Ch. 72 'Inside Her Astral'

"Earlier, when I tried to break through the barrier, I saw something. A sealed room, to be exact. I felt strange energy coming from there, and I'm guessing the barrier is either protecting the room or preventing something inside the room going outside."

"A sealed room? Why someone sealed some part of Niken's astral dimension? Niken was only ordinary Elementalist, right?" asked Hokuto.

"…"

"…"

Both Scarlet and Shin Ha stayed silent, not knowing how to answer. Only Hokuto, who didn't realize that Niken was not an ordinary Elementalist. Niken was the almost extinct time-controllers.

"Can you enter it?" Yuki's question surprised everyone.

"That's what I intended to. But you know, there is a possibility that this room was the source of her astral soul. If I had managed to enter it, I might have met her in person."

"Is that something bad?" this time, it was Richard who asked.

"It depends. If we ever meet before this, I could explain the situation. But we have never met before. So there's a chance she will kick me out before I said anything. It would be better if one of you entered, but that's impossible. I'm the only one who can enter because of my unique mastery."

"Then what can we do?" Kazuto also began to lose his temper.

"Hm... is there something that can make her believe that you guys sent me?

Something that only she and one of you know. Evidence that I'm not her enemy."

Kazuto couldn't answer it as he didn't have something secret between him and his inamorata. So he glanced at Richard. Perhaps as Niken's brother, he had more occasions that only the sibling knew of.

"I think I have one. I have a childhood story that only the two of us know. Maybe you can tell Niken before she kicks you out."

After Richard told several incidents that only he and Niken knew, Izzy positioned her palms above Niken's body, and once again, the purple energy smoke enveloped Niken's body.

"Alright. I will enter now. Don't make a noise." she requested before finally closed her eyes.

This time she let her astral soul left her body and entered Niken's astral dimension. She felt light as her astral soul got sucked into Niken's astral dimension. Seconds later, she opened her eyes only to find nothing but darkness.

It was very dark and cold. Only those word was suitable for describing this place.

Izzy couldn't see anything as there was no light at all. Even so, she could see her own body. She decided to walk slowly, only to find no one.

Why isn't anyone here? Does she enter the correct astral dimension? Well, she never knew as this was the first time entering someone else's astral dimension. She gulped nervously, hoping she could go back safely from this place. Otherwise, she would be trapped here forever and die along with the dying Niken.

"Hello! Is anybody here? Niken!" at least for now, she needed to find the whereabout Niken's soul. "Hello!"

All of a sudden, a cyclone blew hard at her.

"Aaarrgh!"

It was so hard to make her feet hold on their place. Moreover, she had to use her energy to counter the cyclone. She couldn't afford to be driven out of this place. Or else, she would not get in back as easily as this.

"Who are you?" asked someone who suddenly appeared before her.

"Niken!" Izzy exclaimed happily as soon as she saw the face. "I am pleased to meet you. You don't know me, but I know people who love you. They are waiting for you out there. Ugh!"

Sadly, the cyclone did not stop but instead tried harder to push her out of this place.

"Niken! Your brother... " the cyclone began to subside, making her sighed relieved.

"Your brother is waiting for you to wake up."

"You know, my brother?"

"I don't know him, but he asked me to help you."

"Help me?"

"Yes. Do you know that you are unconscious at this time? Everyone is worried about you. Kazuto, Scarlet, Shin Ha, Hokuto, and your twin brother Richard are worried about you."

"My twin brother? You said, my brother... "

"Yes, your brother named Richard. Do you have another brother?" Once again, Izzy felt a strong gust of wind. "Ugh ... Why are you trying to kick me out? I thought you are starting to trust me."

Niken snorted. "Just so you know, I don't have twin brothers and my brother's name isn't Richard. You have a long way to go if you want to trick me."

"What? How..? Ugh!"

Izzy was stupified hearing Niken did not have twins. But she had no time to think as the wind-storm attack her once again.

She tried to keep her feet stuck in place so that her body wouldn't be blown away. What a dominant wind elemental energy!

Wait a minute! Wasn't Niken's a water Elementalist? Why was Niken also able to use elemental wind energy?

Suddenly the strong wind stopped, and Izzy took this opportunity to rest her muscles while regulating her breathing. To survive from this attack alone and remain standing there requires considerable energy. She could not imagine how could a girl with power like this be a week inamorata.

"You are an Elementalist knight." Said Niken made Izzy's body stiffen for a moment.

How could Niken know that she was a knight?

"What is a knight doing here?"

Izzy tried to relax her body and took a deep breath. "As I said, Kazuto and Richard sent me to help you."

"Who are they? I don't know them."

Izzy sighed. "I don't know if you already know Kazuto yet, but let me tell you one thing. You're Niken... " while taking out her index finger and pointing at Niken," has been chosen as an inamorata of the Elementalist Knight of the Beasts. And about Richard, don't you dare to say you don't know him. He is your twin brother, who is always with you. How could you not know him?"

"How many times do I have to say. I don't have any twin siblings, and my brother's name was not Richard! Besides, why do you keep calling me Niken? My name's not Niken!!"

Izzy was dumbfounded, hearing that. The girl was not Niken?? Then who is she?