"Isn't your name Niken?"
Niken just sighed. "Now, I understand. You have the wrong person. I'm not the Niken you're looking for. Please, just leave me alone."
She was not Niken? But she was clearly the girl lying on the bed earlier. Round face with sparkling black eyes. Who else is this girl, if not Niken? She was sure she heard her fellow knights called the girl by the name of Niken.
"Wait a minute!" Izzy called before Niken left and disappeared to the darkness.
"Richard asked me to convey this. When you were six years old, there was a family who wanted to adopt you but didn't want to adopt your brother. In the end, you cried all night and didn't let go of your brother's sleeves' grasp. Do you remember that incident?"
"No."
"How about this? When you were ten, you activated your elemental water energy. You were eager to master it. However, you feel insecure as you are not as talented as your brother. After some time, you gave up and didn't want to train anymore. Do you remember that?"
"No. I told you I'm not the one you're looking for. You better not waste your energy and leave this place now."
"You don't like carrots. Every time there is a carrot menu, you will give it to your brother and take potatoes and meat from your brother's plate."
"..." Niken paused. "How do you know?"
"Richard told me. It's your habit whenever you eat with him."
"Didn't I tell you..."
"I know, I know. You've said that so many times that I'm bored." Izzy sighed. "What do I have to do for you to believe me? Everyone is anxious about you. If you don't do something to your body, this instance, you will die. Do you know that your body is dying right now?"
"I don't know. I don't care either. For twelve years, I was cooped up here. I have considered myself dead a long time ago. So you don't need to help me."
What? She was locked up here for twelve years? How could that be?
One thing she knew for sure. The girl in front of her was indeed Niken yet was a different person. Her instinct told her someone locked some of her childhood memories and sealed the true astral's soul in here.
Niken, who was lying unconscious at the moment, was not the real Niken. The real one was sealed in here or perhaps... she was hiding?
Either way, she had to make sure the girl came out from this barrier. Her instinct told her only if the girl breaks down this barrier, then Niken would survive.
But how? The girl in front of her looked so hard-headed and robust yet fragile at the same time. She noticed some fear and trauma dancing in the girl's black eyes. The girl was scared.
Izzy presumed Niken sealed her real astral soul unknowingly to protect herself from something. If that's true, then it would be hard to persuade her to come out.
Izzy could not think of another way, so she subsequently knelt before the girl.
"What are you doing?"
"I've never lowered myself to someone before. Until two months ago, I was wandering alone with my best friend. Without the purpose of life, we're living in hiding. As a purple knight, I need to absorb the Elementalist's energy to survive. Yet, I didn't want to hurt ordinary people, so I only did it in a little amount. If I wasn't careful, I could kill them. The higher-ups of nations got a sniff of my doings, so they sent hunters to catch me.
Since then, I became a wanted criminal though I never killed a human before.
But then another Elementalist knight offered me to stay with them. They set the 'food' schedule according to my needs. They also treat me well. I haven't felt the warmth of a family in a long time. Even though we are almost the same age, I already consider them as my family.
Now that the person they care about is dying, how could I stay still without doing anything? I beg you to come back. They are waiting for you to wake up. Even though you're not Niken, we knew, but you are inside Niken's astral dimension. If anyone could save the girl, it's you. Please, help her."
"..." Niken noiselessly looked at Izzy, who was bowing her head. "Stand up."
Izzy refused to stand up.
"Stand up and show the faces of your friends."
Izzy stood up right away while wiping her tears. She had no idea that she could shed a tear. It seemed, she honestly considered the whole SS club as her family. Therefore, her heart also cried, seeing their sorrowful faces.
Izzy concentrated for a moment to make a crystal ball. Then, she showed everyone through the crystal ball.
"See? The black hair man is Kazuto, the black knight who chose you as his inamorata. Do you remember?"
"..." no answer. "Next."
Izzy slid over the ball and focused on the next person. "This one is Scarlet."
Because there was no reaction from Niken, Izzy moved on. "Then Shin Ha, Kazuto's best friend. The blonde hair man is Edward, Scarlet's inamorato. Then... Hokuto and my friend, Yuki. Well, I know you don't know her, as we never met before.
"..." Niken only nodded in understanding. "Next."
Once more, Izzy slid the ball, and Richard's face appeared inside the orb.
Izzy saw a different reaction in Niken when she saw Richard's face. A breath of relief came out of her mouth. At least the girl still recognized her brother. But her relief did not last long. A huge typhoon rushed her to force her out of place.
Izzy did not expect it at all, so she had no preparation to struggle. Her astral soul began to float and be slammed out right into her own body.