That happened while I was unconscious that I haven't shared with anyone.
Reina's expression grew serious, and she gestured toward a bench along the wall. "Sit. Tell me everything."
They settled on the bench, and Kazuki took a deep breath before beginning. "When Azazel's attack rendered me unconscious, I didn't simply black out. I found myself in a void-like state, completely dark, except for the presence of... someone else."
"Someone else?" Reina leaned forward, her scholarly instincts engaged. "Another consciousness?"
"A man who looked exactly like me," Kazuki continued, his voice growing quieter as he recalled the disturbing encounter. "He wore a purple suit and a white mask that could deform to show expressions. He called himself the Joker, but claimed to be the real Kazuki Mizushima."
Reina's eyes widened, but she remained silent, allowing him to continue.
"He told me that I'm not real—that I'm some kind of magical construct he calls a 'masterpiece' and 'knockoff.'" The words came faster now, as if speaking them quickly might lessen their impact. "He said he was the head researcher of Project Bifrost, that he conducted experiments on people with mana abilities in my world, and that he discovered mana could bridge between realms."
The silence that followed stretched uncomfortably long. Reina sat perfectly still, processing this revelation with the same analytical intensity she brought to complex magical theories.
"This Joker," she said finally, her voice carefully controlled, "what else did he tell you?"
"He provided information about my abilities—how phase-shifting could connect different physical spaces rather than simply allowing intangibility. That's how I knew to create the pressure attack and connect with Silver River during the battle." Kazuki's hands clenched into fists. "He also warned me about 'real threats' more dangerous than Azazel that would arrive eventually, and mentioned he has future plans that require me to stay alive."
Reina stood abruptly, beginning to pace the length of the training hall. Water droplets from her destroyed spheres began orbiting her unconsciously, a sign of her agitation.
"If what this Joker told you is true," she said slowly, "then you're essentially questioning your own existence, your own humanity." She stopped pacing to face him directly. "Who are you handling this psychologically?"
Kazuki appreciated her direct approach—no false comfort or dismissive reassurances, just practical concern for his mental state. "It's... disturbing," he admitted. "The possibility that everything I might be fabricated, that my memories and personality could be artificial constructs." He met her gaze steadily. "But I can't change what I might be. I can only control what I choose to do."
"That's a remarkably mature perspective," Reina observed, though concern remained evident in her voice as she considered the psychological implications. "Whoever you are—whether this Joker's creation or something completely different—you need him to understand immediately." She moved closer, lowering her voice despite their isolation. "You cannot tell anyone else about this Joker encounter. Not the Archduke, not Knight Captain Regulus, and absolutely not Captain Valerius."
"Why specifically Valerius?" Kazuki asked, though he suspected the answer.
"Because despite witnessing your actions against the Masked Ones, despite acknowledging your effectiveness in combat, Valerius would not hesitate to kill you if he believed you posed a threat to the kingdom." Reina's voice carried absolute certainty. "A voice in your head claiming to be your creator, with unknown plans and connections to dangerous entities? He would consider that an unacceptable security risk."
The sobering reality of his situation settled over Kazuki. He was walking a tightrope between usefulness and perceived threat, with Captain Valerius ready to cut the rope at the first sign of danger.
"But what do you think?" he asked. "About the Joker, about what he told me?"
Reina resumed her pacing, the orbiting water droplets reflecting her churning thoughts. "I think there are several possibilities. First, it could be a memory fragment from your original world—perhaps the real Kazuki Mizushima's consciousness somehow imprinted on you during the transfer between realms."
She held up a second finger. "Alternatively, it could be a manifestation of psychological trauma from your displacement, your mind creating explanations for gaps in your memory and unusual circumstances."
"And the third possibility?" Kazuki prompted.
Reina's expression grew troubled. "That it's exactly what it claimed to be—a separate consciousness residing within your mind, with its own agenda and capabilities." She stopped pacing to face him fully. "But there's something else to consider, something that might explain the extraordinary nature of your abilities."
She moved to a wall where training weapons hung on racks, running her fingers along the hilt of a practice sword as she gathered her thoughts. "You mentioned that this Joker claimed mana just began to enter your world?"
"Yes, he suggested that Project Bifrost discovered mana could bridge between realms."
"That would actually explain a great deal about your unusual mana signature and abilities," Reina said, excitement beginning to color her voice as her scholarly instincts took over. "To understand why, I need to tell you something about the fundamental nature of magic itself—something most people in our world don't even know."
She gestured for him to join her near one of the training hall's large windows, where the afternoon sunlight created dancing patterns on the stone floor. "What I'm about to share with you is theoretical knowledge passed down through the highest levels of magical scholarship. It's not widely taught because it's largely speculative and, frankly, rather overwhelming."
Kazuki nodded, intrigued despite his troubled state of mind.
"When the universe was created," Reina began, her voice taking on the cadence of a lecture, "according to our most ancient texts and the research of our greatest magical theorists, it was formed by two fundamental forces. One remains completely unknown to us—we can only theorize about its existence but have no direct evidence of its nature."
She paused, as if gathering courage to continue. "The other force was what we call Original Mana."
"Original Mana?" Kazuki repeated.
"Imagine," Reina said, moving her hands to illustrate her words, "that all universes, all realms of existence including our own, are like marbles submerged in an infinite ocean. That ocean is Original Mana—a force that existed before anything else, before matter, before energy as we understand it, before the very concept of existence itself."
The scope of what she was describing was staggering. Kazuki tried to process the implications. "And the mana that everyone here uses...?"
"Nothing more than fading echoes of that primordial force," Reina confirmed. "Distant reverberations that have grown weaker over eons of time. What we call 'mana' in our world is like trying to hear a whispered conversation that took place on the other
side of a vast mountain range."
She moved to the window, gazing out at the city beyond. "This is how we know Original Mana exists," she said, her voice growing more serious. "Original Mana stones—fragments containing actual sparks of Original Mana from the early creation of the universe. They're unimaginably rare and impossibly powerful."
Kazuki felt an odd resonance in his chest—as if his own mana was responding to just the mention of these stones. "How powerful?"
"A single Original Mana stone of significant size could contain enough energy to completely destroy a city like Azure City," Reina said soberly. "They're so dangerous and so valuable that entire wars have been fought over possession of just one." Her expression grew grave. "There are only twenty-five known Original Mana stones in the entire world, and our kingdom of Azuria possesses six of them."
The political and military implications were staggering. "That must make Azuria incredibly powerful."
"It makes us incredibly secure," Reina corrected. "The stones are so dangerous that actually using one would require the coordinated effort of at least a thousand exceptional mages—which no nation in the world possesses. But their mere presence serves as the ultimate deterrent." She turned back to face him. "The stones are kept in the most heavily guarded vault in Crystallis, with security that exceeds even what protects the window to face him. "The stones are kept in the window to face him.
The theoretical aspects fascinated Kazuki more than the political implications. "What does this have to do with my abilities?"
Reina's eyes brightened with scholarly enthusiasm. "There's an old saying among magical historians: 'When the presence of mana was first discovered in the world, it was fueled by the remnant fragments of Original Mana that still lingered everywhere.' The first generation of mana users—what we would consider the equivalent of natural-born magical geniuses with enormous mana reserves—were drawing on these original fragments."
Understanding began to dawn on Kazuki. "You think my world still has access to those original fragments?"
"I think your world is just beginning to experience the awakening of mana, which means it would still have access to much purer forms than what we see here," Reina said excitedly. "If Project Bifrost was experimenting with these early manifestations of mana, and if you were created or modified using techniques that incorporated this purer energy..."
"It would explain why my abilities feel different from everyone else's," Kazuki finished.
"Exactly!" Reina clapped her hands together, water droplets from around the room converging into a small sphere above her palms. "Your phase-shifting ability right now is just the beginning. If you could tap into that purer ability, you could potentially develop capabilities that would..."
She dismissed the water sphere with a gesture, her expression growing more serious. "Which would also mean that what the Joker told you is true," she said quietly. "Original Mana isn't just powerful, Kazuki. It's the fundamental force of creation itself. If you could learn to truly harness it..."
"That would be capable of threatening entire nations," Reina finished quietly. "Original Mana isn't just powerful, Kazuki. It's the fundamental force of creation itself. If you could learn to truly harness it..."
The implications hung in the air between them. Kazuki felt a mixture of excitement and terror at the possibilities she was describing. "Is that why you're so insistent about keeping the Joker secret? Not just because of Valerius, but because of what I might become?"
"Partly," Reina admitted. "But also because I don't want to see you become a target for every power-hungry mage and politician in the kingdom. If word got out that you might have access to Original Mana..." She shuddered slightly. "You'd never have a moment's peace. Every magical researcher would want to study you, every military commander would want to control you, and every rival nation would want to either recruit or eliminate you."
Kazuki sat back down on the bench, overwhelmed by the scope of what they were discussing. "So what do we do with this information?"
Reina joined him on the bench, her expression thoughtful. "We proceed carefully. We continue to present your abilities as unusual but not unprecedented. We train privately to help you explore the full range of your capabilities without drawing undue attention." She paused, meeting his gaze. "And we remain vigilant for any sign of these 'real threats' the Joker mentioned."
"What about the Joker himself?" Kazuki asked. "If he's truly a separate consciousness with his own agenda..."
"We monitor the situation," Reina said pragmatically. "If he contacts you again, you tell me immediately. We try to learn more about his plans and motivations without giving him any leverage over our actions." Her grip on his shoulder tightened slightly. "And if he ever tries to influence you to act against your own judgment or the wellbeing of others, we find a way to stop him."
The determination in her voice was comforting, but Kazuki couldn't shake a nagging worry. "What if he's stronger than we think? What if he can take control somehow?"
"Then we deal with that when it happens," Reina said firmly. "But remember, Kazuki—regardless of how you came to exist, regardless of whether you're 'artificial' or 'real,' you are the one making choices. You're the one who chose to help rescue those prisoners, who chose to fight against the Masked Ones, who chose to trust us with this information." She turned to face him fully. "Those choices define who you are, not your origins."
Her words resonated deeply, providing an anchor of stability in the storm of revelations and uncertainties. "Thank you," he said simply.
"We're in this together," Reina replied with a warm smile. "Whatever mysteries we uncover, whatever challenges we face, we'll handle them as a team."
A comfortable silence settled between them, broken eventually by the sound of approaching footsteps in the corridor outside the training hall. Reina immediately tensed, her expression shifting to one of concern.
"That sounds like Valerius," she said quietly. "And he doesn't sound pleased."
Indeed, the measured but forceful cadence of the captain's stride suggested barely controlled irritation. The training hall doors opened with more force than necessary, revealing Valerius in full armor, his expression thunderous.
"Lady Reina, Dr. Mizushima," he acknowledged with perfunctory bows. "I have been searching for you both for the better part of an hour."
"Is something wrong, Captain?" Reina asked, though her tone suggested she already suspected the answer.
"Several things are wrong," Valerius replied curtly. "First, our departure for Crystallis has been moved up by a day due to poor weather conditions—we leave at dawn tomorrow, not the day after. Second, I've just received a disturbing report from our intelligence network regarding increased Masked Ones activity in three other cities."
He paused, his gaze shifting between them with obvious suspicion. "And third, I've been informed of multiple sources that you two have been conducting private meetings and training sessions without informing me of their purpose or content."
Reina's expression remained calm, but Kazuki could sense her tension. "Captain, surely you don't expect us to report every conversation—"
"I expect," Valerius interrupted with steel in his voice, "full transparency from my mission partners, particularly when one of them possesses mysterious abilities and the other has been providing unreported assessments of those abilities." His piercing gaze fixed on Kazuki. "There are aspects of your performance during the raid that continue to trouble me, Dr. Mizushima. Inconsistencies that suggest knowledge or capabilities you haven't disclosed."
The accuracy of Valerius's suspicions was unnerving. The captain had clearly been analyzing every aspect of the raid, looking for inconsistencies and gaps in their explanations.
Reina stepped forward slightly, subtly positioning herself between Kazuki and Valerius. "Captain, unusual circumstances often lead to breakthrough moments in magical development. The stress of combat, the life-or-death situation, the need to protect others—all of these factors can trigger deeper understanding of one's abilities."
"Perhaps," Valerius acknowledged, though his tone remained unconvinced. "But such breakthroughs typically build on existing knowledge, Lady Reina. They don't represent fundamental shifts in how an ability functions." His attention returned to Kazuki. "Unless, of course, there was already deeper knowledge present but concealed."
The standoff stretched uncomfortably, with Valerius clearly expecting some form of confession or revelation. Kazuki weighed his options carefully, acutely aware that any wrong word could shatter the fragile trust he'd built with the captain.
"I won't pretend that everything about my situation is clear to me," he said finally. "The gradual recovery of my memories, the gradual understanding of my capabilities—it's all confusing and sometimes frightening." He paused, meeting Valerius's stare without flinching. "But I can assure you that my goals align completely with yours, Captain. I want to stop the Masked Ones, protect innocent people, and serve the kingdom that has given me sanctuary."
Valerius studied him for a long moment, searching for deception or hidden motives. Finally, his rigid posture relaxed slightly, though wariness remained in his eyes.
"Very well," he said. "But understand this, Dr. Mizushima—my primary responsibility is to protect this kingdom and its people. If I ever determine that you pose a threat to that mission, regardless of your past services or Lady Reina's advocacy, I will act without hesitation."
The threat was clear and uncompromising. Kazuki nodded his understanding, while beside him Reina remained perfectly still, her scholarly mind already working through the implications of what they'd just learned.
As Valerius turned to leave, his final words carried both warning and promise: "We depart at first light. Use tonight to prepare yourselves—and remember that in Crystallis, there will be even less tolerance for hidden secrets or unexplained mysteries."
The training hall fell silent as his footsteps faded down the corridor, leaving Kazuki and Reina alone with the weight of everything they'd discussed and the challenges that lay ahead.
"Well," Reina said quietly, breaking the silence. "That could have gone worse."
"Could it?" Kazuki asked, though he was grateful for her attempt at levity.
"He could have arrested you on suspicion of being a security risk," she pointed out pragmatically. "Instead, he's giving you another chance to prove your loyalty." She moved closer, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "But he's also made it clear that he's watching very closely now. We'll need to be even more careful going forward."
Kazuki nodded, understanding the delicate position they were now in. The revelation about Original Mana, the mystery of the Joker, and Valerius's growing suspicions created a complex web of secrets and potential conflicts. Yet somehow, knowing that Reina was truly in his corner made the challenges ahead seem manageable.
"Tomorrow we go to Crystallis," he said, as much to himself as to her.
"Tomorrow we go to Crystallis," she agreed. "And whatever we find there, we'll face it together."
As they prepared to leave the training hall, both were acutely aware that their conversation had fundamentally changed everything—and that the most dangerous part of their journey was yet to come.