In the hidden corridors of power that weave through the spirit-touched heart of Japan, five ancient bloodlines stand above all others. They are revered, they are feared, and they are bound by a divine duty that dates back to the dawn of the archipelago's history.
These are the Five Principal Clans, known in the old tongue as the Godai Sōke.
They are the Five Great Families entrusted with the sacred task of purging evil and maintaining the delicate balance between the mortal world and the realm of spirits within the Holy Land of Japan.
For countless generations, they have served the Shinto gods, acting as the ultimate authority on all matters supernatural. Each clan bears the blessing of one of the fundamental elemental forces, manifested through their command over the mythical Five Sacred Beasts.
The Nakiri command the Yellow Dragon of the earth. The Himejima wield the power of the Vermilion Bird of fire. The Shinra are protected by the White Tiger of metals. The Doumon call upon the Black Tortoise of water. Finally, the Kushihashi with the Azure Dragon of wood.
These mighty guardians are not mere myths, they are woven into the very legacy of the clans and the fate of the nation. From the towering halls of Kyoto to the whispered annals of spirit hunters, the name of the Five Principal Clans carries the weight of an empire.
"That sounds like their problem. They weren't even doing their job, yet they have the nerve to complain now? They let the infamous Witch of the East collaborate with one of their own clan members right under their noses," Lavinia said, her voice laced with a cold, aristocratic disdain.
Jay standing behind her, nodding silently in agreement.
While Jay was generally wary of the Grigori due to the atrocious history of the Fallens faction, he didn't have anything personal against Azazel. Looking at how the human teens, Tobio, Natsume, and the others treated him, and seeing the respect Vali and Lavinia had for the man, Jay concluded that Azazel wasn't such a bad person.
Though it may only be a mask, he won't be surprised if it is.
"Now, now. The problem arose because you two fought in the open without any barrier," Azazel said, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. "I mean, I understand where the clans are coming from. This is a very complicated and delicate situation after all. You basically froze their ground and set off a fire in their backyard."
Jay finally opened his mouth, his voice flat. "What are they even trying to achieve with this trial? I don't think they are stupid enough to pick a fight with two Longinus users at the same time, right?"
Azazel's smirk widened. "Hoo, so you have finally admitted it that you are the wielder of the Incinerate Anthem?"
Jay didn't flinch. He had expected Azazel to know, but the directness of the question was a test. "I mean, they are already calling me the 'Scorch Magician' over there. It's a bit late for secrets, isn't it?"
"You're right about that," Azazel laughed, looking quite pleased with himself. "The purple flame of the Incinerate Anthem is far too distinct and unique to go unrecognized by anyone with a modicum of Sacred Gears knowledge. It's one of the top-tier Longinus for a reason."
The Governor General looked at both Jay and Lavinia once more, his expression turning a bit more professional. "So, what is your decision? They've sent a formal invitation. Dealing with them now is better than having them hunt you across the country."
"Yeah, better for you," Jay said, mocking Azazel's attempt to make it sound as though they were the ones in trouble.
"I mean..." Azazel shrugged with a smile.
Both Jay and Lavinia fell silent for a moment. They knew that an invitation from the Five Clans wasn't necessarily a hostile act, but it was certainly a political one. As Jay pointed out, no human faction was reckless enough to provoke two Longinus wielders simultaneously unless they had a death wish.
"Since my mission isn't finished yet and Satanael still hasn't been found, I don't want to be hunted while I am still in Japan," Lavinia said, her sapphire eyes hardening. "I think I'm going to accept their invitation and see where this goes. It's better to face them in a room than on a battlefield."
Azazel gave her a bright, exaggerated smile. "Thank you, Princess! I knew you were always so kind to me. You're saving me a massive headache."
Lavinia just laughed lightly at his antics, used to the Governor's dramatic flair.
"And how about you, Scorch Magician?" Azazel turned his gaze to Jay.
Jay just scoffed at the name. He had half a mind to tell Azazel to get lost and simply leave Japan. He hadn't planned on spending more than a few days here anyway.
But he looked at Lavinia. He realized that she was in this mess, at least in part, because he hadn't killed Augusta fast enough. His failure to prevent the possession had made everything exponentially more complicated for him and her.
He felt a nagging sense of responsibility. Lavinia had just lost her connection to her master, and she had just received the news of Sister Andrea's death. She was vulnerable, even if she hid it behind a calm smile.
"I don't mind going," Jay said, leaning back. "But I don't have much free time to waste on grandstanding. Tell them to make the trial quick."
Jay had already started drafting the Thaumaturgy Patterns Modelling for his grand project, The Anthem of Life. It was a massive undertaking that would require countless iterations, trials, and validations. He didn't want to spend his days arguing with some priests in far east because he helped them dealing with their problem.
"Are you planning to leave so soon, Illya-kun?" Lavinia asked, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment.
"Not necessarily leaving Japan immediately," Jay clarified. "But there are things I need to study. I might be here, I might be moving around. It depends on the research."
Jay's mind was already drifting toward the technicalities. The two type that dominated high-level Thaumaturgy were Zoroastrian runes and Egyptian runes. The practitioners from those regions had developed the art of runes to an incredible degree throughout history. Even Merlin, the literal creator of human magic, had admitted to referencing their works when he designed the main framework of human magic circle in the early centuries.
Since Thaumaturgy was essentially born in the Mesopotamian regions, Jay was planning to do some due diligence there. He needed to study those ancient roots and find a way to counter the overwhelming power of the Maous and Super Devils.
His encounter with Augusta had only made his resolve to complete The Anthem of Life firmer. To use the True Cross to its full potential as a god-slaying weapon, he needed a monstrous near infinite amount of mana, or a way to bypass the cost entirely.
"I see," Lavinia whispered. She looked thoughtful.
Azazel's smile grew even broader. "Very well then! I shall deliver the message to the clans. Thank you both for your cooperation. I'll notify you as soon as the date and venue are finalized."
Azazel began to stand up, but Jay held up a hand.
"Wait. I actually need you to do something for me. Consider it a favor for agreeing to this trial," Jay said.
Azazel raised his eyebrows, 'What favor?' He genuinely confused.
"You're rich, right?" Jay asked bluntly.
Azazel blinked, caught off guard. "I mean, by human standards, you could say that. I have a few centuries of accumulated assets."
"Today is the last day of my hotel booking," Jay said, his voice completely serious. "I need somewhere to live while I wait for this trial. I assume you wouldn't want me wandering the streets of Kyoto looking for a hostel. I prefer somewhere in the mountains. Isolated, quiet, and chilly."
"Huh?"
Azazel stared at Jay, momentarily stunned by the sheer, unadulterated shamelessness of the request. Even Lavinia couldn't help but let out an amused smile at Jay's pragmatism.
After a moment of silence, Azazel let out a dry chuckle and shook his head. He left the room with a slouched posture, muttering something about "youth these days" and "unpaid babysitting."
Once the door closed, Jay turned his attention back to Lavinia. "Actually, there is another thing you should know."
"What is it?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Glenda also taught me magic," Jay said. "It was unofficial, and our time was short, but that still technically makes us fellow disciples of The South."
Lavinia's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "No way... you and Glenda?"
But as the realization settled, a shadow of sadness filled her eyes. She thought back to the cruel words Augusta had whispered during their struggle. Augusta had claimed that Glenda had abandoned her, that she was nothing more than an experiment for her.
"I... I thought..." Lavinia trailed off, looking down at her hands.
"Don't tell me you actually believe what Augusta said during the fight?" Jay interrupted.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice small.
"It was obviously a lie to disturb your focus," Jay said.
"But she sent me away to Grauzauberer," Lavinia argued. "And then she just disappeared. I thought she had abandoned me for her research. I thought I wasn't enough for her."
"Glenda is complicated," Jay answered. "Her methods are... unconventional, to say the least. But she doesn't hate you, Lavinia."
After that, the two pupils spent the entire night talking. They shared stories of Glenda's eccentricities, the harshness of their training, and the power of the Witch of the South.
For Lavinia, it was the first time she felt like she wasn't alone in this magician path since Glenda sent her to Grauzauberer.
***
"Now, this is actually a very impressive mansion."
Jay stood in the courtyard of his new temporary residence. Azazel had surprisingly delivered on his request.
The estate was a giant mansion featuring traditional Japanese architecture, primarily constructed from dark, aged wood and stone. It was nestled deep in the outskirts of Kyoto, perched on a mountainside where the air was naturally thinner and cooler.
It was isolated and chilly, exactly as he had asked, providing a perfect refuge from the lingering summer heat of the city below.
Two days had passed since his conversation with Lavinia in the Underworld. Today was the day she was scheduled to be released from the hospital. Yesterday, Azazel had sent a message stating that the trial was set for three days from now. Apparently, the Slash Dog team and the four fiends involved in the incident were also invited to testify.
While he waited, Jay was enjoying the solitude. He was dressed in baggy trousers and a simple black shirt, sitting on the veranda with a cup of hot black tea.
A stack of parchment papers lay before him, covered in intricate, swirling runes that seemed to glow faintly in the morning light.
He was focused on The Anthem of Life. He had condensed the concept into five core pillars: Channeling, Containment, Heat Exchanger, Energy Conversion, and Looping.
The first part, Channeling, wasn't particularly difficult. It was a basic concept in Thaumaturgy, though Jay was attempting something much more dangerous. Instead of channeling standard Mana or life force, he needed to channel the flame of the Incinerate Anthem itself. He imagined it wouldn't be too hard to initiate, but the power behind it was volatile.
The second part though, Containment was where he was hitting a wall. How could he contain that unimaginable amount of heat without literally incinerating the runes or the medium they were written on?
Jay had been in a deep state of work for over an hour when he felt a familiar presence approaching. A moment later, there was a soft, polite knock on the wooden gate. He walked over and opened it, though he already knew who was standing there.
"Good morning, Illya-kun," Lavinia said.
The girl was about seventeen years old, her blonde hair tied back into a neat, high ponytail. She wore a simple blue summer dress that fluttered in the mountain breeze, and she was carrying a woven basket filled with fresh fruit.
"Morning, Lavinia," Jay said, stepping aside to let her in.
"Mou! Didn't I tell you to just call me Lavi?" she teased, puffing out her cheeks in a mock pout.
Jay just ignored the comment and welcomed her onto the veranda. Lavinia sat in the chair next to his, looking out over the panoramic view of Kyoto sprawling in the valley below. Her eyes quickly drifted to the table, landing on the complex diagrams and runes.
"I must say, Governor Azazel has excellent taste. This is a beautiful mansion," she said, leaning back.
"It is," Jay agreed. He returned from the kitchen a moment later with another cup of black tea. "Do you want sugar?"
"No need, thank you," she said with a bright smile.
Jay sat back down and picked up his pen, but Lavinia leaned in closer, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Thaumaturgy, huh? So this is the project you mentioned... A high-temperature container? That's fascinating," she noted, her eyes scanning his notes with professional interest.
"Yeah, I'm stuck on the stability," Jay admitted. "I can't figure out a way to make the runes hold the energy without the medium collapsing under the thermal stress since it's physical."
"Hm. Doesn't that depend entirely on the medium you're using to anchor the runes?" Lavinia asked, her brow furrowed in thought. Then, her eyes widened as she looked at a specific diagram he had sketched on the corner of the page.
"Wait... Illya-kun, don't tell me you're planning to write these runes directly onto your body?"
"Bad idea?" Jay asked innocently. He was confident in his mana control, but he hadn't fully considered the biological implications of containing the Incinerate Anthem's heat within his own skin. It needed an upmost perfection if he don't want to burn his whole body.
"Suuuuper bad idea!" Lavinia exclaimed, her voice rising an octave. "No matter how good your control is, humane error is always happen. "
That's exactly what Glenda always told him. That they were just a human.
Jay sighed, leaning back and rubbing his temples. A medium, then. It was another problem to add to the list.
The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon deep in discussion. They debated the merits of different runic languages and the laws of energy conversion. It was a productive, almost peaceful afternoon until suddenly, the communication crystal on Lavinia's belt began to ping with a sharp, urgent tone.
"Ah, wait a moment," she said, her expression shifting as she answered the call.
Jay watched her as she spoke. Her face grew pale, and then settled into a mask of grim seriousness. She stood up abruptly, her knuckles white as she gripped the crystal.
"What happened?" Jay asked.
"It's Tobio and Natsume," Lavinia said, her voice tight with urgency.
"They've found him. They are fighting Satanael right now."