ACT 11 - Sonata of the Beginning

ACT 11 - Sonata of the Beginning
Seirei Gensouki - Hajimari no Soumeikyoku (精霊幻想記 11.始まりの奏鳴曲) are the 11th installments of Seigensou series, it's revolves in the continuation after all Takahisa after party tantrum mess, and the first part of Rio journey escorting the fleeing Christina from Beltram Kingdom.

Chapter 1: After the Uproar
Rio lands while carrying Miharu, Satsuki notices the atmosphere between the two is different and decides in her head to ask Miharu alone about it later, Satsuki asks Miharu if she is hurt anywhere, Miharu says she's fine, Charlotte tolds everyone to go see her father to talk about the incident.

The group arrives to François' office and finds Liliana and the king there, they're surprised of seeing Miharu there and begin to wonder if Takahisa in the end didn't kidnap her, Charlotte told them that Takahisa kidnapped Miharu as expected, Liliana and François get more confused, Charlotte then tell them that Rio already went and rescued Miharu by flying with the his sword to where she was, Liliana and François gets surprised even further.

They explain to Rio, Satsuki and Miharu that they already knew the kidnapping would happened and that it was all a plan to stop Takahisa from rampaging with his divine powers in the city and the castle, that Galarc's army were already surrounding the capital to stop his runaway with Miharu, and that Aki cooperated with Takahisa, Rio, Miharu and Satsuki are surprised because of it and ask why did she help Takahisa.

Liliana explains her conversation with Takahisa after he lost the duel, he said that rio are a criminal and he can't let Miharu go with a murderer... bla bla bla, he said that he would stop being the hero if she hadn't helped him, she asked for Aki's help to persuade him and when Takahisa told her that it wasn't good that she was with him if Miharu doesn't come too, she stopped thinking straight, Satsuki and Miharu get really pissed off when hearing that.

Liliana and François tells them that they don't understand the fixation that Takahisa has with the fact that Rio killed someone, they think that is normal for him to kill is he was attacked by someone in his travels, Satsuki explains that in their country, even if it's in self defense there're those that will point with the finger from behind them to someone that killing people

Liliana asks them if they want some kind of punishment in specific for those two, Liliana says that treating Takahisa as a criminal because of his condition of hero is impossible, but that he will receive some proper punishment when he goes back to Centostella.

The conversation moves to Aki's treatment, Rio says he has no saying in their future treatment, Miharu says she wants Aki and Takahisa to apologise to all the people they caused trouble like Rio and the people from the army that was movilisized because of them.

Satsuki says that something like that is a matter of course, then she says to Miharu that forgiving them easily after something like that won't make them well, so she makes a suggestion, she says that Aki and Takahisa must be forbidden of seeing Miharu and Rio temporarily and send Aki with Takahisa to Centostella she wants it or not now.

Chapter 2: Masato's Decision
Miharu and Rio say that they will tell everything to Masato, Masato is brought to François' office while Aki is taken with Takahisa to another room, Masato is left alone in the room with Miharu and Rio while Satsuki goes with Liliana to talk with Takahisa and Aki.

Masato is nervous and saying that he doesn't understand anything, that Aki's face became blue when the soldier came looking for them and took her to another room, Rio tells Masato about the kidnapping, Masato's head goes blank for a moment and he begins to apologize while crying to Miharu and with his head almost touching the table " Miharu-nee-chan I'm really sorry for what my stupid brother and sister did to you", Miharu says Masato to rise his head, that it's her fault for not talking to Aki properly while they were in Japan and just running away from her problems with her because she was afraid of damaging their relationship, Rio says to the two that nothing it's their fault, that the ones that have to carry the sin are the ones committing it.

At the same time Charlotte talks with her father in another room, they’re talking about how Rio rescued Miharu, Charlotte is talking to François about the importance of connecting themselves to Rio somehow, that if it’s François he surely understands Rio’s worth, that the Galarc kingdom has never had someone as the king’s sword, that now even the king’s sword is able of flying in the sky, he says to François to use his authority for stopping the rest of the nobles from setting a engagement between Rio and some of his daughters and at the same time that he makes Rio Satsuki’s fiançe to make her two Rio’s second wife, François is surprised of Charlotte’s interest in Rio because he thinks that she was just someone with the hobby of ruining the love and or friendship relationships of the people around her, Charlotte doesn’t deny it and talks of how she fell for Rio when seeing him flying in the sky, that at the beginning she was a little dubious of some things like him being able of repelling a dragon but now she fully believes it, François admits to planning to put Rio and Satsuki together and explains to Charlotte that engaging her to Rio may be harder than with Satsuki because Satsuki as a hero can’t really be restrained by their costumes, but in the case of a princess the nobles from other factions won’t accept it easily, Charlotte says that it will be fine because Rio will surely achieve bigger things from now on and the rock headed nobles won’t have another option but to admit it, François asks her why is her so sure of that and she says that because her eye for the people is never wrong, then she leaves the room that maybe Miharu will want to be Rio’s wife too, that Lizelotte is suspicious too but the biggest problem is that Rio right now doesn’t seem to want to tie himself to another person.

The action changes to Satsuki going to scold Aki and Takahisa, Takahisa just has an annoyed face while Aki is worried and almost crying, she says to Aki that looking at her face it seems there is conscience that she did something bad, what about you Takahisa-kun?

Takahisa looks other way without answering her, he was going to begin again his pratter about Rio being a criminal but Satsuki stops him at the beginning, out of the question, what you really can't take is that Miharu likes another man, did you think that lowering the other's evaluation Miharu would choose you instead of him? Takahisa is at a loss when completely seen through.

Satsuki tells the two that they're forbidden for seeing or talking to Rio and Miharu for some time and that Aki will go to Centostella she wants it or not now, Takahisa doesn't say anything, Aki begins cry when hearing she won't be able of seeing Miharu and because she realizes that it's because of something she did with her own hands. Satsuki then tells the two half crying that it was her who asked Rio to properly talk to the two for the whole group to be able of advancing forward but you went and did something like this, both lose their words again, and Liliana tells Takahisa, I told you, do you know what is coming now? then when they're leaving the room they find Masato in the door, he says the two he wants to talk with his brothers a little and that he has Rio's permission.

Masato enters the room and talks to them but Takahisa still doesn't reflect in the slightest and and Aki just cries more and more, Masato tells her while consoling her that if she's going to cry then don't do it to begin with.

That night Masato visits Rio to ask him for advice, he says Rio that after seeing his stupid brother that doesn't reflect at all and Aki crying it didn't feel well for him to let the princess Liliana with all the trouble of looking after them alone, that if there isn't  at least one person that is family near them that says them harsh words, he can't be sure they will really go to the right path again, so he wants to go with them and be that person, Rio says him that if that is his decision then is fine as long as he is sure he won't regret it, Masato asks Rio to take him to the rock house to tell everyone there what his brother did.

At night they go to the rock house to tell everyone there what happened, they gather everyone in the living room and Masato tells them that Takahisa kidnapped Miharu with Aki's help, they ask Miharu if she is fine, she says that yes, they ask Masato why did his brother do that, Masato says that because he couldn't stand that Miharu loved Rio  instead of him, Miharu gets embarrassed hearing Masato and with all the girls suddenly looking at her, Masato asks if it is wrong but Miharu doesn't say anything while Latifa looks with death eyes at Rio while remembering their conversation in volume 4 about her still being the more important for him even if his former family was in this world too now, Satsuki sees the girls' reactions and thinks " you're a sinful man Haruto-kun", Masato realizes he just dropped a bomb and changes the topic to him going to Centostella too and his reasons.

Chapter 3: Parting, And New Journey
Two days after that Masato goes to Centostella with Takahisa, Aki and Liliana, after saying his farewells to Rio, Miharu and Satsuki, he sees Liliana looking worriedly at Rio and he asks if she fell for him too, because all the older girls he met so far fell for Rio.

Liliana says him that isn't case and that Rio is already surrounded of beautiful women, Masato says her she's beautiful too, Liliana says he doesn't need to flatter her, Masato says her he is serious and he would like to have a girlfriend as beautiful as her, Liliana smiles and says that if he gets too old to marry some noble she may marry with Masato when he grows up, Masato gets embarrassed and says her to not jest, Liliana says that it's Masato's fault for jesting the first, Masato says again he was serious and Liliana smiles again.

They arrive to where Takahisa and Aki are, Takahisa is pissed off seeing Miharu is clearly happier by Rio's side than his while Aki is sad for not being able of talking to her, then Masato begins to fulfill his promise of making sure Takahisa sees reality by saying harsh things to him,.

Don't get it wrong I haven't forgiven you, I'm here because I think is the right thing to do, or because Miharu-nee-chan isn't coming you no longer care about me? you were always saying that Haruto-niichan was a criminal and you're a perfect criminal yourself too, Takahisa doesn't answer to Masato, he just goes to magic boat while thinking what is the difference between him and Rio and they go to Centostella like that.

A week later Rio and Miharu decide to leave Galarc’s castle, Satsuki says her farewell to the two in her room, after the three go to François’ office for telling to him that they will leave now, François makes Charlotte to accompany the three until the castle gate after saying his farewell, when they arrive at the gate Charlotte asks Rio to take her to a date the next time he comes to the castle and confesses to him in front of Satsuki and Miharu, then she goes back inside the castle with Satsuki asking her about what she has just said, at the same Rio and Miharu are walking until the capital’s gate in an awkward silence while Reiss looks at them since the sky, when Rio and Miharu arrive at a forest near one of the capital gate’s Aisia materializes, Miharu thanks her for her help during the incident with Takatrash and for her advice about how to face Rio the moment he finally tells the truth about his previous life.

Rio now is carrying Miharu until the rock house, when they land for some reason Miharu’s face is red, Rio asks her what happens but she says that it’s nothing Rio imagining that the reason why Miharu now always begins to act shy when he’s by her side has his own cheeks a little red too but he doesn’t say anything because he thinks he may dig his own grave if he does, at that time the rest of the girls leave the rock house for welcoming them, they asks them what happens, Miharu says that nothing while flustered but her face is even redder now, Rio says to celia that he needs to talk with her for a moment for changing the topic already and goes with Celia to his room.

Interlude: Sakata Hiroaki's Interlude
At the same time that Rio and Miharu left Galarc's capital, Hiroaki is attending a tea party hel bu Lisette Gregory accompanied by Flora and Roana, Hiroaki has been meeting non-stop with young noble girls from the Galarc kingdom, the girls are talking about her hobbies to Hiroaki and to trying to know his tastes, he promised to meet with the girls again another day while enjoying to the maximum his harem situation, full of pride and arrogance because he knew that all the girls there were aiming to be his wifes, completely convinced in his head that he really gained the girls over with his charm and not because of his position as hero, then changed the topic to Takahisa kidnapping Miharu, all the girls stopped talking because for them as believers in the gods it was impossible to speak bad of a hero, Roana tried to made Hiroaki to change the topic after explaining to Hiroaki why to talk about that was a troublesome matter for everyone, but Hiroaki still didn't change his mind and said his opinion full of prejudice of Takahisa, how surely he was always a winner back in Japan, how he must have thought after coming to another world and having cheat powers that he could do even more as he wanted, how because of that it must have been difficult for him to accept that he wasn't the protagonist and because of that he became the NTR bastard without realizing, that he would like him to be more concious of his position, to not do susch stupidities because one hero does something bad he worsend the image of the rest of the heroes too, Roana praised Hiroaki's conciousness of his own position without any feeling on it for him to change the topic quickly, but Hiroaki took it as a real praise, after a little more of talk the tea party ended.

Chapter 4: Celia's Decision
Already in his room Rio talks to Celia about the people from Beltram assisting the evening party, about Restoration foundation, about the people from the Arbor faction coming to the party too, how Christina due to being always watched closely by someone from the Arbor faction was only able of treating coldly Flora and Roana in front of the others, how all of that was probably an acting due to her thanking him secretly for saving Flora in Amande, Celia is a little sorry for the sisters hearing the last part, now Rio changes the topic to when they will go to visit Celia’s father again, Celia tries to refuse thinking that it will be a bother for Rio, that he should prioritize Miharu, the childhood friend he was able of meeting again after a lot of things, Rio says to her that if Miharu is Haruto’s childhood friend then Celia is Rio’s childhood friend, that she doesn’t need to worry about that and to keep relying on him if she need it, Celia begins to cry when hearing this, Rio goes back alone to the living room because Celia didn’t want the other to know that she had cried.

When Rio arrives to the living room he sees the other girls surrounding Miharu, Sara says, so that’s what happened eh, Latifa says that Miharu is cunning, Miharu defends herself saying that it doesn’t counts because she didn’t say it to the person in question herself, Alma says that it’s a fact that the feelings were transmitted a little frustrated, Ouphia laments too with a face a little frustrated that Miharu took a little of advantage from them now, Rio that has already an idea about what they were talking clears his throat for making his presence know, everyone is surprised of seeing him there, Rio asks what a wry smile what they were talking about, Miharu said that it was nothing in a hurry, Sara now asks Rio about what he said to Celia and Rio says to them that tomorrow he will go again to Celia’s house, that it’s enough with him, Celia and Aisia, that they don’t need to bother themselves with coming too but Sara says that of course they pretend to accompany them while the rest nod at the same time.

The next day while flying towards Creia they notice in the distance the presence of griffins patrolling the skies and land in a forest near the city, Rio goes to the city with Celia and Aisia for investigating what is happening and the rest wait for them in the rock house, when Rio arrives at the city he sees a great quantity of homeless people, a lot shops closed and a great quantity of soldiers patrolling the streets, Rio and Celia go to the noble district, Rio makes Celia to wait for him in a cafe while he checks the security around the mansion of Celia’s father, Rio meets Celia again and they begin to make time until it gets dark for sneaking in Celia’s house.

Chapter 5: Chance Meeting
Rio and Celia enters the secret basement and they find Vanessa and Christina there, Vanessa and Christina mistaking them for attackers fight against Rio, Rio and Vanessa try to put each other in an armlock a few times but fail, then Christina fires photom bullets at Rio, Rio destroys them with his fists, Christina seeing him making that remembers how Haruto Amakawa did the same in the evening party the other day, Vanessa says Christina to escape while she earns time but then Rio and Celia solve the misunderstanding revealing their identities, they go to the basement’s living room and ask each other what they are doing in that place.

Celia explains how she escaped her wedding by her own will and that Rio just helped her, Christina realizes Celia’s fear to being condemned by her because of what she did and she tells her that she did well in escaping that wedding she asks Celia if she escaped that wedding because she believed that it would be something bad for the kingdom, after Celia says that yes Christina says to her that the whole Arbor faction is something hurtful for the Bertram kingdom, that she doesn’t need to feel guilty for running away because she did same, that what it’s important is what she makes after escaping.

Christina explains how she escaped the royal castle because she though if she stayed there the duke Arbor would have killed her sooner later, he explains about his ambition of getting the throne and his plan of making Christina’s little sister of another mother, Loris, that at the same is Helmut’s granddaughter to seduce Rui and supporting their child as the new king, how this plan doesn’t success because Rui’s girlfriend was between the people summoned with him,  how her father entrusted her with Bertram’s future and that for fulfilling her duty she needs to reach Rodania first, then she begins to negotiate with Rio the conditions for him to lent her, Vanessa, Kota and Rei magic tools that change the hair color for escaping the search group because the soldiers of the Arbor faction followed them until Creia after Christina’s father asked Celia’s father to help her to reach Rodania, while they talk Celia’s father enters the basement.

Roland is surprised of seeing Celia there and hugs her, Roland asks Celia if the letter left before in the basement was hers and Celia confirms it, then she explains again that she escaped the wedding by her own will and that Rio just helped her, Roland now explains how the search group was sent reinforcements from the capital and that Charles is the leader, how the next morning he intend to break the mansion’s walls in order to look for secret rooms, hearing this Rio decides to get Christina’s group out of Creia immediately for the sake of Celia’s father, he gives everyone the magic tools and sends Aisia to look for Sara, Ouphia and Alma, when Rio is ready for beginning his plan Roland gets close to him and thanks him again for saving Celia, then he gives Rio a bag with money for the travel, after receiving it Rio leaves the basement.

Chapter 6: Escape
Rio threw a great ball of light to the sky then Aisia, Sara, Ouphia and Alma pretending to be Christina’s group calls the attention of the soldiers while attracting them toward Creia’s north gate, at the same time Rio begins to knock out part of the soldiers pursuing them while following them from behind, when they reach the north gate Rio defeats the guards there and Aisia’s group leaves the city, after leaving the city Aisia goes back to the rock house while Sara, Ouphia and Alma go to the south gate for making sure that Celia leaves the city without safely, Reiss that has been watching everything from the sky is praising Rio’s plan while looking at Celia and Christina’s group going towards the south gate, then he descend into the city and says to some soldiers that he saw a group of suspicious people running towards the southgate.

Christina arrives to the southgate surprised at how leaving the mansion was easier than expected and wondering if Rio will really be alright, Rio catches up to them, defeats the gate’s guards and they leave the city, they’re running through the highway when Rio decides to stay behind for stalling their pursuers, a minute later Charles arrives to where Rio is with another ten knights, Rio defeats them while pretending to be someone unrelated with whatever happened in the city, when he was going to interrogate Charles he needed to dodge a lightning arrow, after that more lightning arrow came trying to separate Rio from the fallen knights, Rio is surprised when realizes the sniper was Rui that is 600 m away from him over the city’s gate, then Rio sees Alfred coming with another group of knight coming his way and decides to retire because fight against the two at the same time seemed troublesome, Rui shoots at Rio one last big lightning arrow that divided itself into smaller parts and began to pursue Rio, Rio lets the lightning bullets to almost catch up with him and with a sudden acceleration he gets out of the encirclement making the lightning bullets to destroy between themselves, Rui laughs when seeing that and Charles is speechless, after that Rio runs away while Alfred’s group begins to tend to the knights he has just defeated.

At the same time  Celia and Christina’s group are still running away from Creia when a minotaur appears in their way, another at one side of the road and at the other some dozens of orcs, Alma hits one minotaur with her hammer and Sara cuts its head, the other minotaur tries to bypass Alma by jumping over her, Ouphia stops the minotaur in the air with a light arrow, Alma creates a jumping point with earth spirit arts for Sara and she killed it, after that Ouphia killed the orcs shooting light bullets at them, when all the monster already died Reiss shoot a black light bullet, Sara, Ouphia and Alma reacted late to this and even Christina thought she was going to die but Rio arrived just in time and destroyed the light bullet.

Reiss comes out of the forest while applauding to Rio, he introduces himself as Reiss a member of the celestial lions, Lucius’ mercenary group, he apologizes sarcastically to Rio for interfering in his fight with Lucius, he says to Rio that Lucius is fine, Rio asks him where is Lucius, Reiss says then Rio “ It’s curious how the avenger and his target changed right Rio-san?” Celia, Sara, Ouphia and Alma stiffen when hearing that name, Christina’s gaze gets fixed to Rio’s back while feeling that everything finally fell into its place, now she finally understands why the Haruto Amakawa nobody knew nothing about was so close to Celia, Rio prepares himself for fighting against Reiss and he begins to bluff about being smart or not to fight against him or not without knowing how strong he is, without knowing if he has any comrade with him and with soldiers from Creia that must be coming their way after hearing the minotaurs’ roars, Rio tells to Reiss to disappear before he changes his mind.

Trivia

 * In WN, the Seirei trio arent part of this arc