Chapter 1
In Kid Ayato's Mind
Everything was crumbling around them. They cried as their castle, their home, their safe haven fell around them. A boy was on his knees with blood soaking his shirt and a Teenage girl was in his arms clutching to him, too afraid to let him go. The boy's power surged as a blue aura surrounded him while electrified and Air powered ice and snow swirled around the two of them. 4 violet spikes protruded from his back while the siblings cried and screamed to the heavens.
Then there was an explosion that covered the entire surrounding area in electrified ice pillars rose from the ground where the castle once stood. This was all caused by the boy. A boy who was sad, angry, and in pain. The area was now a frozen wasteland and there he laid with the Teenager in his arms no more light in either of their eyes. Their eyes held only anger, loneliness, and sadness.
The scenery and people around him then disappeared and he was surrounded by nothing but darkness.
{You're dreaming.} A loud, deep, booming voice said.
"Wait. I've heard that voices before." The darkness then dispersed by large ice and a massive White dragon with Bright Blue eyes and The second was a beautiful young woman with golden blonde hair that reached her waist in soft curls, her eyes were a crystal blue in colour and a warm peaceful smile grew as she looked at the slumped young man. Her perfect hourglass figure would put most people to shame and was shown off by the white dress which was low cut at the front and stopped halfway down her thigh after being cinched in at her slim waist by a golden rope like belt, open toed sandals covering her feet.
{Indeed you have. We are parts of you after all.}
"I guess we should properly introduce ourselves to you Ayato, given that you are our partner now… I am Albion, the spirit of [Divine Dividing], the [White Dragon Emperor] and one of the [Two Heavenly Dragons] with the name [Vanishing Dragon]." A pair of white dragon wings emerged from his back surprising Ayato as Metatron added
"And I am the Metatron from the Bible, spirit of the [Heavenly Judgement] and I'm a member of the [Seraph]" From Metatron's back twelve gold feathered wings spread out while a shining halo appeared above her head.
Ayato blinked in surprise as he looked between the two before his eyes rolled up and he collapsed back against his chair again. Albion smirking slightly as he retorted "Hehe…He took that better then I expected"
{Now when you were brought back, I managed to include some of my power, as did Albion, so now you are an Vampire/Human/Soul Reaper Blazer/Angel/ Dragon/ Devil hybrid which is about 40% to 20% to 40% to 20% to 40% to 20% roughly. The reason is that [Heavenly Judgement] would burn your Hybrid body the moment it activated so your Angel side will protect you from it while the Dragon and Human sides will avoid your Angel Devil and sides from clashing for dominance. What that means is that you can manipulate light energy from your Angel side and also you have an ability called 'Language' which Devils also have and it allows you to understand and speak in any spoken language in the world. Devils have access to demonic magic which from what I know is all based on imagination and willpower, you have gained night vision.} Albion and Metatron nodding in agreement.
[From your Dragon and Vampire sides you now have a much tougher and Stronger body then an Angel or Devil and can use more of my [Divine Dividing]'s power but you have gained a weakness to Dragon Slaying weapons and Your Vampire Familiars . Also you have gained wings from each side so you already have mulitiple sets or they might have fused together into a single set, anyway they are fully workable once you fly and your senses are sharper then before] Albion added with a smirk as Ayato's head steamed from all the additional abilities he had gained just from being Awakened.
Albion knew that not that any typical devil could win against Ayato once he had the basics down, but Albion still wanted his host to draw in some Angels. He also hadn't mentioned the dragon's aura to Ayato as he could tell his host would think less of himself if he thought that any female attention was more due to it then to him.
Metatron gave him an approving nod at not mentioning it, having thought the same as Albion when explaining what Ayato had gained, looking over at the Sliver haired young man as he looked over himself carefully before speaking the words Albion wanted to hear "When can I start training?"
[We'll leave that for tomorrow night… tomorrow is Sunday so just relax and take everything in while we're inside your mind you will only gain the know how of your powers, any increases in magic you achieve and any techniques you create. So it won't help you get physically stronger which you'll have to do in the real world once we find a secluded spot] Albion answered with a smirk, Metatron giving an approving nod of agreement as she added
{We'll be able to talk to you anytime while you are awake now and there we'll help you unlock your Sacred Gears}
…
Ayato's eyes slowly opened them to find himself staring at his own hospital Room, sighing softly as he thought 'Albion…Metatron…?'
[Yo.]
{I'm here}
The two spirits replied instantly, Ayato sighing in relief as he looked around his Hospital room to see that nothing had been disturbed in the modest sized bedroom. His room fitted with most Kids his age, Blazer Competitions,movies and games littering the desk and bookcase in his Hospital room while a modest sized television sat hooked up to a games console. His eyes widened slightly at realising he could see perfectly fine even though the curtains blocked most of the bright morning light.
"Wow so you were right about the night vision" Ayato spoke, Metatron giggling in response as the young man started to get dressed for the day, picking out a pair of black jeans, a blue jumper and an open short sleeved white shirt over the top Shows off his Toned and Scarred body along with all of his belongings.
He left The Hospital warily, hoping that his Aunt had returned from her match with Nene Saikyo as he headed to his Apartment.
As Soon as Ayato arrived to his new home, the shoulder length blonde haired young woman smiling back at him as she welcome him home as she appraised her younger brother's appearance.
he looked over her shoulder to him, giving him a smile as she spoke "Welcome home"
"I should be telling you that, Keiko-nee" Ayato spoke, as he regained his breath so he would be able to return and go as he needed to during the nights, quickly pulling off his shoes before heading into the kitchen as she asked
"Did you eat earlier?" Ayato smiled as he say no.
[Shame your Nee-san hasn't recovered from the Death of Your Parents yet] Albion spoke up, Ayato sighing as he mentally replied 'It's not exactly easy to get over what happened to him or me, Albion…Plus it was years ago when it happened and she left him to look after me alone' Ayato started to pull out ingredients, bacon and eggs, amongst them as he started to make bacon omelettes.
as Albion nodded and added [Yeah but it makes it easier for us to train you without the Supernatural World knowledge… we just need to find a secluded place] Ayato nodded to himself.
Ayato stretched his arms above his head as he walked amongst the trees that were at the back of his house, his sister had been happy that he was spending some time for himself and had even offered to clean up after breakfast for him.
{I think this should be far enough} Metatron spoke up, Ayato looking around to see no one as he mentally asked 'Are you sure?'
[Yeah looks alright here. Now, grab a stick and I'll help you with drawing out this barrier circle] Albion answered seriously, Ayato complying and drawing a three metre wide circle with magic symbols on the inside edge of it as Albion explained the unasked question [Those runes are Dragon Runes…They are practically a lost magic seeing as Dragons aren't widely seen by people nowadays] Ayato looked around once he'd finished, partly expecting someone to jump out as the thin white shield rose around him before finally connecting above his head in a dome.
[And we're safe] Albion spoke, Ayato releasing a breathe he didn't realise he was holding as he looked around to make sure as Metatron added
{Don't worry, Ayato-kun. We're far enough from Itogami city that Natsuki can't sense us either way now} Ayato stretched his muscles where he stood, wondering what sort of training he would go through today as Albion spoke up with a smirk
[Now lets get with activating my power. Now focus all your strength onto your back and when you feel it build to its limit release it out of your back… It'll probably help if you close your eyes]
"Alright" Ayato spoke as he closed his eyes in the centre of the clearing, his face set in concentration as he tried to get a grip on his power. It took him a few minutes of focus before white metal like bones sprouted from his back, cyan coloured energy flowing into forming large rectangular feathers to finish making up his wings before Albion nodding in approval as he explained
[Good. Now the main ability of [Divine Dividing] is to half the opponent's strength and then adds it to your own every ten seconds. It only starts after you make contact with them and only targets one person at a time and the wings will release energy once you hit the limit your body can hold at the time always keeping you at your top limit of power. Also because they're wings you can fly extremely fast once you have gotten use to it or I can do it for you]
Ayato looked over the Sacred Gear on his back with amazement, taking a moment to try and move the wings only for them to remain stationary as he frowned only for Albion to speak up
[Don't worry about flying for now, Ayato… Now to dismiss them just think about turning the power off] Ayato stared at his wings as he focused on the direction Albion had given him, his wings disappearing in a pulse of light as he sighed in relief as Metatron spoke up
{Good job, Ayato-kun…Now [Heavenly Judgement] is a little different to activate so I'll teach you about it properly later on but I guess we should see what sort of wings you have} Ayato nodded in understanding, glad that he at least had Albion's power at hand if he got into trouble as Metatron continued
{The easiest way to release them is to focus on your shoulder blades and the muscles around there where they are held} Ayato closed his eyes as he tried to focus on moving nonexistent wings on his back, trying to picture how they would and should move as he grimaced as feeling something move underneath the skin.
It took him about an hour before a numb ripping sound reached his ears, his eyes opening to at feeling the added weight there unlike when [Divine Dividing] was there.
Looking back he looked shocked at the eleven sets of wings he had, the first drawing his attention was two pair of white feathered Angel wings which were the top pair on his back.
The second set was pure white and scaly dragon wings which seemed big enough for him to fly with just them if he wished and knew how to. The last set was his seven Devil wings which matched the size of his Angel wings.
~~~10 years Later~~~
It was the sound of a harsh, and very loud rampant banging on his front door that awoke Ayato.
Ayato shot up from bed sweating and panting freaked from the dream he just had. 'Calm down Ayato it was only a dream. You weren't there again. You're safe and so is she.' He thought as he got out of bed and walked into the bathroom.
He looked into the mirror and stared at his appearance. Ayato Still has silver hair and his eyes was a darker shade of blue than when he was a kid with his toned and scarred abs. Lastly, his fangs were longer and sharper. He looked away from his reflection angry, all it was, was just one bad reminder of a day he'd rather forget.
He then took a shower and when he walked out of the bathroom he turned on the TV. "Stella Vermillion, The second princess of the Vermillion empire, will be visiting Japan today. She was accepted at Saikai academy, the chivalry in Tokyo, with the highest score of all time, and she's been said to be the strongest and a gifted knight." The reporter said as Ayato walked over to a cabinet, pulled out a granola bar, and started to eat it.
Also over the years, since he had gone missing, he kept up with his training, but only with his Sacred Gear, the Divine Dividing & His Body with Tenryuu Kori Armor on him for eight Years. He has the Vanishing Dragon Albion, one of the Heavenly Dragons. It was thanks to the 8 years of training that he quickly became the strongest White Dragon Emperor in history, even managing to control the Juggernaut Drive by using Extremely Large Amount of Magic and Spiritual Energy. His aunt Kurono and told him about the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival before he started at Hagun and he responded with I'm not interested & Entering won't help me in the slightest
However, he wasn't the same kid that was bursting with energy anymore. He had become colder, pushing people away and never getting to know new people. He's even become more aggressive but it's not like he takes his anger out on everyone just those who really piss him off.
When that happens it's a challenge all on its own to try to calm him down for anyone except his Aunt. They seem to be the only ones he shows any real affection towards even when he teases her. He hasn't even smiled in years and he's become less inclined to do things. He entered the Little League Tournament at the Age 8 & The U-12 World Tournament at the age 10. He won them very easily, feeling that he couldn't overcome his limits in a warm environment. He continued to train with His Aunt and Sister & Their Friend Nene to control more of his powers with His Tenryuu Kori Armor on Him after winning them.
Finally, the knocking came to an end as he turned the key and pulled the door open. The annoyance who woke him up with their incessant knocking was revealed to be His Aunt Kurono, She is a beautiful slender yet curvaceous woman with short dark hair, multiple bangs that covers her forehead with one that reaches her nose and others on the side of her head that covers some of her hair, often tied up into a small ponytail in the back, and yellow eyes
Yellow eyes were narrowed into a glare, "You skipped school, again!" she shouted at him as soon as the door was opened.
Not even pausing for a second, she barged by him and into his apartment.
Closing the door behind her, Ayato let loose another yawn, idly scratching his blonde hair with one hand while he did so, training his sleepy blue eyes on the girl as she stopped in his living room and then spun to face him, her eyes gliding over his rigid torso for a moment before settling on his own eyes,
"Are you just out of bed?" she growled.
Ayato didn't even blink as he lowered his arm, "Yeah," he replied, "It can't be helped Auntie, I was out late last night looking for a D-type that's been preying on young girls lately, and I was just too tired to have to deal with that annoying ball of gas today with what I am." he explained to her, idly lifting his right arm and showing the silver band around his wrist to compound his story.
Kurono sighed, the glare leaving her eyes,
"The Island Guard really need to get their ranks up to snuff," she said in reply, "Hybrid or not, you're still only sixteen, you can't be expected to make up for their slack all the time."
The grogginess finally clearing up, Ayato let loose a small chuckle, "Well there are some benefits to helping them out," he replied, walking over to the Larger Woman and groping fondly.
"Like what?" she asked, "The payments you get for taking out demons isn' that too much, not for risking your life like that, especially not when you've got plenty of money on your own."
True, Ayato did concede. But the money he had in the first place wasn't his own and that left a bit of a bad taste in his mouth, saving the bounties he got for defeating rogue demons in a separate bank account was atleast money he could take a little bit of pride in, having earned it himself. But that side, wasn't the reason he helped the Island Guard out in the first place.
"Well, since I'm basically protecting lives, I do get a little bit of extra credit on my grades," he replied. And he did need that, his grades were pretty much above Average across the board except for Physical Ed. His extra credit had him marked at around a A-average, instead of the usual B he was prone to getting.
Kurono eyed him dubiously, "How is a little bit of extra credit in any way a benefit?" she asked skeptically.
Ayato chuckled, "It's a minor little benefit," he conceded, "The true benefit is that I'm legally allowed to go after demons that are causing havoc, and that means Vampires as well." the blonde vampire continued.
Granted, this was the first vampire he'd been allowed to hunt down since he started helping the Island Guard out – after he was recruited for his strength when he took out another vampire that was attacking innocents a few months ago.
Her Yellow eyes dimmed slightly, no doubt remembering the same memory as him,
"Oh," she replied softly. "I'd actually forgotten you could do that."
It was 8 years ago that Ayato moved to the Demon District, otherwise known as Itogami Island of Japan with His Aunt Kurono and his comatose 22 year old Big Sister Keiko.
After being let loose he traveled the world for eight years, honing his Blazer skills and magic before making his way to Itogami Island, the place where he could finally begin gathering the familiars and The metamorphosis he sought for Six years.
It had been rather annoying having to register as a Hybrid, but he'd hardly cared either way. And then, he was apparently required to attend school there since, despite being a Hybrid he was underage.
And with the money he got fromhim, that annoying older brother in law of his he'd been able to afford the tuition fee for Hagun and Saikai academies without problem.
As a registered Hybrid, nobody really wanted anything to do with him.
~~~The Next Few Days~~~
A few days later saw Ayato was flying with Divine Dividing and practicing his Sirenia a Japanese Katana. Ayato is wearing his school uniform, black arm warmers that stopped at his first knuckles and had a hole for thumb underneath his sleeves, White and silver headphones around his neck. Training had been hellish as Matsu had insisted on training him to gain speed and stamina so he could fight for longer and between that and Metatron and Albion's training, Ayato was feeling tired even with the recovery potion that he'd been given by Nene and Natsuki.
~~~Fourth Training Field~~~
One hour had almost passed by as some of students came to see the duel between Stella Vermillion Bael Phenex and Ayato Hosokawa. Both students were aces one a princess of a country and the other a complete mystery, and they were now being combated against each other on the official first day of school.
~~~Girl's Locker Room~~~
"Seriously.. Why do I have to do this?" Stella asked herself. "I'm working my hardest to control what very may well kill me. I've been working too hard for too long and.." She said repeated before she sighed. "What was that jerk babbling on about?" She asked herself as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. It was then that she started to remember a moment in her childhood.
-Flashback-
Stella was in her room with a bandage wrapped around her head as her mother was caring for her. "Stella, stop this now. You don't have to become a knight, if you have to go through all of this." Her mother said. "No, mother." Stella said. "A little nation like ours needs a strong magical knight. I promise I'll be able to control this power and.. I'll be better than the Hiryū royal family's future heir. To get there.." She said.
-Flashback End-
"To get there, I don't care how hard I have to work.." Stella said as she looked at herself in the mirror again. "I'll crush you. Ayato Hosokawa." she said.
Then she walked out of the locker room as she went to go and face her opponent. As she walked out into the open, she heard the other students talking.
"Look. It's the Crimson Princess." One student said. "A princess and a genius." another student said. "It must be nice having an easy life." another student said. "But why is someone like her..?" Someone asked. "Yeah, the mock battle?" someone asked. "With the Cold one of all people, only if he was that missing prince then this would be a battle of all battles." Another student said and Stella just sighed in her head as she made her way to the stage.
~~~Meanwhile On The Stage~~~
"You know I'm a little surprised you accepted." Kurono said and Ayato looked towards her. "Well, if I'm going to be able to control my powers as a generation I'll need to be able to handle using more than what I'm capable of now. Plus she probably has really wanted to fight the missing prince." He said.
"Your right but it doesn't change the fact that she's probably always wanted to fight me and now she gets to even if she doesn't know it." He replied and Kurono looked at him.
"I guess you have a point there.. Are you going to be using those techniques?" She asked and Ayato shook his head.
"I can't. If I do, it would give me away. They'd all know that I am the missing prince,plus.." He said before he paused and looked down.
"It'll bring up memories of those two and I don't think I can handle that right now." He muttered just loud enough for Kurono to hear him. "You know she cried when you two disappeared." Kurono said and Ayato as well as her looked at her surprised. "R-really?" He asked. "Sh-she cried?" Ayato asked and Kurono nodded. "Ayato you were like family to her and Keiko.." She said before she paused and looked him in the eyes.
"Ayato muttered, "I…I never knew that….Well, it's not like I can do anything about it now. With my powers the way they are, unless I can control my absolute full power, I'll never be able to have a normal life."
'Not that I deserve it either. Not after what I did.' He thought. "You know that's not true." She said and Ayato glanced up at her. "Isn't it though? What's the point of doing all of those things like. Making memories when I have to live everyday worrying that my own power could kill me at any time in the most painful way possible. All the while I'm praying. Hoping. That it doesn't happen while I'm around you, or Keiko, or anyone else I care for?" He asked.
"Ayato it's not going to happen. Keiko and I believe in you. Nene and Yuuri believe in you. Even your parents believe in you." She said and Ayato's hair shadowed his eyes. "You mean believed. My parents believed in me. They're dead. they can't still believe in me anymore?" Ayato asked and Kurono sighed while Nagisa had tears well up in her eyes. She loved Ayato but she hated how broken he felt inside.
Ever since that day he'd changed, his heart had become as cold as ice. He did his best to be there for her and he tried to hide a lot of the pain he had but even as young as she is or was she could always see the torrent of emotions in his eyes. "That doesn't change the fact that they're watching over you. So they can and do believe in you." Kurono said and Ayato sighed.
"Yeah, whatever." he said before he walked away leaned against the edge of the field arena.
'Ayato. I wish you could stop blaming yourself. It wasn't your fault for what happened that night. I just wish someone would show you its okay to be happy again.'She thought .
"I made it!" She said as she aimed her camera at Ayato warming up. "I came to turn in an application, and I get to see this. I must be lucky!" She said as Drayko finished warming up. It was then that a student saw Stella appear. "She's here!" The student said. Ayato then looked to see that she was in fact walked onto the stage.
"Well, I've got a match to fight." He said before he walked over and stood across from her in the center. "You ready for this Vermillion?" Ayato asked. "You know if you tried to fail on purpose even with the power you supposedly have that would mean your afraid of the competition. Your a coward. I honestly believe it'd be better if you stopped trying to become a magical knight." Stella said.
"You know I've thought about it before and you may be right.." He said surprising her. "But.. I have no intention of doing that even if I joke about doing it and I have no intention of quitting this match." He said. "Are you one of those people who says hard work can beat even the talented?" She asked and Ayato put his hands in his pockets. "I'd like to believe that." He said and Stella closed her eyes remembering another moment in her childhood.
-Flashback-
"D-damn it!" A warrior said. "Even though I worked so hard, I can't beat the one with the talent?" He wondered.
-Flashback End-
"As if I don't work hard..." She said and Ayato arched an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? Work hard for what?" He asked and Stella shook her head. "It's nothing." She said and turned her head toward Kurono. "Let's begin the match, director." She said and Kurono nodded. "We'll now begin the mock battle." Kurono said as everyone took their seats. Meanwhile, Asagi,Natsuki,and Yaze watched from the wall at the edge both excited and nervous.
"As you know, a mock battle is a fight where you don't give physical damage, but drain the other person's physical strength. Your device should be deployed in phantom form." She said. The lights then turned green around them and the two got ready. "Curse them, Sirenia!" Ayato said as a large ice crystal shot up from the ground in front of him. He then manifested a pale blue sphere in his right hand and slammed it onto the side crystal and it shattered as he pulled out a katana that appeared to be less than 120 cm long.
It had an a raven blade with a black edge,that has a rectangular tsuba. "Serve My Will, Laevatein!" Stella said before tornado of fire emerged from the ground. Stella then then grabbed a sword-like rock and slammed it into the ground. The rock and flame burst apart as a golden broadsword manifested in her hands from inside the rock.
LET'S GO AHEAD
"Well, I think I'll start things off with this. Freezing Hell." Ayato said as he tapped his swords blade against the ground and the arena floor froze over. "So you use ice? No wonder your called the Cold One, but just freezing the ground won't help you here." Stella said as she coated her Laevatein in flames as she ran at Drayko. Ayato focused in her and dodged her attack. "Good judgment. My Dragon breath fire is 3,000 degrees Celsius! If you take it straight on, You'll be in big trouble!" Stella said.
The thing she noticed was that her sword's strike didn't even scratch the now icy surface of the arena. "What!?" She asked. "This ice is special its harder and colder than regular ice so your not going to be able to break through it that easily." Ayato said. "We'll see about that!" Stella said as she swung her sword at him in a horizontal attack. Ayato then held up his right arm and formed a violet-colored icy gauntlet to block her strike.
When her sword struck the gauntlet she felt a jolt travel through her arms and she immediately backed away.
'What was that just now.' She thought as she looked towards Ayato. "I said it before so I'll say it again. Your not going to be able to break through this ice that easily." He said. Then he used the gauntlet to deflect her sword back and slashed at her with a vertical slash and she blocked it but she slid back some.
However, Ayato didn't let up as he went in for the attack putting Stella on the defensive. The students watching were in awe at the spectacle. "Did you see that!?" One student said. "He took that attack like a pro!" Another said. "Just who is this cold one?" One girl asked.
'hmm, I swear I've seen some of those moves somewhere.' The girl with bright yellow hair and a camera thought.
"Oh no. Just what I thought." The one who said that belonged to a woman who has the appearance and stature of a preschooler, being very small, for her age. She has long dark back length hair, which consists of bangs that cover her forehead. She is usually seen wearing cherry blossom kimono, and an eye-catching red haori, that is too long for her, both low cut and hanging off her shoulder. she also wears clogs, which are heard when she is walking.
"I really can't believe you, KuKu. You need to tell me these things," she told her as she watches the fight as well.
"Either way, you'll detect it and manage to get here." Kurono said. "That's true." Nene replied before she looked back at the fight.
"But you didn't see this coming, did you? I didn't think Ayato would actually do this." She said. Meanwhile, Kurono just kept her eyes on her nephew.
'Ayato you can control that powers more than this. I know it and you shouldn't have to keep hiding who you are.' She thought.
After a few minutes Stella was able to deflect Ayato's sword and gain the upper hand putting Ayato on the defense but he kept up with her strikes and fended them off.
'How? How is he able to fend off my attack?' Stella thought as she pressed onward with her attacks. Her next strike was blocked and Ayato slid back putting distance between them. "You're pretty good at running away." Stella said. "Hmm your not just talented. I can feel it. You've worked extremely hard to master your sword technique." Ayato said and Stella smirked. "You have a very sharp eye. But my sword technique isn't so easy to see through!" Stella said.
"That's where you're wrong. Let me tell you a little story. I once had a friend who's family refused to train him. They claimed he was weak because he didn't have the amount of magic power that most of the members of his family were born with. So I trained with him every time I got the chance to see him. He eventually developed the ability to see through another's sword style even my own. So I was forced to learn to do the same so I could alter my own to make it almost unreadable to him." He said.
Then Ayato ran toward Stella and when she slashed he dodged and her attack completely missed him.
'How? Did he really see through my style!' Stella thought. "I've seen your style vermillion and now not a single attack you throw my way will hit me." Ayato said as he ran toward her again put her back on the defensive. As she defended herself she saw that certain areas of his style had changed to reflect her own and it surprised her.
'He didn't just see through it! He can even use it!' She thought as she dodged his vertical strike. "Fine! If you've seen through it! Then I'll just make a fake move." She said as she ran toward Ayato and dodged a horizontal attack. Then she spun around to attack Ayato. "Your swordsmanship is looking sluggish." Ayato said as he blocked her attack. "N-No way!" She said surprised.
"That swordplay style, it's not like you. That fake move of yours was a fatal error." Ayato said as he pushed Stella's sword away and slashed at Stella's shoulder. Everyone was now at the edge of their seats. "Did he win? Is it over?" One student asked. "No, look!" Someone said. Ayato was slightly surprised that Stella was blocking his sword with a red aura that covered her body.
"It doesn't look good. To win like this." Stella said with her hair shadowing her eyes as she stood up and Ayato backed away from her a bit. "You knew that my sword couldn't hurt you. And yet you still chose a sword battle." Ayato said. "Yes. So that I could beat you with my sword skill, and let everyone know that I'm not just a gifted person. But I'll admit. This battle.." Stella said before she looked at him.
"The reason I was able to win, was certainly thanks to my magic ability. So with the greatest due respect, I will defeat you." She said and then Ayato did something that surprised Kurono, Natsuki, and Nene. Ayato smiled a genuine smile as his hair shadowed his eyes. "I see. Well then I have to say that with all due respect, that you won't and I'll show why right now." Ayato said.
'It looks like my plan to continue to stay hidden just got tossed out the window.' Ayato thought.
"Pierce the blue sky, flame of purgatory!"
When she raised Laevatein to the sky, the fire within it grew ever brighter, ever hotter, until it became more accurate to call it a pillar of light, spreading even beyond the dome's ceiling.
"Whoooooa!"
"This is ridiculous! Is that even still her?!"
Stella's sword, far beyond three hundred feet in length, was as the sun itself— an aurora of pure destruction. She had unleashed the prized Noble Art belonging to the Crimson Princess, a Rank A knight. She clearly had no intention of trading blows anymore; she wasn't vain enough to believe she could.
She was well aware that Ayato's swordsmanship & Power far outclassed her own, and her acceptance of that fact only furthered her desire to destroy the battlefield using her unfair level of raw talent.
"You're done for. It would be better for both of us if you accepted defeat gracefully."
The words she spoke before her final strike were full of nothing but respect. It was for his sake as well as her own that she was going to crush him with the decisive power of her talent.
Anyone who dedicates themselves to their work like that can be successful in anything they choose to do, Stella except this poor excuse for a Mage-Knight. His fatal flaw is that he can't Control his talent.
"Hmph. Is that really how you intend to end this? Boring."
With a savage grin that revealed his canines, Ayato responded with his own most powerful Noble Art. Ironically, it involved the same movements as Stella's. Gripping his long sword with both hands, he held it aloft as he poured magic into it.
Strangely, he took the same stance as Stella. Taking his huge sword with both hands, he raised the blade, and poured all his magic into that Device. One of the abilities of Ayato Hiryu, the Cryo Gale Sword Emperor, was the elemental-influence system―the power to manipulate ice & wind.
Calusarito Salamander! The sword of pure light embodied the true meaning of ruin, incinerating the battlefield as it was brought down.
He was absorbing both the Ice & Wind in the Battlefield everywhere, The Ice windstorm born of that power was turned into an Ice cyclone within Ryuuzetsu, and devoured the surrounding atmosphere. The atmosphere, the debris, the flame & the Ice―anything and everything in the surroundings. Before long, what he had made was a sword of raging storm-Ice-winds, layers and layers of mass stacked together―
"Kori Kusanagi."
A sword of light and heat against a sword of storm-ice-winds. Both blades were more than fifty meters long, each an attack beyond the norm. With only thirty meters between the users, their reach was surely more than enough. If they both swung down on their opponent at the same time like this, they would clash. In an instant, the fire and ice wind from the two blades of magic intertwining rained sparks came undone, destroying the surroundings together as a tempest of flame and Raging Ice wind.
"That was why everyone protected themselves desperately. It was a battle beyond what ordinary knights could bear to watch. But― Before long, the clash between the sword of fire and the sword of Ice wind began to break down.
The one beginning to crumble was―the Crimson Flaming Princess. N-No way! With creaking sounds, Stella's two hands with which she boasted of physical strength beyond the norm and began to feel a pressure she had never felt before.
Her heels were slowly sinking into the ground, and the asphalt under them was cracking to pieces. At being shown this reality, Stella was astonished.
Am I losing in strength? Me…? It was her first time experiencing it. The reason was because her plan of using Calusarito Salamander to see her opponent's response had collapsed in an instant. It was natural.
Up to now, not a single person had ever taken or turned back Calusarito Salamander, the Noble Art that the Crimson Flaming Princess was proud of. She had not learned anything about her opponent with it.
Stella had no experience dealing with this situation. If she had no experience, she could not come up with a response.
What should I do…? Gradually, gradually. The beautiful cross being made by the swords of fire and wind began to lose its shape.
The sword of Ice windstorm was pushing into the wind of fire, shaving through the blade of light with an Ice cyclone spinning like a rock drill.
Finally, Calusarito Salamander's blade form was cut through. And Kori Kusanagi fell toward Stella's Voluptuous body.
Slice
His speed left her no time to intercept, no time to defend, no time to even scream; Stella took the Full brunt of Sirenia's Noble Art.
"Ah." Stella's consciousness was lost to the abyss, along with her footing. All her strength left her and she collapsed. It was a special kind of blackout, experienced when one took what would have been a fatal blow from a weapon in Phantom Form. Kori Kusanagi brought down the Crimson Flaming Princess with only one strike.
"That would mean that the cold one is actually the missing prince!" Someone said and the crowd erupted with excitement.
'Well, little nephew you're no longer missing.' Kurono thought.
'It was good while it lasted.' Natsuki thought as she smiled. "That's it! The winner is Ayato Hosokawa!" Kurono called. Nene then moved from her spot and looked at the arena. "It's going to be so exciting to see the selection match this year. Your no longer in hiding my cursed ice prince." she said before she left.
~~~Infirmary~~~
Stella was in the infirmary looking out the window when she heard the door open and turned to see Kurono and Natsuki. "Vermillion. How are you feeling?" Kurono asked and Stella sighed as she smiled. "I had forgotten this feeling for a long time... This is how it feels to lose." Stella said as she closed her eyes and put a hand to her chest before she looked back towards Natsuki and Kurono. "How about him?" She asked. "Ayato's alright." Natsuki said and Kurono nodded.
"Director. What is this all about?" Stella asked. "What do you mean?" Kurono asked innocently. "Don't play dumb. I heard what that last move he used was called. He's the missing prince of the Hiryū family. So how can it be the prince everyone thought were probably dead by now are here, alive, and he look so.. different?" Stella asked and Kurono sighed.
"As for Ayato.. He's a special kid. He's always enjoyed being a blazer." Kurono said and Stella just stared at her and blinked. "But.. the way he was acting earlier.." Stella said. "Ayato's a generation. You know what that means right?" Kurono asked and Stella's eyes widened.
"He's a generation. He has Four elements merged together. That means his appearance.." Stella said and Kurono nodded. "Yes his new appearance is because he lost control and as for his merged element its the combination of ice and electricity manipulation which has come to be called the Cryo-Lightning manipulation. He can control electrified frozen energy to use in the form of ice or lightning, but that's not all. He also has Cryo-Wind Manipulation by using ice and wind." She said while Stella looked confused.
"Then I want to know this…If a generation loses control of their power, it usually ends in their death, so how is he still alive or even standing?" Stella asked.
"To this day, I'm not sure. No one knows for certain. However, I do know that he is a very powerful individual as his will is very strong because of his family….or should I say….whatever little remains of family he has left," Kurono told him.
"I have to thank you as well Vermillion. After Ayato lost control he decided that he and Keiko needed to disappear from the world. So that's what happened and they came to live with me here in Itogami Island." She said as she walked towards the window.
She then released a small sigh as she looked out the window and stared at the sunset. Ayato continued to train like always and Went to knight school to participate the Japanese Youth Leagues and U-12 World Tournament then he won them all. He wanted, still wants to control his power, but he's afraid to push it to its full might in fear that he'll lose control again. What you saw during your fight wasn't even his magic's full power or even its full capabilities." She said, and while Stella seemed to understand she was still confused about something.
"But why you? Why hide in Japan?" Stella asked and Kurono looked at Stella's reflection in the window. "Because I along with Keiko and a few others believe in him. If you were to ever meet the members of the Hiryū and ask them what they thought of Ayato. Almost all of them except for a handful would tell you that he's a monster. A waste of time to try and help. They would say he's destined to be a failure. So that's why he chose here to hide." Kurono said before she turned to look Stella in the eyes.
"You can try your hardest to follow Ayato's path. I'm sure it won't be a waste of your time. But he's fighting his own battle alone. To survive.. To keep the people he cares about safe.. He wants to surpass the ones that fell before him. Plus you may be able to get through to him and show him it's alright to be happy again." Kurono said before she walked passed Stella and left the room with Natsuki following. Stella just looked at her bed as she remembered what Ayato had said to her earlier.
'I'm working my hardest to control what very may well kill me. I've been working too hard for too long and...' Stella remembered as she looked even more upset and gripped her bed sheets.
'I still have so many questions. What about his and Keiko's parents? Don't they believe in him? Or what made him lose control in the first place? and also.. Why does he would think he's not aloud to be happy?' Stella thought.
"Ayato." She said.
Stella had gotten cleared and left the infirmary. Her mind was still preoccupied with other thoughts that she never noticed when she made it back to Ayato's House. She then opened the door to the room and walked inside. When she did she glanced around the room to see that the TV was on and that there was a news report on.
'He must've woken up and turned it on.' Stella thought.
"Today a video was found online of the knight Stella Vermillion having a mock battle with a Siver haired male student. It was revealed and confirmed that this Sliver haired male is in fact the missing prince Ayato Hiryū of the Hiryū family." The reported said as Stella glanced back and forth to look for the remote. Her eyes then saw it sitting on the arm of the couch in the room.
"We tried to ask the young prince's aunt Kurono Shinguuji where the boy have been all these years but she would not give a state-" The reporter started but Stella had gotten to the remote and turned the TV off.
'Word travels fast. They're big news already.' Stella thought before she looked over at Ayato, who was asleep on the top bunk. She walked over to him and climbed up the ladder to get a better view of him. She saw that his shirt was riding up only a bit and decided to try and reach over to touch him. When her hand touched his back she blushed at the feeling of his skin. "So this is the back of a man..." She said.
'Its.. so soft.' She thought as she caused his shirt to raise up some more. However, that was when she noticed the appearance of scars on his back.
'How did he get these it almost if he had something shoot right through him.' She thought before Ayato then rolled onto his back trapping her hand under his arm. "Th-this isn't good! W-well, Right, If I do this..." Stella said before she found herself on top of Ayato straddling his waist.
"Oops?" She said before she got her hand free. She then covered her mouth afraid she might wake him. She then glanced at his shirt and she saw a bit of exposed abdomen.
'Huh? The scars on his back are worse than the ones on his abdomen. I thought they went through and through.' Stella thought. Stella moved her hand to touch his body, but pulled back. "N-no! I'm unmarried, and also a princess. Plus he's a prince too. It's disgraceful..." She said.
She then looked at Ayato's sleeping face as she began to think about it more.
"But he saw me in my underwear. So it's just even, Right?" She said as she lifted up his shirt to see his toned and scarred body.
She glanced at all of the scars that covered his body as if he had been through hell.
Stella then glanced at the huge scar that went from his left shoulder to his the right side of his waist and saw how it crossed over his heart and began to reach for it.
"So this is the body of a man..." She said as she touched the part of the scar that went over his heart. It was at that moment that she felt a huge amount of his magical energy surge through her body. "Wow! Such strong energy!" She said as she started to breathe heavily while she held herself. A pleasurable cool feeling coursed through her as her blush reddened. "Wh-what's happening to me?" She said as she struggled to calm herself down.
"I don't know what's happening to you.. but what are you doing to me Vermillion?" Ayato asked suddenly with a tired half-lidded expression. Stella looked at him surprised the previous pleasurable feeling long forgotten. She immediately freaked out and stood up abruptly which resulted in her hitting her head hard against the ceiling which caused Ayato to chuckle lightly. After that Stella got down and sat on her bed while Ayato got the first aid kit.
He then moved over to her and check where she had hit her head. "There, all done." Ayato said as he finished putting a band-aid on Stella's forehead.
"Th-thanks." She replied as she gently placed a hand on the wound. "It was nothing. Just glad it wasn't a serious injury." He said as he turned away to close up the first-aid kit.
"I've lived alone since Elementary school. I had to learn to do all of this myself."
He really has been banished from his own home, Stella thought.
Ayato sighed inwardly, to which she responded with a strange statement. "Ayato, Your Aunt Kurono told me about you."
"What about me?"
"She told me how poorly your family and the school have treated you."
"Tch. Is she just gonna tell the world about my delicate family matters…? Sorry about that. I'm sure it wasn't a very fun story."
"I don't care about that; I just want you to tell me something."
"What?"
"Why, despite the awful treatment you face, do you continue striving to be a knight?"
"Huh? Why do you want to know?"
"I-It's not like I just want to know more about you, okay?! Don't act so smug! I'm just interested in why a Blazer like you, who has two uncontrollable Magical Abilities wants to be a knight so badly when you're obviously not meant to be one!" He almost enjoyed hearing her disparage him again. There wasn't really any reason not to tell her. It was a bit embarrassing to talk about, but if she insisted, he didn't particularly mind.
"A certain man is my role model," he told her.
"Your role model? Are you talking about Samurai Ryouma?" Ayato knew that name, the name of the man anyone in the Kurogane and Hiryu families would look up to, would come up sooner or later.
"Yeah. You got it. I had talent, I was also…a hybrid, and when they found out, they treated me like I didn't exist, except for my parents and my sister. Family gatherings never included a seat for me. I heard those voices – of people having fun.
"Then one year, on my 6th birthday, I lost my parents, my home, even the girl that I tried to save while we were attacked, everything. I was the only survivor and I had to escape, but I had nowhere to go. And to make matters worse, it was a heavy snowstorm, and it got so rough, I got lost pretty quickly. Knowing that my attackers may be getting closer, I was ready for death. That's when I just kept thinking…how frustrating it was that this was my end.
"And that's when he appeared before me."
"Samurai Ryouma?" Stella asked.
"Yeah," Ayato answered. "I remember word-for-word what he said to me back then…"
(FLASHBACK TIME! – 8 years ago)
"Are you annoyed, youngster?" he asked as he looked at the bruised Ayato. "Do you regret of what you've done back there? Don't throw away that frustration just because you couldn't control your powers. That's proof that you haven't given up yet. On yourself, that is."
As he was carried back by his great-grandfather, Ryouma continued, "Got it, boy? Don't become a worthless man who has given up and says that they're living within their means. A person can do anything if they refuse to give up. After all, we're creatures with wings, and yet we've haven't gotten to Mars."
(FLASHBACK ENDS!)
"Although they were just words, they truly did save me," Ayato continued. "And when I was handed over to my Godfather, that was when I decided that I'd become an adult like him and my Godfather, who taught me how to be a Hero. That if I ever come across someone in the same situation, I'd become a person who can pass along his words."
"But to do that," Yukio continued. "I'll have to become strong myself. Strong like them."
"But nobody would teach me anything,"Ayato answered. "So I always trained alone with my Godfather and the people at the Hero Clan."
"Alone…" Stella muttered as she remembered battling against some warriors all by herself at a young age.
"And then, thanks to a letter of recommendation from the Grand Master of the Mage's Association, I was finally able to enroll to this academy as a Second Year," Ayato said to them.
"But it seems the Kurogane family are troubled that someone like me could become a knight, especially for who I am. They try to coerced the school."
"That's right,"Ayato followed. "That house tryed putting pressure to the Academy as they said, 'Do not let Ayato Hiryu, the stray murderer of that household, to ever graduate', they said. The former Director didn't approved it, went his way to create a free level as a requirement for taking the practical combat courses for me to take classes during his first year.
"W-What the hell is that?!" Stella asked angrily.
"And yet, I still think that type of harassment will continue," Ayato continued. "But even so…
"You won't give up," Stella finished. "Even if you get badly burnt. Right?"
Stella then stood up and said, "I remember those kinds of feelings, too."
"I see." He said before silence fell between the two. However, it didn't last long as a smirk grew across Ayato's face.
"So.. Vermillion you'll be... my servant, right?" Ayato asked.
"Huh?" Stella asked confused.
"The loser will obey the winner for the rest of their life, right?" Ayato asked and Stella blushed.
"Well, th-that was, um... a figure of speech..." Stella stuttered as she looked away.
"You'll do anything I say, right?" Ayato asked.
"A-a-anything!? No! Not anything!" She said as her blush reddened and she crossed her arms.
"I see. So the princess of the royal Vermillion family can't even keep a promise she made."Ayato said with he turned to look away from her with a sly smile.
At that Stella's face turned redder than a tomato as she glared at him. "Who said I wouldn't!" She shouted as she stood up from the bed before she marched over to Ayato.
"Okay! Fine! I'll be your servant or dog or whatever you want me to be! Make me do whatever you ask! Make me fulfill your damn sexual desires! Pervert! Fool! I hate you!" She said as her cheeks puffed up while she pouted with a blush on her face and her arms crossed.
Ayato stared at her for a moment before the next thing he did would surprise anyone who knew him. He onto his back and started to laugh hysterically. It had been the first time he had truly laughed in years.
"What's so funny!?" Stella asked.
"I'm sorry its.. It's just I take back what I thought before about you not being a complete idiot." Ayato said as he calmed down and stood up while Stella glared at him.
"Ahem. Okay, this is an order Vermillion. Be my roommate." Ayato said and Stella looked at him both stunned and confused.
"Huh?" She asked.
"You see.. I'm not close to people.. at least.. not much anymore. I'm somewhat fine around my family, but.. I don't really have people that I close to like I used to except a few people. And it was during our fight that I realized.. that being close to people.. may not be so bad. So.. I want to be closer to you." Ayato said.
"No..! I-I mean.. I don't.." Stella said before trailing off and Ayato arched an eyebrow.
"What? So you do?" Ayato asked. Stella looked away from him before she sighed, puffed up her cheeks, and looked at him.
"Let me be clear. It's only because this is an order! I have no desire at all to be close to you! Our families are rivals after all." Stella said.
"Oh? And how exactly is that the case?" Ayato asked. "Your from the Hiryū. Your every noble families rival and that includes mine." Stella said and Ayato shrugged.
"Fine by me. I hope we can make this work, Vermillion." Ayato said as he held out his hand. Stella glanced at his hand before looking away.
"Stella." She said and Ayato tilted his head.
"Huh?" Ayato asked. "If you don't call me by my name, I won't try to make this work." she said as she closed her eyes.
A small smile spread across Ayato's face before he chuckled and then looked at her.
"Alright then. I hope we can make this work.. Stella." Ayato said and Stella smiled brightly which made Ayato blush slightly.
"If you insist on it Ayato. Let's try and make this work." Stella said as she held out her fist to him. Ayato smiled before he made a fist and gently bumped fists with her.
To Be Continued.
