A lone figure sat at a table, with all fragile bulbs but the one above her lit as she munched on the second of five packaged melon breads spread before her. Out the window before her, the stars twinkled dimly in the dark sea above the city of Misaki.

"I just don't get it," the Flame Haze said. "No matter where we go, there's not a single trace of anyone's existence being consumed recently."

"That's true," Alastor said before reviewing the facts. "Throughout our entire search, we have not discovered a single distortion, and any Torches we've come across are already close to burning out, but they have been fading away at their natural pace, rather than an accelerated one such as if too much has been drained from them."

"And we could not find any evidence of a cover-up either," said the Flame Haze before taking another nibble.

The Flaming-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter took a look at her hand and glanced around the room as Alastor made an addendum. "Oddly enough, the Torch you're using, even if it had only been consumed not too long ago, should be little more than a wisp by now, if no longer there; in my opinion, that Torch was fading away at an unnaturally slow rate. Besides those that have had Treasures in them, I don't think we' have encountered any Torch like this one."

"Speaking of which," the Flame Haze said, putting down her insubstantial meal, "maybe it also has something to do with that other Torch, the Mystes."

"You've had your mind on that Mystes before we even arrived here," Alastor told her with some concern. "Ever since we had retreated to Tokyo with the Manipulator of Objects and the other two, you seemed perplexed and confused. The extremely unexpected actions and mercy of the Supreme Throne and the Mystes of the Reiji Maigo have planted questions in your head, questions you feel should be answered, or they would consume you. Because of that I was reluctant to allow you to come here, but at the same time, it is also the reason why I accepted it. We have to be rid of distractions so that we can focus on Bal Masque."

The girl nodded. "Alright Alastor," she said.

She did not pick up her melon bread again and simply stared at it. There was still far too much on her mind for her to focus, and there were a few words she could not forget no matter how hard she tried.

"All titles, but no name. Then you are meaningless."

What would I need such a useless thing when Flame Hazes and Denizens like you can just use my title if you had to identify me?

"You'd throw your life away to fulfill your duty too?"

"Too"? Wouldn't any other Flame Haze do the same to protect the balance of the world?

"You can't be just a Flame Haze either."

But I am a Flame Haze! And "either" now; was he comparing me to the Chanter of Elegies?

"I think she pities you. The two of you, you're the same, you know?"

No, the whole time they've been comparing me to that Denizen, the Supreme Throne. I can't accept that. I am a Flame Haze! I only have to worry about my mission.

"Now I see why those Denizens keep calling us nothing more than Tools of Hunting and such. At least I have a home right here, but what do you have?"

In that dimly lit room lacking in life, the melon bread began to crumble under a tight grip.


The Scar of the First Encounter


"What's taking her so long? She should have been back hours ago," Keisaku said as he looked out the open window from where Margery had departed. Eita sat on a chair behind him, resting his arms and chin on the backrest.

"Do you think she got hurt by that other Flame Haze?" Eita asked him before scratching the back of his head. "What was her name again?"

"No idea," Keisaku said as he turned around and rested his elbows on the windowsill. He took out the multipurpose bookmark that also allowed him to communicate with Margery. "That Seal went down at least four hours ago, but none of my calls, whether through my phone or this thing, are getting through."

"Well, if we still have these, it means she's at least alive. I just hope she's okay."

Keisaku scoffed. "Knowing her, she's probably just passed out at some bar or something."

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Keisaku said, already headed out of the room with his hands in his pockets.

On the way down to the front door of his home, he heard constant ringing from his doorbell with barely a few seconds of an interval. "I'm coming, I'm coming," he called back with an irritated tone. And when he got to the door itself, he practically threw it open.

Right before him was his and Eita's childhood friend Ogata, still in her school uniform and carrying an exhausted expression, literally supporting a flushed and barely conscious Margery Daw. The schoolgirl's shoes emitted a rank stench familiar to him.

The first thing they did was set the wasted Flame Haze down on her usual couch. Then, after setting the vessel of Marchosias on the coffee table, Keisaku gently put a cold damp cloth on the blonde's head.

The young man sighed with relief and smiled a little. "I take it you lost or something, huh?"

Sitting at the bar behind him, Eita and Ogata watched the lad's surprising tenderness and care.

"Wow, who knew?" said Ogata, grinning a little.

"Huh?" Eita turned to her.

"It's nothing," the girl said, leaning against the bar and shaking her head.

"How did you find Margery-nee-san anyway Oga-chan?" the boy beside her asked.

She chuckled with embarrassment and averted her eyes. "Well…"


Ogata stood there, staring at the woman in a messy purple business suit; her long blonde hair was dishelved, her glasses lopsided, and had an old-looking book strapped to her side. There were at least three empty bottles scattered around her feet.

"Hey I remember you, you're that woman that was with Tanaka and Satou during the Misago Festival," the girl said, and the woman slowly raised her head.

"Hn? Oh, it's Eita's girlfriend," the blonde groaned.

At that, Ogata's face burst into the redness of a tomato. "Wh-wha-what? W-we're not really… I mean, not that I wouldn't but—n-no I'm just uh…"

"He's a real pussy, so you better make it obvious for him."

Ogata blinked and slowed down, then smiled a little.

The adult lady suddenly raised both her hands. "My legs feel like they've been raped by Chtulhu, so carry me home."

"Wh-why should I-?" Ogata was about to retort, then sighed. It would be wrong to just leave her like this at this time of dark. She had absolutely no idea where she lived though, but this woman was apparently really someone who knew Tanaka and Satou, so there was one place she could take her.

"Alright, come on," Ogata said as she leaned closer. All of a sudden and without warning, the blonde puffed her cheeks and unleashed a tide of colorful smells at her feet.


"I just, you know, found her on the street and remembered seeing the three of you together during the Misago Festival," Ogata said, blushing. "Which reminds me, she told me what you couldn't back then."

"O-Oh?" Eita said, staring to get nervous.

"Yeah," Ogata said, frowning at first, then smiling. "She talks in her stupor you know? Apparently you're like a kid brother to her."

Eita's face reddened slightly as he scratched his cheek. "Haha, well, that's pretty spot on I guess… wait, what did you think we were like?"

Ogata's face became even redder. "D-does it matter?" she said as she averted her eyes. "I got my answers, I'm satisfied with that." She looked back at Margery. "So, what's the story with her then? And I want the truth, the whole truth."

Keisaku, sitting beside Marchosias on the coffee table, glanced over his shoulder and answered briefly. "She's something along the lines of a private detective," he said without a hint in his tone that it was a lie he made on the spot. "She found her way here trailing someone for a case she's been working on for years, and now she's just freeloading here."

Ogata raised an eyebrow while grinning. "Oh? You're just letting her stay for nothing?"

"Do I need a reason to be charitable?" Keisaku said, his eyes back on Margery. "Besides, this place gets pretty boring when I have just you two coming around."

"How about I make it less boring for you by smacking you on the head with that book over there?" Ogata said.

Keisaku laughed. "No thanks, this thing gets way more abuse than you'd think, believe me," he said, then turned back to Margery.

Ogata giggled softly. "Well, at least his feelings are obvious," she whispered to Eita, who could not understand her meaning.

"What?"

Ogata sighed and rolled her eyes. "Tanaka, you're hopeless."

The taller boy smiled. "Well, one thing's for sure, ever since Margery-nee-san came along, he's been bored a lot less," he said. "He's even been complaining less."

Across them, Keisaku glanced back over his shoulder. "That's what you think?" he said. "You have any idea how much I end up having to do for this woman?"

"But you like doing them, otherwise you wouldn't do anything for her," Ogata teased.

Keisaku flushed a little and faced forward once more. "Sh-shut up," he muttered.

"So, why were you out so late anyway?" Eita asked.

"Oh, remember my sick grandmother?" the girl started to explain. "Well, I had to take care of her again today, although nothing serious happened. On the other hand, it doesn't exactly take just half an hour to haul a fully grown American woman all the way here."

"She's European," Keisaku said.

"Whatever Satou!"

"You should have called us. It's really dangerous this late at night."

The girl giggled again in embarrassment. "W-Well, my phone was dead," she replied, sticking her tongue out cutely.

Eita sighed. "Well, at least you're both okay."

"Yeah, a pretty woman like her would be quite the target of danger," said Ogata, lowering her head, her eyes directed towards Margery.

"I was more worried about you," Eita said sincerely, and the girl turned to face him.

Keisaku took another moment to glance back and smiled before discreetly getting up and subtly leaving the room for the sake of their privacy.


There was a knock on the bedroom door as the teal-haired Priestess in light green pajamas gazed into the night from her window. It was still a couple of hours before midnight, but there was no training with Yuji that day. As she turned around, Sydonay let himself in with one arm behind his back.

"So, you're letting another dangerous Flame Haze stay here unopposed, Hecate?" he said. "Are you so sure that's a good idea?"

The Priestess shook her head. "But it's something that must be done."

"For that boy?"

"For myself."

The Thousand Changes raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "I guess that's good enough for me then," he said. "But if you get hurt, I'm taking it out on that boy. Speaking of which, make sure to drive him like cattle while I'm away—literally; he needs the physical and mental stamina."

The Supreme Throne smiled a little and allowed a tiny giggle to escape her lips. "We'll start tomorrow night."

Revealing what he had brought, Sydonay produced a long and narrow case. "You left this back in Sereiden," he said and Hecate, although a little surprised, accepted it gratefully.

"Thank you," she said, looking up at him with bright eyes.

"Be safe Hecate," Sydonay said as he turned to leave. "I'll be back before the next phase."

Before stepping out, he felt Hecate hug him softly from behind. "Take care Sydonay," she said, and a grin remained on his face even as he left the city.


Yuji Sakai lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His head rested on his arms and his eyes were wide open as he thought to himself.

A lot sure happened today: that girl finally returning and taking Hirai-san's existence into her own, and Hecate… what do you think we should do with her? I don't want to kill her either, but I still can't forgive her, not just for that, but…

He rested one hand on his side.

"I can still feel that blade slicing me apart, and that killing intent cutting right through me," he muttered softly and continued in his head.

Yet somehow, this feeling is a little familiar; that's right, it's not too different from the time I caught Hecate consuming human existences, only then she wounded my trust instead. But that was my fault too, I was naïve, and it's thanks to Lamies-san setting me straight that I was able to forgive Hecate and accept her for who she is. Since then, we've become closer and have gradually been able to trust each other even more.

He turned over to his side.

I already know the Flame Hazes have good intentions as protectors of this world, but why do they make it as if it was their whole life, to the point that they have to sacrifice their own morals? Perhaps I'm being naïve again, but I have to learn to understand them too, like I did with Hecate.

His thoughts were interrupted by a tapping sound coming from his window. Sitting up, he saw the Priestess hovering just outside, still in her pajamas. In her hand was a metal flute.

She smiled at him, and he returned the expression. The girl floated upwards ahead of the boy, and when he had slid the glass barrier out of his way and climbed up himself, he found her sitting on his roof with her instrument held in both hands.

"I take it you came all the way here to show me that thing, Hecate?" Yuji said as he sat down next to her. He still remembered the sad but beautiful melody her Faux Vessel had played, and looked forward to listening to the original play again.

"Traverso," she said with her soft voice. "A Treasure I have requested Dantalion to modify sixteen times; this could call forth apparitions of pure fire and is used to herald the landing of Sereiden." She turned to him and smiled. "It is also a musical instrument."

Yuji chuckled. "So, are you going to play it?"

"Of course," the Priestess in pajamas said as she brought the flute to her lips.

What escaped the wind pipe was a smooth and wonderful tune. It brought to mind flowing rivers and birds in flight, waving grass and sparkling starlight; such a soothing and calm melody of contentment, no longer a song of sorrow and sadness as the first time.

And as she played, two snake-like dragons of pure aqua blue fire danced in the air before them, spiraling around each other and looping inwards and out. For a moment, Yuji was reminded of the Snake of the Festival himself, and realized this must have been one way Hecate could remember her lost master by.

He looked at the girl's face. She enjoyed performing; it may not have been written all over her face but it was apparent in her half-open eyes and in the subtle way she lifted her head as she blew into the instrument. That's right, she would no longer feel alone, and she was genuinely happy. This performance of hers, it was just another way of showing her joy and the warmth she felt being so close to one she cared about.

The Priestess noticed his gaze shifting between the magnificent creatures of flame and the one conducting them and flushed a little, but remained focused enough on her musical piece. There was no reason for her to show off, it was hardly something she would do, but from the memories of Fumina Konoe she already knew he enjoyed it when she played her flute. Besides that, she not only wanted to cheer him up from the hectic and shocking day they had, she also wanted to comfort herself with his presence.

No one had been there by her side so much, and he treated her as someone who truly meant something to him rather than as a means to an end. He made her happy just by being there. She had shown him her feelings when they had Synchronized, and remembering the experience made her blush. However, while she still did not understand what was happening to her, she accepted it and the warm feelings that came with the change.

As the night sky continued to roll, the dragons of flame continued their aerial ballet without a care of who would witness their mystique.


"It has occurred to me just now, but it is not improbable that the Trinity themselves have made an absolute ban on the consumption of the humans' existences in this city," said the Flame of Heaven as his Flame Haze sat on her bed.

"That makes no sense Alastor," said the girl. "That'd mean that this city, occupied by three of the most dangerous Denizens alive, would be the safest place in the world for humans, even more than those with an Outlaw." She took another bite. "Even in Tokyo, there were a few Denizens either stupid enough to make an attack."

"But if you look at it this way, isn't the Trinity one of the higher authorities for many Denizens? Although not all follow them, very few would oppose them," Alastor said, logically. "In a way, to them, they're even more feared than a group of Flame Hazes."

"Why? If anything, wouldn't they presume they'd support them?"

"Perhaps, but at the same time, they also understand them more closely than they do the Flame Hazes, and so understand how dangerous it would be to defy them. I believe the same could be said of the Flame Hazes and the few they view as leaders, such as the Braider of Trembling Might."

"Yeah, no one would dare make Sophie angry," the Flame Haze said, smiling. "But I still don't get why Bal Masque would oppose Denizens eating humans' existence in this city."

From the corner of her eye, the Flaming-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter saw a small light from her window. Looking out through it from the sixth floor of the apartment complex, she could see a pair of flaming serpents in the distance. She watched with a little awe as the creatures were intertwining with each other in the air before separating and gliding in circles around each other. And even from this distance she could hear the faint but soothing tune being played.

"What on earth are those two doing?" she muttered, but with no spite in her tone, and the thoughtful Alastor remained quiet as they watched.

"It is a little farfetched, but perhaps the reason for peace in this city is because it is the will of the Supreme Throne herself," said Alastor. "In any case, perhaps we should shift our attention to the Mystes who calls itself Yuji Sakai. While the Supreme Throne would hold all the answers we need, he appears close enough to her to know much of the facts, and he would be far simpler to decipher."

"Alright Alastor," the girl acknowledged, although not without with some hesitation. Somehow, she didn't want to have to deal with that boy who stirred up so much in her again, but at the same time, she had to, not just because her contractor said so but also because she needed answers if she had to wring it out of him. Just how could one measly Torch get inside her head so much?!


The next morning, as Yuji was on his way to Hecate's manor to pick her up like he usually did, he constantly felt a presence following him from behind. By the time he met up with Hecate at her gate, her finger was already pointed behind him. The Priestess had a blank but curious expression on her face.

"I have no idea why Hecate," Yuji sighed. "And here I thought she would be avoiding us."

"I don't see why I have to," the nameless Flame Haze said behind him. "It just so happens that the three of us are headed in the same direction. I want nothing to do with you."

The Mystes sighed again and raised his eyes to heaven before continuing on his walk. Meanwhile, Hecate grabbed ahold of his sleeve with her dainty little fingers, glancing behind at the Flame Haze and eyeing her coldly. The dark-haired girl returned the gaze with the same one of her own.

This is going to be another long day, thought the Mystes.


"N-n-no! That's impossible!"

The Flame Haze dressed as a schoolgirl stood at her desk with a victorious smirk. Before her, the overweight science teacher with tiny glasses quivered below the blackboard, sweating bullets and nearly losing his marbles.

She continued with her barrage of criticism. "And furthermore, how do you expect us to know that beforehand when you clearly skipped the basics? There're holes all over your lesson plan."

"He is only doing as much as he is capable of for our sakes," Hecate said as she stood up as well and faced her mortal enemy. She did not shout, and remained monotonous, but just hearing her speak up against the loud and aggressive "Yukari Hirai" in the teacher's defense had just as much of an impact for everyone around them. Of course, the Crimson Lord failed to realize that her words cut into the class facilitator nearly as deeply as those that attacked him in the first place—or even worse as the truth was he had actually half-heartedly prepared out of laziness.

As the teacher crawled for freedom, the Flaming-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter and the Supreme Throne had yet another glaring contest, one so intense that the entire room felt like it was caught between a cold chill and a furious blaze.


That was just the start.

During PE class, the volleyball was a blur as it bounced back and forth between two petite but powerful girls. The Flame Haze spiked the ball so hard it would have blasted a hole in the opposing team's floor had Hecate not intercepted it with a strike of her own.

The ball rocketed up, then zoomed back, whooshed forth and sliced the air like a bullet. The other players on both sides of the court could do nothing but stare in wide-eyed astonishment as the unstoppable and aggressive volleyball attacker could not get past the invincible and calm defense. The girl with long hair moved from side to side and struck with powerful arms while the normally quiet one was efficient with her movements, not wasting a single motion and redirecting the ball with precision.

"Wow, I've never seen Konoe-san play like that before," Ogata said as she watched the ball zigzag without ever touching the ground. "It feels like she's been holding back the entire time."

"They say the quiet ones hold the most mysteries," said the high school girl with a liking for makeup, Kimiko Nakamura, with the same expression.

"But don't you think it's a little random that they're suddenly acting like rivals?" said the bespectacled girl with shoulder-length hair, Harumi Fujita.

"Really? I think they're enjoying themselves," said Ike. "What do you think Sakai?"

"Maybe either or both of them did something unforgivable to the other?" Kimiko said before the Mystes could answer.

"Maybe that's it," Yuji said, smiling awkwardly.

Bang!

"Ah, it popped," Fujita, eyes still wide.

"I guess those two overdid it," said Kimiko.

Everyone else nodded in wide-eyed agreement.


Even during lunchtime it was not the end for those two. The little circle of friends would still join their desks together, with had included Keisaku and Eita since the failure of the Fountain of Existence; and it was natural to include "Yukari Hirai" as it was still something that lingered in the memory of those who were not aware. Of course, the Flame Haze was a little surprised when Yuji and his friends suddenly combined her desk along with hers but played along with them for the sake of the normals.

"Sakai-kun, here, I hope you like it," Yoshida said with a light blush but a confident smile as she handed the Mystes his cloth-wrapped boxed lunch.

"Thanks again Yoshida-san," the boy said as he opened it and discovered a rice meal with an assortment of tasty sidings.

Next to him, Hecate opened her own boxed-lunch, one she had made by herself for herself—although that didn't mean she wasn't willing to share. As she took out her chopsticks, she noticed that the Flame Haze sitting in front of her was already eating a second piece of melon bread, with four more packs before her. The others looked at her pile curiously.

"Uh, Yukari-chan, don't you think that's not enough for a meal?" Ogata asked her.

"It's enough to fill my stomach," the Flame Haze replied off-handedly. Then she felt a glare coming from across her and, once again, mirrored the glare.

"That is only a snack," said Hecate. "Don't be a bad influence on the others."

"Don't you look down on melon bread," the Flame Haze said between her teeth.

They held such a murderous gaze between each other that anyone who wasn't part of the group gave them a wide berth. Everyone could practically feel them strangling each other with their eyeballs.

Yuji scratched his cheek with his index finger. "Now this is just getting silly," he said aloud. Did they really hate each other that much?

He smiled a little. Well, it's not as bad as it seems; unlike Friagne who Hecate had viewed as a pests rather than one who had the right to exist, she simply saw the Flaming-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter with mere spite. It was still nowhere near accepting, but better than the former in his opinion.

"Are they going to be okay, Sakai-kun?" Kazumi whispered.

"Honestly, I have no idea, Yoshida-san," the Mystes replied. "But I don't really like this atmosphere, do you?"

The girl shook her head.


Later that day, during Home Economics class, Kazumi stuck with "Yukari Hirai" since she had always been her partner. She watched the Flame Haze botch up even the simplest of tasks and scowled at her materials—as well as the mixing bowl full of eggshells and clumped flour. She turned to the human girl suddenly.

"What is it?" she said accusingly, and Kazumi realized she had been staring.

"A-ah, um, do you not know how to cook?" asked the human girl.

"I don't have any need for that kind of skill," said the Flame Haze, remembering that this girl was aware of the truth of the world. "I never had that kind of training anyway."

She glanced at the Supreme Throne, who was already well on her way to mixing a cookie batter that followed her cookbook to the letter, and frowned. "Why would a Denizen be so interested in human food anyway? They need Power of Existence for sustenance; that kind of food won't satiate them."

"Perhaps she enjoys the taste of good food as much as any of us do?" Kazumi suggested. "Is it really your first time seeing a Denizen enjoy that kind of thing?"

The Flame Haze stared at her failed recipe, as if looking in a distant memory, and made a barely audible sound. Kazumi could hardly catch it, but she was sure she heard a "no".

After a while of silence between them, the Flame haze turned to Kazumi again.

"Hey, something's been bugging me," she said. "Who exactly was Yukari Hirai that the Supreme Throne values her more highly than the security of Bal Masque's plans?"

Kazumi looked at her with wide eyes and blinked, then answered simply with a straight face. "She was her friend."

The Flame Haze raised her eyebrow. "That's it?"

The human girl nodded. "There doesn't have to be any other reason," she said. "While Sakai-kun was the very first one to accept her as she is, Yukari-chan was the first to want to befriend her even when she knew nothing about her or the truth of this world. Yukari-chan… was a very kind and cheerful person who simply liked it when people were happy, so she made making Hecate-chan her friend a mission of her own."

"What kind of mission is that?" the Flame Haze scoffed.

Beside her, Kazumi remained as she was and did not lose her temper in the slightest towards this ignorant girl—rather, it seemed like she was finding Hecate being more human as something completely unbelievable.

"It was a personal mission," said Kazumi Yoshida. "And she succeeded." She smiled sadly. "And ever since Yukari-chan became a Torch, those of us who were aware of the truth, including Hecate-chan, did our best to affirm her of her existence so that she would not give up and hold on to her presence here."

"Affirm her of her existence?" the Flame Haze repeated. "You mean you just treated her like normal?"

"Yes," Kazumi said in all honesty. "If it could at least slow her fading until Hecate-chan or someone could come up with a cure, it would have been enough."

"Don't you get it though? She's already gone, and-."

"I know," Kazumi said seriously. "But Sakai-kun is a Torch too, and I know he is still the same Yuji Sakai he has always been. We're not so quick to let go of our friends that easily."

"So it all goes back to the Mystes," said the Flame Haze. "Is he really at the center of all this?"

"I don't know the answer to that," said Kazumi, and smiled lightly. "But I have to thank you for one thing at least: you bought Yukari-chan a little more time."


School finally ended, and it was a long day for some than for others. Yuji Sakai in particular felt like the crushing atmosphere of hostility was going to shroud the two mortal enemies the entire day. he was at least relieved that the Flame Haze had been distracted from the Priestess momentarily during Home Economics, although he did wonder what she and Kazumi were talking about.

They'll be duking it out for real if it goes on like this, he thought. Maybe I should try talking to her again, but this time, I shouldn't view her as a Flame—no, then I'd be making the same mistake Lamies scolded me for. I have to think of her as both a person and a Flame Haze.

"Hecate," the Mystes said as he passed by the Priestess, who was retrieving her other pair of shoes from her shoe locker. "You go on ahead. There's something I have to do."

She stared at him with a deadpan expression for a moment, then spoke. "The Flame Haze?"

"Yeah," the Mystes replied truthfully.

The Supreme Throne turned her attention back to what she was doing. "Be careful," she said. Although it would seem like she didn't care, it was the complete opposite; she had little to fear from her now, and she trusted the young man's judgement.

Yuji smiled, glad at how much faith the Denizen girl had in him. "I will," he said as he made his way back inside the school building.

After putting on her shoes, Hecate walked out of the school by herself. Halfway to the gate, she looked up at the top of the school building, where she felt the presence of the Flame Haze lingering.

"Ah, hey Konoe-san," said a familiar voice of a male. She turned to see Ike approaching her.

"Did you need something?" she asked, and the bespectacled boy shook his head.

"Not really, I was just curious," he said. "Now that I've gotten so used to it, it's a little strange not seeing Sakai practically attached to you on the way home."

"He's not an accessory, and the same goes for me," Hecate said, completely deadpan. Then she smiled, implying she wasn't being serious. "He has something he has to settle."

"I see," said Ike, then he shrugged. "Well, that's Sakai for you. On the surface he seems a bit unmotivated but when he decides to go for something, he does his best, especially if he knows it's right."

Hecate nodded and smiled a little longer. "Yeah, he and I are probably not so different either," she said.

"You've been smiling a lot lately, Konoe-san," Ike noted, adjusting his glasses and grinning himself. To think she was once the isolated and far off emotionless girl without a care for the world around her.

The Priestess nodded again. "It's thanks to Yuji, Kazumi, and Yukari," she said.

"Yukari, you say, but it seems like the two of you were at each others' throats today," Ike said with a puzzled expression. "Actually, it seemed like you two had some hostility since yesterday."

The Priestess looked at him silently, mentally berating herself at the same time for being so careless, then decided to tell a little of the truth. "She did something that was unforgivable," she said.

"To you?"

"And herself."

"I see."

"But…" Hecate looked up at the orange sky. "For a few selfish reasons, I do not wish for us to end up destroying each other."

"That's a little drastic don't you think?" Ike smiled. "Then don't you think you should just try to be friends with her again?"

The girl gave him a questioning look.

"I don't know what happened between the two of you, but don't you think things can smoothen out if you two at least try to be as close you used to?" Ike said. "If I recall correctly, well, it is a little fuzzy but, I do remember the two of you getting along well enough. And even if she'd still hate you, maybe treating her in a manner opposite to how she's treating you could soften her up and even change her mind?"

The quiet girl blinked. "Maybe," she said simply.

"It's worth a shot," Ike said. "I have to head the other way now. I'll see you tomorrow, Konoe-san."

As he turned the other way, Hecate called after him in her soft voice.

"Ike, could you do me a favor? I would also like to ask the same of the others," the Priestess said seriously.

"What is it, Konoe-san?" the glasses boy said as he turned back to her.

"Please call me by my nickname," she said, her lips curling again. "Call me Hecate."


Yuji Sakai walked up the steps to the school's rooftop and opened the exiting door. There she was, just leaning on the rails, overlooking the students leaving the premises—with Hecate among them. Her long black hair flowed in the wind like a sea of darkness.

She turned around to face the Mystes. In her hands was a half-eaten piece of melon bread.

"So it is a snack," Yuji said casually. "I figured it would be your favorite food after hearing you talking so seriously about it earlier."

The Flame Haze glared at him. "It's pretty stupid of you to come meet me alone," she said. "How do you know for sure that I won't just take you or the Reiji Maigo while I have the chance?"

"Because you can't leave while you still have questions," Yuji said confidently. He also could have very well mentioned that Hecate could easily catch up to her and take her down, but he wanted to gain her trust if even a little, so he knew threatening her was the last thing he should do. "When we left you yesterday, you seemed so confused and unsure, and judging from how you acted today, I take it you still don't understand anything." He smiled. "That's why I came up here, to talk."

"Why should I talk with you, my enemy?" the girl said as she crossed her arms.

"Is it just the Flame Haze side of you asking that?" Yuji said seriously. "Hasn't it ever occurred to you that we could be on the same side after all?"

The girl blinked and let out a little gasp. That was certainly true, but such a thought would be the epitome of foolishness in her perspective. But the mere fact that they had saved the city from Friagne and the Aizen twins was enough to doubt that same line of thought.

"That's… impossible," she said, stubbornly refusing to admit the plausibility presented to her.

"Because I'm friends with Hecate, is that it? Then if I were friends with a Flame Haze, does that mean I am an enemy to all Denizens? Then how is it that Margery-san helped me save her a while back?"

"She has deviated from her duty as a Flame Haze, she's different."

"Your duty… I've been wondering about that. Why are you so bound to it that you have to be so inflexible?"

The girl unknowingly crushed the melon bread in her hand. "Don't you know anything at all, Mystes?" she said angrily. "It's the whole reason why we exist."

"But you first accepted that kind of existence because of revenge, right?"

The Flame Haze narrowed her eyes. "Did you learn that through the Chanter of Elegies?" Alastor spoke for her, "That may be true for her and the other Flame Hazes, but hers is a special case. She was raised to become my contracted Flame Haze."

"Raised? You mean, while she was still human? So she didn't have a choice either!" Yuji exclaimed.

"It was still my choice to become a Flame Haze," the girl said as she crossed her arms. "But why do we even have to talk about this? Is it because you think that the Supreme Throne and I are the same?"

"You still don't believe that… I understand; then I'll explain," Yuji said, forcing himself to calm down. "I don't know if the Flame Hazes know this, but she was born to be a sacrifice to summon the Snake of the Festival."

"I already know that," said Alastor solemnly. "It is the same with the Flaming-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter. To enact the ceremony, the Crimson God must inhabit a temporary vessel."

"Alastor?" the girl muttered.

"But like I said, Hecate never had the chance to choose her own path," Yuji continued. "After you and I fought in Sereiden, I was able to see her thoughts and feelings, and I can draw one conclusion from that: the real reason why she hates you is not because of Hirai-san, she should actually be grateful you preserved her existence, even though it would still make her mad; it's not because you hurt me either, or because you two fought, because she's already forgiven Margery-san. No, she can't forgive you because you were still able to choose to be the "Priestess" for the Flame of Heaven, while she was doomed from the start when all she really wanted was for those she cared about to be happy, and to be happy herself and exist to those around her."

"So she's jealous?" the Flame Haze concluded.

"No," the Mystes said with clarity. "It's more than that. She feels that the choice was wasted on you, because you blindly let your own self rot away, thinking you're only a Flame Haze, when you still have a chance at a better fate than she does."

"But that's what I am: a Flame Haze!" the girl said as her hair turned into a fiery red. "Our only fate is to preserve the balance of this world until we can't fight anymore, can't you understand that?"

Yuji eyed her for a while, keeping his tongue in check as he assessed the girl. She was stubborn, but there were other angles to approach from.

"No, I don't," he said truthfully. "But I want to understand, and I want you to understand us."

The girl was silent now, taking her turn to study him. His stance and expression proved a firm will; he really was sure about that.

"Earlier, you said that Margery-san was different," the Mystes continued, "but if you say that, does that mean that all other Flame Hazes who don't live for themselves are exactly the same killing machines hellbent on hunting down and slaying Denizens?"

"Are you an idiot? It's to protect you people!"

"That's not the point! What I'm asking is, are all Flame Hazes the same?"

"Of course, we're all contracted to Crimson Lords for the same purpose."

"Then does every Flame Haze have to wear a maid's dress, or drink until they pass out, or act like a pretty boy, or enjoy melon bread?"

The girl gasped, a little more surprised at his words this time than earlier.

"Are they not allowed to have friends, or smile, or enjoy life, or be recognized?"

"O-of course not!" the girl said, losing her cool.

Yuji chuckled. That was exactly the opposite of what she had said just a few seconds earlier. "That's what I've been saying this whole time," he said with a gentler tone. "Even you have an existence of your own. You're not just a Flame Haze whose only fate is to fight until you die. That would be a sad life, however long it is, to live."

He took a step forward. "You may be one Flame Haze with the same purpose as many others, but there is only one you, don't you get that?!"

The girl was speechless now. His resolve and sureness of his words was strong, and there was not argument to counter that logic.

"Hecate isn't like most Denizens," the boy continued. "She's lived a lonely life, raised to be only a Priestess. But she found what she needed here: she found friends and a family, and most importantly, she found herself. Because of that, she's gained a new respect for life that not many Denizens have, realizing that everyone has the right to live out their entire existence. I'm not asking you to try and get along with her, but I want to reassure you that there's nothing to worry about from her. I also want to accept the Flame Hazes; to begin with, I never thought they were on the wrong side, but I want to see them as more than just machines balancing the two worlds at any expense. I want to see the Flame Hazes as people too."

The Flame Haze frowned, wrapping her head around his words. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!" she yelled. "You preach too much."

Yuji smiled lightly and shrugged. At least her patience was just long enough to hear him out. "That's all I can really do right now," he said.

"The one who stood against the full might of my judgement and survived should not belittle himself," said Alastor, "especially if that person is the same one who had inspired change in the Supreme Throne."

"She has a hard time with words, but she's not so bad once you get to know her," said the Mystes. "I've said all I had to, but it's up to you to decide how you should feel."

Before he could even take a step back, the Flame Haze stopped him.

"Wait, yesterday you were going to call me something, right?" she said, her expression completely serious. "There was already one other Flaming-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter before me, but I'm different from her too. What would you call me then?"

"Hm?" the Mystes faced her again, and the girl added to her words.

"I-I'm just curious okay? It's not like I'll probably ever use it!" she said with a slightly flustered tone.

"Hrmmm, perhaps you may as well have earned yourself the right to an opinion at the very least, boy," Alastor reluctantly agreed.

The Mystes blinked and put a hand on his side, to where the scar should be. "Well, I could never forget our first meeting, when I saw your strength and straightforwardness, it left quite the impression on me," he said, smiling a little. "The name of the sword that cut me is the Nietono no Shana right? Well then, what do you think of the name… Shana?"