Innocence Seekers: April Light/Chapter 3/Episode 38

This is the fourteenth episode, "Chiyohara's Jewel" (千代原の宝石), of the third chapter of Innocence Seekers: April Light.

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Episode text
After leaving school, Uzuki returned to the Miyana residence. She opened the front door, entered the house, and took off her shoes.

–Uzuki: I'm home...

From inside the house, a voice responded.

–Tamaki: Welcome back, Uzuki. What brings you home early?

–Uzuki: Well, the school was attacked by a witch. I helped drive her away, but she'll return the next week.

–Tamaki: I see. Wait, next week?!

–Uzuki: Well, it's more that she wants to duel Benio.

–Tamaki: Ah, okay, then. Wait, a duel with Benio? Why?

–Uzuki: I think it's supposed to be a pre-contract test, just like the one we did against Erelia.

–Tamaki: That makes sense. But why did the witch attack the school in the first place?

–Uzuki: She wanted to fish us out, on orders from the Donsilan faction that attacked Fuenod only recently. Of course, as a witch, actually keeping her word proved problematic.

–Tamaki: Ehehe... Uzuki, there's something I need to tell you.

–Uzuki: Tama-chan, what is it?

–Tamaki: To retrieve the second item we need to unseal the place where the World Orb resides, we need four people of the appropriate bloodline.

–Uzuki: So it's like within the royal palace... wait. Four people?

–Tamaki: That's right. Admittedly, I figured it out a bit too late.

–Uzuki: Yayoi-nee and Mi-chan are already off to Chiyohara. And if what you said is true, then two won't be enough. What about the others?

–Tamaki: Inori's group should be fine. She already has Miho with her, and if I recall, Mizuki and Yuri are on a joint assignment in Lobehaben right now.

–Uzuki: Wait, what for?

–Tamaki: Oh, there had been reports of vampire attacks in the eastern suburbs of Lobehaben, so the Zodiac Warriors decided to dispatch two magical girls to investigate. And besides, vampire extermination is fairly simple for magical girls as powerful as they are.

–Uzuki: I see. And Matilda lives in Lobehaben, so that means there are five people there. What about the others?

–Tamaki: As for Akari, well, so far she only has Kaede. The item they need is in Haguya, so Louise and her sisters should be there already. If what Wakaba said before is true, then...

–Uzuki: That should be enough to unseal the item. Erika already has a group of four she's leading into Gerya, so that leaves...

–Tamaki: Our bloodline. Uzuki, come here.

–Uzuki: Eh, why?

–Tamaki: Just come.

–Uzuki: Ah, okay.

Uzuki entered the living room, where Tamaki was waiting.

–Uzuki: Tama-chan, what is it-

Suddenly, a pink magic circle appeared beneath both girls.

–Uzuki: Tama-chan, wait! I need to change out of my uniform first. It'd be weird if people in Chiyohara saw me wearing my uniform.

–Tamaki: Ah, right.

The magic circle disappeared. Uzuki headed upstairs.

After both girls changed, they headed outside and into the front yard of the house.

–Tamaki: Okay, Uzuki, I'm going to cast the teleportation spell. Stay close to me.

–Uzuki: Okay.

Tamaki began to cast a spell, and a pink magic circle appeared beneath both girls' feet. Both girls were enveloped in a pink glow, and with a flash of light both of them disappeared.

Both girls found themselves inside a room.

–Uzuki: Tama-chan... where are we?

–Tamaki: Uzuki... this is your aunt's house.

–Uzuki: Eh? Then...

–Tamaki: Come on, let's go.

Tamaki opened the door and exited the room. Uzuki followed.

–Uzuki: But... what if Aunt Minato finds us?

–Tamaki: It'll be fine. Just explain yourself.

–Uzuki: Ah...

The two made their way upstairs, to the ground floor. When they got to the living room, Uzuki fell behind. Tamaki turned around and noticed a toddler clinging to Uzuki's left leg.

–Uzuki: Umm, Tama-chan...

–Tamaki: Uzuki... is that your sister?

–Uzuki: Ah, yes.

Uzuki wrested her left leg free and knelt down, making eye contact with her sister.

–Uzuki: Satsuki... I know it's been a while since you last saw me, but your sister has something very important to do...

–Satsuki: U... U-nee come... but... go again...

–Uzuki: I'll be back to visit you again, I promise.

–Satsuki: Promise?

–Uzuki: I promise.

Uzuki got back up.

–Tamaki: I see she can't say your name properly yet.

–Uzuki: Ah, well, she is still quite young. Anyway, should we go?

–Tamaki: We should.

Suddenly, a voice called out.

–Voice: Satsuki, is someone there?

–Satsuki: U-nee! U-nee!

A woman emerged from one of the rooms.

–Uzuki: Ah, Aunt Minato. Sorry for bothering you.

–Minato: Well, it is nice for you and Tama-chan to visit us. But at least call before coming. By the way, how did you get here so fast? Weren't you supposed to be in Yaezora?

–Tamaki: Well, we teleported here.

–Uzuki: Aunt Minato, do you know where Yayoi-nee is?

–Minato: Uzuki, why are you after Yayoi? Is it something related to what she's after?

–Uzuki: Well... we're working together. Yayoi-nee, as well as Mi-chan, went ahead to collect a certain item. But we realised that four people were needed to unseal it, so we came.

–Minato: I see. Uzuki, please be careful out there.

–Uzuki: Aunt Minato, I'm able to take care of myself. There's no need to worry about me.

–Tamaki: Anyway, Uzuki, we should get going.

–Uzuki: Ah, right. See you later, Aunt Minato.

–Minato: See you later, Uzuki.

The two girls left.

Outside Minato's house:

–Tamaki: Uzuki, do you know where we can find the item we need?

–Uzuki: Unfortunately, no. I was never told the location of any family treasures in Chiyohara.

–Tamaki: I see. But can you still sense Yayoi?

–Uzuki: Actually...

Uzuki closed her eyes and focused. She opened her eyes after a while.

–Uzuki: Tama-chan, follow me.

–Tamaki: Ah, right.

Uzuki headed towards the south, while Tamaki followed. Eventually, the girls made their way to what looked like a statue.

–Tamaki: This statue?

–Uzuki: This is, of course, a statue of Queen Emma. Possibly Namari's greatest hero.

Tamaki inspected the writing engraved below the statue.

–Tamaki: Did they go to all that effort to engrave the same message in so many languages? I see not only Japanese and Korean, but also Guruni, Blylandic, and also the Sema language. There's even an English translation.

–Uzuki: Ah, well... from what Mutsuki-nee told me, Namari culture is not a single culture. We accept pretty much everyone, as long as they can live in peace with others.

–Tamaki: Well, Namari has always been fascinating to me. There are very few places on Earth whose inhabitants are universally willing to accept outsiders, like the people of Namari. But I can't help but think... how did such a mentality arise?

–Uzuki: They say that the weak are ruled by the strong. It's simple. The Namari people have long been way ahead of others in their use of magic. We couldn't have won the Second Likkran War without our superior magic. In Namari, there is no such thing as racial purity or racial superiority; only the strength of the individual matters. That is why we can accept other cultures. Because if they go out of hand, we can just simply defeat them in battle.

–Tamaki: That's quite... extreme, if you ask me. But I see where you're going. The current state of affairs on Earth will only last four, maybe five years, at most before the extremists corrupt our democracies.

–Uzuki: It's like what Akari said. There is always evil in humanity. It is up to the strong to keep the evils of humanity in check. Anyway, there should be a trapdoor somewhere around here.

Both girls knelt down to search for the trapdoor. Unlike in Lobehaben, the ground was not covered in snow; however, as the trapdoor had grass growing on it, it was still hard to find.

–Uzuki: Tama-chan...

–Tamaki: Did you find it, Uzuki?

–Uzuki: No, but what's with the pink circles?

–Tamaki: What are you talking about?

It was then that Tamaki realised what Uzuki was talking about, prompting her to slap Uzuki in the cheek.

–Tamaki: Uzuki! Pay attention to the ground, not what's under my skirt!

–Uzuki: I-I'm sorry!

–Tamaki: Uzuki, are you the kind of person who gets distracted very easily?

–Uzuki: Ah, but... I can't help it. I mean, we're kneeling.

–Tamaki: At least look down, not at me. I don't need to look at you to see that you're wearing bunny-print pa-

Uzuki put a hand on Tamaki's mouth.

–Uzuki: Don't say any more! And how did you know?

Uzuki took her hand away.

–Tamaki: It just happened to be in the corner of my eye. Besides, I was looking at you, but only because not doing so is a bit rude when speaking. Anyway, let's find the trapdoor.

–Uzuki: Okay...

The girls continued to search for the trapdoor.

–Uzuki: Ah, I think I've found it.

–Tamaki: Where is it, Uzuki?

Uzuki dug her hands into the ground.

–Uzuki: Urgh... the ground is cold...

She managed to get her hands under the trapdoor, and lifted it, revealing a passage.

–Tamaki: And I suppose Yayoi and Mirai are already down there, right?

–Uzuki: Ah, yes. Come on, let's go.

–Tamaki: Okay.

The two girls entered the passage.

When the two girls entered what appeared to be a large room, they found Yayoi and Mirai in battle with a large beast.

–Uzuki: Wait... what's going on here?

–Tamaki: That beast... what is it doing here?

Uzuki stepped forward, and changed into her mage outfit.

–Uzuki: Yayoi-nee! Mi-chan!

Yayoi turned around, right after evading the beast's attack.

–Yayoi: Uzuki, what are you doing here?

–Uzuki: Well... we'll talk later. For now, let's defeat this thing.

–Yayoi: Ah, right.

–Uzuki: Tama-chan.

–Tamaki: Understood.

Tamaki changed into her mage outfit. Both girls entered the battle.

–Mirai: Uzuki, this beast seems way too tough for us. No matter how many times we hit it, it won't go down.

–Uzuki: I see.

The beast attempted to attack Uzuki with its axe, but Uzuki blocked it with her sword.

–Tamaki: I've seen this kind of beast before.

–Yayoi: Wait, you have?

–Tamaki: It's a Grestrel. Unlike most monsters we tend to face, Grestrels are beasts that gather Innocence within their bodies. Hence they're virtually immune to magic.

–Yayoi: Ah, so that's why we weren't able to do much to it.

–Tamaki: Additionally, a Grestrel's body is composed of a material that is impervious to electric damage, and extremely resistant to physical damage.

–Mirai: Then, what are our options?

–Tamaki: Fire. We burn it to death.

–Yayoi: That's easier said than done. While theoretically I could use my ability to manipulate the air and electricity to create fire, I don't know how I could do that. And Mirai can only set things on fire through summon magic.

–Tamaki: Mirai, other than your dragon, is there anything you can summon that can use fire?

–Mirai: I think so. I'll try.

Mirai leapt back, and began to cast a spell. A blue magic circle appeared in front of her.

–Mirai: O Guardian of Muspellheim, I summon thee!

A flaming figure with a flaming sword emerged from the magic circle. Almost immediately, it attacked the Grestrel, felling it with one strike.

–Uzuki: Well, that was quick. But, Mi-chan, just how many things can you summon?

–Mirai: Well... in addition to the Muspell Guardian I summoned, there are around 40 beings with which I have contracts. Of course, the most powerful is my dragon, and I can also make golems at will.

Suddenly, the Grestrel got back up again.

–Mirai: That wasn't enough?

The Muspell Guardian attempted to attack the Grestrel again; however, the attack was blocked by the Grestrel's axe. The Grestrel counterattacked with a massive punch from its left arm, dealing massive damage to the Muspell Guardian.

–Mirai: Ah!

Mirai rushed towards the Muspell Guardian. A blue magic circle appeared beneath it.

–Mirai: I send thee back, O Guardian of Muspellheim. Thy wounds need healing.

The Muspell Guardian disappeared within the magic circle.

–Uzuki: Mi-chan, did you just send it back?

–Mirai: Well, it's in no position to fight. Anyway, we have more important things to worry about.

The Grestrel attacked Mirai, but its axe met a blue barrier that appeared just in time.

–Mirai: This beast seems far stronger than before. Just how did it gain such strength?

–Tamaki: Let me try something.

Tamaki grabbed an assault rifle from her bag, and fired at the Grestrel. Each bullet impacted with a flash of white light, and the Grestrel was temporarily stunned.

–Yayoi: Tama-chan, what did you just use?

–Tamaki: Magnesium bullets. While not as heavy, they are quite flammable, and burn with a brilliant white light, as you just saw.

The Grestrel counterattacked, swinging its axe straight towards Tamaki, who barely had any time to get out of the way.

–Tamaki: That was close...

Tamaki responded by taking a rocket launcher from her bag and firing it at point blank range. The resulting explosion knocked the Grestrel back, but Tamaki herself was protected by a barrier.

–Uzuki: Mi-chan, I have an idea.

–Mirai: What is it?

–Uzuki: You know how lightning strikes can start wildfires?

–Mirai: Ah, I see what you mean.

A blue magic circle appeared beneath Mirai's feet. Suddenly, the entire room's floor was covered in what appeared to be plant growth. The Grestrel itself was caught by the vines that emerged.

–Uzuki: Here I come!

A yellow magic circle appeared in front of Uzuki. Electricity shot from the magic circle, striking within a circle with a radius of five metres centred on the Grestrel. While the spell did not directly affect the Grestrel, it managed to set on fire the plant growth that Mirai summoned. As a result, the Grestrel was trapped in a fierce blaze.

–Yayoi: Uzuki... I have to admit, that was quite clever of you.

–Tamaki: But we must be careful.

When the flames died down, the girls were shocked to see the Grestrel still standing.

–Tamaki: It's still standing...

–Mirai: I see... I guess we'll strike again.

–Yayoi: Wait, Mirai, what are you-

Mirai transformed her staff into a hammer, and charged straight towards the Grestrel. With one mighty swing, she struck the Grestrel's axe, shattering it.

–Tamaki: Mirai, Grestrels are extremely resistant to physical attacks. Your hammer won't do much to it.

–Mirai: Just see what I'm able to do.

A massive blue magic circle appeared beneath Mirai's feet, and her hammer began to glow blue.

–Mirai: Secret Skill, Piercing Hammer!

Mirai struck the Grestrel with her hammer, and the force of the blow was enough to cause the Grestrel to break apart into dozens of pieces.

–Yayoi: Mirai...

–Uzuki: Mi-chan... what was that Secret Skill?

–Tamaki: Mirai... did you just use your Inherent Ability?

–Mirai: It is, indeed, my Inherent Ability. Although, I can only use that Secret Skill once every 24 hours, and when I use it, my Inherent Ability won't activate anymore until the 24 hours have passed.

–Yayoi: Well, at least the Grestrel is in pieces now. So, should we open the door?

–Uzuki: Ah, let's do it.

The four girls changed out of their mage outfits, and walked towards the door. Each of them put up a hand. The door, in response, began to glow green, and moved out of the way. The girls entered the inner chamber and saw the map.

–Yayoi: Ah, there it is.

Uzuki noticed the red marker on the map.

–Uzuki: That marker...

–Tamaki: That's Chiyohara. But it's also an arrow.

–Mirai: Ah, it's pointing north-northwest.

–Uzuki: And the World Orb should be on the cost of West Pimbia...

–Yayoi: Indeed, it's pointing at the right location. Anyway, should we lift the map?

–Uzuki: Ah, we should. With that said, we're here because Tama-chan found out that four people, not two, are needed.

–Yayoi: Ah, that explains why you came here in the first place.

–Uzuki: Well, there wasn't anyone else who could help you. Alright, then, everyone, let's lift this thing up.

The girls went to each side of the map. They put their hands under it, and attempted to lift it up. A green magic circle appeared above the map.

–Yayoi: Alright, everyone, let's move this to one side.

The girls moved the map to the side of the room, and placed it down. Uzuki almost immediately headed inside the opening.

–Tamaki: Ah, Uzuki!

Uzuki entered the chamber where the item needed to unseal the World Orb was held. There, she noticed, on a pedestal, what appeared to be a jewel.

–Uzuki: Is that it?

Uzuki took out the jewel she got from under the royal palace. She approached the pedestal, and noticed that the jewel on it was red, and it looked like the green jewel she had could fit inside the hole in the red jewel.

–Uzuki: This must be it.

Uzuki took the red jewel and headed back up.

–Yayoi: Ah, you're back, Uzuki.

–Uzuki: Yayoi-nee... everyone, here it is.

Uzuki held out the red jewel.

–Mirai: Is that it?

–Tamaki: Hang on... Uzuki, place the green jewel in the red jewel's hole.

–Uzuki: Eh? Why?

–Tamaki: Just do it.

–Uzuki: Okay.

Uzuki placed the green jewel in the hole. With a burst of green light, the two jewels fused.

–Mirai: Tamaki, what does this mean?

–Tamaki: The two jewels that need to be with the pendants the Donsilan magical girls have are meant to be complementary. They're two separate halves of a single essence, and that essence is only a quarter of a greater power.

–Yayoi: I don't follow...

–Tamaki: The Maleficient Shard Erelia gave me actually has the same mana signature as the two jewels Uzuki holds.

–Uzuki: Wait, are you saying...

–Tamaki: It's possible that Earth had a set of jewels like the ones you're holding. But it appears that someone managed to gather them all before we started searching for the World Orbs. Aria had it, and I'm not sure if she was the one responsible for finding it.

A blue magic circle appeared behind the girls.

–Mirai: A teleportation spell?

From the magic circle emerged Melody.

–Uzuki: Ah, Melody!

Melody walked up to Uzuki and took the jewels off her.

–Uzuki: Eh, wha-

–Melody: Everyone, meet me at the location of the air-elemental World Orb Thursday afternoon.

–Uzuki: Ah, okay...

–Tamaki: Melody, can I ask you something?

–Melody: What is it, Tamaki?

–Tamaki: Were you the one who gave Aria this?

Tamaki took out the Maleficient Shard.

–Melody: No. I've never seen anything like it. But come to think of it, it emits the same energy as these jewels.

–Tamaki: I've been thinking that they may be linked. Anyway, we should head back. Yayoi, Mirai, we'll see you later.

–Yayoi: Ah, see you later, Tama-chan, Uzuki.

Tamaki and Uzuki gathered around Melody, who began to cast a spell. A blue magic circle appeared beneath the three, and in a flash of blue light, the three disappeared.

–Yayoi: Well, I guess we should head back to Aunt Minato's house.

–Mirai: Ah, we should.

The two girls left the chamber.

The three found themselves back at the Miyana residence in Yaezora.

–Uzuki: Ah, Melody, are you heading back to the Spica?

–Melody: Ah, yes. Kanade will get quite agitated if I don't return.

–Tamaki: Well, then, see you on Thursday.

–Melody: See you then.

Melody left the residence.

–Uzuki: I have to admit, that was a bit tiring.

–Tamaki: You mean that battle against the Grestrel?

–Uzuki: No, the entire day. I did fight against a witch today, you know.

–Tamaki: Ah, right. Anyway, we should head inside.

–Uzuki: Okay.

The two girls headed inside the house.

End of Episode 38

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Commentary
What Uzuki said about Namari culture is only part of the story. In short, the people of Namari embrace other cultures because they believe that doing otherwise will only lead to war and suffering, and that only by accepting other people as they are can they achieve peace and harmony. While it is true that Namari culture believes in "might makes right", the culture only considers it a means to an end, and that a regime governed by threats and violence will only invite rebellion. Because of the "might makes right" belief, the people of Namari believe that only the strong can govern effectively, and see Western democracy as quaint at best, and a means for the weak to be given power far beyond their capabilities by evil entities at worst.

Because Namari is an amalgamation of cultures, it does not have a concept of nationalism, as one would see in other countries. While patriotism does exist among the Namari people, it is widely accepted that working for the kingdom is working for humanity, and working for humanity is working for the kingdom. In other words, the needs of the kingdom are supposed to be the same as the needs for the entire human race, even if meeting those needs would lead to short-term harm to the kingdom.