Chapter 13:The First Day of War

Volume 1: The Boy Summoned by Mistake
Episode 13: The First Day of War
The gates of the Imperial Academy remained open.
In front of them...
An army.
Kazuki swallowed nervously.
—There are too many.
Leon drew his sword.
—Yeah.
—And your plan?
—Keep hitting them until they're gone.
Kazuki looked at him.
—Good plan.
Elena stood beside him.
—They're not all enemies.
Kazuki looked at her.
—What?
—Look at their uniforms.
Some soldiers wore the Imperial emblem.
Others...
A black insignia.
Kael frowned.
—That's the problem.
Kazuki pointed at the soldiers in black.
—Who are they?
—The Night Guard.
—And what do they do?
Kael drew his sword.
—What the regular army doesn't want to do.
The captain in golden armor raised his sword.
—Last warning!
Kazuki took a deep breath.
—I don't want to fight.
The captain replied:
—Then surrender.
Kazuki looked at his companions.
Elena.
Leon.
Lyra.
Seraphina.
Then he looked at Kael.
—Is there any way to solve this without fighting?
Kael smiled.
—You could politely ask them to leave.
Kazuki raised a hand.
—Soldiers...
Everyone fell silent.
—Can we talk?
The captain lowered his sword slightly.
—Speak.
Kazuki took a breath.
—I don't know what's going on.
—We know.
—I don't know why I'm here.
—We know that too.
—I don't know what that power is.
The captain frowned.
—We know.
Kazuki began to get annoyed.
—Then stop chasing me and explain everything to me!
Silence.
The captain lowered his gaze.
—I can't.
Kazuki blinked.
—Why?
—Because we received orders.
A voice came from behind the soldiers.
—And I gave those orders.
Everyone moved aside.
A woman walked between the ranks.
She wore a long white cloak.
Black hair.
Golden eyes.
She wasn't wearing armor.
Yet every soldier lowered their head.
Kael stood completely still.
—Your Majesty...
Kazuki's eyes widened.
—The Emperor?
The woman smiled.
—No.
She removed her hood.
—I am the Empress.
Kazuki looked at Kael.
—Wasn't there an Emperor?
—There is.
—Then who's in charge?
—Both of them.
Kazuki sighed.
—This world has way too many titles.
The Empress approached.
—Kazuki Aoi.
—Yes.
—I want to speak with you.
Kazuki looked at Kael.
The old swordsman nodded.
—You can hear her out.
The Empress extended a hand.
—Come with me.
Kazuki didn't take it.
—First, I want to know something.
—What?
—Are you going to kill me?
The Empress answered immediately.
—No.
Kazuki relaxed his shoulders.
—Good.
—But someone within the Empire does want to kill you.
Kazuki tensed again.
—Who?
The Empress looked toward the Night Guard.
—My brother.
The captain in golden armor lowered his head.
—Your Majesty...
—Don't speak.
The man obeyed.
Kazuki frowned.
—Your brother wants to kill me?
—Yes.
—Why?
The Empress looked into his eyes.
—Because he believes you are the return of Astra Veyron.
Kazuki clenched his teeth.
—But I'm not him.
—I know that.
—Then?
—Not everyone believes me.
The Empress turned around.
—Come to the palace.
Kazuki hesitated.
Seraphina stepped closer.
—Don't go alone.
The Empress looked at her.
—She can come.
Kazuki raised an eyebrow.
—And the others?
—They can come too.
Kael smiled.
—Looks like we've been invited.
The group made their way through the streets of Elaris.
Kazuki walked beside Elena.
—Do you know the palace?
—Yes.
—Well?
Elena hesitated.
—Quite well.
—And Seraphina?
Elena looked ahead.
—She knows it better than anyone.
Kazuki looked at the silver-haired girl.
—Because she's a princess?
Elena nodded.
—She was a princess.
Kazuki frowned.
—What do you mean, "was"?
Elena didn't answer.
Seraphina heard the conversation.
—It means I no longer belong to the Imperial family.
Kazuki looked at her.
—Why?
Seraphina gave him a faint smile.
—I'll tell you someday.
—People always say that.
—Because there is always a next day.
Kazuki smiled.
—I suppose.
The Imperial Palace appeared before them.
It was enormous.
White towers.
Crystals floating through the air.
A massive golden gate.
Kazuki looked up.
—This is too much.
Leon laughed.
—You've never seen a palace before?
—Not one like this.
They entered.
A huge hall awaited them.
At the far end stood two thrones.
One was occupied.
The other was empty.
The Empress walked toward hers.
—Welcome to Elaris, Kazuki Aoi.
Kazuki looked at the empty throne.
—Where is the Emperor?
The Empress became serious.
—At war.
Kazuki frowned.
—With whom?
—With us.
—How?
—My brother started a rebellion.
Kael stepped forward.
—How long ago?
—Three weeks.
Kazuki felt a chill.
—Then...
The Empress looked at him.
—Your arrival was not a coincidence.
Kazuki froze.
—What do you mean?
—The night you appeared...
The Empress pointed toward the sky.
—The seals protecting Astravia began to break.
Seraphina closed her eyes.
—The war began at the same time.
Kazuki looked at his hands.
—Then I didn't cause this.
The Empress shook her head.
—No.
—Then?
—Perhaps you are the reason it began.
Silence.
Kazuki felt a weight in his chest.
—That doesn't make sense.
The Empress replied:
—Not yet.
A massive explosion shook the palace.
BOOOOOOM!!
The windows rattled.
The guards rushed into action.
Kael drew his sword.
—What was that?!
A soldier came running inside.
—Your Majesty!
—Speak.
—The Night Guard attacked the palace!
The Empress stood up.
—My brother?
The soldier shook his head.
—No.
He looked at Kazuki.
—Someone else.
A figure appeared on the balconies.
A black cloak.
A silver mask.
Kazuki recognized the voice.
—You again...
The assassin smiled.
—Hello, Heir.
Kael raised his sword.
—Everyone, get back!
The woman slowly removed her mask.
It was the same assassin who had escaped days ago.
But now...
Her eyes were completely violet.
Kazuki felt his body freeze.
—What happened to you?
She smiled.
—I finally understood who you are.
Black energy covered her hands.
—And now I know how to kill you.
Kazuki felt the heartbeat.
Thump.
Astra appeared in his mind.
—Don't fight her.
Kazuki frowned.
—Why?
—Because she isn't the enemy.
Kazuki looked at the assassin.
—Then who is?
Astra raised his gaze.
—What's behind her.
The assassin spread her arms.
A massive magic circle appeared above the palace.
The sky darkened.
Seraphina turned pale.
—That spell...
Kael looked at her.
—You recognize it?
—Yes.
Kazuki looked up.
The circle began to open.
And from the other side...
Something gigantic began to descend.
Seraphina whispered:
—It can't be.
Kazuki looked at her.
—What is it?
She answered:
—The first monster of Astravia.
The sky split apart.
Two enormous eyes appeared among the clouds.
And a voice echoed across all of Elaris.
—I have found the bearer.
Kazuki felt as if his heart had stopped.
Astra's voice echoed inside his mind.
—Now... run.

—End of Volume 1—