The night air hung heavy with acrid smoke from the collapsing underground chambers. On the northeastern edge of Azure, where the city's elegant façades gave way to dilapidated structures and forgotten alleyways, a sewer grate shifted with a metallic groan. Bloodied fingers emerged from the darkness, clawing desperately at the cobblestones as Azazel dragged his broken body from the filth below.
His once-immaculate robes hung in tatters, soaked with sewage and blood. The remaining rings on his mutilated hands flickered weakly, their magical energies nearly depleted. With a pained grunt, he collapsed against the nearest wall, chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath in the putrid air.
"How far the mighty have fallen," came a soft, measured voice from the shadows. "Like a street dog, beaten and thrown into the river to drown."
Azazel's head snapped up, his eyes widening behind his wooden mask. A figure stepped into view cast in a distant street lamp-a man of average height with an unassuming appearance, dressed in simple but elegant clothes, his dark eyes and kind eyes suggested a scholar or perhaps a physician, but there was something in his posture that spoke of carefully contained restraint.
"You..." Azazel's voice emerged as a rasp, the first words he had spoken aloud since his introduction to the knights. With trembling hands, he reached up and removed his mask, revealing a gaunt face with sunken cheeks and eyes filled with both a mixture of reverence and terror. "Lord Akira... why would one of the great Veiled Ones come out to the city himself?"
The man's smile remained fixed, but something cold flashed behind his eyes. "I came to witness the fruits of our investment, of course." He gestured casually at Azazel's broken form. "Though I must say, the returns have been... disappointing."
Akira Shirai stepped closer, maintaining his pleasant demeanor as he crouched beside the fallen cultist. "You know, it's... Your mastery of transmutation magic was quite impressive for someone with such humble beginnings. The way you commanded those sigils..." He reached out, gently brushing dust from Azazel's shoulder with the tenderness that made the cultist flinch. "Such precision. Such art. It's why we selected you for elevation from the ranks of mere followers."
"My lord, I can explain-" Azazel began, but Akira raised a finger to his lips, silencing him instantly.
"Shhh. You misunderstand." Akira's smile widened fractionally. "I'm not angry. How could I be angry at a faithful dog? You did your best with the limited capabilities you possess." His voice remained kind even as his words cut deeper than any blade. "But I am... let's say, disappointed that you not only failed to bring up our forces but managed to lose both our men and our carefully established base in Azure."
Azazel swallowed hard, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Lord Akira-"
The pleasant mask slipped for just an instant, revealing something terrible behind Akira's kind demeanor. "And yet, despite your catastrophic failure, you still have the audacity to speak my name so boldly?" His voice remained soft, but the temperature in the alley seemed to drop several degrees. "The other Veiled Ones would not be so forgiving, Azazel. Remember that."
"Forgive me, my lord," Azazel whispered, lowering his gaze to the filthy cobblestones.
Akira's pleasant demeanor returned as quickly as it had vanished. "Of course. After all, I brought you out of the hole I found you in." He stood, brushing imaginary dust from his immaculate clothes. "But I do continue to fail me, I'll put you back." The threat hung in the air between them, all the more terrifying for its gentle delivery.
With a subtle gesture, Akira summoned two robed figures from the shadows-masked ones moving with that distinctive, unsettling synchronicity. Unlike the cultists encountered in the underground chambers, these wore masks of polished obsidian rather than carved wood, their robes embroidered with silver sigils that seemed to shift and change when viewed directly.
"My aides will see to your wounds," Akira informed Azazel conversationally. "We've established a temporary base in the Eastern Quarter. You'll recover there while we assess the damage to our operations." He turned to leave, then paused, glancing back over his shoulder. "Oh, and this man who disrupted your ritual-the one with the unusual phase-shifting ability. Tell me everything about him during your recovery. Leave nothing out."
As the silent aides lifted Azazel's broken form, the cultist's face contorted with pain and suffering. "He's not natural, my lord. The way he manipulated space... it was nothing I've ever encountered in any arcane text."
A flicker of genuine interest crossed Akira's face. "Indeed? How fascinating." He gestured for his aides to proceed. "Perhaps this excursion wasn't entirely wasted after all."
As they disappeared into the shadows of Azure's forgotten districts, a faint, unsettling humming drifted on the night air-a melody in no human scale, reminiscent of the sounds heard in the deepest parts of the underground chambers where ancient stone met even older darkness.
---
The Royal Arcanum's medical facilities occupied the eastern wing of the gubernatorial palace in Azure's administrative district. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating the white stone walls and casting gentle warmth across the healing chambers. Three days had passed since the raid on the Masked Ones' underground facility, and Kazuki found himself once again summoned to meet with Archduke Reginald.
His wounds had healed remarkably quickly under the combined efforts of conventional medicine and magical intervention, though occasional twinges from his shoulders served as persistent reminders of Azazel's attack. More troubling than the physical injuries, however, were the psychological aftereffects of his encounter with the Joker-revelations and implications he had shared with no one, not even Reina.
As he approached the ornate doors of the Archduke's temporary audience chamber, Kazuki found Reina and Valerius already waiting outside. Reina offered a warm smile that did little to conceal the concern in her eyes, while Valerius acknowledged him with a stiff nod-a substantial improvement over the open hostility of their earlier encounters.
"You're looking better," Reina observed, her gaze assessing him with professional scrutiny. "The magical residue seems to have dissipated from your aura."
"Thanks to your treatment," Kazuki replied with genuine gratitude. The water mage had spent hours drawing corrupted magical energy from his wound, a process both painful and exhausting for both of them.
Before further conversation could develop, the doors swung open to reveal the Archduke's steward, a thin man with impeccable posture and a perpetually serious expression. "His Grace will see you now," he announced, stepping aside to allow them entry.
The audience chamber was smaller and less formal than the grand hall where Kazuki had first met the Archduke, but no less impressive. Maps of Azure and the surrounding territories covered one wall, many marked with red pins indicating suspected Masked Ones activity. A large crystal-topped table dominated the center of the room, around which stood several advisors in the blue and silver livery of Azure's administration.
Archduke Reginald himself stood at the head of the table, his white beard neatly trimmed and his shrewd eyes alert despite the obvious fatigue etched into his features. He dismissed his advisors with a gesture as the trio entered, waiting until the door closed behind them before speaking.
"Captain Valerius has submitted his report on the raid," he began without preamble, "as has Knight-Captain Regulus. Both accounts speak highly of your actions, Dr. Mizushima." His weathered fingers tapped a leather-bound folder. "Particularly your... innovative use of your abilities against the cult leader."
Kazuki inclined his head respectfully but remained silent, uncertain where this conversation was heading.
"Seventeen citizens rescued from certain death," the Archduke continued. "Nearly thirty cult members neutralized. A significant blow to their operations in Azure." His expression darkened. "And yet, their leader escaped, and much of the evidence we sought lies buried beneath tons of rock. A partial victory at best."
"My failure, Your Grace," Valerius stated rigidly. "I should have ensured Azazel could not-"
The Archduke waved away the self-recrimination. "Nonsense, Captain. Based on these reports, you and Knights performed admirably under extraordinary circumstances." His gaze shifted to Reina. "As did you, Lady Reina. Though I recall specifically instructing you to remain in an advisory capacity only."
Reina met the Archduke's stern gaze without flinching. "The situation evolved rapidly, Your Grace. My skills were needed."
A brief smile flickered across the Archduke's face, there and gone so quickly Kazuki almost missed it. "Indeed. And it seems you were right about Dr. Mizushima's potential value to the cause." He directed his attention back to Kazuki. "Which brings me to the purpose of this meeting."
The Archduke moved to one of the maps, indicating a point several hundred miles northeast of Azure. "The capital city of Crystallis. The heart of our kingdom and home to the royal court." His finger traced a path from Azure to the capital. "Reports from our intelligence network suggest that while we've disrupted the Masked Ones' operations here in Azure, their influence continues to spread throughout the kingdom. The Royal Court has requested assistance from those with firsthand experience combating this threat."
Reina's eyes widened slightly. "Your Grace, are you suggesting...?"
"I am not merely suggesting, Lady Reina. I am informing you that the three of you are being sent to Crystallis to aid in the kingdom's efforts against the Masked Ones." The Archduke's tone made it clear this was not a request but a command, albeit one disguised as an honor. "You leave in five days."
Valerius bowed deeply. "A great honor, Your Grace. I shall begin preparations immediately."
"As you should, Captain." The Archduke nodded. "You are dismissed to make the necessary arrangements. I would speak with Lady Reina and Dr. Mizushima privately."
Once Valerius had departed, the Archduke's formal demeanor softened slightly. He moved to a side table and poured three glasses of amber liquid from a crystal decanter. "Arcanum brandy," he explained, offering glasses to Reina and Kazuki. "One of the few luxuries I permit myself when dealing with matters of state."
Kazuki accepted the glass but didn't drink immediately, watching as the Archduke settled into a high-backed chair and gestured for them to do the same.
"Lady Reina has shared your unusual circumstances with me, Dr. Mizushima," the older man said after taking a sip of his brandy. "Your memory loss. Your apparent displacement from another world entirely." His shrewd eyes studied Kazuki carefully. "Under normal circumstances, such claims would be dismissed as fantasy or madness. But these are not normal circumstances."
"I understand your skepticism, Your Grace," Kazuki replied cautiously.
"Not skepticism, Dr. Mizushima. Pragmatism." The Archduke set his glass down deliberately. "Whatever your origins, you've demonstrated both skill and loyalty to Azure in recent days. That is what matters to me as its ruler." He leaned forward slightly. "However, there is something you should know before departing for Crystallis."
Reina tensed slightly beside Kazuki. "Your Grace?"
"The royal court is..." The Archduke paused, choosing his words carefully. "More complicated than the gubernatorial administration here in Azure. Political alliances shift constantly. Information is currency. And outsiders-particularly those with unusual abilities and mysterious backgrounds-will be subject to intense scrutiny."
"You're warning me that I'll be watched," Kazuki surmised.
"I'm warning you that you'll be evaluated," the Archduke corrected. "By magical researchers from the Royal Arcanum. By the King's security forces. By courtiers seeking advantages through association with novelty." He picked up his glass again, swirling the amber liquid thoughtfully. "And by those who view your abilities as a threat rather than an asset."
Reina frowned. "Surely the King's summons offers some protection?"
"Some," the Archduke acknowledged. "But not immunity from the court's... curiosities." He fixed Kazuki with a penetrating stare. "I suggest you prepare yourself for questions you may not wish to answer, Dr. Mizushima."
The implication was clear-the Archduke suspected Kazuki was hiding something significant, and he wasn't wrong. The memory of the Joker's revelations weighed heavily on Kazuki's mind, secrets he had yet to share with anyone.
"I appreciate the warning, Your Grace," Kazuki said carefully.
The Archduke nodded, apparently satisfied. "Good. Now, I believe you both have preparations to make. The journey to Crystallis takes four days by skyship in favorable conditions." He rose, signaling the end of their conversation. "Safe journey, Dr. Mizushima. May we meet again in better circumstances."
---
Hours later, Kazuki found himself in the training hall of the Azure Watch headquarters, watching as Reina systematically dismantled a series of water-based training constructs with precise magical gestures. His expression reflected intense concentration as she directed multiple streams of water simultaneously, each striking training dummies with enough force to shatter wooden components.
She had invited him here after they left the Archduke's audience chamber, ostensibly to help him refine the new applications of his phase-shifting ability before their journey. But Kazuki sensed an ulterior motive in her suggestion-she wanted to speak privately, away from the palace's many ears and eyes.
As the last training construct collapsed in a spray of water droplets, Reina lowered her hands and turned to face him. "You've been avoiding me," she stated without preamble, brushing wet strands of hair from her forehead.
"I've been recovering," Kazuki countered, though he couldn't quite meet her gaze.
"And avoiding conversations about what happened when you were unconscious during the battle." She approached him, her blue eyes searching his face. "Something changed in you after that. Your fighting style was completely different-more precise, more... confident. As if you suddenly understood your abilities on a deeper level."
Kazuki sighed, recognizing the futility of further evasion. Reina was far too perceptive to be put off by vague explanations. "There's something I need to tell you," he admitted, the weight of the secret finally becoming unbearable.