Zektbach is the pseudonym of Tomosuke Funaki when he composes songs in an electronic-neoclassical style, some of them have been used in Beatmania IIDX and DDR.
These pieces, along with chapters he has written and the accompanied art of Maya Takamura, come together to tell the complex story of a world called Aria Te'laria that has been plunged into chaos and despair by the influence of a mysterious jewel called Ristaccia. The albums of the Epic have special editions which include guidebooks with illustrations of Maya Takamura and DVDs with clips.
First album -Ristaccia-
Quote:
01 Ark Ouroboros.
02 Fragment.
03 Overture -Ristaccia-
04. Aria te'Laria.
05 Shamshir Dance.
06 Rufina.
07 Zeta.
08 Holy Kingdom Of Noigllado.
09 Blind Justice ~Torn Souls, Hurt Faiths~
10 The Abandoned Island.
11 Apocalypse ~dirge of swans~
12 Turii ~Panta Rhei~
13 L'erisia (Primal Logic)
14 Nyoah's Sword Dance
15 Overture de Ristaccia, Presto Ag
16 Danza de Shamsir, Ŕ La Turque
17 Zeta, LA Chanson.
18 Blind Justice, Le Concerto.
19 Apocalyspe, Avec Orgue.
Spoiler for Videos of Ristaccia album:
Fragments of Aria Te'laria (which included the piano collection, piano sheets and a drama CD)
Quote:
01 Ark Ouroboros
02 Fragment
03 Overture -Ristaccia-
04 Aria Te'Laria
05 Shamshir Dance
06 Rufina 4:06
07 Zeta 5:22
08 Holy Kingdom Of Noigllado
09 Blind Justice
10 The Abandoned Island
11 Apocalypse
12 Turii -Panta Rhei-
13 L'Erisia (Primal Logic)
14 Nyoah's Sword Dance
15 Village Hidden In The Mist
16 Masinowa
17 Innocent Wish
Spoiler for Videos of Fragments:
First and third video weren't made by Maya
Second album -Masinowa- (which included a special edition with a guidebook, tarot cards with the characters by Maya Takamura and the OVA of Shamshir Dance)
Quote:
01 Masinowa - Holy Land Masinowa
02 Kagachi - Snake Spirit
03 Omifushisama - Mountain Spirit
04 Junaguni Ruins
05 Sazaragi
06 Wenkamui
07 Raison d'ętre - Crossing Fates
08 Malchut
09 The Sealer
10 L'avide
11 Nunc omnia rident - Thoughts of the Great Tree
12 Charcol's Sword Dance - Charcol's Flowing Sword Dance
13 Trisagion - Prayer of Purification
14 ZETA - The One Who Transcends the World of Primes (choir)
15 Turii ~Panta rhei~ - Turii and the Star People (choir)
16 Malchut - Malchut's Song (choir)
17 Aria te'Laria - Main Theme ~Aria te'Laria~ (choir)
Spoiler for Masinowa videos:
There also 2 Novel CDs: the first is Blind Justice (with Ishida Akira and Kaori Nazuka as the twins Nox and Matin Catorce) which expands the story of Blind Justice and the second one is Masinowa (with Kana Hanazawa as Malchut, Takehito Koyasu as Gijiri and Miyuki Sawashiro as L'erisia) which explains the stories of Kagachi, Turii Panta Rhei and Raison d'ętre. The second Novel CD-Masinowa- included the remaining tarot cards that weren't in the special edition of Masinowa album.
The stories are incomplete since only few chapters have been released, the videos can be partially understood and recently we got new information thanks to the Novel CDs. Hope new videos will appear this year.
I don't know if I would want more Zektbach anime since Shamshir Dance OVA was only 30 minutes with bad animation and very rushed, although it was the "worst" arc (it isn't bad but the other arcs waaay better). Although MADs like these with anime style art make me want see a Zektbach anime:
The English site is a bit outdated in terms of the story. Well, the official site itself hasn't been updated in a long time (they still haven't shown the Masinowa region in the map).
Here are some translations for Masinowa (most of Zektbach fans consider it the best arc)
Spoiler for Character bios:
Gijiri
Born at Jakotsu, Masinowa’s village for Kagachi. He holds a strong hatred towards his birthplace, as it has lost its pride and linked with negative discrimination, and eventually he destroys his birthplace.
In order to find the rightful roots of the lost ancestor, He excavated the ancient ruins nearby the Yunaguni island. There he acquired various unknown skill.
After being able to utilize the skill he goes to Wenkamui, a land said to be the origin of Kagachi。There he creates ‘Devil’s Lair’, a research facility to pursue the potential of one’s ability. His right eye has the ability to see a person’s ‘real name’, however as it can cause hallucination at the same time, it usually kept hidden.
Kukaru
A young member of secret organization, Sazaragi. He has a pure heart with a strong sense of justice. He successfully disembark on unprecedented land Turii (after a hard journey)
Due to his sense of justice, he saved Malchut who was in the middle of ritual. This later will have a significant impact to this world.
In Sazaragi, his friendship with Gijiri is like that of brothers, however since he brings Malchut back the relationship between him and Gijiri has greatly turned grim. At the end he meets his end from Gijiri’s blade.
He’s a child between Yamaji and Kagachi race, which is considered to be a taboo.
Malchut
The sole survivor of the race that has been in this world since ancient times, ‘People of Stars’. She was in the middle of entering the ritual of vicissitudes at Turii island until Kukaru who doesn’t know anything disrupt the ritual and take her to Masinowa.
She is a being with no knowledge about ‘words’ or emotions, however she gradually becomes attached to Kukaru and learns a lot of things during the time spent with him. Unfortunately, such thing is destroying the causality and resulting the destruction of Masinowa. After the destruction of Masinowa she keeps tormented by the contradiction of her existence. After confronting L’erisa at Sky Ship Ruins (most likely the Ristaccia ruins which has been hinted to be a spaceship) she goes into a deep slumber.
Ido
One of Sazaragi member and Gijiri’s right hand man. ‘Born’ at Devil’s Lair Wenkamui, he is an outstanding ‘Majin’ (magician in other translation) . He posses skills beyond knowledge and command over the rest of Majin. Afterwards, when the Majin went rampage he used all of his life force to seal them. Even after the destruction of Masinowa, Ido’s seal remain intact.
Misakuya (girl from Kagachi video)
A beautiful black haired girl who lives at Konohana, a place that rules over Jakotsu. She is a noble that is well respected even amongst Yamaji people. She has a strong loathing towards Kagachi people as it is a knowledge that’s being hammered thoroughly to her since young, being raised surrounded by nobles.
Gijiri kept being plagued by the her image.
Spoiler for Gijiri's story (Kagachi and Wenkamui chapters):
Wenkamui ___Evil God.
In Masinowa Legend it’s said to be the birth land of an Evil God and treated as forbidden land. However this is the interpretation from Yamaji’s side, while originally Wenkamui’s meaning is ‘The land of origin’
Because of big eruption of Mount Mifushi, people that lived on plain at the southern end was chased away from their residence and migrated even further south. Then the uncivilised wasteland was named “Wenkamui: The land of Origin” and they lived there. The one who named Wenkamui was the one who lead them all that time, Sonigi.Sonigi is a descendant of people that ‘bathed in mysterious light’ and has a unique ability/skill. However, it’s not the case that all in the lineage of people ‘bathed in mysterious light’ has a unique ability.
Everyone equally has snake like mark on their backs, however the first one who can ‘use’ Kagachi was Sonigi. Most likely, in human lineage the potential ability is being passed down without being developed. It’s also possible in Sonigi’s generation by some kind of chance it was being activated.
A lot of women are supported by Sonigi, Wenkamui is developed around the descendant of Sonigi. Sonigi’s descendants… in other words the Kagachin.
People ‘bathed in mysterious light’, brought back a crimson gem from ruin in Junaguni island. This gem became the heritage treasure of Kagachi, and for generations carrying the sword embed with this gem became the proof as Wenkamui’s leader.
This crimson gem brings tragedy to Wenkamui.
Around year 600 before history, the never seen before giant people came to Wenkamui. People of Wenkamui can’t comprehend what they were talking about, however by instinct they feel danger towards themselves.
Kunigi who was the leader at that time, pick up the crimson gem inserted sword and stand against the giants. The giants open their eyes and view the sword in doubt (?), while whispering something they went away.
Giant kind__Gadena.
They lived at EJIIKU(?)’s most southern border, Dalisian. Fundamentally they are different to Humina.
To begin with they were beast that has no wisdom, however as soon as they discovered the red jewel they evolute into a form of human beast to the point that they posses both strength and wisdom.
Red Jewel___crimson gem___ Ristaccia.
The Gadenas wished for further wonder. That desire was as strong as a hungry beast. The Gadenas came to Wenkamui once again, and painted the land with blood. They don’t care whether they resist or not, they forcibly attacked Wenkamui’s people one by one. They persistently chased after the ones ran away, slaughtered them and ate their flesh. Wenkamui was smeared in blood and it didn’t take much time for it to turn into ruins.
At Wenkamui, Kunigi that carried the crimson gem inserted sword fought well against each one of the Giants. However seeing his comrades fallen one by one, he felt a strong crisis towards the Kagachi race. Kunigi gathered the remaining comrades and gave an indication to get out and escape from Wenkamui. “The Giants are after this sword, I’ll draw them to me and you all can make an escape. Don’t let the Kagachi’s blood to be perished!” was something that Kunigi must have said. Kunigi directed his comrades toward Junabaru plain while he himself went towards the direction of Junaguni island. This way, not a single soul left in Wenkamui.
600 years later___
Over the long time being uninhabited land, once more a man visited Wenkamui.
Grasp tightly on his hand is the crimson gem inserted sword that once belong to Kunigi. That man name is Gijiri___ the descendant of Kagachi.
Thus Wenkamui belonged to Kagachi once more.
At Wenkamui, Gijiri deeply researched his ancestor, people ‘bathed in mysterious light’ and why Kagachi all has a mark on their backs and have a unique ability. E dispatched lot of people to ancient ruin at Junaguni island, excavated the relics and brought them all back to Wenkamui.
The one that excavated the ancient ruins together alongside Gijiri are called “Sazaragi” and became the infamous thieves (?)
In the middle of excavation and research, Gijiri thought,”The ability that Kagachi posses is against (?) beyond human intellect. And then, this power, in this world no matter how, is sleeping(?)”
Gijiri researched the connection between the relics from ancient ruin and Kagachi’s ability, and find a way to further enhance Kagachi’s enslavement (?) ability.
This way, what is produced/resulted is ‘Majin’** (please refer to my previous translation attempt note about ‘Majin’).‘Majin’ is thought by Gijiri, it is said to be the evolute form of Kagachi.
The advance ‘skill’ and illusion that Majin can utilise, is called sorcery and a very strong power. However to utilise a sorcery a lot of mental/spirit strength is needed. As compoesation Majin lifespan was short.
Gijiri produced a lot of Majin, and before time Wenkamui is called ‘Majin’s village’ (Devil’s Lair in other translation). The research at Devil’s Lair was done in secret between Gijiri and Sazaragi’s member. Therefore Kagachi and Yamaji at Junabaru’s plain don’t know the existence of Devil’s Lair at all.
Even amongst the Majin that Gijiri produced, a man named Ido is especially has a strong power. Not just the strength of his sorcery, he also has anti-sorcery ability to neutralize the sorcery of all other Majin. As Gijiri’s right hand man, he lead Wenkamui’s Majins together with other Majin, Miyagi and Yakumo.
Without stopping the research on Majin, the problem to push the power of Sorcery to the extreme, causing hinder to Human body, was gradually started to appear.
The manipulation of life is probably a taboo thing after all.
Majins who have lost its humanity have started to rampage. Because of the extreme sorcery of the Majins, the rampage didn’t stop.
Ido used all of his life force to utilise an ultimate anti-sorcery and thus casted a seal on the whole land of Wenkamui.
Gijiri and the Sazaragi got away from Wenkamui and headed north, afterward they work behind the scene at the centre of Masinowa.
Wenkamui has once again became an inhibited land.
This way Wenkamui has disappear from history, but it left a big thing for Kagachi’s descendant.
______ A living body that surpassed time (immortal).
NOTE: The one with (?) mark is the one I’m not 100% sure how and what exactly to translate and I might be wrongly translate that part (not that I say the other ones are 100% most accurate translation either, it’s just the part with this mark is the part I’m most unsure)
The last line, I’m not sure if it’s actually indicating Gijiri’s immortality only or Kagachi descendant’s immortality after the sealing of Wenkamui as a whole. But seeing as how things go on in drama CD, I assume the last line is indicating to Gijiri’s immortality as no other Kagachi besides Gijiri has been indicated to be an immortal.
These are Joah's mementos compiled in Ristaccia booklet. If I'm not mistaken these are the notes that Lien studied in the Ristaccia ruins during the events of ZETA
Spoiler for translated by sealer-of-wenkamui (tumbrl):
I awakened feeling very good. I wonder how long I was asleep. In any case, I must immediately begin.
I will record. There is a recordable change here. This is what sort of wonderful thing?
Once, humanity feared a single cell as well was promised to live eternally.
Humanity was unsuccessful at that time; I wonder what did they think. We would personally throw away the one golden key.
Within the road to Zeta, a single small hole has been found in the matchbox. Frantically, my eyes caught a peek and momentarily had a glimpse into the world outside of the box. The yet unseen complex, huge world. Our answer is there.
People feared death. In other words, they were afraid of change. And finally, they completely forgot change itself. Even though there, there was nothing left.
Nature was always warning. Once, extremely prosperous races/species themselves sincerely accepted this. However, arrogant man opposed this warning.
Certainly exist—. This is the unknown joy we dreamed of. We must now certainly do this joy called existence.
I understand. At the time of humanity’s birth, the infinite space that became unknown, this box as well now has become more narrow than a matchbox. Even if this was humanity’s dream.
We were lost at a dead end. The great maze wouldn’t easily accept us. When did I realize that? No, I had probably already realized it, long ago.
Note 4
History has taught. Many people already had both eyes snatched away. In the past, many people have struggled for the same sight as I. The great majority facing the dead end just denied it as heresy. People just hate them, deny, hastened.
Stones on the beach are able to be scraped and all become uniformly rounded. Draws many disputes, it was like an approaching wave. People seemingly like a cobble, wanted mutual similarity.
Sin gave birth to that called God. God is worshipped, and gave birth to new sin. Thus, many gods obstructed our path.
Note 8
Probably, this will be the last. The angel that will guide us. Will name it L’erisia.
Joah note 13:
Dazzling light can be seen…we for a moment knew but a long time ago forgot desired light…humanity made a huge miscalculation. Why was our history foolish….
This will probably be the last record. Come; let’s go together, my angel. To the road to the truth we have to know.
The people who translated these aren't experts in Japanese so these are rough translations. Even so, they were kind enough to translate it and to at least have an idea even if it is not perfect.