It was a strange scenario. The Five Columns, once regarded as the wise and reserved moderators of the Otome system, one day abruptly announced their intentions to forcibly unite all the countries of Earl in a hostile takeover and proclaimed war against the world. They even managed to take the nearby Castle Windbloom by surprise while its queen was performing diplomatic duties. Neither the ruler or her Otome were able to re-enter the kingdom after the Columns had closed Garderobe Academy, their main base within Windbloom, for their own use and invaded the castle. However, the planet's royalty had still scoffed at idea of surrendering to an enemy using such a ridiculous campaign. After all, how long could five snobbish girls keep up a war of this magnitude?
Akane sighed to herself as she reminisced on the events up until now. Earlier that morning, Chaldea's intelligence network had detected one of the five Columns launching from Garderobe Academy, apparently en route to Chaldea's castle. Akane floated idly in her country's airspace, donned in her Meister Robe with her tonfa at her side, awaiting the incoming attack. To a casual observer, she probably looked like she was going to freeze to death at such an altitude, as the Pure Heart Malachite combat suit left Akane's belly and upper back rather exposed. However, the nanomachines that powered the outfit kept a constant supply of comfortable warmth coursing through her body, in addition to making her very flesh impenetrable to virtually anything but the weapons of other Otome.
Akane was wary of the idea of possibly being forced to kill her former instructors and classmates in battle, but she reaffirmed herself by thinking of the kingdom she had to defend. Emperor Kazuya Krau-xeku was her Lord as well as her lover, and his life was at stake if she failed to defend the kingdom. They would surely be married after Akane had served long enough to retire. She was fighting for his life as well as her own happiness.
Akane was brought out of her wandering thoughts when the mechanical feline ears protruding from her hairband began to twitch. Although playful in appearance, they functioned as directional microphones and gave Akane the ability to hear incoming sounds at a great distance. The nanomachines of the Meister Robe bounded them to Akane's natural senses, and to her it was just like having a second, more efficient set of ears.
Akane turned toward the source of a distant, jet-like whistling sound. She noted a small dot flying towards her in the empty blue sky. The dot eventually became a small, purple-clad figure, and the indistinct figure eventually became Meister Shizuru Viola.
The most battle-experienced of the Columns, Shizuru wielded her signature extending naginata firmly in both hands. Despite a sudden sense of anxiety, Akane raised her tonfa in a combat pose and quickly engaged in battle.
Attack: Go to Chapter 2
Use caution: Go to Chapter 3