Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume1 Chapter6
The blade dance at midnight
Part 1
—It was 2 am. The time when the academy students slept and forest spirits began being astir.
On the stone paving path shined by the moonlight, Kamito was walking along with Claire.
“The atmosphere is very different, the academy at night.”
“Of course, the night is the time for spirits.”
Claire kept facing front and bluntly replied. Solid sound of walking resounded awfully loud.
Since some time ago, Claire had not said much. She might be tense about the duel with the Knights.
“Where are you planning to do it?”
Private battles should be prohibited within the academy according to academy regulations. Is there a place for a duel outside?”
“Over there –“
Claire abruptly stopped.
In front of what she was pointing, there was a gigantic stone circle.
Its ground was dimly shining in bluish-white.
“That’s the – 'Astral Gate '!”
“Yea, the gate that connects this world with the Astral Zero. The reason why the academy was built in such a remote place.”
“…I see”
He was surprised that there was a ‘gate’ within the academy premises. That stone circle was perhaps a prehistoric ruin, which was used with an unknown art. It probably had a function to stabilize the unstable 'gate '.
“Isn’t it dangerous? There are spirits that cannot be controlled by humans roaming about in the Astral Zero.”
“You see, that 'gate' connects to a safe area where there are only low-level spirits. If not, the academy wouldn’t leave it alone, right?”
Claire murmured stupid, and stepped into the middle of the stone circle.
She recited the words of opening the gate in the spirit language and the blue light on the ground further increased its brightness.
“Come on, you, faster get here too.”
Led by Claire, Kamito panicky jumped on top of the formation of lights.
At that moment, his field of vision was filled with a white flash.
He had a feeling that his whole body was attacked with dizziness. And then –
…
–After opening his eyes, a scenery of another world spread out.”
There was a deep dark forest with twisted trees standing tall.
Shining brilliantly in the night sky was blood-like red moon.
There was a pale purple smoke-like fog shrouding nearby.
Astral Zero –another world where spirits live in.
“If it’s here, nobody can disturb us. Even if we were injured, it would not be serious, so this place is often used by the academy students for duels.”
In a situation such a thing occurred, the physical body of humans possessing divine powers would be treated the same as spirits, this meant that there’s almost no physical damage received.
Naturally, this was not absolutely safe. Pain was felt normally; in exchange of the physical body not receiving damage, the mind would suffer an equal damage.
To fall into a lethargic state was still a good thing but in the case of receiving a serious injury, one would receive severe memory impairment and the destruction of the mind, there was also the possibility of not regaining consciousness.
“—Flame, illuminate”
Claire recited the spirit magic and a small fire ball was born on her palm, dimly lighting up a narrow open path in the middle of the forest.
“Let’s go, Kamito”
Claire gently brushed her twin-tails and calmly walked.
“Do we have a chance of winning?”
“That depends your ability. …Honestly, it might be a little hard.
“Is that so?”
Kamito was surprised. For a spirit contractor of Claire’s level, it was unexpected of her to such a thing.
“Putting aside the other two, Ellis is strong. She isn’t the Knights leader just for show. Besides, Scarlet exhausted some strength from this morning’s fight with the ‘Sealed Spirit’. Rinslet’s ability is –well, I at least recognized it, but her teamwork is the worst.”
“…That was a surprising calm battle strength analysis. I thought you were the more impulsive type.”
“You, what do you see me as?”
“A dangerous fellow, who instantly swings a whip –Ouch!”
Pashii –A whip was promptly swung down onto Kamito’s back.
…After walking a while, there was a historic ruin of a gigantic theater in the forest.
It was something when Astral Zero and the human world were one –a long mythical era.
The crumbling looking stone gate greeted the two. It seemed that here was the stage for the duel.
“First of all, you, the sword spirit contractor, are the attacker. Rinslet and I will provide cover.”
“I’ve the most dangerous role! Isn’t it your duel?”
“What! Do you have a complaint? Alright, if that’s the case, I’ll let you choose a position. Attacker or cinders, which do you like?”
“I get it. I’ll be the attacker.”
4 of 40 pages
