Possibly, with training. Original Spells typically manifest in moments of extreme stress initially, but with practice, most users learn to control them." Her expression grew serious. "Which brings us to your current situation."
"The Archduke wants to see me," Kazuki remembered. "Because of this Original Spell?"
"Precisely. Original Spell users are rare—perhaps one in ten thousand people in our kingdom possess them, and many have abilities far less significant than what you demonstrated." She lowered her voice further. "The value of having an Original Spell user with your capabilities is immeasurable, particularly in times of conflict. It's likely the only reason you haven't been executed as a suspected cultist."
Kazuki absorbed this soberly. "They want to use me as a weapon."
"They want to understand your potential," Reina corrected diplomatically. "For now, Captain Valerius and I have been appointed as your... watchers. The Archduke wishes us to assess the extent of your abilities while continuing to investigate your connection—if any—to the Masked Ones."
"Valerius must be thrilled," Kazuki remarked dryly.
A hint of a smile touched Reina's lips. "The Captain has expressed his reservations, yes. But he follows orders."
She stood, smoothing her dress. "You should prepare yourself. The Archduke is expecting us within the hour. There are fresh clothes in the wardrobe, more suitable for a court appearance." She gestured toward a carved wooden cabinet against the wall. "The guards will escort you to the bathing chamber if you wish to refresh yourself."
"And if I try to escape?" Kazuki asked, more out of curiosity than actual intent.
"Don't," Reina said simply. "Your demonstration yesterday has put everyone on edge. The guards now carry specialized restraints designed for magical prisoners. And while most of the castle knows something unusual happened, the specific nature of your ability remains confidential. Captain Valerius would prefer to keep it that way."
She moved toward the door, then paused. "One more thing. The Archduke values directness and clarity. Answer his questions truthfully, but concisely. Elaborate only when asked to do so." With that final advice, she departed, leaving Kazuki to prepare for what would undoubtedly be a pivotal meeting.
---
The audience chamber of Castle Crystallis lived up to its name. Massive crystal formations erupted from the stone floor and walls, catching and refracting the sunlight that streamed through tall stained-glass windows. The effect was both beautiful and disorienting—constantly shifting patterns of colored light that made it difficult to focus on any one thing for too long.
Kazuki walked between Reina and Captain Valerius, four guards following at a respectful distance. He wore the clothing provided—a dark blue tunic with silver embroidery at the collar and cuffs, black trousers, and polished leather boots. The quality was evident, suggesting he was being presented not as a prisoner but as a potential asset.
Valerius had said nothing to him since entering his chambers, maintaining a stony silence that conveyed his disapproval more effectively than words. The captain's hand remained on his sword hilt, a not-so-subtle reminder of the threat he still perceived Kazuki to be.
At the far end of the chamber, upon a raised dais, stood an ornate chair—not quite a throne, but clearly a seat of authority. In it sat a man who could only be the Archduke. He was older than Kazuki had expected, perhaps in his early sixties, with a neatly trimmed white beard and shrewd eyes set in a face mapped with the lines of experience. He wore dark purple robes with the silver emblem of Azuria embroidered on the chest.
Several advisors flanked the dais, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright suspicion as they watched Kazuki's approach. Guards in more elaborate armor than the regular castle patrol stood at attention along the walls.
As they reached the foot of the dais, Reina and Valerius both bowed. Kazuki, taking his cue from them, did the same.
"Your Grace," Valerius began formally, "as requested, we present the foreign arrival for your examination."
The Archduke studied Kazuki with penetrating intensity. "So. You are the man who appeared in a flash of blue light during our Spring Festival. The man who cannot be touched." His voice was deep and measured, the voice of someone accustomed to being listened to carefully.
"My name is Kazuki Mizushima," Kazuki replied, meeting the Archduke's gaze directly. "And the... intangibility... was as surprising to me as it was to everyone else."
A murmur ran through the advisors at his candor. The Archduke raised a hand, silencing them.
"Lady Reina reports that you claim to be from another world entirely. A physician of some kind." The skepticism in his tone was evident.
"Yes, Your Grace. I'm a doctor specializing in neuropharmacology—the study of how drugs affect the nervous system, particularly the brain." Kazuki kept his answer concise, following Reina's advice.
"And you have no memory of how you came to be in Azuria?"
"My memories have been... tampered with," Kazuki explained. "I remember my professional knowledge and skills, but much of my personal history is blocked or fragmented. Lady Reina confirmed this through magical examination."
The Archduke's gaze shifted to Reina. "Is this true?"
She stepped forward with a respectful nod. "Yes, Your Grace. His mind shows evidence of sophisticated memory barriers—far beyond anything I've encountered before. They appear to be selectively blocking specific information while leaving his professional knowledge intact."
"Convenient," remarked one of the advisors, a thin man with a pinched expression.
"Or deliberate," countered the Archduke thoughtfully. "If you wanted to send an agent into a foreign realm with valuable skills but without compromising information, such selective memory alteration would be an elegant solution." He returned his attention to Kazuki. "Which leaves us with the question of your purpose here. Are you ally or enemy? Asset or threat?"
"I wish I knew," Kazuki replied honestly. "But I have no interest in causing harm to your people. If the Masked Ones brought me here, it wasn't with my knowledge or consent."
"Yet you possess an Original Spell of remarkable power," the Archduke observed. "One that, according to Captain Valerius's report, manifested precisely when you were about to be formally interrogated. Some might call that suspicious timing."
Kazuki glanced at Valerius, whose expression remained impassive. "I had no idea I possessed any magical abilities until that moment. In my world, such things don't exist—or if they do, they're well hidden."
The Archduke leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled beneath his chin. "Lady Reina, your assessment?"
She stepped forward again. "Based on my examinations, I believe his Original Spell is genuine—not an artificial construct or temporarily granted power. The magical signature is deeply integrated with his metaphysical structure, despite his otherworldly origin. As for his connection to the Masked Ones..." She hesitated. "The evidence remains circumstantial. His arrival coincided with their prophecy, but his blood shows no traces of the corruption typically associated with their magic."
"And his memories of this 'Project Bifrost'?" the Archduke prompted.
"Fragmentary, but potentially significant," Reina replied. "The symbol he recalled matches exactly with the one found at the monastery massacre site. This suggests a connection, but not necessarily complicity."
The Archduke was silent for a long moment, weighing his options. The chamber remained perfectly still, all eyes fixed on him, awaiting his judgment.
"Here is what I have decided," he finally announced. "This foreign physician, Kazuki Mizushima, will remain under castle protection and supervision. Captain Valerius and Lady Reina will continue as his appointed watchers, with dual responsibilities: First, to assess and develop his Original Spell capabilities; second, to investigate his potential connection to the Masked Ones."
He leaned forward, fixing Kazuki with a stern gaze. "You will cooperate fully with their instructions. Any attempt to escape or use your abilities against the people of this castle will be met with immediate and permanent neutralization. Do you understand?"
Kazuki nodded. "I understand, Your Grace."
"Furthermore," the Archduke continued, "I am dispatching the three of you to Oakvale—the town nearest the monastery where the most recent attack occurred. You will investigate for any signs of the Masked Ones' continued presence in the area."
This announcement drew surprised murmurs from the advisors and a visible frown from Valerius.
"Your Grace," the captain said cautiously, "is it wise to send this... visitor... beyond the castle walls? His abilities make him difficult to contain should he attempt escape."
"Which is precisely why you and Lady Reina will both accompany him," the Archduke replied firmly. "Between your military expertise and her magical capabilities, you should be able to manage one man—especially one who claims to be cooperative." He turned back to Kazuki. "This will be your opportunity to demonstrate your value to our kingdom. Help us understand these attacks, and your status here will improve accordingly."
It was clear from his tone that this was not a request but a command—and possibly a test. Kazuki bowed again. "I'll do whatever I can to help."
"Excellent." The Archduke rose from his chair, signaling the end of the audience. "You will depart tomorrow at dawn. Lady Reina, ensure that our guest receives appropriate equipment for the journey. Captain Valerius, you will select a small contingent of your most trusted guards to accompany you."
As they were dismissed and led from the chamber, Kazuki caught Reina's eye. She gave him a subtle nod that he interpreted as approval—he had handled the audience well. Valerius, by contrast, radiated barely contained frustration as he marched ahead of them.
Once they were in the corridor outside, safely beyond the Archduke's hearing, the captain rounded on Kazuki.
"Let me be absolutely clear," he said in a low, dangerous voice. "I don't trust you. I don't believe your convenient memory loss. And I certainly don't believe you have no connection to the cult that's been terrorizing our kingdom."
"Captain—" Reina began, but he cut her off with a sharp gesture.
"No, Lady Reina. He should understand exactly where he stands." Valerius leaned closer to Kazuki, his voice dropping further. "I've been granted full authority to eliminate you should you prove a threat during this mission. One suspicious move, one hint you're communicating with the Masked Ones, and my sword will find its mark—phase-shifting ability or not."
Rather than intimidated, Kazuki felt a spark of irritation. "I want to find the truth as much as you do, Captain. Maybe more, since my own identity seems to be tied up in it." He met Valerius's glare steadily. "I'm not your enemy unless you make me one."
They stood locked in silent confrontation until Reina stepped between them, her expression stern.
"Enough, both of you. This posturing serves no one. We have preparations to make for tomorrow's departure." She looked pointedly at Valerius. "Captain, perhaps you should select your guards for the mission?"
For a moment, it seemed like Valerius might refuse, but military discipline won out. With a final warning glare at Kazuki, he strode away down the corridor, his cape billowing behind him.
When he was gone, Reina sighed. "The captain is... protective of this kingdom. His suspicion is not personal."
"Seems pretty personal from where I'm standing," Kazuki remarked.
"He lost his family in one of the first Masked Ones attacks," she explained quietly. "His wife and young daughter. The disease transformed them before they died—made them unrecognizable. He had to identify them by the jewelry they wore."
Kazuki's irritation drained away, replaced by genuine sympathy. "I didn't know."
"Few do. He doesn't speak of it." She gestured for him to follow her down a different corridor. "Come. If we're to leave at dawn, we need to prepare you. The journey to Oakvale takes a day on horseback, and you'll need equipment."
As they walked, Kazuki processed everything he'd learned. "This mission—it's a test, isn't it? To see if I'll try to escape once outside the castle walls."
"Partly," Reina acknowledged. "But it's also practical. The Archduke needs to understand these attacks, and having someone with medical knowledge—especially someone who might recognize aspects of this 'Project Bifrost' you mentioned—could be valuable."
"And to see if I'm secretly meeting with cultists," Kazuki added dryly.
She didn't deny it. "That possibility will be monitored, yes."
They turned down another corridor, this one lined with windows overlooking an inner courtyard. Guards practiced swordplay below, their movements precise and disciplined under the watchful eye of an instructor.
"What do you think I'll find in Oakvale?" Kazuki asked.
Reina's expression grew somber. "I don't know. But the attacks are escalating in both frequency and sophistication. The monastery victims showed signs of transformation beyond anything we'd seen previously. It was as if..." She hesitated, searching for words. "As if their bodies were being redesigned from the inside out, following some alien blueprint."
The description sent a chill through Kazuki, triggering another fragmentary memory—laboratory notes describing "systematic cellular reorganization" and "guided evolutionary pathways." But the context remained frustratingly out of reach.