The heavy doors slammed shut behind the three with a dull thud. The central chamber of the Tower of Voices was familiar once more, but there was a palpable difference. A contained tension hung in the air like an omen.
At the top of the ceremonial staircase, where they had previously been presented to the Council, stood Shiori again, between the steps of the throne, arms crossed and a neutral expression. Beside her, the other three members of the Council, Asuka, Akari, and Yuto, slowly ascended the steps, each returning to their previous positions. Their formal attire was still impeccable, and the contrast with the weariness of the three young people was almost symbolic.
"They've arrived." Shiori said, her voice firm but without hostility. She took a few steps forward, her heels echoing on the black marble. "I hope the Tower has treated you with some... leniency."
No one answered. The silence of the three, still somewhat exhausted and overwhelmed by what they had experienced, was more eloquent than any words.
Shiori let out a soft sigh and raised a thin, blue crystal she carried strapped to her waist. At the touch of her fingers, it shone intensely. A floating panel of light appeared before her with the data collected in the assessments: readings of Ætheric energy, mental stability, physical capacity, compatibility with masks.
She read for a moment, her gaze clinical and attentive, as if analyzing a poorly done school exam. Finally, she sighed with a hint of disappointment.
"As I expected." she said, with a cold touch in her voice. "Mixed results. Brightness... punctual, but unstable."
Reika frowned.
"What do you mean by that?"
"It means you have potential." Shiori replied, descending the steps slowly, but with authority in each step. "But you're far from being able to use it. Emotional strength and connection with masks are unstable. Inconsistent physical coordination. Aetheric control… practically zero."
Takumi grimaced.
"Wow… You could at least have started with a 'good job'."
Shiori stopped right in front of the three. She was shorter than the young people, but at that moment, her presence made her seem almost gigantic.
"Your good work begins the day after tomorrow." she said firmly. "Because then, and only then, will your official training begin."
Renjiro's eyes widened.
"The day after tomorrow...?"
Reika stepped back slightly, her eyes still marked by the mental assessment.
"But... we're still trying to process all of this."
Shiori remained unwavering.
"Two days. Until then, rest, explore, prepare yourself. Because after that, there will be no pause. Tamashi Zetsumetsu is not a title. It's a function. And you were chosen."
"Chosen by whom...?" Renjiro murmured, more to himself.
"By the Veil." Akari said from above. "And because of your masks. Whether you like it or not… your journey has begun."
Yuto crossed his arms and smiled.
"I hope you bring more energy to training than you brought to warm-up. The fun is only just beginning."
"But also suffering." added Asuka, impassively. "I hope they have strong stomachs."
Reika let out a dramatic sigh and murmured:
"What have I gotten myself into…"
Shiori turned her back to them and began to climb the stairs again.
"Rest well, Bearers. Because your body, mind, and soul… will be put to the test like never before."
The three stood there, digesting each word.
Still standing before the stairs, the three young bearers digested Shiori's last sentence when, from above, a slow, drawling voice broke the silence.
"Yaaan... Shiori..." Ryo began, stretching as if he had just woken from a thousand-year nap. "You forgot the most important thing."
Shiori, who was already halfway to the throne, stopped. She turned her face slightly to the side, her eyes half-closed as if trying to remember a critical detail.
"Hm...? Ah. You're right."
She turned completely around, descended the steps again with firmer steps, and stopped in front of the trio once more. Her face was now more serious. The expression of nobility had given way to something darker, almost bitter.
"There's something you need to know. Something that explains why your training can't wait… and why you aren't like the other citizens out there."
She gestured, and a shimmering hologram appeared in the air. It was a representation of the Yumehara plane, mountains, cities, forests, rivers. And then, a second layer overlaid the map: a disfigured land, made of shadows and broken structures, floating mirrors and crooked towers. A world that seemed to be in constant turmoil.
"That's Nakarith." said Shiori. "A plane parallel to ours, hidden by the Veil[1], the same Veil that your masks tore when you awoke."
Takumi narrowed his eyes.
"It looks like a nightmare…"
"Because it is. And in this nightmare… there's the Kurogane no Kagura. A group of seven. They were the first to master masks… but they failed. They surrendered to power. They became part of Nakarith. And now… they send Velkraths."
The name echoed through the room like muffled thunder.
Renjiro felt a chill run down his spine.
"Velkraths…?"
Shiori nodded with a heavy look.
"Souls. Human beings like you. Like us. Bearers who couldn't resist the influence of the masks. Who succumbed to the madness of Æther. They lose their identity, become killing machines. When they cross the Veil… everything they touch dies or goes mad."
Reika covered her mouth with her hand, her gaze distant. This wasn't just a training game or mystical powers. It was war.
"But… why us? Why are we called to this?" she murmured.
Akari answered from above, her voice serene:
"Because you didn't break. Because your souls endured the ordeal. And the masks… chose you."
Shiori took a deep breath, and her posture softened slightly. For the first time since they met her, her expression seemed… human. Almost maternal.
"I know this is a lot of information. That you are exhausted. And that everything seems to have come from a poorly told story… But your role here is not a choice. It's a consequence. And a responsibility."
She took two steps forward.
"And so… I'm sorry. For giving you so little time. For pressuring you. But every second counts. Every Velkrath that crosses the Veil could mean a destroyed village. Or worse."
Silence fell like a thick cloak over the room.
Ryo stretched again and yawned loudly.
"Well… now that our guests know the world could end… would you like some cookies?"
Shiori rolled her eyes.
Reika crossed her arms.
"Only if they're chocolate."
A smile escaped the lips of the Queen of Yumehara.
"Rest. Recover. Training starts the day after tomorrow. And from then on… everything will change."
Silence settled in again. The weight of reality was palpable, but no longer so oppressive. The three young men were still processing everything, standing in the center of that imposing hall, surrounded by figures that seemed to have stepped out of a living legend.
Renjiro lowered his gaze for a few seconds, frowning slightly. Something didn't add up.
"Wait a minute..." he murmured, looking up again "Where's Izanai? He hasn't been here since this started..."
And it was at that exact moment that a male voice whispered right behind them:
"Boo."
"AH?!?!" the three shouted in unison, almost tripping over each other as they turned around with wide eyes.
There he was, Izanai. Leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, with a half-smile on his lips, as if he had just won an award for scare of the year. His black coat fluttered slightly in the air current that swept through the tower, and the glint in his eyes was as provocative as it was serene.
"What the hell…?" exclaimed Takumi, clutching his chest "Do you want to give someone a heart attack?"
"You should see your face." said Izanai calmly "Absolutely glorious."
Akari put a hand to her mouth and let out an elegant laugh.
"Never fails…" she commented, laughing.
Yuto fell to the ground laughing loudly, slamming his hand on the floor.
"That guy... you're such an idiot, Izanai."
Asuka tried to contain herself, but the corners of her mouth betrayed her serious demeanor. She let out a grumble, crossing her arms.
"Tch. Childish."
Even Shiori, who rarely let more than a diplomatic smile show, leaned slightly back and let out a crystal-clear laugh.
Ryo let out an almost imperceptible "heh"... but it was enough to make it clear that even he found it funny.
Renjiro looked at Izanai with a furrowed brow and a semi-indignant air.
"Where the hell were you?! We thought you'd vanished into thin air."
Izanai raised an eyebrow and began walking towards them with his hands in his pockets.
"Let's just say I was… observing. You handled the weight of the information well, and honestly, I wanted to see how you would react. It was important."
Reika squinted.
"So, Mr. Goth decided to play the ghost just to spy?"
"Let's just say so." Izanai smiled, stopping right in front of them. "But now I'm here. And I'm glad to see you didn't run away screaming."
Takumi snorted.
"That was close."
Shiori resumed her more formal tone and gestured with her hand, drawing attention again.
"Now that we're all present… and alive..." she gave Izanai a brief, playful glance "You can go and rest. Tomorrow is yours. The day after tomorrow… the real journey begins."
Renjiro crossed his arms, leaning slightly back, and cast an inquisitive look at everyone present, especially Shiori.
"Okay… so can I ask you something?" he said, with a slight hint of sarcasm. "What was the point of all this ceremonial theater? The dresses, the lights, the dramatic entrance… We only did evaluations, and it wasn't even that worthy of a gala event."
Silence fell like a blade for a second. The Council group exchanged slightly embarrassed glances. Shiori maintained a diplomatic smile, but her eyes widened subtly.
Asuka was the first to speak, with that typical tone, somewhere between disdain and sincerity, that was characteristic of her.
"Shiori... wanted us to seem more... how do you say... refined. Sophisticated. She thought it would be better to make a good impression, so they wouldn't think that-"
"ASUKA!" Shiori shouted, in a tone so loud and shrill that even the windows of the Tower seemed to vibrate.
Everyone looked at her, flushed face, wide eyes, and a rigid posture, as if she had just been caught naked in public.
"Shut up! You're not supposed to be saying things like that in front of them!"
Asuka shrugged with a deep sigh and turned away.
"Tch… It was Renjiro who asked, I just…"
Shiori covered her face with one hand, muttering something like "incompetent, unbearable, always ruining the moment…", while the rest of the Council tried not to laugh. Yuto was almost choking from holding back laughter, Akari shook her head with a tired smile, and even Ryo let out a "haha… what a ridiculous scene."
Reika raised an eyebrow, looking at the two boys beside her.
"Is this the Council that's going to train us?"
Takumi bit his lower lip, trying not to laugh.
"Faith in the crazy ones." he murmured, once again.
Renjiro let out a light laugh, the atmosphere becoming momentarily more relaxed.
Shiori composed herself with a throat clearing, straightening her posture and adjusting the cuffs of her dress.
"Right... as I was saying before this... embarrassing incident. The ceremony was to symbolically mark the beginning of this new cycle. An official presentation. And... a reinforcement that you are now part of something bigger. That's all. We're not going to waste any more time on this subject."
She looked at everyone, regaining her composure. The momentary humiliation was locked away in a tightly secured drawer of her psyche.
"Now, you will rest. And when the sun rises the day after tomorrow… the true path of the Bearers begins."
The soft afternoon light painted the entrance to the Tower of Voices with warm, golden hues, reflecting off the ancient marbles and stained-glass windows that told stories of bygone eras. The doors opened slowly with a solemn creak, and the three, Renjiro, Reika, and Takumi, took their first steps outside, still absorbed in everything they had experienced.
"Phew…" Takumi murmured, stretching his arms as if releasing a weight from his body. "Finally, out in the open."
Akari, who followed closely behind, crossed her arms over her chest with a proud smile, her golden eyes shining with a certain fraternal warmth.
"You three… are truly impressive. Even with your nerves on edge, you managed to stay strong. There's brutal potential in each of you." she said firmly and sincerely. "And I'm not just talking about power. I'm talking about courage, focus… heart."
Takumi scratched the back of his neck, clearly unaccustomed to that kind of praise. Reika smiled slightly, but seemed still processing everything. As for Renjiro… he just looked at the ground, lost in thought.
Yuto, with his hands behind his head, approached with a more relaxed air.
"Especially your spirit. You're not just normal wielders. There's something… different. Unique." He paused and leaned to the side. "Man, you're the first in years to have your masks speak with such clarity and personality upon first awakening. That's not normal."
Reika looked at Yuto with a raised eyebrow.
"Are you saying that normally… the masks don't manifest so quickly?"
"Exactly." Yuto replied, his tone now more serious. "Your connection with them… is profound. It's not something you see every day."
Before anyone could comment, Asuka approached, her hands in the pockets of her stylized coat and her eyes half-closed, landing directly on Renjiro.
"Like father, like son." she said coldly, but with an intensity that cut through the air.
The three turned to her, confused.
"What do you mean…?" Renjiro asked, narrowing his eyes.
But before Asuka could elaborate, the silence that fell around them was heavier than any answer. Akari looked away. Yuto sighed. Ryo, leaning against the entrance of the Tower, opened his eyes slightly and murmured:
"Hmm… already starting with the riddles, Asuka? It's still early…"
Renjiro took a step forward, his gaze fixed.
"What do you know about my father?"
Asuka didn't answer. She simply turned and began walking back inside the tower. But her words were already etched in the minds of the three.
Shiori, who was watching from the top of the stairs, glanced sideways at Izanai and said softly:
"He'll have to know. But not now."
Izanai nodded slowly, with a light sigh.
Renjiro clenched his fists. Doubt weighed more heavily on her than any physical training.
Takumi placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Let's go for now. There's still much we don't understand. And we have training in two days. Until then, let's gain strength."
Reika, despite her visible unease, nodded.
"And when that moment comes… we'll demand answers."
The three left the staircase behind, the winds of Yumehara blowing against their faces, fresh, light… but laden with foreboding.
[1] A barrier of "reality" so saying. As an example, for a person to awaken their mask, they must be under certain conditions. Once these conditions are met, the "veil" is broken and the mask is awakened. Basically "veil" is another word for barrier.