Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Magical, Science Fiction

.

Teito Klein is an up and coming student at the Barsburg Military Academy. His friend, Mikage is nearly always by his side. During the final exam for the academy (which happens to be a life or death fight with a HUGH convict), Teito and Mikage come out on top. Teito decides to spare the convict’s life, breaking the rules of the test. Ayanami, a high ranking member of the military, kills the convict with a powerful Zaiphon blast. Zaiphon is the term for the powers the military wields in combat; visually it appears to be runic characters in the air around the attacks. The tension is growing…

However, Teito’s story began long before the onset of the series. A slave in a neighboring empire; he was adopted into the military academy due to his natural abilities. He has broken memories of a kind, young to middle-aged man. The man in his dreams is taking care of him, and wears a very unique necklace. He feels that this man may actually be his father.

When Teito is passing a room where Ayanami is talking to his subordinates, he hears a familiar and haunting noise. It is a unique chime, given off by his (likely) father’s necklace. His memories flash back to Ayanami standing over the body of the man he believes to be his father. With unspeakable rage Teito flings himself at Ayanami, falling short when a subordinate easily stops his attack. Teito is arrested.

Mikage learns of this and goes to spring him from jail. Finding Teito standing over a pile of bodies, he grabs him and runs… leaving himself to hold off the guards. Ayanami nearly kills Teito with a Zaiphon attack, but Teito manages to defend himself. He flies off, nearly unconscious, and is rescued from plunging to his death by three bishops from the nearby 7th District Church. They take him in and help him recover, with a little comedy to lighten the mood. Teito begins to research the history of the area, and the kingdom of his heritage, Raggs. In the final scenes, we see Ayanami questioning Mikage.

This series has a LOT hidden under the surface, and speaks of big things to come! The world is large and fleshed out quite well. Another on my growing list of need-to-see series.

Overall Hook Rating: B