...Here in the Allgreen Kingdom, emphasis has been put on the art of fencing, assassination skills and sorcery tactics since the dawn of the era.

Therefore several training schools were built in various places and talented men were sought out around the world.

However, a powerful magician summoned the devil Hardius 10 years before for his own desire.

Although it was the magician's plan to use the devil's power to conquer the world, the reverse happened when the devil came and his body was captured.

One person, the hero, fought against the devil. He borrowed strength from his trust in the magician and god, and after a desperate struggle it was sealed.

The devil was sealed, but the compensation was great. All over the country men fell during the fight, and as a result, the country overflowed with orphans.

The benevolent king, his Majesty Sergei Claudius, took charge of the training schools all over where food, clothing and shelter was provided for every soldier's child...

Original Plan EImagesECG
Takatsuki Noboru

Scenario
Kaori Ginya

Composition
Grass Road

Allgreen Kingdom

10 years ago, this country summoned experts in black magic. "Devil Hardius" and the "hero" were fighting.

At the time the King of Allgreen Kingdom was "Sergei Claudius".
He personally gathered his forces and helped the "hero" seal away the devil, and peace visited the kingdom once more.

Might and Adonis
They're war orphans much like many others,
raised in training school and growing together

Even speaking of differences, in reality their bond was
so deep that it was certainly more powerful
than a sibling's, and it was as if they shared
half of each other's bodies.

But...

Might
CV : Takikawa Daisuke

Adonis
CV : Progress

Lorence
CV : Hama Gorou

Pam
CV : Miyata Kouki

Leica
CV : Konishi Katsuyuki

Kurt
CV : Tsukui Kyosei

Hector
CV : Fujiki Tatsuya

Ragsiel
CV : Kaoru Shika

Werne
Iwanaga Tetsuya

Fritz
Sakanoue Hidemaro

Sergei
Okuyama Michitaka

Teacher
Well, here's tomorrow's lesson. Next time we'll be talking about heaven and hell.

This is one of the Allgreen Kingdom's training schools, Silver Training School. It's on the lap of the Royal Palace and said to turn out the most men with superior talent.

Many young men carry on the next generation, working hard in their studies of martial arts, magic and learning.

And now, one student runs through the corridor hurriedly.

Student
Heey, Adonis!

Adonis
Yeah, what is it?

The beautiful young man who could be easily mistaken for a woman answered the student momentarily.

His name is Adonis. He's an impressive young man with a supple body that could root a person in place with his intense eyes.

His silver hair stretching to his hip made his elegance even more prominent.

Student
Naa, Adonis, if we pass our examination, it seems like more magicians are being joining Imperial Court's army?

Adonis
Yeah...

His face was pale as he wore a gloomy facial expression, and his response was small.

Student
Why do you look depressed? If we're magicians in the Imperial Court's army, we'll be in the elite army directly under the king's control. Isn't that what we've studied so hard for?

While King Claudius is a military man --- no,it should be said he's an efficient military man --- by no means did he despise magic, only people who possessed outstanding knowledge were collected.

And, people like those, composed the Magicians in the Imperial Court. For the king's protection he needs his knights to have many great magicians.

To be added there is the highest honor for boys in this country.

Adonis
But... I'm not going to the Imperial Court.

Student
Eeh?! Why?!

Adonis
Because, if I become one of the Imperial Court it won't be so simple to leave the royal palace. And even if I get outside, meeting with Might...

Student
Haa... I should have known it was Might. You two are always together.

Adonis
Yeah... When Might was small we were in the same orphanage, and we grew up like brothers...

Adonis said as he remembered Might was two years younger. And now, he was in a fencing course in the same Silver Training School.

From a young age Might was raised like a sibling, and Adonis truly loved him like a younger brother.

Adonis
So, if at all possible I don't want to be separated from Might. Besides, the load of the magicians of the Imperial Court is too heavy for me.

Adonis
When I leave, I want to work in the town's medical clinic and cure everyone's injuries and illnesses with my magic. I think that fits my nature.

Student
I see... But, that's such a waste. Of us you've had the best results, especially in Elite courses in methods of sacrifice.

Adonis smiled bitterly, letting his classmate so reproachfully talk too much.

Actually, it was his greatest dream to live with Might forever rather than becoming a magician of the Imperial Court.

Adonis and Might were given into the custody of the orphanage at a young age. Both of them, parents' faces never mentioned, had no blood relationship and not a single relative to trust.

Although life in the orphanage was never easy, his memories were happy ones.

So... They were always together... Studying together, playing together, pulling pranks and getting scolded together...

Might
Just a little more, just a bit further, Adonis.

Adonis
Hurry, Might. If we don't hurry, Manager-san will get angry. Since he keeps telling us to stop being selfish.

Might
Ye, yeah... So, I just need to reach a little further...

Man's Voice
You there~! Isn't it selfish to steal apples!

Adonis
Uwah!

Might
Wah, Adonis... You fell?!

Adonis
(Huhu... That time the two of us received a good scolding from the manager's uncle...)

Adonis
(But, it was fun... And as children, we could always be seen playing together. .. in that sort of way...)

But, that moment Adonis' thought was cut off, and his modest dream was crushed cruelly...

Other Student
Adonis! Is Adonis here?!

At that time, another classmate came running up, short on breath.

Adonis
What is it? You look disturbed.

Other Student
Might, Might is-!!

Adonis
-?!

Alarmed by the classmate's appearance, Adonis flew towards the medical office like a hurricane.

Adonis
-Might?!

What jumped into Adonis' eyes as he entered the medical office... Was the pitiful figure of Might lying in the bed.

His body was wrapped up in blood-soaked white bandages, an expression of anguish on his face.

Adonis
Ah... Might, Might!!

Adonis rushed over to the bed. But Might didn't respond to his call, his face twisted in pain.

The teacher of the fencing class Might belonged to and the doctor came there.

Teacher
...You, you're Adonis-kun?

Adonis
Yes... How, how did this...

Teacher
He... When Might was practicing fencing in the fields, suddenly an apparition appeared, and while protecting his partner he ended up falling off the cliff.

Teacher
It's lucky he was practicing near this side of the school, and we were able to transport him here... It isn't over. He's under the supervision of the teachers.

The heavy words of the teacher didn't reach Adonis' ears.

Adonis
Might... He'll heal, right?!

Teacher
That... We did everything we could...

The doctor answered with a pensive look.

Doctor
The bone fractures over his whole body are severe, and he's undertaken fatal wounds to the internal organs. To be honest, I'm not sure he'll make it through the evening.

Adonis
That, that can't be true?!

At the doctor's verdict, Adonis fell to his knees.

Teacher
I've heard that you grew up like brothers... It'll be painful to lose someone like a blood relation, that's irreplaceable...

Doctor
So at least now he won't be in pain anymore...

Adonis
...No.

Adonis seized Might's hand once more. Frantically he recalled his healing magic studies, putting his entire soul into his words as he prayed. A soft light wrapped around the boy who'd lost his complexion.

Adonis
..Might...Might...Don't die, Might...!

But, there was no reaction. Might's hand fell from Adonis' feeble palm. As if he was invited to the realm of the dead.

Adonis
...No...No...

Teacher
Adonis-kun...

Adonis
This, can't be... Might, a world without Might, I-!!

From Adonis' eyes there was no stopping the tears pouring down his cheeks, spilling and falling.

Adonis
Nee, Might... Open your eyes! Answer me! Nee...

He seized Might's hand, praying and calling to him. However, his eyes stayed closed like a stone image.

Adonis
Might... Didn't you make a promise at the dormitory this morning? For our vacation, we were going to the town...

He clung to Might, crying aloud. The teacher and doctor were unable to stay, and they left the two of them in the medical office.

The area was completely dark.

Unable to ignore his physical strength, Adonis continued reflecting on his healing magic, and another doctor now began to operate. However, Might's physical condition wasn't good at all; rather it was growing worse from being aggravated.

His face lost more and more of its complexion, and as time went by his pulse grew weak.

Adonis was put out of the medical office, and sitting down in the corridor he looked up at the night sky.

A cold silver moon climbed into the sky, and the blue light shined on Adonis.

Adonis
Ah, Might... If I was able to I would take your place. I, really wish I could...

Adonis
Might, I'm only one person... Being the only one left, after this am I supposed to just go on living and believing in the future...?

Person who is not a person
What a troublesome situation...

Adonis
...Who?!

From the dark corridor, a voice clouded his mind that he couldn't think was a human being's.

Sensing something unusual, Adonis stood ready for the figure that appeared out of the darkness.

Its appearance and expression were hidden behind a mantle and hood, and he wasn't able to see them. But a hand that was visible from the skirt of the mantle was clearly different than a human hand.

Adonis
Who, are you...

Person who is not a person
It doesn't matter who I am, does it? Since now we can prepare a way of rescuing your important person...

The grotesque person held out an aged book.

Adonis
This...

Person who is not a person
If you use this, it will help your important person.

Though he had apprehensions inside his mind, Adonis took the book in his hand. Judging from the front cover, it was a magical book of some kind.

Adonis
Why, if I use this...

When he raised his eyes from the magical book, the grotesque figure wasn't there. It was as if the figure had never existed... The only proof left was the unique book he had in his hands...

Being left alone, temporarily until tomorrow, he timidly opened the magic book. As he turned the pages of the book his hand grew stronger.

Adonis
This... Can't be...

Adonis' expression froze at what the contents were about.

While he was in the area, Adonis quietly entered the medical office. No one was in the medical office.

On the bed, the flame of Might's life grew weak and could burn out at any time.

Adonis stood by Might's side and extended the magic book.

Adonis
This... As I thought, it's the forbidden book "Way of an Anti-Soul"...

Way of an Anti-Soul was from one of the ultimate upper divisions of magic, said to even be able to revive the dead.

And it was forbidden magic. The act of tampering with human life using magic must have been so horrifying, it stained the heart of god, and over time must have been sealed over with water.

Adonis
Why is a book that was sealed in the Royal Palace in that person's hands... I never found out, he didn't finish what he was saying...

Might
-ah?!

Suddenly, Might began to be in pain on the bed. An anguished expression rose on his face, and his body spasmed twice, and greatly three times.

Adonis
Might! Be brave!

Might's breathing was becoming feeble, and he was having trouble emitting words from his throat.

Adonis judged by his appearance that he needed to move his ear near his mouth in order to recognize the single word that leaked through.

Might
...Adonis...

As Might called out his name with his dying body, Adonis' heart decided.

Adonis
If there's any way your life can be saved, all hope is in this magic book...!

Adonis
If you're saved, it doesn't matter if this is forbidden magic! It doesn't matter what kind of grave sin I commit, as long as you live!!

With the book in his hands, Adonis began to slowly chant an aria. As he recited each word one by one, colorful rays of lights gushed out at his feet.

If he was an ordinary magician, he would just stand there as the powerful magic snatched away his magical power and physical strength when he finished the aria.

Adonis
...By means of a pact, I use my magic to summon you to this world!!

As he finished the spell, Adonis was surrounded by a pillar of light.

Adonis
Th, this is..?!

While reciting the spell, Adonis felt something malaise. He expected the Way of the Anti-Soul to to restore life but the opposite happened, and a cold, bottomless darkness controlled the surroundings...

Adonis
(Is this... really the Way of the Anti-Soul...?!)

Then, "Darkness" suddenly appeared before Adonis' eyes.

Adonis
-?!

The Darkness instantly changed form into the shadow of a large person, and stood naked before Adonis.

Adonis
It can't be... I...

When the "Darkness" had formed into a troublesome figure, he spoke in a deep voice that echoed through the earth.

Darkness
Do not be worried. You're captured in nothingness... Don't you want to him to be rescued from the pain? Then the person's breathing must cease...

Adonis stood face to face with "Darkness", silently standing ready.

Darkness
With my power, restoring a natural life is an easy thing. But, besides that there is one condition...

Adonis
Con, condition...

Adonis lost his complexion for a moment at the proposition of "Darkness". But, after a little time, he murmured,

Adonis
I... If Might is saved, because of what I do... I won't regret, my life...

Darkness
It's a an admirable intention. To start with, I will grant your wish...

"Darkness" held Might's body aloft in his arms. That moment, his entire body was wrapped in a dazzling white light. Color returned to Might's pale face, and weakly he began breathing regularly again.

With his own eyes he saw his appearance, and relief rose to Adonis' face, which had stiffened with tension.

Adonis
Might... I'm so relieved. With this I can have peace of mind...

The demon broke the peace with his voice.

Darkness
...Now, next it is your turn to fulfill the pact with me.

Though Adonis kept silent, only a word would be said soon.

Adonis
Though Adonis kept silent, finally he only said some words.

"Darkness" didn't reply.

Adonis stared at the completely recovered Might, standing by his side.

Adonis
Might...

As he murmured, he softly put his lips on Might's as he slept.

If he wasn't mistaken, warmth returned to Might's cold body. Adonis could feel it in his lips.

He was good with this... with this...

Firmly Adonis turned back toward "Darkness, and took a step forward.

With fearless laughter, "Darkness" wrapped up his body. Involuntarily Adonis raised his voice.

Adonis
Might!!

Might opened his eyes slightly in response to the voice.

Although he came back from the edge of death because of Darkness' magic, his senses hadn't woken up.

Might
...

As his eyes lost focus, he absent-mindedly gazed at the scene.

Like a nightmare he gazed at a huge shadow embracing Adonis and flying out the window.

At the last second, Adonis earnestly held out his hands. Eagerly, he tried to reach Might... His hand fell gently- And Adonis lost consciousness and continued to vanish into the darkness...

--Adonis... Where are you going...? Adonis...?!

He wasn't able to call out a single word from his mouth.

And at that, Might once again fell into a deep sleep.

Might
Nn...

Trying to strike out while tossing about in bed, he opened his eyes at the cold feeling of the floor.

Might
This is...prison? ...I, why would I be in a place like this...

Taking in his situation, Might frantically tried to remember what happened.

Might
...I was training out in the fields, and my foot stepped over the cliff, and then...

Might
That's right, Adonis!...

Startled, he tried to jump to his feet, but his body was heavy and didn't move.

Might
Kuu... How did this happen...

As he thought about that, footsteps approached on the other side of the bars.

Hector
Oh my, you've gained consciousness.

Might
Hector?

Hector Brice. In Training School he was a man specializing in assassination techniques. He received excellent records from the teachers, but he an air of darkness hung around him, and he was a difficult person to approach.

Speaking of assassination techniques, he had heard bad things, that the masterminds of battles used assassins, in order to settle very many prolonged battles.

As a way of decreasing useless casualties, it was a skill that could never be done negligently... Even then, it was cruel and no one could be proud of it.

But, there were also people who enjoyed practicing assassination on the inside. Like this young man.

It wasn't only that it was Might's weakness. For whatever reason, Hector made Might an enemy in his eyes, persisting in coiling around the matter.

Might
Why... Am I here?

Hector
As I thought, you haven't taken in the situation yet.

A faint, cruel smile rose on his face as he opened the prison door and entered.

Hector
I've been entrusted with the role of guarding you.

Might
Guarding?

Hector
I'm a model student, so the teacher trusts me. They consented when I volunteered to guard.

Might
Don't joke around! Why would I need to be watched in prison!

Hector
...It's just a question, that's ok.

Smoothly accepting Might's anger, Hector continued.

Hector
...When the teachers and I went to see you as you should have been dying, you were breathing peacefully and sleeping.

Hector
And this old magic book had fallen on the floor beside the bed...

Might
...

Hector
This magic book, what do you think is written in it?

From the pompous tone in his reaction he could see the situation, and Might glanced away, answering aloofly.

Might
...I understand, but I've never heard of something like that.

Hector
Huhu, is that so? Well, the "Way of an Anti-Soul" is what's written in the book...

Might
..."Way of an Anti-Soul"?!

Hector
You specialize in fencing, Might-kun, but certainly you've heard of this forbidden magic?

Hector said that to make him look like a fool. In such a place, Might was weak in those areas.

Might
...Ah, I know about that.

Might
(But, surely that magic is prohibited in this country...)

Hector
In other words, who would give you the "Way of and Anti-Soul" while you were dying... Perhaps, it was the doing of Adonis-kun, who was by your side.

Might
...Adonis?!

Hector
The proof is that he's gone into hiding. He's probably fled somewhere to escape punishment for this serious crime.

Might
(It's not like that... Adonis was kidnapped by that dark shadow.)

But, Might didn't think he would inform Hector of that. It was a sight he had to see for himself to believe. If he told Hector that, he'd further shower him in ridicule.

Might
...But, that still doesn't tell me why I'm being imprisoned?

Hector
A student used the "Way of an Anti-Soul"... This scandal couldn't be leaked outside.

Hector
If you came out, you would be the proof... In other words, we have to erase the witness and completely hush you up for good, but... Regrettably the teachers have been putting up a resistance to that.

Might
Su, such...

Hector
...Although I won't be erasing you, you won't leave here for an eternity.

Hector stiffly gave him a cold glare and teased around Might's body.

Might
Eh?...

Hector quickly threw him down on the stone floor, mounted him and restrained him.

Might
Wh, what do you think you're doing!

Although he was going to resist, there was a severe dullness in his body and he couldn't put any strength into his movements at all. Even if he could, Might's short stature compared to Hector's height and width was too much. He wasn't bucked at all.

Hector
...It's useless to resist, since I used a little medicine.

He laughed faintly as he declared.

Might
What for?

Hector
When I was studying assassination techniques, it included methods that depended on using medicines... I learned a lot of fun information.

Hector
From merciful medicine that takes your life instantly, to various medicines that beautifully kill little by little... There's also a special medicine that takes away your physical strength, while leaving your senses as is... What is now used on you.

As he said, Might finally noticed the strange dullness in his body that wasn't just a wound. Even though sensations still passed through, his hands and feet were powerless.

Might
(Wh... What is this...)

At Might's reaction, Hector laughed coarsely.

Hector
Ah, it's ok. Since your hands and feet are just a little lazy. You be able to feel pain perfectly... Isn't that amusing?

Hector didn't show this shady side of himself by any means in front of the teachers. All the students still knew. He could feel it in his sensitive skin. Inside of him, there was a cold, gloomy darkness...

Hector
You need to receive your punishment.

Handling him like a baby, so to speak, he stripped off Might's jacket with little resistance, and his hands crept down to the belt of his trouser's.

Might
Wh, what are you doing!

Hector's cold fingers removed the belt of the surprised Might, and pulled his trousers and underwear down in the twinkling of an eye.

Although Might thought he could twist his body to escape, his arms were out of sight and stuck. He was pressed down and couldn't move either satisfactorily.

Might
Hey! Stop, stop it!

The anger in his voice gradually changed to a mixture of shrieks. Finally Might's was stark naked, and hands and feet were chained and hung.

Hector
...You have a good shape, Might-kun.

Where his hands were hung he couldn't hide his body, and his whole body was exposed defenselessly to Hector's eyes. Out of shame and anger his cheeks flushed.

Might
...Wh, what... are you planning on doing?

Hector
To put it bluntly... I'm going to do this to you.

As he said that he took out his leather whip, which he regularly used as a weapon.

Might
!!...

Hector swung the whip down, the cracking noise echoing in the prison.

Might
Ah!..

A scarlet line was drawn on his exposed skin.

Hector
Please feel relieved since I'm going easy on you. Really, if I wasn't your meat would be splitting open.

Might
...Why, why do you have to be like this...

At those words, Hector's mouth twisted into a faint smile.

Hector
...Might-kun, you were an intruder.

Might
Intruder?!

Hector
You were always by Adonis-kun's side... What an eyesore, you were.

A shady smile rose on his face, and he continued whipping him repeatedly.

Might
Kuaaa!...

Sweat covered his face as he grit his teeth and tried to endure the pain, red impression engraved on his body here and there.

Hector
Thanks to you, I was never able to get near him.

His polite words didn't change, but the tone of his voice became wilder.

Hector
You... You don't even have an injury, and yet what remains of Adonis-kun... There isn't anything!

It didn't separate him from anyone, many students in the Training School liked the gentle Adonis.

But, someone like Hector who was unwilling to have relationship with other students and liked loneliness, to hold Adonis in his favor... Might was often entwined with him, making him obstinately question his relationship with Adonis, he must have thought it was no different than his own.

Bearing the pain, Might frantically cried out.

Might
If you wanted to get near Adonis it was ok, I wouldn't have minded! You're the one who never did anything, so don't just take your anger out on me!

Hector
...

He hit the bull's-eye, and the hand swinging the whip came to a halt.

Hector
...Morning lecture is going to start. You can get up here?

When he said that, Hector removed the hand and leg restraints for Might.

Might
Ah...

When his binds were thrown open, Might collapsed exhausted to the floor like a doll cut from it's strings.

Hector
...Please put on your clothes properly. If other people see the whip marks, it'll be an awkward situation.

Hector left the prison, locking the him inside again.

Might
...He, he said to get up.

He crawled with his wounded body, reaching out his hands for his clothes. Moving around his body while it was covered with whip marks was painful. For awhile, Might lay on the ground, not stirring.

Might
...Is Adonis safe...

An ominous thought that he might be killed passed through his head.

Might
Shit...

His feelings drove him to stand, but even without restraints his body was unable to do anything. No, on the contrary... It couldn't even be true that after his whole life here he would leave...

Bit by bit despair shrouded Might's heart. It was like the darkness of a cold prison.

The moonlight from the latticed windows had changed without him noticing.

Might
It's night already...

He looked to the latticed window and a murmur leaked out. Inside the gloomy prison, the darkness grew more.

The feelings of despair and impatience irritated him enough to get him passed the daytime, but now at night those feelings became even more intense so that his heart felt like it was being crushed under the pressure. But, now he couldn't do anything but bear it. He could only continue to bear it...

Suddenly, he noticed some signs that someone was on the opposite side of the prison bars.

Hector...?

A completely different person was behind the prison bars. No, the signs clearly showed it wasn't a human.

Person who is not a person
Shall I take you out of here?

He whispered that in a warped voice from under a mantle with a hood.

Might
What kind of person are you?!

Person who is not a person
The person who came to help you... doesn't that call your spirit?

Might
...What do you want?

Person who is not a person
Don't be so anxious... It doesn't require collateral.

His hoarse, eerie voice jarred his ears. Might stared at the shadow suspiciously.

Person who is not a person
...What will you do? Do you want to leave here?

Might
Th, that...

Get his help to leave here.

Doubtfully refuse him.