"It's gone quiet, Chirashi. What do you think happened? Is Kairo okay?!" Marin worried as she stood outside in the street with Ingrid. Chirashi is standing on Marin's roof looking towards the direction of the park.
"That beam of light... Was that a Bullet Warp?" Chirashi stood in concern, her face more serious than it's ever been.
"Chirashi! Please say something!" Marin pleaded as she wanted answers.
However, upon giving them a second look, Chirashi dashed off towards the park. Leaving Marin and Ingrid behind.
"Wait!" Marin cried before running after her.
"Man... what a pain." Ingrid replied as he chased along with Marin.
The Park
"Damn, he got away." Ayato uttered as he kicked the dirt.
"Forget about him; our mission isn't done yet." Mika instructed as she approached a weak and exhausted Kairo.
"You must be the proxy everyone is so interested in." Mika spoke as she looked down on him.
"A-And who are you guys? I wasn't expecting any help." Kairo questioned as he fought to keep himself awake.
A sword was quick to be placed against Kairo's neck once again, forcing him to hold his head up.
"Sorry, but we're not here to help. Under the order of the Sixth Marshal. You are to be taken to Solnera Village and await a trial based on the death of Masako Sarei. Don't try to run; you'll only make it worse for yourself." Mika informally instructed as Aiza appeared behind him and held her hands out towards him.
Suddenly Kairo's grasp on his blade was ripped from it, and his arms automatically pulled behind him as massive stone cuffs locked around his wrists and linked together.
"W-Wait! I-I didn't—!"
Immediately Ayato drives the pommel of his sword against the back of Kairo's nape. Knocking him unconscious instantly.
"You could've let him speak at least." Mika scoffed as she caught Kairo before he fell against the ground.
"No offense, but I'm tired as hell. This mission has been nothing but a shitstorm. I want to get back and rest." Ayato disclosed as he reached to pick up Kairos's sword.
Easily picking it up and concealing it within an extra sheath he carries with him. Mika rolls her eyes as she turns to open another Relay. The moment it opens, Mika throws Kairo over her shoulder and hops through the gate with the group.
Chirashi watches from afar as the gate closes, her eyes narrow and calm. But her inner mind was raging.
"Just what the hell are they up to..." Chirashi questioned before being pulled back into the moment as Marin and Ingrid ran into the battlefield.
"I-I don't see him! Where did he go?!" Marin frantically shouted as she looked around for any sign of Kairo.
Ingrid is also looking, but in a much calmer state.
"He's got to be around here somewhere! We have to find him!" Marin pleaded as she continued searching high and low.
"Enough..." Chirashi demanded as she landed from the nearby roof.
"He's not here... Not anymore." Chirashi stated as she looked around the battlefield as well.
"Then where is he?! Why isn't he here?" Marin questioned
"He was taken..." Chirashi informed, yet her attention reigned onto the sky.
"Do you think that beam of light is what took him away?" Ingrid questioned as he noticed what Chirashi was focused on.
"No, that beam of light was something else... He was taken via a Soul Gate, also known as a Soul Relay. They're what Sentarii use to travel between their realm and ours. However, due to the exclusivity of their transportation method,. I'm not sure how I'll be able to save him." Chirashi explained
"Wait! You mean other Sentarii came here just to take Kairo away?! Doesn't that mean he's safe?" Marin exclaimed curiously.
"Not likely... I'm afraid it may be a lot worse than we could've imagined." Chirashi stood in concern as she crossed her arms under her breasts.
"Why? Why is Kairo being taken prisoner by the very people he's fighting for?" Marin exclaimed,
"That's just it... Kairo is a proxy, a wildcard one at that. His very existence is to be investigated. But if I had to bet, I'd also assume the reason they chose to capture him now is because of his powers." Chirashi reported, she said as she looked at Marin and Ingrid with a worried look.
Solnera Village—The Soul Court
Members of every division appeared: the Sergeant Trio, the Three Sentinels, the Seven Marshals, and even the Sentarii Monarch himself. All gathered in preparation to witness Kairo Neru himself.
Kairo is standing in the center of them all, cuffed and on his knees, as Ota stands to interrogate him.
"Tell me, Kairo Neru, how exactly did Masako Sarei die?" Ota questioned as he walked around him in circles slowly.
"H-He died saving my life!" Kairo shouted,
"Really? Because our reports have written that you murdered Masako." Ota remarked as the other members of the court murmured to each other.
"No! That's not true! I arrived at the wrong time, and Masako had to save me from the fissure!" Kairo repeated with more info.
"Fissure? There was no report of a fissure, only you and Masako. Actually, if anything, it's also stated in the report that you had the ability to eat swords. Is this true?" Ota began twisting his words with his questions.
"I-I... I-!"
"Do you or do you not possess a power that shatters blades with your soul energy?" Ota interjected, trying to force out the answer.
"Yes! Yes! I do! But that doesn't mean I killed Masako!" Kairo pleaded, but the court began erupting into roars of voices.
Kairo looks around in terror as he watches all the marshals shouting at him. He needs to be taken care of now! So the Sword Eater does live again! This matter needs to be put to rest before he kills us all! Kill him now!"
The court became unruly as they prepared to pull out their swords from their sheaths.
"Enough..." A soft whisper of a voice caused immeasurable pressure on everyone within the court. Instantly settling them as the Marshals and other members looked up at the Sentarii Monarch himself.
"You... Proxy, for your unadvised and abnormal existence in our world. As well as for the murder of one of our comrades. Not to mention your repulsive power, you will be sentenced to death by Soul Corrosion in three days time." The Sentarii Monarch reported before tapping his sword against the ground before him.
The sound of the sword ends the court's meeting like a judge's gavel as everyone begins leaving. Two Sentarii grab hold of Kairo and begin dragging him away. Kairo found himself in shock and disbelief at his situation. But as he walks through the Soul Court's door, it slowly closes and shuts off the view of Kairo completely.
---End Of ARC 1---