The courtyard of Castle Crystallis bustled with pre-dawn activity, castle staff moving with practiced efficiency despite the early hour. The soft golden light of enchanted lanterns pushed back against the lingering darkness, casting long shadows across the flagstones. In the center of this controlled chaos stood three figures beside massive beasts that dwarfed ordinary horses.
Kazuki adjusted the leather vambrace on his forearm, still unused to the weight of the light armor Reina had insisted he wear. The past two days had transformed him from prisoner to reluctant expedition member with dizzying speed. His quarters remained guarded, but he'd been granted limited freedom within certain areas of the castle—always under supervision, of course.
"Are you comfortable with the armor?" Reina asked, approaching from where she'd been speaking with a castle servant. She wore practical riding attire—dark green trousers and a fitted tunic beneath a leather jerkin reinforced with metal plates along vital areas. Her hair was braided back tightly, and a slender silver-hilted dagger hung at her hip alongside a series of small pouches that Kazuki assumed contained magical components.
"As comfortable as I'm likely to get," he replied, rolling his shoulders experimentally. "Though I still don't understand why we need something this heavy for a simple investigation."
"Simple?" Valerius scoffed from where he was checking the saddle straps on his mount. "Nothing involving the Masked Ones is ever simple." The captain was fully armored in gleaming plate decorated with the silver emblem of Azuria across the chestplate. A helmet hung from his saddle, and a longsword and dagger were secured at his waist.
Reina shot Valerius a quelling look before turning back to Kazuki. "The armor is precautionary. Azure may be a trading hub, but any city has its dangers—especially one potentially housing cultists."
Kazuki nodded, turning his attention to the massive creature beside him. The armor steed snorted softly, pawing at the ground with a hoof the size of a dinner plate. It resembled a horse in its general build and demeanor, but the similarities ended there. Standing nearly twice as tall as an Earth horse, its body was covered in overlapping scales of dark green that gleamed like polished jade in the lantern light. A ridge of harder, plate-like scales ran along its spine, forming natural armor that no sword could easily penetrate.
"They're quite docile once they accept you," Reina said, noticing his hesitation. "This one is named Tempest. She's one of our gentler mounts, selected specifically because you're not an experienced rider."
"How can you tell they've accepted you?" Kazuki asked, cautiously extending his hand toward the beast.
"When they don't try to bite your arm off," Valerius remarked dryly, swinging himself up into his saddle with practiced ease. His mount, a larger specimen with scales so dark they appeared almost black, tossed its head impatiently.
Tempest lowered her massive head, warm breath huffing against Kazuki's palm as she sniffed him. After a moment's consideration, she nudged his hand in what seemed like acceptance.
"See? She likes you," Reina said with a small smile. "Now, do you remember how to mount properly? Left foot in the stirrup, swing your right leg over, settle gently into the saddle."
Kazuki followed her instructions, grateful for the brief riding lessons he'd received the previous day. Despite his inexperience, something about the basic mechanics felt familiar—perhaps muscle memory from his past that the memory blocks hadn't fully erased. He settled into the saddle, adjusting his posture as Reina had taught him.
"Good," she approved, mounting her own steed with fluid grace—a slightly smaller armor steed with scales in a lighter shade of green that complemented her attire. "Keep your back straight but not rigid, and remember that Tempest will respond more to the pressure of your legs than to the reins."
"If you fall off and break your neck, try not to delay our schedule," Valerius added, his voice carrying no hint of humor despite the ostensible joke. Four of his personal guards had mounted their own steeds nearby, completing their small expedition party.
"Your concern is touching," Kazuki replied evenly.
Reina cleared her throat. "Azure is approximately four hours' ride from here if we maintain a steady pace. We'll be following the Silver River Trade Route, which is well-traveled and generally safe. Captain Valerius's guards will ride point and rear, with us three in the center formation."
Valerius nodded curtly. "We should arrive by midday, barring complications. Remember, this is primarily an investigative mission. We observe, gather information, and report back to the Archduke. No heroics." His pointed gaze at Kazuki made it clear whom he expected to cause trouble.
"Given my limited understanding of this world's geography, heroics are the last thing on my mind," Kazuki assured him.
A steward approached, offering a sealed scroll to Valerius. "Captain, final authorization from the Archduke for your expedition. The gates will be opened for your departure."
Valerius took the scroll, breaking the wax seal and scanning its contents briefly before tucking it into a secure pouch at his belt. "We're cleared to depart. Guards, formation!"
As the small party arranged themselves, Kazuki adjusted his position in the saddle, trying to find the most comfortable arrangement for what promised to be a long ride. His nights had been filled with fragmented dreams since the awakening of his Original Spell—disjointed images of laboratories, faceless colleagues, and strange machinery interspersed with glimpses of blue light and a persistent symbol that matched the one he'd drawn for Reina. Each morning, he'd wake with the frustrating sensation that important memories were just beyond his reach.
"Something troubles you?" Reina asked quietly as they began moving toward the castle gates, her mount falling into step beside his.
"Just thinking about my dreams," Kazuki admitted. "They've been more vivid since..." he gestured vaguely, reluctant to mention his abilities where Valerius might overhear.
"Since your Original Spell manifested," she finished, keeping her voice low. "That's not uncommon. Original Spells are deeply connected to one's inner self. Awakening one often stirs other aspects of consciousness, including memory."
"Have you been able to learn anything more about the memory blocks?"
Reina shook her head. "They're remarkably sophisticated—far beyond standard memory magic as we understand it. I've consulted some texts from the castle library, but..." She hesitated. "To be honest, the magical signature doesn't match anything in our records."
"Another mystery to add to my growing collection," Kazuki sighed.
The gates of Castle Crystallis loomed before them—massive structures of wood reinforced with bands of enchanted metal. Guards stationed in the watchtowers above called out orders, and slowly, the enormous gates swung open, revealing the road beyond. It wound down from the castle's elevated position, through the lower town that had grown around the castle's base, and eventually into the fertile countryside beyond.
"Partly," she admitted. "But mostly of what you represent—an unknown variable in a situation that's already unstable." She adjusted her position in the saddle, continuing in a thoughtful tone. "The Masked Ones first appeared about two years ago. Their attacks were isolated at first, targeting remote villages and farms. But they've grown bolder, their tactics more sophisticated."
"And deadlier, from what you've told me," Kazuki added.
Reina nodded grimly. "The disease they spread... it's unlike anything our healers have encountered. It doesn't just kill—it transforms. Victims develop growths, their skin hardens in patches, internal organs rearrange or fuse together." She shuddered slightly. "In the final stages, they lose all semblance of their former selves, both physically and mentally."
"It sounds like some form of directed mutation," Kazuki said, medical training surfacing through his fragmented memories. "Targeted genetic manipulation to fundamentally alter the organism's structure."
"If by that you mean deliberately reshaping a person's essential nature, then yes." Reina looked troubled. "Our understanding is that the Masked Ones believe they're... 'improving' humanity. Creating what they call 'the perfected form.'"
Something cold settled in Kazuki's stomach. The phrase triggered another memory fragment—a laboratory document with "Project Bifrost: Pathways to Human Perfection" printed across the header. Before he could grasp at the memory further, it slipped away, leaving only the uneasy sensation that he should know more than he did.
They rode in silence for some time after that, each lost in their own thoughts. The countryside gradually gave way to more populated areas—farming communities giving way to larger settlements as they approached Azure. The road became busier, filled with merchants and travelers making their way to and from the trading hub.
Around midday, as Reina had predicted, the city of Azure came into view. It sprawled across both banks of the Silver River, connected by several stone bridges that arched gracefully over the water. The architecture was a fascinating blend of styles—evidence of the city's status as a multicultural trading center. Tall spires rose alongside squat, practical buildings, bright banners fluttering from many rooftops. A wall surrounded the city proper, though Kazuki could see that development had expanded beyond its confines in several areas, creating bustling suburbs.
"Azure," Reina announced as they crested a small rise in the road. "Population approximately fifty thousand, making it the second-largest city in the kingdom after the capital. It sits at the junction of three major trade routes and serves as the primary distribution point for goods traveling to and from the eastern provinces."
"And home to some of the finest taverns in Azuria," added one of Valerius's guards with a grin, quickly sobering when his captain shot him a disapproving look.
They approached the main gates, joining the queue of travelers waiting for entry. Guards in blue and silver uniforms—the colors of Azure rather than the royal purple and silver of Castle Crystallis—checked credentials and questioned those seeking entrance. When they reached the front of the line, Valerius presented the Archduke's scroll to the gate captain, who examined the seal carefully before offering a crisp salute.
"Captain Valerius, we received word of your pending arrival. Welcome to Azure." The gate captain's gaze slid curiously to Kazuki and Reina. "These are your... associates?"
"Lady Reina of the Royal Medical College and..." Valerius hesitated fractionally. "Special Consultant Mizushima. We're here on official business for the Archduke."
The gate captain nodded, stepping aside to allow them passage. "Of course. Knight-Captain Regulus has been notified of your arrival and requests your presence at the Azure Watch headquarters at your earliest convenience."
Reina noticed Kazuki taking in the view. "First time seeing beyond the castle walls?"
"First time that I can remember," he corrected. "Though something tells me I've traveled extensively before... whatever happened to bring me here."
"The road to Azure follows the Silver River for most of the journey," Reina explained as they passed through the gates, the guards saluting Captain Valerius as they rode past. "It's one of the major trade arteries of the kingdom. The river itself is rich in silver deposits upstream, hence the name."
Kazuki appreciated her attempt at normalcy, discussing geography as if they were simply travelers rather than an odd party consisting of a military captain, a magical healer, and an amnesiac foreigner with mysterious abilities. As they descended through the lower town, he observed the daily life of Azure's citizens with keen interest—bakers opening their shops, merchants arranging wares, children running errands for their parents. It felt simultaneously familiar and utterly alien.
Once beyond the town proper, the landscape opened up into gently rolling countryside. Fields of golden grain stretched away on either side of the road, interrupted occasionally by orchards heavy with summer fruit. In the distance, the Silver River gleamed like its namesake in the morning sun, its waters reflecting the light with an almost metallic shimmer.
"The weather seems to be in our favor," Reina commented, glancing at the clear blue sky. "We should make good time."
"Indeed," Valerius agreed from his position slightly ahead of them. "Though I would trade clear skies for clear answers about what awaits us in Azure." He half-turned in his saddle, fixing Kazuki with a suspicious glare. "Have you remembered anything else about your connection to these cultists?"
"Captain," Reina warned, "we've been over this. The evidence suggests—"
"The evidence suggests precisely nothing conclusive," Valerius interrupted. "His arrival coincides perfectly with the prophecy. He possesses an Original Spell of remarkable power. And his memories conveniently exclude any information that might incriminate him."
Kazuki met the captain's gaze steadily. "I understand your suspicion, Captain. In your position, I'd probably feel the same. But I'm as eager to understand my connection to these events as you are."
"Pretty words," Valerius scoffed. "Yet when pressed, you phase through solid matter—a convenient ability for someone with urgent need to escape justice."
"An ability I can barely control," Kazuki reminded him. "And one that manifested as a reflexive defense against torture, if you recall."
Valerius's expression darkened. "The Archduke's interrogation techniques are a necessary evil in times of crisis. The Masked Ones have slaughtered hundreds of innocent citizens. If breaking a few fingers would reveal information that could prevent further deaths, I consider that justified."
Before Kazuki could respond, Reina intervened. "This debate serves no purpose. Captain, you've made your position clear. Dr. Mizushima, we understand your frustration. However, our focus should be on the mission ahead." She nodded toward the horizon. "Azure awaits, and with it, hopefully, answers for all of us."
The tension lingered, but Valerius turned his attention back to the road, spurring his mount slightly ahead. One of his guards shot Kazuki a warning look before following his captain.
"He's afraid," Reina said quietly when Valerius was out of earshot. "Fear often masquerades as anger or suspicion."
"Fear of what? Me?"
"We'll attend to that immediately," Valerius confirmed. "Has there been any unusual activity reported recently?"
A shadow passed over the gate captain's face. "I'm not at liberty to discuss details here, sir, but yes. Knight-Captain Regulus will brief you fully."
This exchange visibly increased Valerius's tension. As they rode through the gates into the city proper, he signaled to his guards to maintain a tighter formation around their group. "It seems our timing may be fortuitous," he said dryly. "Or perhaps not coincidental at all." The suspicious glance he directed at Kazuki made his implication clear.
Azure's streets were busy with midday traffic—merchants hawking wares from colorful stalls, craftspeople displaying their work, travelers from various regions identifiable by their distinctive dress. The cacophony of languages and dialects created a constant background hum, punctuated by the occasional shout or burst of laughter. Delicious aromas wafted from food vendors, making Kazuki suddenly aware of his hunger after the long ride.
They made their way through the crowded streets toward the city center, where the Azure watch headquarters stood—a solid stone building with a blue banner bearing the city's emblem fluttering from its roof. Guards in the same blue and silver uniforms stood at attention outside its doors.
"We should stable our mounts and secure lodgings before meeting with Regulus," Reina suggested as they approached.
Valerius nodded reluctantly. "There's an inn nearby that caters to official visitors—the Silver Shield. It's secure and discreet." He gestured to one of his guards. "Tomas, arrange for our accommodations and see to the armor steeds. The rest of you will accompany us to the Watch headquarters."
The guard saluted and departed with their mounts after they had dismounted. Kazuki stretched, trying to relieve the stiffness in his legs and back from the long ride. Despite Reina's lessons, he wasn't accustomed to spending hours in the saddle, and his body was protesting accordingly.
"First time on an armor steed?" one of the remaining guards asked sympathetically, noticing Kazuki's discomfort.
"That obvious?" Kazuki replied with a rueful smile.
"You did well for a novice," the guard offered. "Most first-timers can't walk properly for days afterward."
"Enough chatter," Valerius interrupted. "Let's proceed."
They approached the Watch headquarters, where the guards straightened to attention as they recognized Valerius's royal insignia. One opened the door, admitting them to a busy entry hall. Officers and messengers moved purposefully around the space, some consulting maps pinned to the walls, others delivering reports or receiving orders. Despite the activity, there was an underlying tension to the atmosphere—voices kept low, expressions serious.
A senior officer approached them immediately. "Captain Valerius? Knight-Captain Regulus is expecting you. Please, follow me."
They were led through the building to a large office on the upper floor. Maps of Azure and the surrounding region covered one wall, many marked with colored pins and notations. A sturdy desk occupied the center of the room, covered in reports and correspondence, behind which stood a broad-shouldered man with white hair cropped close to his scalp. A massive scar ran from his left temple down across his cheek to the corner of his mouth, pulling his features into a permanent half-grimace.
"Knight-Captain Regulus," Valerius greeted formally.