Misae heaved a sigh of relief as soon as she was done healing Itsuki. Thankfully, he didn't receive too much injury. Eichirou was probably right about one thing with regards to Itsuki and his powers connected to the earth. It would suck out a lot of Hasureiki. And to think they were just starting to get used to having that kind of mystical energy within them.
She wasn't joking when she said to the others a while back that for some reason, even though she was exhausted and was weakened because of the Triske Monster throwing her, the wind surrounding the area of the Mizuhashi mansion was helping her with her healing ability. And she would ask her mentors about that matter.
After standing up, Misae gave a meaningful look toward the sleeping Itsuki. She smiled when she remembered how he fought earlier and how he managed to deal with the Triske Monster alone. But from what she could see, that driving force must have been taken from something quite tremendous for him. She also noticed that since that morning, he was slightly distracted. Was there something bothering him?
Perhaps Misae would be able to figure it out sooner. Right now, she had to check on the others' condition, as well. But as soon as she went out of Itsuki's room, she noticed someone standing by the veranda and looking at the sky. It didn't take her long before she was able to discern it was Hideoki.
'I wonder what's wrong. He's been doing that for quite some time now,' Misae thought before deciding to proceed to the veranda and approach Hideoki.
It looked like the older man was truly in deep thought and didn't even notice Misae approaching him. He only realized that when he felt someone standing beside him, making his attention shift to the archer.
"Misae... How's Itsuki?" Hideoki started.
"He's already healed. He just needed some rest to regain the Hasureiki and the strength he lost because of what happened earlier," Misae replied and became silent for a few moments. She was hesitating if she was going to finally ask Hideoki about the issue that had bothered her for quite a while or not.
But it seemed that Hideoki was already aware of that. "You want to know why you can use your healing powers in a stronger version with the help of the wind around the area of the mansion, right?"
Of course, Misae was surprised at that. How did he...?
"Not just you, Misae," Hideoki continued. "Even the others can use the stronger version of the abilities they've gained because of their Hasureiki finally unleashed after the awakening in this area. Shuichi's ability to determine thoughts by touch... Eichirou's ability to manifest water in its different phases, even create copies of himself using water... Itsuki's extension of his senses using the power of earth... and Erika's light and even sound-related ability... But the reason for that to happen is because of Mariko's barrier that she cast even before she died."
Misae frowned at that. "Mariko-san? She was also a Vessel Support, right? But I thought—-"
"She doesn't just have the ability of precognition, but also barrier creation. Those barriers that she cast around the house, the land where the restaurant stands, and even Nanami's bookstore... All of those came from Mariko and she cast all of them as soon as those places were constructed. The Hasureiki maintained inside the barrier since the barriers' creation was what helped you do your healing without exhausting yourself too much," Hideoki explained.
"Does Eichirou-san... know about this? About his mother being a barrier creator?"
Hideoki nodded. "I explained it to him as soon as you all went home from your first battle with Juman. But I didn't tell him about the Hasureiki maintained inside the barrier. I told him that because of Mariko's barriers, you guys had been kept protected and also undetected by the Tareans for the past ten years since I saved you from that fire. And those barriers will keep doing its job as long as the Vessels are alive."
xxxxxx
When Itsuki woke up, it didn't take long for him to realize that he was back in his room. He must have collapsed after dealing with that Triske Monster earlier. Man, being attacked suddenly like that hurt. In addition to that, he must have used much of his Hasureiki to track down the movements of that monster a while back. He had to admit, that monster was fast when it was underground. The fast motion was something he wasn't exactly fond of.
A knock on the door snapped Itsuki out of his musings. When he gave the signal to enter, the door opened to reveal Erika and Hideoki. His sister was carrying a food tray.
"How are you feeling, Onii-chan?" Erika immediately asked as soon as she placed the tray on the bedside table.
"Ready to fight that monster again if it appears once more. Besides, I think Misae-san's healing powers did their job. I'm completely healed."
"That's good to know," Hideoki said with a nod.
But it was obvious to Itsuki that Hideoki must have wanted to say something more besides that.
"Hideoki-san... Is there something wrong?" he asked the man when he couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.
Hideoki shook his head. Of course, that should have calmed him. But he knew that something was going on for the man to have such a serious expression.
"How are you going to deal with Diwall the next time he appears?" Hideoki asked.
The name he mentioned made Itsuki frown, though. "Diwall?"
"That's the name of the Triske Monster we fought earlier. In one record that Natsume and Akira managed to pull out, it was one of Nemia's Triske Monsters that can swim through solid objects like water," Erika explained.
"First, Diwall. And now, Nemia? Who are these people you're mentioning to me right now?"
"I never mentioned anything about the soldiers higher in the ranking than the Triske Monsters," Hideoki replied. "There are seven of them that, you could say, under the orders of the boss of the Tareans."
"Emperor Darshao..." Itsuki once read the name before while he was skimming some books at the heart of Hoshizora Bookstore where the records were placed.
Hideoki nodded and continued. "That's right. Those seven warriors were called the Great Shadow Defenders. Nemia is one of those seven."
Itsuki didn't say anything after that. The Seitengers were dealing with the Triske Monster for now and they were already having a hard time. What more if they encountered one of the Great Shadow Defenders along the way? Could they handle it?
"In any case, what I'm more concerned for now was the source of those four beams fired before I delivered my attack to Diwall before. Where did that come from?"
"Onii-chan, we all have the same question. But we didn't manage to find anything about that," Erika replied and shrugged. "Kanako-san did her best but nothing comes up."
"Beams?"
Erika nodded as an answer to Hideoki's question. She soon mentioned that particular detail to Hideoki who, in turn, listened quite carefully and with that unusual serious expression on his face again.
"I think I need to pay attention to the battle the next time you will deal with Diwall," Hideoki suddenly announced which surprised the siblings.
But why?
xxxxxx
A sigh escaped Helen's lips as soon as she finally reached the place. Well, she headed to the Taiyou Family Restaurant which she learned that it was the restaurant that Mizuhashi Hideoki owned. Earlier, Minako received a call from Makoto that they should head to the restaurant for now since Hideoki was there and Helen could mention to the older man the detail of her visit to that place.
So here they were.
But for some reason, Helen could feel something weird about the place. She couldn't quite place it but the area seemed to be surrounded by a considerable amount of Hasureiki. Was that even possible? It was amazing if one would ask her. She had never encountered such a place before in her life.
"Are you okay, Helen? Don't worry about anything, okay? He's not going to eat you," Minako said jokingly.
Though it made Helen smile, it was a force only for a short time. She couldn't deny that she was indeed worried. But it wasn't because she met with Mizuhashi Hideoki. She was more worried about that Triske Monster earlier that gave the Seitengers a hard time. That monster was something, she would say that.
"Are you Tennouji Helen?" a man's voice snapped her out of her musings.
When she turned around, she saw a man who seemed to be in his late 40's coming out of the restaurant with an apron still on him. She bowed and nodded as politely as she could. "Yes, that's me. Are you--?"
"Your guardian already told me why you're here." Soon after, he took out an envelope from his pocket and showed it to her.
Helen knew that envelope. She was the one who placed it in the mailbox. "That means I don't have anything to explain to you, Mizuhashi-san."
"You could answer a few questions for me. If that's okay with you."
Helen faced Minako who was looking at them with curiosity and she noticed that the woman was a bit wary. She smiled at her friend in assurance. "It's okay, Minako-san. You can leave me here. We can meet again after this."
It took a while for Minako to do what she was told. She embraced Helen and reminded her about her next meeting and her manuscript, to which she only replied with a pout. "I know that. Sheesh! Do you have to remind me about that?"
"Well, you're a month late, in case you're not aware."
"Fine."
Soon after, Helen was waving at the retreating Minako.
"Who is that woman, Helen?" Hideoki soon asked when they saw that Minako was gone.
Helen faced the old man and smiled. "She's my editor and also one of my mentors."
"Editor?"
She nodded and smiled proudly. "Yes. She was the one who encouraged me to continue my mother's legacy as a fantasy-adventure writer. But of course, I did that using the name that would always connect me to her." When Helen faced Hideoki, she saw him smile wistfully which made her frown. "Mizuhashi-san?"
"I always admire Atsuko's wits and imagination, even before I realized she was the famous Hanasaki Kaoru-sensei," Hideoki said, mentioning her mother's pseudonym in the writing world. "But you don't have to pressure yourself in continuing your mother's legacy as a famous writer."
"It's something I chose to do, Mizuhashi-san. Besides, that way, I would always be close to her whatever happens. Especially now that Erika, my childhood friend, was chosen to become a Seitenger."
"How did you know that?"
Helen sighed once before continuing. "I was at the site of the attack when it happened." She chose to just say that before coaxing the man to enter the restaurant so the discussion could proceed.
As for Hideoki, he could tell that there was more to what Helen had said to him. If she was at the site of the earlier attack, does that mean...?