Chapter 2 - Breakdown Phenomenon

November 22, 2019

Regalia Astraea Academy - Headmistress' office

"So, I assume that the first few days went smoothly?"

"For the most part. Without Azami-san's help, I'm pretty sure I'd be lost the moment I stepped into the classroom."

Ichika was called to Seras' office after classes, and even though they were engaged in small talk, he couldn't help but wonder what the Headmistress really wanted. Seras was about to say something when there was a knock at the door and Eve's voice came from the other side.

"Headmistress?"

"Ah, right on time. Come in, Azami-kun."

The door opened and Eve walked in, looking curious. "You wanted to see…Orimura-kun?"

"Yes, I already am, Azami-kun." Seras looked amused for a moment she settled for a more serious look. "Now that you're here, we can get down to business."

"Business?" Ichika grew interested now that they were getting to the reason of this visit.

"Yes. Due to your transferring in, you haven't had your magic aptitude test." Seeing the look of confusing grow on Ichika's face, Seras explained, "It's a simple test. Mostly a scan of your magic capacity. Normally we do this after you choose your Thema, but since you have a Grimore, we can go ahead with that."

"I see…" Ichika had no idea what a 'Thema' was, but was certain he'll find out about it later.

"Good. With that in mind, I'll leave the spell casting to Azami-kun. Of course, I'll stick around to supervise."

"Me?" Eve certainly looked surprised at being nominated. "Um, wouldn't it be better for a teacher, or yourself to do this, Headmistress?"

Seras shook her head and replied, "I'd rather keep the knowledge of Rosenkreuz's existence to a minimum, at least until Orimura-kun can defend himself. Only the three of us know that it's contracted. As for why I won't do it myself, well…if I cast it, my magic might react to his, rather badly I might add, if my prediction is correct…"

"…I understand." Eve turned to Ichika and gave him a sultry grin. "Hmm, I wonder what else I can find out about you~"

"No additional spells, Azami-kun. Do them on your own time."

"Fuu… Yes, Headmistress…"

Ichika couldn't help but feel that he avoided something bad at that instant. Maybe it had to do with that look Eve gave him…

'Nah, probably just imagined it.'

Regalia Astraea Academy - forest clearing

"Um, are you sure all of this is necessary?" Ichika asked as he followed Eve and Seras.

"Yes," Seras replied, "Normally we'd do this sort of thing in the arena, but we're being secretive here."

Ichika just nodded in response as Seras and Eve led him to a clearing in the middle of a forest. However, what he didn't expect was seeing two other girls waiting for them as they approached. Eve had a similar reaction to them.

"Akari? Takane? What are you two doing here?"

"We're here at Headmistress Seras' request."

"Yes, in case something happens."

Looking at the two girls, Ichika saw that one had long, crimson hair and red eyes, sporting a flat expression on her face. The other had long, silver gray hair with a yellow headband and violet eyes. Both wore the Regalia Astraea uniform like Eve's though the former wore black stockings. The other girl was taller, around Ichika's own height as she looked at him curiously.

"Good, everyone's here." Seras' voice snapped everyone to attention. "Orimura-kun, these two are Himuro Akari-kun," The crimson haired girl gave a nod, "and Shijou Takane-kun." The other girl gave a wave, "They're here in case your magic goes out of control."

"Out of control?" Ichika looked at everyone in puzzlement. "I thought this was just a simple evaluation?"

"Yes, but there have been some cases of one's magic reacting to the scanning process. Odd, I know, which is why Himuro-kun and Shijou-kun will be here to help Azami-kun subdue you if that happens."

"O…kay…?"

Eve then grabbed Ichika by the hand and led him to the center of the clearing. "Now don't worry about a thing. The whole magic going out of control thing is very rare, so I doubt that it will happen. Though the worst possible thing to happen is your magic lashing out at us."

"Are you trying to cheer me up? 'Cause if you are, then it's not working."

Eve just smiled as she held out a hand. "Access, Humanitas Archive. Execute Thema."

In a flash, Eve was in her Magus Mode, something that definitely caught Ichika's interest. "So, when are you gonna teach me how to do that?"

"Hmm…maybe after we're done here." Eve assured him, before she started chanting.

Immediately, Ichika felt something wash over him, and it felt like a tingle throughout his whole body. Strangely enough, the feeling felt familiar to him, but he couldn't place it. Afterwards, he started to feel sleepy, but the weird thing was, the last thing he saw was pure energy lashing out from him, with Eve being blown away. Akari and Takane engaged their Magus Modes and rushed forward before he lost consciousness…

November 24, 2019

Regalia Astraea Academy - infirmary

"Mmmph…hmm? …T-This is, starting to become a regular thing…"

Ichika woke up staring at the infirmary's ceiling, and wondered how the heck he ended up in bed. He heard shifting to his right, and when he looked, found Eve sleeping in a chair by his bedside. Also, his abdomen felt really sore for some reason as he sat up.

"Azami-san? Azami-san?"

Poking her slightly, Ichika kept calling out to Eve until she started to stir. As she moved around a bit, Ichika couldn't help but think, 'Azami-san looks cute when she's asleep…'

"Hmmph…five more minutes, Lili-chan…"

'Lili-chan?' Ichika shook his head as he switched to shaking Eve's shoulder. "Oi, c'mon Azami-san, wakey wakey!"

The constant shaking and calling finally brought Eve out of the realm of dreams. "Ermm…hm? Ah, you're awake, Orimura-kun. How're you feeling?"

"Sore in the gut," Ichika rubbed the back of his neck as Eve stretched. "Since I'm in a bed again, I take it the scan went pear-shaped?"

"More like FUBAR," Eve muttered to herself before she looked at Ichika. "Pretty much, but we still managed to find out your magic capacity."

"Okay…but what happened? The last thing I remember is feeling sleepy, you being blown away, and both Himuro-san and Shijou-san rushing towards me… Are you alright, by the way? You went flying."

"I'm fine, just caught me off guard. As for what happened…"

Flashback - November 22, 2019

Regalia Astraea Academy - forest clearing

Eve was busy chanting as she eyed Ichika. 'So far so good, but considering Ichika-kun holds the Rosenkreuz Grimore, you'd think something would happen…'

No sooner had the words left Eve's mind, an aura formed around Ichika, and a tendril of energy suddenly lashed out at her. Eve's eyes widened as the tendril slammed right into her, sending her flying.

A the same time, Akari and Takane shifted into their Magus Modes and rushed forward, the latter holding out her hands shouting, "Barrialis!"

A barrier formed around the clearing as Eve shifted into Magus Mode, landing on her feet. Seras watched the aura build around Ichika as their surroundings started to get distorted.

"Geh, what bad luck. Girls! Knock out Orimura-kun before the Breakdown Phenomenon gets worse!"

"…So this is the Breakdown Phenomenon…"

Takane muttered to herself as she prepared a bind-type spell. The aura seemed to sense the cast and a tendril shot out at the focused girl, but Eve intervened, blocking the tendril with two short swords.

"You ready, Takane?"

"Almost…just another minute. Could you two buy some time?"

"…Affirmative."

Akari materialized a wicked-looking cannon-like weapon in her hands and pointed it at Ichika. The aura reacted with another tendril, but Akari fired the cannon, shooting out a magic infused slug right at Ichika, tearing through the tendril.

The aura reacted appropriately and made itself denser, stopping the slug just short of Ichika's chest. Eve saw the slug as it vanished before her eyes and shot a look at Akari.

"Akari, we're not trying to kill him you know!"

"…Aura too dense. Wouldn't do anything."

Akari's argument was thin, and everyone knew it. However, it wasn't a time for fighting as the aura increased again, and this time, pieces of the land and barrier started to disappear.

"…! Shijou-kun, transfer control of the barrier over to me!"

Seras' command snapped Takane up to attention and she whispered a few words before control over the barrier shifted to the Headmistress. Seras muttered a few words herself and the holes in the barrier were filled up.

Akari kept on firing her cannon at Ichika as she dodged the retaliating tendrils, while Eve tried to close in on the distance, only to be rebuffed by more tendrils. Cutting through the offending tendrils, the girl made the blades in her hands disappear, only to create two curved ones that she threw at Ichika in frustration.

The aura intercepted those blades too, and they vanished as if erased. More of the terrain disappeared, leaving pits in the ground. Eve almost tripped into one of them, when Akari pushed her back up with her cannon.

"Uh, thanks Akari."

"No problem."

"Feh…Takane, is that spell ready yet?"

"Just about…now!"

A number of circles appeared around Ichika, and energy chains shot out of each one, wrapping themselves around him. The aura retracted upon itself, and a number of chains disappeared, only for more to shoot out from the circle. Back with Takane, she was gritting her teeth as she summoned more chains to tie Ichika down.

"Geh, I'm holding him for now, but the aura's erasing my chains, and the Breakdown Phenomenon's not helping! Knock him out now!"

"Roger that."

Akari shifted the position of her cannon as she leaped back. Watching the aura withdraw towards the chains, she turned to give Eve a look, who nodded in return and rushed towards Ichika, conjuring blades and throwing them at him.

With the aura preoccupied with both the binding spell and Eve's assault, Akari started muttering, a magic circle appearing under her feet. The cannon's mouth started glowing as she took aim. Three…two…one…

"Barrage Sign: Multi-Raid."

Akari's cannon fired off a number of slugs in rapid procession in a span of five seconds, and Eve got out of the way just before they impacted against the aura, hard. The aura wavered as it stopped the slugs, but Akari noticed it took longer for the aura to make them vanish.

That gave her an idea.

"I can only hold on for a minute more ladies, so I hope you have more tricks up your sleeves!"

"Got it, Takane! Akari, you have that look in your eye."

"…Gonna try something."

"Alright, but I'm gonna back you up, 'kay?"

"Understood. Distraction, please."

Both Akari and Eve went to work, with Akari settling into a meditative state. She could hear Takane straining herself with the binding spell as she focused her vision on her target. Gripping the cannon, she aimed, took a deep breath, and muttered four words:

"Trick Shot: Stack Up."

Akari fired on Ichika again, and the aura reacted as it fended off another attack from Eve. One slug slammed into the aura, then another slug slammed into the previous one, which repeated over and over again. The aura shifted with each hit, and it couldn't erase the first slug fast enough before the combined force of the shot slugs pierced through the aura, nailing Ichika hard in the abdomen.

The force of the slugs flung Ichika right into the barrier, hitting his head hard enough that the aura immediately faded, followed by the Breakdown Phenomenon. Everyone kept their guard up as they eyed Ichika's unmoving form, until Eve went up and gave him a nudge with his foot.

"Looks like he's out this time."

"Good job everyone, looks like things are under control."

Seras nodded in approval as she surveyed the situation. However she felt she needed to mention something else.

"Also, the Breakdown Phenomenon affected more than our surroundings…"

The girls blinked before they felt something off upon their person. Looking down, they saw that their magus clothes looked like moths had eaten through them. They themselves weren't hurt, but they were embarrassed that more skin was showing than they wanted. The girls counted themselves lucky that Ichika was out, else there would've been shrieks of embarrassment from Eve and Takane.

Seras had a few parts of her clothing missing as well, but nothing a glamour spell can't hide. Akari promptly disengaged Magus Mode and her uniform was restored. Eve and Takane followed suit, and as their uniform reappeared, they sighed a breath of relief.

The barrier vanished afterwards and Seras took a look at their surroundings. She saw the holes in everything and wondered how much it would take to fix them.

"Anyways, someone take Orimura-kun to the infirmary. I'll take care of this mess."

Eve instantly moved over to Ichika's side and picked him up, swinging his arm over his shoulder. Akari went over to help her, swinging his other arm over her shoulder. Takane took up the rear as they headed towards the infirmary.

"…You were right Eve. Things are definitely going to be interesting from now on."

"…Maybe. Maybe. But not too interesting. I don't think the Academy can handle it, Takane."

Takane just shrugged as she kept an eye on Ichika. Just incase he started to act up again.

Present Time

"…I see. Well, at least things ended on a good note, thank goodness. Still, I find it hard to believe that…Himuro-san(?) could carry a cannon."

"It's magic, Orimura-kun. Anything's possible with it."

"…Well, I'd better thank…Shijou-san(?) and Himuro-san for their help."

"Don't worry, I'll pass along your thanks."

"Thanks, Azami-san."

Ichika relaxed as he went over what Eve told him in his mind. Things seemed to make sense, but there was one thing that he wondered about.

"Uh, was anyone able to get an idea of my magic capacity?"

That question made Eve frown for a moment, but eventually, she gave a sigh. Ichika looked a bit puzzled when Eve took a deep breath.

"Haaa…apparently, the Headmistress had an idea of your magic capacity, but used the 'scan' to confirm things."

"And…?"

"And apparently, you have the capacity of a Magic King. According to her, you're a Magic King candidate, which makes sense sort of. Rozenkreuz was a Magic King's grimore."

There was a moment of silence before Ichika couldn't help but look puzzled. From the look on his face, Eve would've known what he was thinking, if she didn't look away at that moment.

"Um, what a Magic King candidate?"

"Well, to explain…"

Eve didn't get much farther when something in her skirt pocket started beeping. She jumped slightly at it before she realized what it was.

"Oh shoot, sorry Orimura-kun. I have to go now, important meeting you see. I'll explain what a Magic King candidate is later, okay? You just rest now."

With a wink, Eve left the infirmary, leaving Ichika by himself. He just stared at the door for a moment before he felt his stomach get sore again.

"Urgh, I'm surprised I'm still in one piece, considering a cannon's slug hit me. Heh, magic sure is interesting…"

Regalia Astraea Academy - secret location

Drawing a breath from running, Eve entered a familiar room, where six others were waiting. One of them greeted her with a warm smile.

"Ah, right on time Eve. Akari and Takane just finished with their reports on Orimura-kun and the Breakdown Phenomenon. He really is interesting, isn't he, Takane?"

"Well, fighting him was, for sure."

Eve frowned as she looked at Akari and Takane. She folded her arms and gave a sigh.

"I take it you told everyone that Orimura-kun is a Magic King candidate too?"

"Why, thank you for sharing that with us, Eve-chan. We didn't know that until you told us."

The voice teased Eve, with a few others giggling in the process. Eve pouted as she looked indignant.

"Please don't tease me, President."

"Ah, don't worry about it, Eve-sensei. Anyway, what are your opinions, Akari, Takane?"

"…Observation is required."

"I agree. It's not like the Breakdown Phenomenon was started by him anyway. And besides, it's been a long time since a Magic King candidate came to this Academy."

"Hmm, that I can agree with. What about everyone else?"

The President looked at the other girls, and waited for their opinions.

"Hmm, I don't mind additional observation. Could make for good data."

"Um, I guess it's okay."

"Ahem, well, I don't have any problems with it."

"…If everyone else doesn't have a problem, then I can't object, now can I?"

Eve looked tired as the President nodded in approval. The latter clapped her hands together as she made an announcement.

"Alright then, as of this moment, we, the members of Trinity Seven, will watch over the Magic King candidate, Orimura Ichika. If he goes out of control, subdue by any means necessary. Elimination is a last resort, understood?"

"Yes, Ms. President."

"Alright then, I can declare this meeting dismissed. Though I have a feeling we'll be having more in the near future."

All the other girls left, until the President and Eve were left. The former noticed the latter staring at her, and seeing that Eve wasn't moving anytime soon, she decided to indulge her.

"Is something wrong, Eve-sensei?"

"Just what are you planning, Kureha? 'Subdue by any means necessary?' I thought elimination was top priority?"

"Oh, don't worry so much, and besides, do you really want to kill Orimura-kun?"

"Well, no, but-!"

"Then what's the problem? I'm sure the Headmistress has the same idea."

"…Idea?"

"I'll tell you in good time, it's too soon with the current situation."

"…I'll hold you to that, Kureha."

Eve left, Kureha watching her. Seeing her like that made Kureha giggle as she put a finger to her cheek.

"Fufufu, seems like Eve's really attached to Orimura-kun. Maybe I should take a better look at things?"

A/N: Well, here's chapter 2 out. I admit that the fight scene could use a bit more work, but I'm not that good coming up with fight scenes. Just putting this up to show that I'm still alive and such. Been reading Trinity Seven to get back into the groove, which helps. I guess that's it for now...