01x10 - Questions

[bunniefuu]

I'm so bored.

Alto's stuck in his test… wonder if I can buy something sweet around here.

Man, sounds like this year's practical was really tough for everyone.

Oh, absolutely.

That means the written must be tougher this year, too.

At least it will mean the mages that pass will be far more skilled.

Eh, I don't think that'll be a problem for my Master.

Honestly, he's more than just studious. He's obsessed.

Studying

Practice

All-nighters

Studying

Practice

Why does he push himself so hard?

I want to be stronger. Strong enough to protect Vermeil!

Ugh! I just want the test to be over with!

All right.

After skimming the test, it doesn't look like I'll get stuck on any questions.

The calculations for Question will take time, though, so I'll skip it for now…

He's sleeping?!

Th-the test just started! Is this guy right in the head?

Gah! I don't have time to worry about someone else! I have to focus!

I'm going to pass this exam and get promoted to Bronze Square!

Black or white? Tangled up, they turn gray

Everything always seems so ambiguous

I walk by your side as you smile, helpless

Admiration clear as day

Shining out across the endless distance

Cast a spell on this pitiful situation with an Abracada-Boo

There's a loneliness hidden beneath the darkness in your eyes

I wish I could embrace it with a gentle song

Even the whole world starts to shout it's all a lie,

As long as you are as you are

I'll sweep through with a glimmering wind and scream out the truth

Even if the whole world yells out that it's a sin,

Even if I'm all on my own

I want to keep learning to understand you

I'm on your side, I'll protect you

QUESTIONS

I got this feeling on the practical, too,

but the questions seem harder than previous years.

Sure, I can handle them, but…

This one's asking to calculate the interference and resonance for more than two formulae.

Shouldn't a question like this be on the Silver Square exam?

The Ministry of Magic might've gone a little too far when they made these questions…

Good nap!

H-he was asleep this whole time?!

Unfortunately, he doesn't have enough time now to get through every question…

All right, let's look at this Bronze Square exam.

All done!

Huh?

He's done?! Who is this guy?!

How 'bout you? You finished? Super easy, right?

Wh-why's he talking to me?!

Whoa, you're actually explaining your answer?!

You don't need to do that! Just write the answer!

Stop, stop, stop, we're in the middle of the test!

You two! Stop talking over there!

I-I-I'm sorry!

What the hell? Way to be rude.

Whoa, whoa, can you please stop?

Why should I? Not like anyone's gonna finish the test today, anywho.

What's that supposed to mean?

Pardon the interruption, sir, but it's urgent!

It better be urgent, they're still taking the test.

To hell with the exam!

A student was found dead in the restroom!

What?!

That can't be right, we have every student accounted for…

Boy, you guys figured that out faster than I thought.

Huh?

No…

Alto!

Y'know, it was kinda fun taking the test. Reminded me of the good old days.

But whatever.

Wh-who are you?

Me? Quickest explanation, I'm your enemy...

...little Demon Master.

Wait, is he...

You there! Stop right there!

I am First Lieutenant Mackenzer, and by the authority of the Royal Militia,

I hereby place you under arrest for m*rder and destruction of property!

Raise your hands and come quietly!

Pipe down, would you?

I'm in the middle of something here.

All right, whatcha gonna do?

I knew it! He's the one who helped Professor Obsidian…

Watch out, MacKenzer!

Alto!

Vermeil!

He's dangerous! Cover me!

O-on it!

He blocked Vermeil's att*ck?!

Nice! This is fun!

You hang in there, MacKenzer!

C-Colonel… I'm all right!

Not bad, old man. Most people can't kick through my rook's armor.

I know you. You're Iolite of Heaven's Will!

Huh?

H-Heaven's Will? So he's...

That's right.

That's Iolite of Heaven's Will, the youngest mage to be promoted to Platinum Square!

He's a prodigy that outclasses every other mage out there!

Though I believe there was one person who got a perfect score on every exam.

Bronze, Silver, Gold, every exam, every question correct.

No way… that's him?

Some've said his ability to create life was stolen from God himself.

Why is a prodigy like you doing something like this?

Stop it, you're making me blush!

You're Colonel Pharanx of the Royal Mage Corps, yeah?

The expert in battle magic.

And that lady over there is glaring holes into me.

Wow, am I the baddie?

Alto!

Let go of me! Alto's still in there!

Hey! Come on, get out of here, hurry!

No! Alto!

Lilia!

You certainly let everyone escape rather easily. You sure you don't need hostages?

Hostages? C'mon, I wouldn't stoop to that level.

Oh yeah, there's one thing I wanted to ask you.

You don't actually think you can stop me, do you?

Let me in! Alto's still in there!

Are you insane?! Let us handle this! You three evacuate!

I don't care! Alto is still inside the building!

Could we just take a look inside?

We're going to assist the Colonel. Follow me!

Alto!

Hey, you!

Dammit! Let's go!

Lilia…

All right, let's go, too!

Right!

O-okay, let's go, too!

Right!

Lilia?!

Cheryl? Why'd you come, too?

You guys?!

This is transference magic…

And on such a huge scale…

Vermeil!

Man, I'm invincible!

I-impossible.

He's too powerful.

Figured not even demons could handle me.

Kohakumiya and the g*ng should've been able to take you out on their own…

Really? What're you doing?

Let go of Vermeil!

Alto!

That's the same thing I saw during the practical exam!

Golden light… the mana of a demon.

Makes sense, seeing as you and her have…

Really?!

Silver mana?!

Is this Alto's…

I promised her! I promised I'd protect her!

Wait, you're actually serious!

No way!

I'm going... to protect her!

Alto!

I'm impressed. You got me to pull out my knights.

Huh. All right.

Has no one seriously figured you out yet?

Sheesh, everyone's so dumb.

What are you going to do with Vermeil...?

Huh?

Oh, right. I haven't told you what my plan is.

It's simple. Same thing every cliché bad guy wants to do.

We're gonna destroy the world.

To do that, though, we're gonna need her and the other demons' powers.

C'mon, don't be so upset. Demons aren't all that good to begin with.

Iolite!

Calm down.

Things are just getting fun.

You wouldn't want to die before you get to watch.

Wow. Does that mean you're getting "serious"?

I'm going to take you out, here and now!

What the...?

C'mon, now.

If you're gonna get serious, then you'd better give it everything you've got.

All right, let's have a little fun with-

Stay away from Vermeil...!

Sheesh, don't be such a party pooper.

Don't worry. I'll make good use of her, all right?

Yeah right... I'm not letting a creep like you have her!

I'm... Vermeil's master!

You don't have to do this. I was gonna let you go. Why're you being so annoying?

If you're gonna be mad, get mad at the guy who fell in love with his familiar.

Vermeil, I…

What?

The book that Vermeil was sealed in?!

Hello. We meet again.

I saw her in my dream…

Who are you?

Me? I am the Mage of Beginnings.

I was the first to reach that which you call the "Depths" of magical knowledge.

And I was the mage who sealed Vermeil in this book.

What's an ancient mage like you popping out of that book for at a time like this?

Doesn't seem like you're actually "alive," either.

The apparition before you now is not truly me.

Perhaps you would call it a lingering memory?

The day Vermeil was sealed in this book,

I buried a part of myself within it to prepare for the day that would one day come.

So you're the one who sealed her away!

Oh, do not be so quick to blame.

She told me to seal her away.

I merely provided her with assistance.

Huh?

You may have an inkling as to why she made that request.

Because I did LOTS of naughty things.

Vermeil asked to be sealed away?

Now, the only thing imprisoning her are memories.

Her memories?

Trauma, if you will.

Emotion and memory sometimes become chains stronger than magic itself.

A question. Are you prepared to accept her for all she is?

Will you embrace the woman known as the strongest scourge?

I will.

I have strong feelings for Vermeil, though I'm not entirely sure what they all mean…

Still, no matter what might happen,

I'm always going to stand by Vermeil!

I see. Then I can entrust you with this burden.

If you are ready, then proceed.

Don't worry. I will lead you to her.

A key?

Hold on. I've got no idea what's going on, but are you really gonna leave me out of it?

Don't fret. This will be over quickly.

I don't think so!

After all, time does not exist...

...in the world of the mind.

Where am I?

We are inside her mind, within the world of memories she wishes to forget.

Wait, what about Iolite?!

Worry not. The world of memory is detached from time and space.

The time that passes here means nothing to the physical world.

But do be careful.

If you cannot save her, then your mind will be trappeed in this world forevermore.

This took place years ago, when Ortigia was still just the name of a continent.

years ago? That's before the Kingdom of Ortigia was founded.

Vermeil was alive back then?

Sister!

Look, there she is.

Is that…

Look! I made a flower crown!

Vermeil!

Does it get easier with time for the immortal?

If I was born normal, if I become normal, can I stay close?

With the children, we link our arms

Make a circle and sing a song

Knowing there was no chair for me all along

You locked me into the dark, I'm your preserved flower

The world is too slow to understand

Not all blossoms spark, And spikes may be sharp

They only want to see the beautiful parts

Sitting in a shower of scarlet rain

It all used to be ours, I'm counting the hours

Hours that stood between us like a river

Once I crawled through the water

All I ever knew have become distant past