The Asterisk War, Vol. 2: Awakening of Silver Beauty Read online

  “Anyway, you have a lot of moves, too. The one you used at the end—I hadn’t seen that before.”

  “Y-yes, well, that is something I take some pride in…” Julis nodded, her expression softening slightly.

  The breadth of her repertoire was extraordinary. Ayato had seen at least ten different techniques, ranging from attack to defense to support. This was yet more evidence of the mastery she had over her abilities.

  “But winning the Festa would be downright impossible without that level of skill,” she went on. “Ayato, who do you think has the better record at the Festa? Those with special powers, like Stregas and Dantes—or everyone else?”

  “Huh? Well, it must be people with special powers.”

  There were virtually no downsides for Stregas and Dantes. While it was true that they had to allocate prana to use their abilities, they still had an overwhelming advantage over those without.

  But Julis slowly shook her head.

  “It is true that their winning percentages are high—at least, early on in their careers,” she said with a conflicted look. “But as they continue to fight, most of them begin to lose more and more. Their powers are revealed, the specifics become widely known, and then the competition makes adjustments. There are a few fighters who don’t fit into that mold, but overall, those with special abilities win about fifty percent of the time.”

  “Adjustments?”

  “The students here aren’t stupid. If they knew they were fighting me, they would at least prepare to fight against fire. Just as Silas did.”

  Ayato remembered the boy they’d fought the other day. He had prepared fire-resistant dolls in fighting Julis.

  “I see. So Stregas and Dantes become predictable with their powers.”

  “Yes. The narrower the ability, the more powerful they are—but that comes with the cost of versatility. It would be easy enough to win against an opponent who’s never seen you before, but this tournament isn’t about winning once. You have to keep winning. Those who are able to maintain a high ranking are the ones who understand that.”

  Julis made it sound simple, but even Ayato could tell that a winning streak was easier said than done in Asterisk.

  “Luckily for me, I have an ability whose usage I can find ways to diversify. I have to make the most of it. That’s all there is to it.”

  “But Stregas and Dantes aren’t the only ones at a disadvantage when the competition knows their skills, right?”

  “Well, that’s true. But the trend is more marked for those with special abilities… Oh, by the way, how are you feeling? Physically, I mean. Any issues?” Julis suddenly peered into Ayato’s face.

  It was a casual gesture, but his cheeks grew hot as her shapely face came unexpectedly close to his own.

  Julis flinched when she noticed his embarrassment and quickly drew back. Like Ayato, her cheeks went red, and she found herself averting her gaze.

  “Um…I guess I’m okay. I can move around just fine.” Ayato shifted away a little before standing and brushed at his pants as if he could shake off the awkwardness between them along with the dust.

  “Oh. G-good. That’s good.” She nodded deliberately and cleared her throat. “So…the three-minute mark is a definite constraint.”

  “Seems that way. Is that too short?”

  “To be honest, it doesn’t make things very easy,” she replied, looking grim.

  Their earlier skirmish was more than mere training. They were testing how long Ayato could fight at full strength and the aftereffects on his body.

  Ayato’s full power had been sealed away by his sister, but he could release it of his own volition for a short time—a few minutes at most. And then there would be aftereffects, pain so intense he couldn’t move.

  Three minutes, they found, was the mark under which the aftereffects could be kept to a minimum.

  “I think I could fight normally like this,” he said.

  “You say that, but look at you… Well, I suppose it’s better than having you collapse on me.”

  With his power sealed, Ayato’s skills in combat were slightly below average among the fighters in Asterisk. While it was possible for him to fight at full strength for over five minutes, if he did so, the aftereffects would leave him practically paralyzed in agony for a full day. That was too high a risk for the Festa.

  Julis faced downward, lost in thought for several moments, and then slowly looked up at her friend. “Just to clarify—you can’t release your powers again from your current state?”

  “Not happening. I need at least a few hours to rest.”

  Even though he had some strength left now, the very act of breaking the seal took a tremendous amount of physical effort.

  “Maybe it would be possible just for a moment…,” he mused.

  Releasing his strength for only an instant, as he had done weeks before in his duel with Julis, took less of a toll on his body. It was akin to sliding out his hand between the bars of a cell rather than breaking free entirely.

  But even that much, he couldn’t do repeatedly.

  “We could use that for an emergency evasive maneuver or maybe a surprise attack,” Julis said. “Which is better than nothing.”

  “I think you’re right.”

  He recalled that he had very recently done that as an emergency maneuver.

  Thinking of that silver-haired girl he almost crashed into in the covered walkway and her resemblance to a small animal, he couldn’t help but smile.

  “At any rate, it’s no use fixating on the impossible,” Julis declared. “Let’s just accept that you can fight at full strength for three minutes and plan around that.”

  “Yeah, I agree. That’s more realistic.”

  “In three minutes, we should be able to handle most opponents. At least, we won’t have much trouble with students up to a level close to mine. I hate to admit it, but I know that from personal experience. But facing stronger opponents will be a problem.”

  “Are there many students stronger than you, Julis?”

  His question was entirely sincere. Her eyes widened. “Are you really serious—? Never mind. I think I’m finally beginning to understand you.”

  “Huh…?”

  “Ayato, I’m flattered that you think so highly of me, but here in Asterisk, there are a number of students stronger than me. Not a terribly big number—but a number. Even a conservative estimate would be more than I can count using all my fingers and toes.”

  “That many?”

  Julis was strong. The other day, she had struggled against Silas, but only after more or less falling into a trap. In Ayato’s estimation, by raw ability Silas was no match for his friend.

  Of course, it could be argued that creating such an uneven situation, as Silas had, was one kind of strength.

  “Just to name a well-known example, the president of Gallardworth’s student council is said to be a swordsman of the highest caliber. I’ve seen him fight, and he’s at least as good as you at full strength. I’ve also heard that Jie Long’s student council president has freakish abilities—although we probably don’t need to worry about her. She isn’t old enough yet to compete in the Festa.”

  “Hmm. The student council presidents of Gallardworth and Jie Long, huh?” Ayato got the impression that the student council presidents were all quite formidable, Claudia included. Then he recalled something. “Oh yeah, there’s one really strong person I know about. She was in the news last year for a few days running. She has successive Lindvolus victories under her belt, and she’s with Le Wolfe… What was her name…?”

  Ayato had little interest in the Festa, but the frenzy of media coverage surrounding that fighter had been impossible to miss even for him. The girl was the second fighter to ever win the Lindvolus two seasons in a row, and she was considered a near lock to become the first fighter to achieve three successive victories.

  “The Witch of Solitary Venom, Orphelia,” Julis murmured, her voice low and flat, as if to keep some em
otion at bay.

  “Oh yeah, that’s her!” Ayato clapped once and then noticed that something was off with Julis.

  She was staring at the floor with a conflicted look—that of anger and sadness.

  “Julis…?” he asked, and she suddenly looked up.

  “Oh—sorry. I was just thinking,” she said, evading the unspoken question, then struck a confident pose with her index finger pointed up.

  “A-anyway, there are also plenty of great fighters in Asterisk who aren’t students. The commander of the city guard, for instance, is a Strega renowned as the strongest in the city’s history, and our homeroom teacher, Ms. Yatsuzaki, is probably far stronger than I am.”

  “Ms. Yatsuzaki?”

  “You might not guess it, but she was the leader of the only team from Le Wolfe to win the Gryps. Why someone like that is teaching at Seidoukan, though, I have no idea.”

  Ayato thought about his rough-spoken, mean-eyed teacher. Now that Julis mentioned it, she never showed a moment of vulnerability in her everyday movements, and she meted out ruthless punishment to any students caught goofing off in class.

  Only a Genestella, and a very strong one at that, could deal with students in Asterisk that way.

  “However—there is one advantage you have over all of the fighters we just mentioned,” Julis said. “Do you know what that is?”

  “Huh…? Nope, not a clue.”

  “It’s that your abilities are not well-known yet. The incident with Silas was never made public, and there were no witnesses.”

  It was then that Ayato understood. “So that takes us back to what we were talking about before, right?”

  “Yes.”

  Going back to what Julis had said: that the competition didn’t know what to expect from him yet.

  “The Orga Lux leases at each school are public, so our opponents will prepare with that in mind… Although they can’t really do much with that information.” Julis looked over at the Ser Veresta, which was now in standby mode, and let out a small sigh. “If only you could wield it in your normal condition, too…”

  Ayato laughed nervously. “Well, that’s the one thing I can’t fix.”

  The Ser Veresta permitted him to wield it only when his powers were unshackled. If he were to pick it up now, it would remain in standby mode, its power dormant.

  “By the way, is it true that your sister used to wield that sword?”

  “All anyone can tell me is ‘probably,’” he admitted.

  “Hmm. But if it is true, that’s quite unusual.”

  “Yeah, I thought so, too. Siblings using the same Orga Lux…”

  “No, that’s not what I meant.” Julis shook her head. “Your sister is a Strega, isn’t she? Orga Luxes are rarely compatible with Stregas and other fighters with special abilities.”

  “Oh. Really?”

  “Yes. When they channel mana to their abilities, it apparently produces an adverse reaction in the urm-manadite. There are probably less than ten fighters in the history of Asterisk who were born with special powers and also wielded Orga Luxes.”

  “So Orga Luxes tend to dislike people with special powers?”

  Orga Lux weapons had a will of their own and chose their users. Ayato had experienced that firsthand—rather painfully.

  “The reasons aren’t well understood yet, but yes, it might be something like that.” Julis smiled and shrugged. “We’re getting off topic. At any rate, we have one month until the Phoenix. So be careful not to tip your hand by getting caught up in duels or anything like that. Agreed?”

  “Got it.”

  Julis nodded in satisfaction at his reply, then drew the rapier-shaped Lux from the holster at her waist and spun it in her hand. “Good. Let’s resume our training. I want us able to beat all but the highest-ranked competitors with your powers sealed. And to do that, we have to improve our teamwork, or I’ll end up burning you to a crisp along with our opponents.”

  “…That would not be ideal.” Definitely not.

  “We ought to have mock matches with another pair to spar against,” Julis said. “But that’s not exactly an option…”

  “Huh? Why don’t we just ask some of our classmates?”

  Julis glared at him, scowling. “That’s not very nice. You know I don’t have any friends here.”

  “Oh, um, I didn’t mean to—”

  “Anyway, did you already forget what we just discussed? Classmates or not, if they help us train, then they’ll find out about your power. Do you really have any—?”

  Just when Julis seemed about to launch into a tirade, a ringing sound shot through the room. A moment later, an air-window opened in front of them.

  “You have visitors. Would you like them shown inside?” the smooth artificial voice announced. Julis and Ayato looked at each other in surprise.

  “Well. You two are the last combination of visitors I could’ve expected,” Julis said to the two students at the entrance, with a somewhat musing look on her face.

  One was a young man over six feet tall, in stark contrast to the other, a girl so short she could be mistaken for a fifth grader. Both visitors stared at Julis with sullen expressions.

  “Saya and Lester?” Ayato blurted. “What are you two doing here?”

  As if in response, the girl—Saya Sasamiya—stepped forward and pointed straight at Julis. “Not fair.”

  “Wha—?” Caught off guard by this sudden declaration, Julis blinked several times with her mouth open. “‘Not fair’…? What’s not fair?”

  “You’ve been monopolizing Ayato lately, Riessfeld. This is a clear violation of antitrust law and other regulations pertaining to fair trade practices. I demand that this situation be rectified.”

  “I had no idea that associating with him was subject to antitrust laws,” Julis said, mildly astonished, but Saya took another step forward without so much as raising an eyebrow.

  “It’s no use playing dumb. The evidence speaks for itself. I’ve already determined beyond a reasonable doubt that you and Ayato have been spending entire afternoons in a locked room together, engaged in activities that you dare not speak of in public.”

  “Could you make that sound any more indecent?! We’re only training for the Phoenix! And where did you hear that drivel, anyway?”

  “I must protect my sources… Let’s just say that I heard it from the resourceful Mr. E.Y.”

  “Damn you, Yabuki!” It was too obvious.

  “You cling too much to Ayato in the first place, Riessfeld. Just the other day, you acted like you just happened to sit together at lunch, when in fact nothing could be more suspicious.”

  “Wha—? No, that really was a coincidence…!”

  “Coincidences don’t occur five days in a row. Your story holds water like a sieve.”

  Julis made a stifled, angry sound. “Then I’ve got something to say to you, too, Sasamiya! You just use that ‘we grew up together’ line as an excuse…”

  Saya and Julis went on in heated argument, close enough to literally butt heads.

  “Ooo-kay…I better stay out of that.” Ayato sighed. Then, with an awkward smile, he faced the male visitor, Lester MacPhail. “Out of the hospital, Lester? That’s good to see.”

  “Eh… It was really just a scratch,” Lester replied curtly, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

  Ayato had heard that the events of the other day had landed Lester in the hospital, but apparently he was not hurt too seriously. That, or he was a remarkably quick healer.

  “So, what brings you here?” Ayato asked. “And with Saya, no less.”

  “I just came across this pip-squeak on my way here. She looked kinda lost, and we were headed to the same place anyway. Figured I might as well let her tag along.”

  Somehow catching those words, Saya paused in her altercation with Julis to turn to Lester. “Who are you calling a pip-squeak? But anyway, thanks for bringing me with you.” She bobbed her head to him in gratitude, then promptly faced Julis again to resume their qu
arrel. She had a way of getting others to march to her drum.

  This training room was located inside an all-purpose arena where the official ranking matches were held. It was connected by a single path from the school building, making it almost impossible for someone to lose their way from one to the other. No one but Saya could pull it off, Ayato thought.

  “Um… But you were headed the same way?” he said. “You mean you wanted to see us, too, Lester?”

  Lester frowned even more deeply and looked away. “Yeah, so…that thing with Silas, I thought, well, you know. Well, that ended up with you, uh, helping me, pretty much. So, I thought, I should set things straight, or um, say thanks… So I, uh…” Lester paused there and gave Ayato a tiny bow, still not quite looking at him. “Well, thanks! That’s all I wanted to say. I’ll get out of your way now!”

  He was already turning to leave. Ayato stopped him. “Wha—! Hey, wait a second, Lester!”

  He had apparently come only to thank Ayato, in his own clumsy way. On that point, Lester and Julis were not all that different.

  Ayato couldn’t stand to miss this chance to reconcile with the boy who had previously shown so much animosity toward him. And the perfect idea came to him. “Oh yeah! We were just looking for sparring partners, to train with for the tag match. Lester, would you mind helping us out? You and Saya.”

  “Practice partners?”

  “Huh?”

  Lester, Saya, and Julis all turned toward Ayato.

  “H-hey, Ayato, you can’t just—!”

  “But we do need practice partners, don’t we? And we can trust these two with my secret.”

  Lester already had learned some details about Ayato’s condition, and Saya already knew about his true powers.

  “Well, I suppose so, but…”

  Ayato took that halting response from Julis as acquiescence. “What do you say, guys? You’d really be doing us a favor.”

  Saya was quick to accept with a nod. “I don’t mind.”