Joyful Light

Chapter Fifteen

Gladsome Light (ureshii hikari)

Yukari did not feel that it was in any way necessary for her to send reminders to Kageyama, as she had made her demands clearly and precisely in the delivered notice. Neither did she trouble herself to command one of her staff to inform Kageyama on the incident involving Arashi, since Arashi stated firmly that she had removed herself in relation to her previous academy, and was no longer affiliated.

Himeyama stressed the utmost importance of proper behaviour, and spreading rumors was deemed undignified, thus all guards and attendants refrained from engaging in passing gossip regarding the duel. As a result, Kageyama was not notified by any party on the sequence of events that occurred that night, nor of the result.

Thus, on the day of winter solstice, it took everyone at Kageyama by surprise when the Five appeared at the foot of the mountain. All students and service staff were immediately told to stay in the cafeteria and not to be involved, so as to be out of all dangers’ way, while the teaching staff quickly formed lines of defense in case the Five planned to enter the academy by force. The chancellor speedily adorned herself with full regalia meant for her position, and went down the mountain path to meet the Five from Himeyama.

“Your Highness. I regret to report that Arashi is not on campus, and she is no longer in affiliation with this academy.” The chancellor spoke with politeness and respect.

“I ordered cease of operation and full surrender. Not a single word was made demanding Kagayama to present Arashi to me.” Yukari examined the lines of instructors in defense formation. “I have made my presence at Kageyama on the day previously announced. You have failed to offer unconditional surrender upon my arrival.” Yukari paused for a moment, then continued to pronounce her verdict, “Ryō, you may not bring death to anyone.”

At Yukari’s words, Ryō was electric, and smiled in anticipation, “At Your Highness’s Command.” She dashed toward the chancellor with alarming speed.

The chancellor cast defensive spells to shield her from impending attack, but Ryō had already summoned vines to break forth from underneath, The chancellor immediately formed a matrix on each hand to push herself up into air to avoid the vines, which action unfortunately removed her from her refuge behind the magic shields, and ripping through air, Ryō’s whip arrived at that exact moment.

The chancellor subconsciously lifted her hands to protect her head, but the whip, which had tiny sharp teeth fixed on the leather using powerful alchemy, cut deep wounds into the flesh.

The moment Ryō’s whip came into contact with blood, its coating started to react. Chancellor’s hands were corroded in seconds, and she was no longer able to channel magic there to cast more spells.

Ryō commanded the vines to bind the chancellor and took her prisoner. Spikes on the vine fervently dug themselves into the chancellor’s flesh, and feasted on her magic with ravenous appetite.

Ryō looked at the instructors from Kageyama, who stood a stone’s throw away, and casually gave a comment on her opinion of the chancellor: “inexperienced novice”.

Seeing that Himeyama expressed no intention to engage in negotiation, teachers at Kageyama quickly fell in position and assembled themselves into units of five, with two swordsmen, one alchemist, and two spell-casters in each.

Swordsmen in the front would deliver attacks, while the spell-casters at the back could provide long range assaults and protection spells in relative safety, with the alchemist ready to provide potions, poisons, and antidotes as necessary.

Yukari glanced at Yayoi. Yayoi understood the order and took a bow.

Ryō charged at the first unit with a radiant smile. She shifted faster than eyes could see, and started to appear at various loci without continuity. The magic attacks were rendered useless as the instructors had great difficulty locating Ryō’s position. The frustration only lasted less than two seconds, however, as Ryō materialized her attack at the flank of the unit. A spell morphed into a rapidly spinning wheel of razors, which glowed ominously in faint pink, and behind the sharp blades composed of magic elements, was a blast of pure elemental storm.

The Alchemist, being the most vulnerable, lost consciousness upon impact, and the rest were unprepared to adequately protect themselves from a direction unexpected.

Compared to the Five, who had earned their prestige by fighting countless battles, the instructors were thoroughly lacking in battlefield experience. What seemed effective on training fields failed to deliver promised damage to the opponent.

Two more straightforward attacks later, the swords were broken, and the spell casters were being strangled by Ryō’s whip and chain. Ryō cast spells to tie up her newly captured prisoner, and found that the whole round had taken only half a minute.

Just as the rest of instructors were debating whether they should simultaneously charge, all the alchemists suddenly sprayed bottles of potions and poisons on their comrades.

Not expecting attacks from within their own rank, the units quickly fell into disarray, and one by one, the instructors lost strength due to various types of anaesthetic and poison. As they collapsed to the ground, vines that had been lying in wait just underneath the surface soil took hold of them, and pierced them with thorns to drain them of their vigor.

Yayoi continued looking at her nails as if she bore no responsibility for the commotion.

The Five ascended Kageyama, and ordered everyone to present themselves in total surrender.

Arashi heard news from the townsfolk that they had heard fighting, and asked a carriage to take her to Kageyama as quickly as possible. When she arrived at the foot of the mountain, all fighting had ceased; the teaching staff had all been transported as prisoners to Himeyama via magic matrices.

Arashi climbed up the path, and when she reached the academy, the last few students were coming out of the cafeteria to offer their total surrender.

The doors of Phoenix Hall suddenly opened, and Arashi saw Kagami rush toward the Five. Horrified that Kagami was about to commit rash action, Arashi called out to Kagami, “Kagami, stop! No!”

Yukari turned slowly, and Kagami slowed down, and stood.

Yukari slightly arched her left eyebrow. She knew who was standing in front of her.

Kagami knelt down, placed her hands on the ground in front of herself, and bowed her head to the ground. Arashi thought Kagami was about to offer surrender, but Kagami straightened her back again, sitting in a quite dignified manner on the ground.

“Your Highness”, Kagami spoke slowly and clearly, “May I please submit a request for the privilege of making a few inquiries concerning the situation?”

Pleased with Kagami’s formal language, Yukari nodded, gracefully allowing Kagami to present her plea.

“May I humbly inquire about the ultimate goal of Your Highness?”

“I shall reign over all people and over every land.”

“Though unworthy to behold the answer, I ask to be enlightened on the virtues that would support Your Highness’s claim to be the rightful ruler over all.”

“My supreme strength in magic shall attest.”

“Perchance there exists a higher power mightier than Your Highness, would Your Highness desire to take possession of it?”

“Without a doubt.”

“I express my sincere gratitude for Your Highness’ patience in enduring my multitude of bothersome questions.” Kagami stood up and looked at Yukari with firmness and resolve, “In that case, ‘PHOS HILARON’...”

**********

Kagami had been pouring over the forbidden titles for the past months, and had found various ways to offer sacrifice to force magic to make an appearance. The price required was consistently higher than the reward, and many incantations were supplemented with comments on their inconsistent results.

Upon hearing the arrival of the Five, Kagami quickly closed the book in front of her, and decided to try the incantation with the highest chance for success, while promising the greatest power.

Kagami needed to chant an incantation that only the recipient, the power being desired, knew, and would be receiving supreme power after.

**********

“Phos Hilaron”

With these words, Kagami held up her hands before her chest. Her left hand at the bottom, palm facing up, with the tips of thumb, index finger, and middle finger gathered at a single point. Her right hand rested above it, the index finger pointing toward the sky, the middle finger slightly curved, and the thumb resting on the ring finger.

A single speck of light started to glow right over her left thumb.

Kagami had succeeded.

Encouraged by the sight of this light, Kagami began to chant Phos Hilaron, the oldest surviving Christian hymn, in its earliest surviving Greek lyric, sung in its oldest surviving Syriac tune.

With each word, Kagami’s body began to glow, and became semi transparent, starting with her feet. Shimmering light floated up like dust of light, and gathered into a thin cloud of glistening gold above Kagami’s head.

The chant reached its last note, but Kagami didn’t stop. She continued with the Latin lyric of the same, this time in Byzantine chant. More glimmers of light floated up, but Kagami’s semi transparent body started disappearing. By the end of the second rendition of the chant, only Kagami’s spirit remained, and no physical trace of her body was left.

The cloud of light condensed, and dark clouds formed to block out the sky. Eventually, the light took on the shapes of an enormous sword that reached all the way to the dark cloud, a mirror, and a jewel.

Every so often the outline of Kagami’s spirit body could still be seen, and the sword rested over her head, the mirror over her left shoulder, and the jewel over her right shoulder.

The remaining dust of light disperse themselves all over the sky, and each morphed into a glowing sword of light.

Yayoi started to feel the pressure from the mighty sword weigh down on her, and tried to revive the dormant spell in Kagami which previously had enabled Yayoi to assume full control over Kagami. However, with Kagami’s physical body transformed, and later disintegrated, then resembled, Yayoi’s spell disappeared along the process.

Kasumi also found herself having difficulty breathing -- her chest was being crushed by the sheer strength embodied by the sword of light.

Ryō stood on the side with mild interest. Being the one who had fought the most battles, her physical strength held up well under pressure.

Midori stood motionless, but slight movements of her hands gave hint that she had cast spells to alleviate herself of the crushing weight radiated from the sword of light.

Arashi felt the weight of the power as well. Fearing that her lungs would collapse again, she leaned on her sword to ask it to lend her courage and strength. Seeing that Kasumi was having trouble breathing, Arashi became worried about the recent stress fractures on her ribcage that had only started to heal with the help of alchemy. This concern soon proved unnecessary, however, as Arashi felt the energy radiated from the immense sword supporting her from the inside. Even though Arashi had not met this sword before, she felt as if they knew each other.

Akishi looked up from the crowd as well. The jewel over Kagami’s shoulder called out warmly to her, sending her feelings of warmth and kindness, and made her want to hug the students of Kageyama, and reassure them that all shall be well. The jewel filled Akishi’s heart with gentle love for more people than Akishi could imagine. (“This world IS a good world”), Akishi thought. (“Everything has a place, and birds sing, and trees bear fruit. I love this world, and this all-encompassing kindness sustains the world.”)

Kagami saw desire in Yukari’s eyes, “Your Highness, is this power worthy to be pursued and possessed?”

“Yes.” Yukari spoke. Her words were soft, like a whisper meant for a lover. Power and authority shall be her bride, as no mortal had proven themselves worthy to stand beside her dominating presence.

Yukari felt the immense power that Kagami had summoned, and she was determined to assume control over it.