BlazBlue:Phase Shift 3 Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Ashen Current

Part 1

The most known authority of the Mage's Guild is the Ten Sages, but there is another place where the politics of the city of Ishana are governed.

A massive stone building standing tall in the center of the city, not far from the Mage's Guild, is the place.

The council chamber, as it is called, is where dozens of lawmakers meet daily to govern the city of Ishana.

In a hall that is normally used for meetings, Nine was on a platform. If this were a meeting of the Ten Sages, the speaker would stand right there. However, Nine is not standing as a speaker.

She was not allowed to speak, but rather to wait for the judgment of the intimidating people in the room around her. It was as if this place was a courtroom.

Nine stared sharply at the man sitting on the center seat as if he were the head judge and then let her gaze slide down the rows of faces to check them one by one.

A few of the faces, a mix of men and women, were familiar. These are some of the representatives of other countries that have taken refuge in Ishana. The only three people that are actually from in Ishana in the court are the man at the center seat who is a member of the council and Seven and Eight, who each sit from both sides, watching Nine.

It seems that these new faces had been working hard to establish themself in Ishana since the battle five days ago, which was a rematch with the Black Beast, or even before that. Nine could tell that even though they were not under the leadership of the Mage's Guild, they looked as if they had completely established themselves as an organization in this city.

"You are the one who perfected the art of Ars Magus and are indeed an excellent mage. Nevertheless, in the recent battle, and in many of the operations leading up to it, I must say that you have been very arrogant and dictatorial."

Whenever the man in the middle of the room spoke in his serious tone about the text on the paper on his desk, she heard a few exhales and sighs of dismay here and there.

Nine frowned behind her triangular hat. The smell of farce wafted from the councilman and the people in the audience.

'Arrogant and dictatorial'. No matter how you put it, the fact remains that they don't like the way Nine is doing things.

Though they have a name for themselves, the Committee of Hearing, they have no intention of debating the case for or against Nine.

"The world is at a vital turning point where nations must join hands and work together to combat this crisis. But you may be disrupting that circle. Therefore, you are hereby deprived of all command authority granted to you and removed from all operations against the Black Beast."

"Is that the decision of the Mage's Guild, including the Ten Sages? Or is it the joke of an improvised committee set up by a group of chicken?"

Nine's remark, which was calmly returned, caused the faces of several of the attendees to twist in disgust. Some of them changed color in an obvious outrage, but before anyone could raise their voice, the man in the center continued.

"From now on, the control over Ars Magus will not be done by the Mage's Guild alone, but by the Orbis Librarius Norma of the Mage's Guild and the UN forces. At the same time, Nox Nyctores Gigant: Takemikazuchi, which is an absolute force to be reckoned with, will also be under the jurisdiction of the Void Information Management Bureau."

Nine's expression froze at the man's words, which he said in a firm tone. She felt anger that quickly turned to fury.

"…What did you say?" She asked, quietly.

If it's a joke, it's not funny. If it's not a joke, it's even less funny. Tightly gripping her restrained hands, Nine raised her voice.

"Takemikazuchi is not something that should be used as a weapon of war! It must be destroyed immediately-"

Her aggressive voice fluttered and shook the air in the large hall as if she were pounding on it. But it was clear just going by the expression on their faces, even without words, what kind of intentions they would express in response to that statement, calling themselves the Inquiry Committee. Several of them looked at Nine as if she was a lump of incomprehensible insanity, watching it as the rantings of an utterly nonsensical girl, not Nine of the Ten Sages.

The man on the council was as heated as the other members of the committee, dispensing Nine's opinions as if she were a mere insect.

"I cannot consider your request. This is not the concern for one little girl like you. The fate of the entire world is at stake. We need to make a decision with saving the world in mind."

"'Saving the world'? You can't use it to save the world. You have no idea what that thing is…!"

"Yes, I do know. Takemikazuchi is a hope bestowed upon mankind."

"Wrong! It's a monster that could destroy the world!"

Nine shouted angrily as she beat the man to the punch. The council man finally winced under the pressure of her ferocious spirit. He looked away from Nine, at his surroundings as if to ask for help. Seven was at his side.

"Mr. chairman. Please continue."

If the anger of the Nine was a raging fire, Seven's voice was a cold sea, without even a slight wave disturbing its beauty. Prompted by a voice that did not waver in the slightest, the man who was called the chairman of the committee interrupted a stern coughing fit to regain his composure.

"...Countries that have been uncooperative in the past are now cooperating with us on the condition that we provide them with information on the overall situation."

"As long as we have the Ars Magus, we, the Orbis Librarius Norma, have a great opportunity to take the lead in bringing the world together. We don't want to let a internal dissonance destroy that."

"I will give you the Ars Magus, but Takemikazuchi is just..."

As if he didn't hear Nine's words, the man just continued to argue. It was a list of arguments made by everyone in the room except Nine. A list of decisions that no amount of screaming from Nine could change.

The other woman said, "In fact, you, who has created the Ars Magus and laid the groundwork for Takemikazuchi, are now a potential danger to us. Therefore, the great Nine of the Ten Sages and her five followers will be detained in the name of the Orbis Librarius Norma."

You can't call this an interrogation at this point. As the committee members were leaving the room, Nine let out a deep breath and glared at them.

Her breath was boiling, as if anger burned in the pit of her stomach. Her clenched fists were digging their sharp nails into her palms.

With a high-pitched clack of her heels, Eight appeared then, accompanied by several men in uniform. With her fingertips she toyed with the large earrings while she looked at Nine with provocative eyes.

"It's a pity it had to come to this. Oh, and don't worry, we'll take good care of your sister."

"If you ever hurt Celica, I'll never let you get away with it."

Nine attacked Eight with such terror that words seemed to be in vain, but Eight just laughed, as if to pity her.

"What do you mean you won't let me get away? If you can't use magic, you're nothing but a little girl. Besides, you're in custody now. Whatever we do with Celica A. Mercury, you'll never even know about it!"

Her skin instantly started to crawl at Eight’s comment.

Nothing happened on the surface, but there was the sound of something bursting inside Nine, as if the expanding heat was splitting even metal.

Part 2

Before she even knew it, the view from the window of the hospital room had changed to the colors of evening.

After waking up from several hours of sleep, Celica slipped out of bed, which was warmed by her body heat. She then took off the nightgown she had borrowed from the hospital. In its place was the school uniform that had been stored on a shelf. It was probably the one Celica had been wearing when she fainted five days ago. It was washed clean, so there was no dirt left on it. She pulled her messy hair up into a high bun. After quickly arranging her hair, she checked her appearance in the mirror.

"Yeah, good."

The mirror didn't reflect a hospital patient who sleeps in bed anymore, but the usual Celica was there. No brush or comb in sight though, so her ponytail was a little awkward, but it didn't matter, because she wasn't expecting to see a prominent in the mirror.

"Well then, let's go home."

She can’t be sleeping all day at a time like this, so she shook her ponytail and then Celica looked back at Nirvana, who was watching the girl by her side. The tall, feminine puppet is as silent and expressionless as ever, but Celica shrugged her shoulders playfully, as if she had been found out about doing a prank.

"I'm fine. I know I'm not in best shape right now, so I won't push myself, but you can't do things like cooking meals or taking care of the house in a hospital."

As she said this, Celica checked around the bed. There didn't seem to be any personal belongings that had been brought in. Now she can go home without to worry about forgetting anything at the hospital.

Finally, she arranged her bed, which she had spent the last five days in, and was about to... place a letter to the doctor apologizing for leaving the hospital without permission.

Without knocking, the door of the hospital room was suddenly opened. Celica hurriedly tried to hide, thinking that she had been spotted, but she soon realized, it was neither a doctor nor a nurse who came in.

Three men, dressed in white and blue uniforms entered.

"Oh, um, what is it...?"

Celica didn't recognize them or their uniforms. From the atmosphere though, it didn't feel like they were visitors. The men took a few steps to get closer to Celica, who rolled her eyes in confusion. One of the men opened his mouth with an intimidating expression.

"This is the Orbis Librarius Norma. Celica A. Mercury, you will accompany us."

"Accompany you? Uhm, I am sorry, but I feel troubled by your sudden offer. What is the Orbis Librarius Norma? Someone from the Mage's Guild?"

She never heard that name before. Celica's face clouded with suspicion. There are many ways to get the most out of your business. If this is an organization within the Mage's Guild, they should just say Mage's Guild from the beginning.

If this is an organization within the Mage's Guild, they should have just said that they are from the beginning.

If it was an organization outside from Ishana, however, it might cause unnecessary trouble for Nine if she followed them carelessly. She didn't want to give Nine anymore trouble right now. When Celica expressed her caution, the men looked at each other for a moment, and then stepped closer to her in large strides.

"W-wait, what are you...?"

The atmosphere among the men was somewhat strange. Celica had a bad feeling about this. Just as Celica was about to give in to her confusion and slight fear, a long arm reached out from under her arm and grabbed her body.

It was Nirvana who forcefully pulled her into her arms. Before anyone could do anything, Nirvana broke the window of the hospital room behind her and ran out with Celica in her arms.

"Huh-ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?!"

Celica's hospital room was on the third floor. A long, upturned scream escapes from Celica's throat at the unexpected height suddenly thrust in front of her. Nirvana landed roughly in the courtyard of the hospital, accompanied by Celica's screams. Immediately, without even looking aside, she started running. But in front of them, three men who seemed to have been watching the window from outside stood in the way. They were also wearing the same kind of uniforms as the men who two fled from.

However, they were carrying firearms in their hands.

"Celica A. Mercury, stay still. Do not resist and we won’t harm you."

One of the men announced that urgently and right after he and the other two held their guns at waist level, Nirvana's arms stretched out. A huge claw gouges the man's torso, gun and all. The man's voice of pain echoed dully, and Celica's expression paled.

"Nirvana, stop!"

These men are just people. They don't have any protective magic, instead they have ordinary guns in their hands. They are not mages. He is just an ordinary man does not come from this island. Even if Nirvana took it easy on him, one little mistake and he would have died.

However, to stop Celica, the men in uniform abandoned their warning, pointed their guns at Nirvana, and squeezed the triggers. Nirvana stood in front of her, shielding her with her body.

Despite being hit by several bullets, the doll made by Nine did not leave even a small scratch on the body.

A clear hostility towards Nirvana spread among the men.

Celica raised her voice when she felt all the violence firsthand.

"Wait, please don't shoot!! I won't run away if you let me speak to you properly. Besides, this is a hospital where there are other people..."

"If we get the little girl, that doll won't be able to touch us. Celica A. Mercury is our priority!"

The cold command of the man raising his gun again interrupted Celica's plea.

It's as if they are looking at a monster. This is a very bad situation and she felt that these people were experts at this.

There were more footsteps coming towards her from the hospital. Celica turned around hurriedly, and at the same time, Nirvana swung her arms toward the remaining two men who were trying to block her escape route. While protecting Celica from the barrage of bullets, a gun that belongs to one of the two men slipped on the ground and went off, shattering the foot of a bench in the courtyard.

"Stay put, Celica A. Mercury!"

The voice that came from behind me was the same as the one I had heard earlier in the hospital room. They caught up with her and pointed their guns, large and small, at Celica. The number of people had increased to around ten.

(I-I can' t take this anymore!!)

An unfamiliar feeling of fear clung to Celica's chest. She didn't know what was going on anymore. But she knew that if she stayed here, she'd be bringing everyone down with her.

She doesn't know who they are or what their motive is, but rather than worrying about that, Celica turned herself around and ran away to get out from this screwed up situation.

She would go to the Nine and Trinity, or someone else she can trust. However, within a few steps, Celica lost her balance and fell to the ground in a flashy manner.

"Ah."

Her body that had just awakened from a five-day long sleep wasn’t fit for running yet.

"I guess I overdid it..."

Nirvana reacted as if she had been played by Celica, who fell down with her whole body, unable to even take the minimum amount of defense.

Celica panicked and tried to get up, but one of the men who rushed to her pointed their guns at her head at once.

"Stay still, puppet. If you move, I will kill your master. If you stay still, she will not be harmed."

It was not clear if she understood that language, but Nirvana remained still, taking a hostile stance regardless. The glasses-like shades of the men stare at Celica nonchalantly, as if they were about to devour her.

"Stand up, Celica A. Mercury. You're coming with us."

Celica could imagine several unpleasant possibilities of what would happen if she didn't obey, even without being told in words. There is no reason why the muzzle of the gun that is currently pointed at her can't connect to anyone other than Celica. They can simply aim at an unrelated person, but if it proves to be effective against Celica, they may do so.

"I understand. Just please, don't shoot here anymore."

She said this as if praying to the man holding the gun behind her, and slowly stood up.

But before Celica could turn around, the man let out a deep groan and fell to the ground. How did this happen?

Celica's eyes widened as she saw it. It wasn't Nirvana that had moved. Suddenly in the courtyard of the hospital, which was supposed to be a peaceful place, there was a new tall white figure standing.

"You're one of Nine's… gah!"

The voice by one of the other armed men didn't last long and the rest were forced to close the distance between the two, only to be knocked down by the flash of the intruder.

Hakumen.

A heavy, spinning kick, like a slash, sent the other one flying to a nearby tree. He then stepped forth and slammed a shoulder strike in a straight line, silencing the fourth.

"Ha- …Mr. Hakumen!"

There, Celica finally remembered to breathe and was able to speak out in surprise. But she was so surprised by the unexpected arrival of him that she could not continue. As soon as Hakumen ran up to Celica, he picked her up in his arms.

"Huh?"

It was the first time she has ever seen such a thing. As soon as that happened, bullets followed his white back, but they were blocked by Nirvana's outstretched arms.

A deafening metallic noise scattered loudly. In the meantime, Hakumen let Celica escape to the end of the courtyard, flipped her long hair like a tail, and held his sword high into the air.

"Move, puppet!"

Nirvana jumped at the sound of a voice blowing thickly. At the same time as she landed beside Celica with an inhuman leap like a spring mechanism, Hakumen swung his fierce blade. He easily swallowed the men in uniform without giving them any time to escape and knocked them down each to the nearest wall, tree, or just the ground.

The dull, bone chilling sound of the muffled cries by men in uniform disappeared in the blows that Hakumen delivered.

When the curtain of dust eventually cleared, there was no one left standing but Celica, Hakumen and Nirvana.

"Hah...hah..."

It all happened so fast. Celica looked at the scene in dismay.

She had heard that Hakumen is a strong warrior and since he is also the one who would take on the Black Beast by himself, so Celica should be able to imagine just what his capabilities could be. Nevertheless, the difference between a normal person and Hakumen was too overwhelming.

As the girl was about to sit down on the spot, she suddenly gasped at what she saw. The next thing she knew, she started running.

One of the men who had taken Hakumen's finishing blow closer than anyone else was lying on the ground, anyone could tell how badly wounded he is.

He seemed to have hit his head and blood was pouring out of the back of it, staining the short grass into a crimson black.

She kneels and hurriedly held up her hands to focus her mind. Her small hand was covered with a pale light and that light touched the head of the man in soldier uniform.

As if time were rewinded, the wound on the man's head closed and a faint redness returned to his already bloodless skin tone.

As she breathed a sigh of relief, Celica's consciousness suddenly faded away. As her body lost strength and fell backwards, she felt a sense of euphoria despite falling. Hakumen supported her back before it hit the bloodstained ground.

"Ah, thank you, Mr. Hakumen."

"...Fool. Why would you use the little bit of magic you have left to save your enemy?"

"Haha, I'm sorry. But I thought he'd die if I left him like this."

She simply doesn't want to turn her back on those who need help. The man in the soldier uniform remained to lie on the ground and Hakumen picks up Celica, whose face has turned pale, as if he were handling a small animal.

His arms had a strange feeling, like armor or clothes that could easily support her weight. Celica leaned her body against Hakumen's chest and then thought to herself as her consciousness was about to fade.

"...Let's go."

After that low whisper, Hakumen left, taking Celica and Nirvana with him.

Part 3

Hakumen brought Celica to a small wooden house that stood quietly in the back of a street lined with bookstores and stores related to Sorcery. It looks cozy, more like a hut than a private residence, but if you have even a basic understanding of magic like Celica does, you can see that the entire hut is protected by a strong wall of magic that prevents outsiders from easily entering.

...

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