.

Rachel turned to look at Celica and pointedly looked down her nose at her, as if in contempt.

"Good day. You're very skilled, managing to sit in a chair like that, without dislocating your back."

"Ahaha... You surprised me! Hello, Rachel-san."

Celica replied with a wry smile. Rachel snorted as if in discontent.

"Rachel-sama! Why are you here...!?"

Breaking the circle, Valkenhayn came over in a panic.

Raising her eyes to look first at her butler, Rachel then shifted her gaze to looked towards Nine.

"Why, to give advice, since all of you were so serious about that amusing joke of borrowing my power at the start of humanity's upcoming battle. Discard the absurd idea of involving me, Nine of the Ten Sages."

Rachel spoke in a tone of mockery mixed with the kind of astonishment one would display at a child's imprudence.

Trying not to lose her composure at Rachel's haughty tone but still clearly wanting to say something, Nine scowled. Turning to face the child-like vampire, Nine stood over the girl and looked down at her.

"The year is almost up and the Black Beast will come alive ashortly. You must be aware of this, Rachel Alucard. If the damage from that monster spreads any further, humanity will likely lose their will to fight. At the very least, this strategy will give us the strength to fight. Considering this, our first battle has to bear fruits."

"That's why you're asking for my help? And where are your manners? I'd prefer if you made your request while rubbing your head on the ground."

"Hey... I told you to try to understand the situation, didn't I? Or are you telling me that humanity's life and death are just some game for the daughter of the Alucard Family? You have a lot of screws loose."

If those blood red eyes were sneering and looking down on her, then she in turn would rain down contempt from the shade of her purple hat. Their mutual incompatibility formed an intertwining force of opposition.

But Rachel, who was raising her eyes to look at Nine, chose to drop her gaze without any further resistance.

Celica noticed something when looking at Rachel's face from the side. Rachel usually put on a cold look. But for moment, she saw a glimpse of sorrow.

"...Even if you were to ask while standing on your hands, I will not lend my hand in this battle. No, perhaps you won't understand unless I tell you directly that I cannot help."

"Rachel-sama..."

Other than Valkenhayn, perhaps no one in this place could guess the reason why Rachel wore such a cloudy expression.

Celica couldn't understand the meaning behind that look. Bewildered, she could only blink.

To press her further, Nine instantly frowned hard. When she did that, Rachel continued in scornful voice.

"I am not able to intervene in humanity's decisions. So please, win this fight all by yourselves."

Her manner of speaking made it sound as though Rachel had been continuously watching over hundreds of years of history... Yes, it was like the other vampire who lived no less than a thousand years, Clavis Alucard, was talking to them with his transcendental presence.

In addition to that, Celica had briefly seen sorrow and gloom on her face.

A heavy footstep echoed through the chamber, everybody turned toward the noise.

Hakumen, who until now had been silent, displaying no concern with the meeting, turned toward Rachel.

"...I did not expect any assistance from the likes of you, even before you showed your face."

"Sir Hakumen. I will not forgive any mockery toward Rachel-sama. Even if it comes from you."

Nine's previous words had already made Valkenhayn's face turn grim. It was now smoldering with the flames of resentment.

Jubei stepped in front of him, trying to keep the quarrel from developing further.

Rachel wearily took a breath. Then with a manner of walking that resembled a waltz, she turned to Celica.

"I cannot give my support. However, I can give you advice. The Black Beast will certainly appear before her. Perhaps it is not advice... but a prediction."

Her red eyes locked onto Celica as they blinked frantically.

Nine snapped and looked at Celica.

Trinity, Jubei, and Valkenhayn turned to look at her as well. Terumi and Hakumen were the only exceptions.

While blankly looking back at the staring, deep crimson eyes, Celica pointed at herself, unable to comprehend why.

"W-Why me?"

Again, a sad look passed over in Rachel's red eyes. Her tiny lips gently whispered but those words blew through Celica's chest with the force of sudden gust.

"...His soul is sleeping within the Black Beast."

Who did she mean by 'his'?

Celica was reminded of someone's face in that moment.

Despite their differing agendas, everyone understood who he was.

Part 3

That night.

Celica took a shower after finishing dinner with her sister at home. Beginning her night-time routine, Celica went upstairs to her room and changed into her pajamas.

She was sitting on top of her bed, which was positioned beside the window. She squeezed a pillow between her legs and let down her hair.

Nirvana was sitting on top of a sofa beside the bed. The sofa was something Celica had prepared to become Nirvana's default position when she was in the room. Nowadays, she was completely attached to it.

She had already switched off the lights, however, she didn't feel like sleeping at all.

She knew well the reason. It hadn't left her mind. The words she heard today in the council room of the Mage's Guild.

——His soul is sleeping within the Black Beast.

Rachel was the head of the Alucard Family who had been watching over all of history. Celica knew that her words must hold some truth. When she had the chance to meet the previous observer, Clavis Alucard, she could see a faint sadness in his eyes and hear it as he spoke in his gentle tones. She thought that Rachel had looked similar back at the meeting.

If she dared to believe it was true...

Rachel's words gradually rekindled the ashes of a fire within Celica. Stoked by thoughts provoked by the day's meeting, that fire immediately flickered bright red, releasing heat, and burned within her chest.

As if she couldn't bear the growing heat, Celica tossed aside the pillow and got off the bed.

She ran up to the closet which stood in one corner of the room.

She opened it to reveal the outer coat and dress of the academy's uniform, as well as several sets of casual clothes, hanging neatly from its railing.

Right at the back of the closet, there was an outfit which clearly did not belong. A long, bright red coat.

The coat was too long for Celica to wear. It was apparent from the design and shoulder width that this coat was tailored for a man.

Hidden even deeper in the closet, there was a single sword with a thick and bulky blade. It was leaning against the closet's back wall.

When Celica reached in and dragged out the sword from the closet, she fell onto her bottom. The sword was heavy.

Unable to wield it at all, Celica raised her knees to hold it up in her arms and placed the broad body of the sword on her palms.

The sword was cleanly polished without any stain on it. The same was true of the red coat. At first, it had been dirty and torn in some places. Every day, she had mended it little by little until it was completely restored.

The sword and coat had been left in Celica's possession by her important friend.

"Ragna..."

Unconsciously, her lips moved and uttered his name.

If Rachel was telling the truth. If his soul was indeed sleeping within the Black Beast.

She might be able to meet him again.

She could meet him again, and then... have a conversation if possible.

She couldn't stop once she thought about it. Celica had that nature since she was little. The recklessness had often made her do things without thinking of the consequences. It must have given her sister Nine trouble.

She surely would give her more problems this time as well.

She knew. In truth, she didn't want to give Nine any more trouble nor worry. However.

"Ragna."

Calling the name out loud again made her chest even warmer and furthered her expectations.

Embracing the bulky sword, Celica's soft lips began to open. She might be able to meet him. Just thinking about it gave her a feeling like she could do anything.

If the owner of the sword could see what Celica was thinking right now, he would be frowning. He would definitely have scolded her and told not to do anything dangerous.

Nine would say the same. Putting Celica's safety first, she had even created Nirvana for her.

But it was no good. Her chest was throbbing. She could only feel a wild and impulsive happiness.

Because none of the options that were born from the possibility Rachel had hinted at would inconvenience Celica, she suddenly felt like she could do anything.

"...I've decided."

Celica looked over to the sofa while still hugging the sword.

Nirvana was sitting bolt upright on the sofa. Her unblinking eyes were staring at Celica.

Celica faced Nirvana and spoke. And as she spoke, the determination within her took a shape.

"Tomorrow, I'll speak to my sister. When the Black Beast revives, I might be able to lure it towards me."

She might get angry. At worst, she might cry. But Celica didn't think she should give up.

"If I can lure the Black Beast, I think my sister's strategy will go a lot smoother. If there's any possibility that I can do something to save somebody, then I would do anything. I'll give it my all."

She wanted to be her sister's, everyone's strength.

Above all, she hoped she would be able to see Ragna.

As her chest gently throbbed, Celica hugged Ragna's sword tightly once again.

She remembered the last time she had this kind of feeling. The warmth from his kindness.

——That night, Celica had a dream. She was standing alone in a white room. There was nothing when she looked around. Not even her own shadow.

Where might this place be?

She was thinking aloud, but even her breath was inaudible, as if the white void was absorbing all sound.

She took a step forward.

The room was so white she couldn't even tell if she was walking on solid ground. However, her feet unexpectedly found solid purchase as she moved forwards.

Then, a mirror, previously unnoticed, appeared before her unnoticed.

It was large enough to reflect Celica's entire person. Furthermore, it was not reflecting anything else around. It was as if the rectangular, full-length mirror had been prepared exclusively for her.

How could there be a mirror here? It was oddly suspicious.

She felt a vague sense of déjà vu, as though she had been in this dream before.

She wondered if the mirror really existed here.

Wanting to touch it, Celica reached out towards it.

In the other side of the rectangular mirror, Celica's reflection also stretched out her hand.

When the fingers of the real and false image were about to touch, Celica was driven out of the bright white room like a fish thrown back into the sea.

The dream ended there.

When she awoke, Celica couldn't even remember a fragment of the dream.

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