III - Ignis: The Mana Hazard Response Agency (MHRA)

Haruka: “Akiha. Try transforming using the Genesis Engine.”

Akiha nodded and grabbed the sword that was lying beside Sora.

Immediately after she lifts the sword, the sword’s weight forces down, causing Akiha’s trembling hands to drop the blade onto the ground.

Akiha: “It's extremely heavy, like just now…”

Haruka: “Continue.”

Akiha nods in response and places the Ignis core into the sword that is lying flat on the ground.

Set! Ignis!

Akiha grips the sword handle and presses the button. Immediately, the Ignis core flew out of the sword.

Synchronization incomplete. Transformation failed.

Akiha picked up the core and stood up.

Akiha: “As expected…Not only can I not transform with it, but my arms feel extremely weak after attempting to wield it.”

Sora: “Huh? But…”

Sora gets out of bed weakly and lifts the sword with ease.

Sora: “It’s light for me, and I can feel a surge of energy flowing through me.”

Sora stood up normally and tried moving around.

Sora: “And my body… It doesn’t feel painful anymore.”

Haruka held her own chin up and smiled.

Haruka: “Guess you are really the vessel, huh.”

Sora: “I guess… Wait… What do you mean by vessel!? And why will Akiha and I be in a government secret organization’s headquarters!?”

Akiha sighs softly, while Haruka chuckles.

Haruka: “Well… Akiha is actually part of the organization you see. She brought you here for treatment.”

Sora: “Oh, I see… Wait, what!?!?”

Sora turns to Akiha with his eyes widened.

Sora: “Akiha, working in a government secret organization!?”

Akiha laughs awkwardly and scratches her face nervously.

Akiha: “Well… The Senzaki family… Or the family who have a famous fire lineage… Has been working for the government secretly for ages. And I’m the current heir…”

Akiha lifts the Ignis core, which was shining brightly, as if it were a lit candle in the darkness.

Akiha: “The family heir will hold onto the Ignis core… It’s a family tradition…”

Sora: “I… I see…”

Akiha walks over and hands the core to Sora.

Akiha: “Since you need the core to fight, I’ll let you borrow it.”

Sora took the core gently. It’s warm, which somehow led Sora to feel at ease.

Sora: “But… What do you mean by fight? I have to fight?”

Haruka: “I’m very sure that you know about the recent increase of Mares, right?”

Sora: “Yeah…”

Haruka starts pacing around as she explains the situation to Sora.

Haruka: “Apparently… According to the enemy who is impersonating the Sage in the legends and is behind this mess… The Genesis Engine and its vessel can put an end to all this… So, we need you, Sora Minami, to put an end to those Mares.”

Haruka starts walking out of the room, gesturing for the 2 to follow her, which they did soon after.

Energy readings are displayed on screens lining the hallways. Some technicians can be spotted researching ashes and crystals extracted from Mares.

Sora: “Whoa… So, this is where the government hides its secret lab stuff, huh? Where are we going by the way?”

Akiha: “Probably the command room. It’s in front after all.”

Some clicking sounds can be heard as Haruka takes each step in her high heels.

Haruka: “Oh, right… The group of Mares you two fought earlier is known as the Zombie Mares… Common fire-type ones. But defeating a group of them as a coreless guy… That’s very impressive.”

Sora: “Oh, really? T... Thanks.”

Sora replies shyly, as Akiha gazes at her with a small hint of envy.

Sora: “So to defeat Mares, you need to use the same element affinity that they have to counter them?”

Haruka: “More or less… But certain elements can counter them, too. For example, Water, or Aqua, can defeat Ignis.”

As the trio entered the command room, Haruka stopped in her tracks, leading the other 2 to do the same.

Haruka: “That’s why… You’re our only hope, Sora. Based on our research… As long as the vessel has the elemental cores… They can use any element. That’s why…”

Haruka gazes at him slightly. Sora pauses, lets out a soft sigh.

Sora: “Well… I always wanted to help others, so I’m happy that I can contribute some help to the country. But… After fighting a Mare… It makes me feel… Scared.”

Akiha pats his back and lets out a small smile.

Akiha: “Well, every first step will always be scary, isn’t it? Let’s fight together, Sora. And maybe… That Knight dream of yours might come true.”

Sora: “Hey…! Stop talking about it… It’s kinda embarrassing.”

As the command room fills with the duo’s laughter, Haruka can’t help but smile, but at the same time, she has a small hint of sadness in her eyes.

Haruka: “Alright, you two… I need to tell you two some stuff.”

She put her palms together and spoke. The laughter dies down slowly, and the duo looks at her attentively.

Haruka: “Recently, there’s been some strange mana detected, and it leads to Maho Academy.”

Sora: “Isn’t that… Our school!?”

Haruka nodded.

Haruka: “Yup. I would like you two, especially Sora, to go for training… But there’s not much time. I would like to assign the mission to you two to help us investigate. But…”

She gazes at Sora.

Haruka: “Sora, I won’t force you to join, but we really need your help. Even if it’s temporary…Can you please fight alongside us?”

Sora hesitates and looks down. After giving a few glances at the sword he is holding, what they call the Genesis Engine, he grips it, slightly trembling. A part of him wanted to run away once more. However, the part that had once aspired to be a knight refused to give up.

Sora: “Honestly, I’m scared. As a coreless person, fighting Mares is new to me. But…”

Sora looks up in determination.

Sora: “...If it’s to help people… I’ll do it.”

Haruka’s smile widens slightly after hearing his response.

Haruka: “Great. So, I’ll leave it to both of you. And in case there’s a need for another person, I’ll assign another guy the same mission. You two will meet him in the Academy.”

Akiha and Sora look at each other. Both of them smiled and nodded at each other in sync.

Haruka: “That’s all from me. You two are free to go home.”

As the duo stepped out of the command room, Akiha playfully nudged Sora’s soldier.

Akiha: “So… How does it feel to be a government knight now, hmm?”

Sora: “Shut up.”

Sora said jokingly, and Akiha stuck her tongue out teasingly in response.

As both of them step out of the headquarters, Sora gazes at the beautiful night sky.

It shimmered with blue light. Somewhere out there, another Core is waiting.

For the first time in a long while… Sora doesn’t feel powerless.

Akiha: “By the way… Is it just me, or does the sky tonight kind of look like an ocean?”

Sora looks at her judgmentally.

Sora: “You’re weird.”