The dawn air at Azure City's skyport carried the crisp bite of autumn, mixed with the distinctive metallic tang that always accompanied large concentrations of mana-powered machinery. Kazuki stood at the edge of the departure platform, his travel pack secured over one shoulder, gazing up at the vessel that would carry them to Crystallis.
The skyship "Azure Wind" was a marvel that challenged everything he thought he understood about the intersection of magic and engineering. At first glance, it resembled the luxury sailing ships he'd seen in historical documents from his own world—elegant lines, polished wooden hull, multiple masts with billowing sails. But where ocean-going vessels had keels designed to cut through water, this ship's hull curved gracefully upward, its bottom reinforced with intricate metalwork that seemed to pulse with barely contained energy.
"Magnificent, isn't it?" Reina's voice came from beside him, and he turned to see her approaching with her own travel gear. She'd dressed practically for the journey—dark traveling clothes with her medical bag slung across her chest and her silver ring glinting on her finger.
"It's incredible," Kazuki replied, his engineer's mind trying to process the mechanics of what he was seeing. "It looks like a normal ship, but obviously it can't work the same way. How does something that large actually stay in the air?"
Reina followed his gaze upward, pride evident in her expression. "Mana stone engine," she explained, gesturing toward the ship's center where a faint blue glow emanated from beneath the deck planking. "There's a specially crafted mana stone housed in the engine compartment, surrounded by transcription circles that convert its raw energy into sustained levitation and propulsion forces."
The mention of transcription magic immediately brought memories of their recent battle flooding back. "Transcription magic," Kazuki repeated thoughtfully. "Is that the same type of magic Azazel used during our fight? Those glowing symbols that appeared in the air?"
"Exactly the same principle," Reina confirmed, settling her pack more comfortably on her shoulder. "Though the application is completely different. Skyship transcription magic is designed for steady, sustained effects—maintaining altitude, controlling direction, regulating speed. What Azazel was doing..." She paused, her expression growing more serious. "His transcriptions were designed for immediate, devastating impact. Battle magic at its most refined."
Kazuki frowned, remembering how effortlessly Azazel had wielded those complex magical constructs even while engaged in physical combat. "The way he was using those symbols while fighting—that seemed incredibly difficult. I can't imagine managing something that complex while under pressure."
"It is incredibly difficult," Reina agreed. "Most mages require significant preparation time and optimal conditions to create even simple transcription circles. What Azazel was doing—multiple complex patterns simultaneously while engaged in battle—that's the work of someone with extraordinary talent and years of specialized training."
A troubling thought occurred to Kazuki. "If he's that skilled, how did Captain Valerius manage to defeat him before? When we fought him together, it took everything we had just to drive him off."
Reina's expression grew thoughtful, and she glanced around the skyport to ensure they weren't being overheard. The morning crowd was still relatively sparse, with only a few other passengers preparing to board and dock workers going about their routines, but she kept her voice low nonetheless.
"There's more to that story than most people know," she said carefully. "Azazel wasn't always a member of the Masked Ones cult. Years ago, he was considered one of the most brilliant magical researchers in the kingdom—a genuine prodigy who made significant contributions to our understanding of mana manipulation and transcription theory."
This revelation caught Kazuki completely off guard. "He was a legitimate researcher?"
"More than that," Reina continued, her tone growing darker. "He held a position at the Royal Academy of Magical Arts in Crystallis, with access to some of the kingdom's most closely guarded magical knowledge. His early work was groundbreaking—new techniques for enhancing mana efficiency, innovative approaches to healing magic, theoretical frameworks that advanced our entire field."
Kazuki tried to reconcile this information with the twisted figure they'd fought in the underground tunnels. "What happened to change him?"
"Power," Reina said simply, though her expression suggested the full story was far more complex. "Azazel became obsessed with pushing the boundaries of what mana could accomplish. His research grew increasingly dangerous, involving experiments that the Academy's ethics board couldn't approve." She paused, checking again to ensure their privacy. "Eventually, he left his official position and began conducting independent research, funded by sources that were... questionable."
The pattern was familiar from Kazuki's own world—brilliant researchers who gradually lost sight of ethical boundaries in pursuit of knowledge and advancement. "How bad did it get?"
Reina's face hardened. "Three hundred innocent people died in his experiments, Kazuki. Men, women, children—all killed to further his understanding of how mana interacts with human physiology and consciousness." Her voice carried a mixture of disgust and sorrow. "He was trying to discover ways to artificially enhance mana capacity, to break through what he saw as the natural limitations of human magical potential."
The scope of Azazel's crimes was staggering. Kazuki felt a chill that had nothing to do with the morning air. "And Valerius stopped him?"
"Valerius led the mission to bring him to justice," Reina confirmed. "It wasn't easy—by that point, Azazel had already begun associating with the Masked Ones cult and had access to their resources and protective networks. The confrontation was... brutal."
She gestured toward where Valerius was visible near the ship's boarding ramp, speaking with the captain about departure preparations. Even from a distance, Kazuki could see the careful way the knight captain moved, subtle accommodations for some ongoing physical limitation.
"Valerius sustained severe injuries during that battle," Reina continued quietly. "Injuries that he's still recovering from, even now. That's why our recent fight was so difficult—he was operating at perhaps six percent of his normal capabilities, and even then he was pushing himself beyond what his body could safely handle."
Understanding dawned with uncomfortable clarity. "That's why he moved so stiffly during parts of the battle, why he seemed to favor his left side."
"Exactly. And Azazel wasn't at full strength either—his fight with valerius had weakend him else he could have wiped us out in an instant him. If both of them had been at their peak..." Reina shuddered slightly. "We probably wouldn't have survived the encounter."
The revelation cast Captain Valerius in an entirely new light. Kazuki had recognized the man's competence and dedication, but he hadn't understood the true depths of his experience or the personal sacrifice he'd made in service to the kingdom. Fighting a battle while still recovering from injuries that would have incapacitated most people—it spoke to a level of determination and duty that was genuinely inspiring.
"I had no idea," Kazuki said quietly. "About any of it."
"Valerius doesn't discuss his past battles or injuries," Reina replied. "He sees it as simply doing his duty, nothing more. You should understand what kind of man you're dealing with—someone who has literally faced down the kingdom's most dangerous magical criminals and emerged victorious, even at great personal cost.
The weight of responsibility settled on Kazuki's shoulders like a physical burden. Not only did he need to manage his own dangerous circumstances and a hidden agenda, but he was also representing hope for Valerius's ability to trust again after being betrayed by someone he'd respected.
"No pressure at all," he said with dark humor.
Reina smiled slightly, recognizing his attempt to lighten the mood. "Well, when you put it that way, our situation does sound rather overwhelming." Her expression grew more serious. "But remember what I told you yesterday—you're not facing any of this alone. Whatever challenges we encounter, we'll handle them together."
The simple statement carried more weight than she might have intended. In his fragmented memories of his previous life, he could not recall anything tangible other than basic knowledge as for his personal life he had nothing more than the image of a faceless girl . And since his waking up in this new world everything he had done and the relationships he made they all seemed to have been transactional in nature, based on what each party could provide to the other.
What Reina was offering felt fundamentally different. She was choosing to stand with him despite the risks to herself, despite the potential complications for her own goals and safety. It was the kind of trust and loyalty that had to be earned rather than simply expected.
What Reina was offering felt fundamentally different from anything in his past experience. She was choosing to stand with him despite the mysteries surrounding his origins, despite the potential complications for her own goals and safety. It was the kind of trust and loyalty that had to be earned rather than simply expected.
At that moment with her silver hair blowing in the wind kazuki realized probably for the first time that Rena was really beautiful,this realization was short lived though but lasting as a new perspective on recent events began to form in Kazuki's mind. Valerius's suspicions about him, his demands for transparency, his threats about eliminating perceived dangers to the kingdom—all of it made perfect sense when viewed through the lens of someone who had seen firsthand what happened when dangerous individuals were allowed to operate unchecked.
"The Puppeteer was right," Kazuki murmured, more to himself than to Reina.
"What?" she asked, catching his quiet comment.
Kazuki realized his mistake immediately but decided that partial honesty was better than outright deception. "Something from a fragmented memory," he said carefully. "A sense that finding the truth about my past would involve confronting dangerous people and difficult situations. Valerius represents exactly that kind of challenge—someone whose suspicions are completely justified and whose standards for trust are necessarily high."
Reina nodded thoughtfully. "That's actually quite insightful. Valerius has been shaped by his experiences with deception and betrayal. Azazel was once a respected member of their community, someone trusted with access to sensitive knowledge and resources. His transformation into a murderous cult member was a betrayal that affected everyone who knew him."
"Including Valerius personally?"
"They were colleagues, if not friends," Reina confirmed. "Valerius provided security consultation for some of Azazel's early research projects, back when they were legitimate. He feels partially responsible for not recognizing the warning signs sooner."
The complexity of the relationships and history involved was beginning to paint a clearer picture of the political and personal dynamics they were navigating. Kazuki found himself developing genuine respect for Captain Valerius's position, even as he recognized how precarious his own situation remained.
"It makes his willingness to work with me even more significant," Kazuki observed. "Given his history with trusted individuals who turned out to be dangerous."
"Exactly," Reina agreed. "The fact that he's giving you opportunities to prove yourself, rather than simply eliminating you as a potential threat, shows considerable restraint and wisdom." She paused, studying his expression. "It also means that disappointing his trust would have consequences far beyond our immediate mission."
The weight of responsibility settled on Kazuki's shoulders like a physical burden. Not only did he need to manage his own dangerous circumstances and a hidden agenda, but he was also representing hope for Valerius's ability to trust again after being betrayed by someone he'd respected.