It's midyear. At this time, it's summer. It's almost autumn, to be honest. At this kind of time, it's vacation. By some people, this is time to earn money. Especially those that usually busy with their work and/or study. Be it to work as an adventurers, hunters, mercenaries or merchants. Works can differs, but one thing is the same with the others. It's time to earns money and experience you don't usually get by studying or working.
Though, this year, it'll be more busy than how it is usually. Because this year is the year in which the Tournament of the Aria of Magic Sword (魔剣の詠唱の大会) will be held.
It'll be, in Makenaria (マケナリア), the giant empire ruled over by the Emperor Jules The Third (ジュレス・サード). In this capital, Ariad (アリアド), where's before known as Ariad Kingdom (アリアド王国) before the conquest that made it an empire.
The Coliseum of Ariad (アリアド の コロシアム). The place used as the arena for the tournament, filled with many people from different countries and colors.
They will be witnessing live, to the arena where people, will fight for glory, wealth, and fame. The tournament is held each five years in the midyear, while the reason of why the empire held this tournament is vary. Some people believe that this tournament is to discover new talents that'll be responsible for the future of this empire. Some people believe it is to scout for talented young people to work for empire and the nobles. There's also some kind of beliefs that this tournament is to find a hero that'll save this world from evil and monsters.
Whatever the reason is, it's clear that whoever joins this tournament and shows his/her talents will be recognized and well-known by the people of the empire. Some even managed to built up their fame to reach outside of this empire. Just like the winner of this tournament five years ago, Ester of Starlight (エステル・スターライト). She's well-known as the Sword Maiden of Victory (勝利の剣乙女) because whenever she joins a war, the side she's helping always gain victory no matter how dire or difficult their position is.
Before, she was only a fifth princess from a small second-rated kingdom ruled by the empire. Now, she become a title bearer and a S-Rank Adventurers.
Many noble tried to court her, be it to be their heir wife, or even their own consort. Even the kings from various kingdom wanted to court her.
All of the invitation were denied, of course. Its because she's engaged to the first prince Alexei Ariad (アレクセイ・アリアド), the crown prince that'll be the next ruler of this empire.
There's also the Supreme Commander of Makenaria Empire's Magic Swordsman, Gustav Welch (グスタフ・ウェルチ), is the winner of the tournament held in ten years ago. He's a son, the eldest son of seven brothers and three sisters from an unnamed village at the outskirts of Sevl Kingdom (スール 王国). Now, he lead the main force of Makenaria Empire's Army.
By joining and winning this tournament, one can change their life and fate to such degrees.
That's how amazing this tournament is.
The reason why I'm here, is the same. I'm born in the dukedom house of Sanctia of Sanctia Kingdom (サンクチア 王国). My name is Lucille Sanctia (ルシル・サンクチア). The third daughter of Sanctia dukedom. Sanctia Kingdom is well-known for their beautiful and elegant sword art.
Some people called the people who learnt Sanctia Sword style as Battle Sword Dancer. This battle art is like dancing with the sword in one arm. The movement itself is hard to follow and learn, which sometimes made it look like a dance performance than a sword battle. Some people despise this style, especially those that think that this art used too much movement and wasted a lot of stamina. But, even with that, this art is quite popular amongst swordswoman. Ester of Starlight is also using this art whenever she's fighting inside the arena. Mainly, this art became favorite of swordswomen because of her.
But I didn't use this art. I learnt them. It's a must for someone from dukedom of Sanctia after all. But I can't used it as my main sword art. I can't win if I mainly focus on this sword art.
Because I'm not a talented or geniuses like Ester and my elder sister, Jeanne Sanctia (ジャンヌ・サンクチア). She's powerful. She's Beautiful. And she's being rumored to have a battle prowess to rival Ester of Starlight.
She's the most promising swordswoman in this generation. Only few can stand aside her, like the first son of Gustav Welch, Darius Welch (ダリウス・ウェルチ) which won the small tournament held by Ariad Magic Sword Art Academy (アリアドの魔剣流学園).
Because of that, I always sneak out of my house to practice my own sword art. It used less movement and is more effective than the battle sword dance art. I keep polishing my skills and my own sword art to match against most sword art in this world that I learnt at the academy. It's so I can surprise everyone, so that I can win against my sister and exceeded the expectations from everyone I know.
Or, that's what I thought it would be. Right now, in front of me, stand the man who, defeated both my sister and Darius, as well as all the contestants in the mock battle royale practice stage. The man looked young, maybe about the same as mine. His hair is jet black, shoulder long. Which also covered most of his face. But his crimson eye is seen crystal clear behind those hair. Cold. The eye is sharp, and cold. As if it's trying to pull you into the depths of seas of blood. He's shrouded in black mana, and the density of his mana is so thick, that its almost feel like you can touch it physically.
He defeated all the contestants with a single move. It's impossible. Even the Sword Maiden of Victory are unable to accomplish such a feat. Maybe she has the ability to do so, right now. What I talk about is when she joined the tournament five year ago. When she's just a student of Ariad Magic Sword Art Academy. At that time, even she is unable to achieve such level of swordsmanship. Not even Gustav Welch able to do so. How much does one need to practice to reach such a level. The whole coliseum is dumbfounded by this situation. The silent coliseum with eyes and face full of questions and disbelief. Some people are showing fear toward what they just witnessed.
The young man looked at me. Our eyes met each other. My eyes was so fixated at his eyes that I feel my whole body going numb the longer I see it. It's as if my body refused to move. I'm lying down, by the way. I got caught by the battle with someone before he used that move that sweep all contestants away. Right now, my feet gave up on my body and made me fell down like a feather. Even though I just got caught by the impact of his mana when he released it. Such ferocity of strength is what I'm experiencing right now.
He then opened his mouth. As I thought he's about to use some magic or skills to ended the battle, I tried to move my body away from him. But, once again, my legs gave up.
"You..."
His voice is unique in its own way. Deep, heavy voice that tells your ear to focus at him, and such voice is able to let you feel as if its coming from the depth of darkness.
"You have a beautiful swords art."
When he uttered those word, my eyes goes as wide as possible. It's the first time someone says my swords art is beautiful. I can't see it myself, but I can feel that my face is red as cherry blossom. He then offered his arm towards me.
"I'm looking for someone like you. Someone, who strives in their own way to bother and created their own art just to defeat other. Someone, who strive to create the best sword arts, in the world. Follow me. I'll give you what you wanted."
He offered me to follow him. I don't think I'll accept such a shabby looking man in black offers, but my body doesn't think twice. It moved on it's own. When I realized, I already holding his hand. And I'm standing right now. Right at the middle of that black cloud of mana with high density. I can see his face clearer in this position. He's smiling.
I can feel both our mana resonates against each other. His black mana spreads to my body, little by little, as if its consuming my mana and reproduced the black mana. I can faintly heard my sister voice behind me, shouting my name. As the black mana engulfed all of me, I opened my eyes. I'm looking at my own reflection from his eyes. I'm smiling. And my eyes, is now as red as his. The black mana, somehow boost me with power that I never felt before. This pure strength I feel in my entire body, is what I'm looking for. It felt amazing. I see that's why I'm smiling at the moment.
At that moment, never did I ever thought myself, how much he will change my life in the future. At that moment, I don't know how much he has changed my fate. At that moment, I never know that he'll be a man I hold dear, the most in this world, enough that I'm willing to sacrifice my whole world just to be with him.
Because it's a story of another time… For now, let's slowly begin to approach that future…
Prologue, End.