"Good morning, Brother Fuji," a Sister greeted with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Brother Fuji," another Sister echoed.
Yoshitaka Fuji, a former TSAB member who had chosen to transfer to the Saint Church after the disbanding of Riot Force 6, was a beloved figure. His charisma, handsome features, culinary skills, calm demeanor, and helpful nature made him a favorite among the Sisters.
"You're as popular as ever, Brother Fuji," Sister Schach remarked as she approached.
"Ah, Sister Schach. Good morning," Fuji replied.
"I never would have expected a TSAB member to choose the Saint Church," Schach admitted.
"It was a calling of the heart, Sister," Fuji explained. "It felt like…home. Like I belonged here."
"Knight Carim wishes to see you," Schach informed him.
Fuji and Schach proceeded to Knight Carim's office. Carim explained that his former commander, Yagami Hayate, and Captain Takamachi Nanoha would be visiting that afternoon to discuss the Adamatron attack from two days prior, including the Imposter Kai. Fuji readily agreed to the meeting and began preparing tea and cookies for their tea time. He headed to the kitchen, where he encountered Vivio and Sein.
"Good morning, Brother Fuji," Vivio chirped.
"Good morning, V-ah, Her Majesty," Fuji corrected himself playfully. "How was school today?"
"Um, it was fun!" Vivio replied enthusiastically.
"I'm glad to hear that. You're a good girl, Her Majesty," Fuji said, gently stroking Vivio's head, a gesture she clearly enjoyed.
"Brother Fuji is really popular," Sein observed.
"Ah, Sein," Fuji said. "How about you? Are you settling into the Saint Church?"
"Well, I'm getting used to it with Otto and Deed," Sein admitted shyly. "I suppose rehabilitation isn't so bad after all."
"Ah, I remember when you were one of the Numbers under Jail's orders," Fuji reminisced, recalling the JS Incident.
"So, Brother Fuji," Sein inquired, "did you want to talk about something?"
"Oh, Her Majesty," Fuji remembered. "Nanoha-mama will be visiting this afternoon. Sein, could you tell Deed and Otto as well?"
"We understand," Sein and Vivio replied happily.
"Alright, see you later, Her Majesty," Fuji said, turning to leave.
"Yes, see you later," Vivio responded.
At noon, Yagami Hayate arrived with Takamachi Nanoha and Signum. Nanoha excused herself to meet with Vivio and Signum accompanied her. Inside the office, only Hayate, Carim, and Schach remained. Carim then summoned Fuji.
"Sorry for the interruption," Fuji said as he entered.
"Fuji-kun, it's been a while," Hayate greeted him.
"Commander Yagami, it's been a while as well," Fuji replied.
"So, Hayate," Carim began, "shall we get down to business?"
"Yes," Hayate agreed, producing a photograph.
It depicted the incident near Battalion 255: injured civilians and officers, flying androids and humanoids attacking Midchilda, Renjou, Vita, and Rein taking down the androids, and the cloaked figure, the Imposter Kai.
"That Kai…" Fuji murmured, his gaze fixed on the picture.
"Yes," Hayate confirmed. "This Kai is the imposter. The real Kai is in the hospital, requiring intensive medical treatment, and cannot be visited due to protocol. His duties have been temporarily reassigned to a new member named Archibald Enzo."
"Archibald Enzo?" Carim questioned.
"He's a member of the Sailing Force who will be filling in for Izumi Kai," Hayate explained, showing them Arc's ID photo. "He wears a mask due to an injury sustained during a mission."
"This is the first time I've seen a TSAB member authorized to wear a full-face helmet," Schach commented.
"Chrono-kun introduced him to me," Hayate said. "I mean, it's understandable, I suppose. The real Kai is in the hospital, and we've finally located the imposter. Isn't that right, Fuji-kun?"
"Yes," Fuji confirmed.
"So, Brother Fuji," Carim asked, "can you tell us what happened to Izumi Kai, the real Kai?"
"It happened at Saint Cradle during the JS Incident," Fuji recounted. "Renjou and I were facing the Imposter Kai while the real Kai was injured and needed help. His device revealed its true form after being taken over by the imposter, and then he disappeared. We rushed the real Kai to the medical team. After Commander Yagami disbanded Riot Force 6, we decided to go our separate ways."
"We were also shocked to see the Imposter Kai attacking Calnarog alone," Hayate added. "His device seemed more…alive, and he was completely cloaked."
"I see," Schach said. "But what was their motive for creating the Imposter Kai?"
"Soul Edge," Fuji and Hayate replied in unison.
"Soul Edge?" Schach asked, confused.
Hayate then shared all the available data on Izumi Kai's former device, Soul Edge. When Soul Edge revealed its true form, a door of research was opened. Soul Edge was a Unison-type monster connected to the Saint King Unification War. The monster's name remained a mystery, as it was not mentioned in any historical records of the war, simply referred to as "the beast." Fuji suddenly recalled Soul Edge calling Kai "Lord," while Renjou's device addressed him as "Renjou-sama," and his own device referred to him as "Master." He remembered reading about Unison devices and their connection to "Lords" in a library book.
"Unison Devices vastly outperform other types of Devices in response speed and in the volume of mana handled; however, users suitable for Unison (referred to as "Lords", regardless of their gender) are rare, and much work is required to fine-tune and ensure compatibility of each specific user. Furthermore, since Unison Devices can cause loss of consciousness and other effects during Unison, they have emergency countermeasures set up that are not dependent on the Lord's awareness, allowing even solitary users to employ these Devices, enhancing mana usage. However, at times, a Unison Device may "take over" the user and operate autonomously, causing a "Unison accident", therefore such Devices have never been manufactured in large numbers."
"That's the history I know about Unison devices," Fuji said. "Only Wolkenritter can achieve that level of control."
"That's correct, Brother Fuji," Schach confirmed.
"By the way," Carim asked, changing the subject, "do you know anything about this Archibald Enzo?"
"I don't," Hayate admitted. "He's a mysterious, quiet individual, but he's proven capable of solving complex investigations. Signum told me that his walk is eerily similar to Izumi Kai's."
"But the real Kai is in the hospital, right?" Schach pointed out.
"Yes," Hayate said. "But Signum recognizes his walk. She hasn't sparred with him yet, so her observations are limited to his gait."
A moment of silence fell over the room. Fuji then offered warm black tea and cat tongue cookies, a welcome respite from the complex and confusing case. Hayate and Carim sipped their tea, feeling relaxed and enjoying the cookies. Fuji mentioned to Carim that he had already sent tea and cookies to Nanoha and Vivio in Vivio's room.
Meanwhile, at TSAB headquarters, Arc was finally able to examine his old intelligence device, the data having been released by the research team. Soul Edge, it turned out, was a beast from the Saint King Unification War, a creature without a name, simply "the beast." The details of its existence remained shrouded in mystery. Fate arrived at the investigation room and approached Arc.
"Busy as usual, Lieutenant Arc," Fate observed.
"Oh, Captain Fate," Arc acknowledged.
"Did you find anything?" Fate asked.
"(It's actually about your old device, Soul Edge, right?)" Fate telepathed to Arc.
"(Yes," Arc telepathed back. "I can't believe Soul Edge is the beast from the Saint King Unification War. I mean, how?)"
"(Could Adamatron be involved? We know your imposter is with them,)" Fate suggested telepathically.
"(Possibly," Arc replied. "But how could they resurrect or clone this beast? It's insane. Are they really trying to surpass Jail Scaglietti, who created Vivio from a clone of Saint King Olivie Sägebretch?)"
"(They already created an Artificial Mage version of you. I guess that was their first move,)" Fate telepathed.
While Fate and Arc communicated telepathically, Teana and Ginga arrived at the investigation room. Fate introduced them to Arc. They wanted to discuss the Device Jumper case, Adamatron, Rito Rivian, and the Imposter Kai. Teana was Fate's executive officer assistant, and Ginga from Battalion 108 had been sent to TSAB headquarters by his commander. Neither Teana nor Ginga recognized Arc, his face hidden behind the mask. As lunchtime approached, the TSAB staff and personnel began making their way to the cafeteria. Arc excused himself, explaining that he preferred to eat alone to avoid drawing attention to his masked face. He contacted Shamal, requesting her to check on his wounds and burns during the lunch break when the infirmary was less crowded. When they were alone, Shamal examined Arc's face. The wounds had healed, but the burns persisted.
"Your wounds have healed," Shamal reported, "but the burns, sadly, are permanent."
"I knew that from the start, Shamal," Arc replied. "The burns won't heal, and my eyes…they're never coming back." He picked up his helmet, turning it over in his hands.
"By the way, Arc," Shamal said as she washed her hands, "Signum told me that she suspects you're Izumi Kai. She said there's something familiar about you."
"I suspected as much," Arc admitted. "I was impressed by Signum's instincts. Do Vita and Commander Yagami know about my disguise?"
"Fortunately, no," Shamal replied. "They don't suspect a thing. I've kept my mouth shut. If I told them, it would only cause you more trouble."
"Ah…" Arc sighed. "I just don't want Commander Yagami to worry about me. The story is that I'm in the hospital, undergoing intensive treatment. But in reality, I'm here, living a double life as Archibald Enzo."
"I remember back in Riot Force 6," Shamal reminisced. "You, Fuji, and Renjou were Hayate-chan's handpicked team. You three were quite popular, but Fuji and Renjou were the heartthrobs. You, on the other hand, preferred to keep to yourself."
"…It must have been the 'scandal' back on Earth," Arc muttered.
"Scandal?" Shamal asked.
"Yeah…" Arc recounted. "It was like a curse… It happened in high school. A painful memory… I was treated like a toy…an emotionless doll, my life manipulated by others… There was a scandal… I was accused of sexually assaulting the school diva. It was traumatic… I was ostracized by all the female students. It just kept getting worse, even when I tried to clear my name. Then, one day, my parents told me to move to Midchilda. But it was the same there…no girls were interested in me, even at the Midchilda training camp. Until Commander Yagami chose me, Fuji, and Renjou…my life finally changed. The curse was lifted when Commander Yagami tried to get close to me. If she hadn't taken a chance on me…if she hadn't shown me kindness…I don't know what would have become of me. My life would have been…utterly worthless." Arc's voice was filled with sadness.
"Arc…" Shamal said softly.
"….I'm sorry, Shamal-san," Arc apologized. "I shouldn't burden you with my nonsense. I need to get back to work." He put his helmet back on and left the infirmary.
Shamal watched him go, realizing that Arc's words were far from nonsense. They were a raw expression of his deepest insecurities. She remembered what Signum had said about Archibald Enzo resembling Izumi Kai. It was more than just a physical resemblance.
Later, when the cafeteria was almost empty, Arc finally felt comfortable enough to have his lunch. As he finished his meal, Fate and Teana approached him.
"I knew you'd be here," Fate said.
"Are you still here?" Arc asked.
"Yes," Fate replied. "Teana and I wanted to meet with Hayate, but she's at the Saint Church with Nanoha and Signum. We decided to wait here."
"I-It's a pleasure to meet you again," Teana said politely.
"Don't be so formal," Arc chuckled. "We've already met in the investigation room, right?"
"Well, this is actually the first time Teana has met a masked TSAB member who works as an investigator," Fate explained. "I told her that you were transferred here by Admiral Chrono to replace Izumi Kai."
"Lieutenant Arc," Teana began, "is there any connection between the recent incidents?"
"There might be…" Arc replied cautiously, "but I'm not sure yet. I can't say for certain if the device jumpers were created by Adamatron or someone else. Just thinking about it gives me and the rest of the team a headache. We have so little information to go on."
"By the way," Teana said, "when Captain Fate and I went to Gruen to interrogate Jail Scaglietti, we learned that he has a deep hatred for Rito Rivian. Just hearing her name sends him into an uncontrollable rage."
"That's valuable information," Arc said. "You should share that with the investigation team. It could be the lead we need."
Hayate, Nanoha, and Signum arrived at the cafeteria, finally meeting up with Fate and Teana. It was the first time Arc had seen Commander Yagami since he began focusing on the investigations. He informed Hayate that the investigation had stalled due to a lack of data on the device jumpers, Adamatron, Rito Rivian, and, most importantly, the Imposter Kai. Hayate suggested that Arc and the team take a break, a suggestion he gratefully accepted. Arc decided to get some fresh air at his favorite spot, the rooftop. Nanoha and Fate decided to join him.
"It's been a while, Kai," Fate said softly.
"My name is Archibald Enzo now, Fate," Arc corrected gently. "That name…it's no longer mine, not for the time being." He removed his faceplate mask.
"S-sorry," Fate stammered. "I forgot. You're Archibald Enzo now."
"This rooftop has an amazing view," Nanoha observed. "No wonder you like it here."
"Yeah," Arc agreed. "I can take off my mask here. It's a good place to clear my head. No one comes up here after lunch." He sat down, and Nanoha and Fate followed suit.
"By the way, Fate," Nanoha began, "Arc is incredibly strong. I had a sparring match with him when he was testing his new device."
"Really, Nanoha?" Fate asked, surprised.
"Yes," Nanoha confirmed. "His device, Raging Brando, is almost as powerful as my Raising Heart."
"His power is almost on par with yours," Raising Heart added.
"Heee~," Fate chuckled. "But Arc's device name is so similar to Nanoha's."
"Raising and Raging sound alike, Fate," Arc pointed out, "but Heart and Brando are different." He held up his device for them to see.
"Nice to meet you," Raging Brando greeted them.
"A slide phone? That's incredible," Fate exclaimed, impressed.
"Shari and Mary made it," Arc explained. "And you already know about its weapon form, right?" He transformed Raging Brando into its weapon form and then back into its slide phone form, entertaining Fate.
"Fate-chan, you have your intelligent device with you, right?" Nanoha asked.
"Ah, right," Fate replied, showing them Bardiche.
"Hello," Bardiche greeted Raging Brando.
"Nice to meet you," Raging Brando responded.
"So, Fate-chan," Nanoha suggested, "how about you have a spar with Arc-kun?"
"Well, my duties are finished for today. Teana can handle things here," Fate said. "I think I'm up for it. How about you, K-ah, Arc?"
"I'm happy to spar with you, Fate-san," Arc replied, putting his faceplate mask back on.
Nanoha, Fate, and Arc made their way to the training grounds. Nanoha decided to observe their spar. Both Fate and Arc transformed, donning their barrier jackets. Fate's barrier jacket was the familiar design, but her hair was no longer styled in twin tails.
"Oh," Arc noticed. "You're not wearing your twin tails anymore?"
"Ah, yes," Fate replied. "Is it strange?"
"No," Arc said. "You look better this way, actually. Just like Teana Lanster looks better with long hair."
"Well, thank you," Fate said. "I never thought you'd remember that time back in Riot Force 6."
"Arc-kun, you still remember Fate's abilities, right?" Nanoha asked.
"Yes, I remember," Arc confirmed.
"Okay then," Fate said, taking a fighting stance. "Let's have a spar, Arc. I can't wait to test my skills against yours."
"Me neither," Arc replied, readying his gunblade.
Fate took to the sky, followed closely by Arc. They hovered a short distance apart, facing each other. Fate wielded Bardiche, while Arc held Raging Brando. Fate's device, Bardiche Assault, specialized in melee combat, capable of transforming into various forms like Haken, Zamber, Riot Blade, and Riot Zamber. While Arc's Raging Brando specialized in both melee and long-range combat. It could transform into a variety of forms, including a sword, a revolver, and a buster cannon. A clash between lightning 01 and phantom 03 was about to begin. This spar would be a new step for Arc, a chance to unlock new skills.
"Lighting One versus Phantom Three," Nanoha announced, acting as the referee for their spar.
Fate and Arc circled each other, their devices humming with latent energy. Fate made the first move, summoning Bardiche in its Haken form, a scythe-like weapon. She swung it at Arc, who parried the blow with Raging Brando in its sword form. The clash of their devices sent sparks flying.
"Impressive," Fate commented, switching Bardiche to its Zamber form, a massive broadsword. "But can you handle this?" She lunged at Arc, the broadsword arcing towards him.
Arc met her attack head-on, transforming Raging Brando into its gunblade form, a sleek, dark blade. Their swords met, the force of the impact shaking the very ground beneath them.
"You're strong, Arc," Fate admitted, her voice strained. "But I'm not going to hold back."
"Neither will I," Arc replied, his eyes glowing behind his mask.
They exchanged a flurry of blows, their devices transforming and clashing in a dazzling display of speed and power. Fate switched Bardiche to its Riot Blade form, a pair of energy daggers, and unleashed a rapid series of strikes. Arc countered with Raging Brando's revolver form, firing blasts of energy that forced Fate to dodge and weave.
"This is intense," Nanoha murmured, watching the spar with rapt attention.
The clash of energy was palpable as Fate and Arc faced off in the training ground. Nanoha watched with keen interest, her eyes following the rapid movements of the two mages. Fate, with her familiar Bardiche Assault, took to the skies, her movements graceful and swift. Arc, grounded yet agile, held Raging Brando at the ready, its sleek form hinting at the power it contained.
"Bardiche!" Fate called, her voice resonating with power. Bardiche transformed into its scythe form, a shimmering blade of light that cut through the air. Arc responded in kind, his voice calm yet firm. "Raging Brando!" The revolver morphed into a formidable gunblade, its dark metal gleaming under the training ground's lights.
The two mages clashed, their devices meeting in a shower of sparks. Fate's scythe danced around Arc, each strike a precise and calculated blow. Arc, however, was not one to be easily overwhelmed. His gunblade met Bardiche's scythe, blocking and parrying with surprising agility. The air crackled with magical energy as the two mages exchanged blow after blow, neither giving an inch.
"Fate-san is as strong as ever," Arc commented, his voice barely audible above the din of their battle.
"And you, Arc, are full of surprises," Fate replied, a hint of a smile in her voice. "I never expected you to be so skilled with a gunblade."
"I've had my fair share of battles," Arc said cryptically, deflecting another strike from Fate's scythe.
As the sparring match intensified, Nanoha couldn't help but marvel at the two mages' skill. Fate's control over her magic was as precise as ever, her movements flowing seamlessly from one attack to the next. Arc, on the other hand, fought with a raw power that was both surprising and captivating. His gunblade danced in his hands, a whirlwind of motion that kept Fate on her toes.
Unbeknownst to the two mages, they were not the only ones watching their duel. Hayate, Teana, and Signum had arrived at the training ground, drawn by the commotion. They stood alongside Nanoha, their eyes wide with awe as they witnessed the clash of lightning 01 and phantom 03.
"Incredible," Teana breathed, her voice filled with admiration. "I've never seen anything like it."
"Indeed," Signum agreed, her gaze fixed on Arc. "His skills are quite remarkable, especially considering he's using a relatively new device."
Hayate, however, was more interested in the man behind the mask. "He's certainly skilled," she said, her voice thoughtful. "But there's something about him that seems... familiar."
Nanoha nodded, understanding her commander's feelings. "He reminds me of someone too," she admitted. "But I can't quite put my finger on who it is."
As the sparring match reached its climax, both Fate and Arc unleashed the full extent of their power. Fate's Bardiche glowed with a blinding light as she prepared to unleash a powerful magical blast. Arc, in response, channeled his energy into Raging Brando, the gunblade humming with raw power.
"Thunderlight flash!" Fate cried, unleashing a magical energy sword towards Arc.
"Abyssal Blade!" Arc countered, his gunblade firing a concentrated beam of energy sword that met Fate's sword head-on.
The two energies collided in a deafening explosion, sending shockwaves through the training ground. The force of the blast was so intense that it sent both Fate and Arc flying backwards, their devices clattering to the ground.
The sparring match had come to an abrupt end, but the intensity of the battle left a lasting impression on everyone present. Fate and Arc, both exhausted but exhilarated, stood facing each other, a newfound respect evident in their eyes.
"You've improved, Arc," Fate said, extending a hand towards him. "I can see why Nanoha was so impressed."
"Thank you, Fate-san," Arc replied, shaking her hand. "But you're still stronger than me."
"We'll see about that," Fate said with a smile. "Maybe we can have another spar sometime."
"I'd like that," Arc agreed.
The two mages shared a brief smile, their shared experience forging a bond between them. As they left the training ground, Hayate, Teana, and Signum couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious Archibald Enzo and the secrets he held behind his mask.
Meanwhile, Teana, Hayate, and Signum had arrived at the training grounds, just in time to see the end of Fate and Arc's spar. They watched as Fate and Arc deactivated their devices and exchanged compliments.
"That was quite a spar," Teana commented. "They're both incredibly strong."
"Indeed," Hayate agreed. "I can see why Nanoha wanted them to have this spar."
"It's good to see them getting along," Signum added. "They seem to have a good rapport."
"They're both very skilled," Teana said. "But they have different fighting styles."
"Fate is more of a close-combat specialist," Hayate observed. "While Arc seems to be more versatile, able to handle both melee and ranged combat."
"They complement each other well," Signum said. "If they were to fight together, they would be a formidable team."
"Perhaps we'll get to see that someday," Hayate said. "But for now, we have other matters to discuss."
They turned their attention back to the training grounds, where Nanoha, Fate, and Arc were chatting. They could see that the three of them were getting along well. It was a good sign. They would need to work together if they were to overcome the threat of Adamatron.
"Let's go talk to them," Hayate said. "I want to hear what they have to say about the spar."
They approached the trio, who were still discussing the finer points of their spar.
"That was an impressive display of skill," Hayate complimented. "You two are both incredibly talented."
"Thank you, Commander Yagami," Arc replied.
"We were just having some fun," Fate added. "It was a good way to get to know each other better."
"I agree," Arc said. "I'm glad we had this spar."
"So, what did you think of each other's abilities?" Hayate asked.
"Fate is incredibly fast and agile," Arc said. "Her close-combat skills are top-notch."
"Arc is very versatile," Fate said. "He can handle both melee and ranged combat with ease. And his device, Raging Brando, is incredibly powerful."
"You're too kind," Arc said. "But I still have a lot to learn."
"We all do," Fate agreed. "That's why we're here, right? To learn and grow stronger."
"Indeed," Hayate said. "And I have no doubt that you two will play a vital role in our fight against Adamatron."
The group nodded in agreement. They knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but they were determined to face it together. They would need to rely on each other's strengths if they were to overcome the threat of Adamatron. And they had no doubt that Fate and Arc would be a valuable asset to their team.
(To be continue)