Chapter 29: Meet Michel

Third Person's POV

"Why are we here?" Astra innocently inquired, her gaze fixated on the majestic door in front of her.

Armann, without saying a word, walked into the room. No knock, no pause – he simply entered. Astra simply followed, amazed by the beauty of the room.

The surroundings were cloaked in a veil of shadow, the dimness lending an air of mystery to the space. Only a single source from the ceiling above is giving the soft yet ethereal glow to the room.

"We're here to meet someone, but for now, let's wait here," Armann explained, his voice echoing softly in the peaceful surroundings. He walked towards a lone candle at the far end of the room, its flame dancing in the stillness.

With delicate care, he retrieved a long stick from the side table. He gently ignited the stick and transferred the flame of it to the other candle beside him. As the flame flickered to life, it cast dancing shadows on the walls, infusing the room with a sense of ancient wisdom and mystique.

Slowly and carefully, he lit each candle one by one, causing the surroundings to gradually illuminate. At that moment, Astra was able to see the surroundings clearly.

It resembled the typical room of a witch or sorcerer. Many dream catchers adorned the walls, each with its own unique design. The room was covered in yellowish, orange, and red color, creating a warm and mystical atmosphere. Clocks and unlit red candles were scattered around.

In the center stood a round table, surrounded by individual chairs on the left and right, facing each other.

Astra wandered around, marveling at the unfamiliar objects surrounding her. Excitement bubbled within her as she eagerly anticipated meeting her Aunt Morph.

"Who are we going to meet?" Astra inquired, while looking at the weird statue in front of her.

"He's the overseer. He'll help us, especially you, with what we need to do," Armann replied.

"Will my Aunt Morph be with him?" Astra excitedly asked, turning her sight to the Armann.

Though Armann's back was turned, his movements betrayed his reaction. On the other hand, Astra stood there. Unsure why, patiently waiting for Armann's response.

—Ahem— A clearing of the throat broke the silence.

Before Astra could ask again, someone entered the room unexpectedly, causing her to startle and rise from her seat.

First the man appeared to be in his mid-20s or 30s, dressed in all black attire similar to Armann. Followed by the woman who seemed to be in her mid-20s, with long, curly hair cascading down her back and a colorful head wrap covering her head.

Their appearance was unusual, which made Astra find it weird, thinking that the arrival of them seemed like she was at a costume party.

Armann had finished lighting the candles, so he approached the woman's side. He gently bowed and pulled out a chair for the woman to sit in, facing them.

Armann also bowed towards the man who had arrived.

"They're calling for you," the man said while looking at the Armann.

"Alright, I'll follow," Armann reply when he got what he meant.

As they conversed, a sense of anticipation filled the room, adding to the intrigue of the moment.

The man didn't respond and instead promptly exited the room without even glancing at Astra.

"I'll just step out for a moment. Can you stay here?" Armann asked Astra. He looked at her with concern written in his eyes.

"Don't worry. I'll accompany her," the curly-haired woman suggested.

"Thank you," Armann replied, his gaze still fixed on her. He then turned to Astra and said, "I'll be back."

As Armann and the other men left the room, a sense of anticipation lingered, leaving Astra to wonder what was going on.

Astra initially hesitated, reluctant to be left alone by Armann in a place where she knew no one but him. However, she had no choice as he quickly followed the man outside.

Feeling a sense of unease, Astra was against being alone with the unfamiliar woman. Sensing her fear, the woman reassured her, "Don't be afraid. Come, take a seat."

Despite her hesitance, Astra reluctantly sat in the vacant chair in front of the woman.

"By the way, I'm Michel. I know it's a masculine name, but that's my real name. What's yours?" she introduced herself cheerfully.

"Astra," she replied simply, feeling a bit more at ease with Michel's friendly vibes.

"Nice to meet you," Michel said with a sweet smile. "I know you must have a lot of questions swirling in your mind. Feel free to ask me anything if you want," she added, hoping to make Astra feel more comfortable in the unfamiliar place.

"Um..." Astra hesitated, but she realized that she might be able to get some answers to her questions. So, she began to ask questions she was sure Michel could answer. "What place is this?" she asked, her gaze sweeping across the entire area.

"Ah, this? This is my place, or more commonly known as the office. I'm a Darsha," Michel replied, offering Astra an insight into the location.

"Darsha? What's that?" Astra asked curiously.

Michel wasn't surprised by this question. She knows that those terms are new to Astra because she had been briefed and was tasked with assessing her.

"Darsha is a type of superhuman. We have the ability to see the past, present, and future of a person," she replied.

"Really? That's amazing," Astra exclaimed in wonder.

"It's nothing special, really, but thank you," Michel replied modestly. "I can see certain aspects of a person's past, but my ability to see into the future is limited to a certain extent," she added.

As Astra absorbed this new information, she couldn't help but feel intrigued by Michel's unique abilities.

"But you're still amazing," Astra praised, which made Michel smile warmly.

"What about you? What's your ability?" she asked in return.

"I don't know! They say I'm an Aisling, but I'm not sure if that's true," Astra replied nonchalantly. She still doesn't believe that she has a unique ability.

Deep inside, Michel was slightly taken aback. She had heard that Astra was unique, but she hadn't expected her to be an Aisling.

"How do you not know?" Michel inquired.

"It's because there are gaps in my memories," Astra explained. "Several of my memories are missing."

As Astra revealed this, Michel couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy towards her, understanding that her dissociation was a way for her to protect herself from past traumas.

"Do you want me to take a look?" Michel gently suggested, her voice carrying a soothing tone.

Astra's curiosity piqued, her brows furrowed in confusion as she tried to comprehend what Michel meant.

"Huh? Look? How?" she inquired. Her eyes widening with intrigue and a hint of uncertainty.

"It's easy. I'll examine your past to see if you really possess the qualities to be called an Aisling," Michel explained.

Astra felt apprehensive because this was new to her. She didn't know what to do or what would happen.

"Don't worry. Just trust me," Michel encouraged.

Despite feeling scared and nervous, deep inside, Astra also wanted to know the truth. So, she agreed to it.

Michel approached Astra, a comforting smile on her face, assuring her that everything would be alright. With a gentle touch, Michel closed her eyes and began to delve into Astra's past, navigating through the memories that were once hidden away.

"Alright. What should I do?" Astra asked, her voice tinged with a mix of uneasiness and curiosity.

"Give me your hand and close your eye. Let me navigate through your memories," Michel replied reassuringly, her gentle demeanor offering a sense of comfort amidst Astra's lingering uncertainty.

Slowly, Astra placed both of her hands on the table within Michel's reach, allowing her to establish a connection. A soft smile graced Michel's lips as she gently took Astra's hand in hers, conveying reassurance and support.

Michel closed her eyes first, setting the tone for Astra to follow suit. With a deep breath, Astra mirrored Michel's action, her eyelids gradually descending to envelop her in darkness.

As they both closed their eyes, a serene atmosphere enveloped the room, filled with a sense of anticipation and curiosity. Astra's mind raced with thoughts and questions, unsure of what to expect but willing to trust Michel's guidance.

In the darkness behind her closed eyelids, Astra began to feel a gentle warmth spreading through her body, emanating from the connection between her and Michel. It was as if a comforting embrace enveloped her, calming her nerves and easing her fears.

With each passing moment, Astra felt herself sinking deeper into a state of relaxation, surrendering to the experience and allowing herself to be guided by Michel's expertise. She focused on her breathing, letting go of any tension or doubt, and opening herself up to whatever revelations awaited her in the depths of her memories.

From that moment, Astra drifted into a light slumber. Michel entered the room and meticulously sifted through all of Astra's memories and subconscious thoughts.

Like a storm reigning over the sea, Astra's mind suddenly transformed into a peaceful and crystal-clear spring. The turbulence of her thoughts subsided, replaced by a profound sense of clarity and serenity. Each memory, previously scattered and fragmented, began to align and flow seamlessly, forming a cohesive narrative within Astra's consciousness.

~ To be Continued ~