After making sure Seiran was asleep, Niris slipped out of bed without making a sound. He put on his jacket over his pyjamas and left the cabin. He walked down the corridors to his master's cabin. The dormitory area was an artificial gravity zone, which made it easier to get around at hours when the brain is sometimes barely awake. He knocked on the door and Lou quickly opened it for him. He entered.
"About time," she grumbled, indicating for him to sit down on the cabin's only chair.
She sat down on her bed.
-I'd kind of forgotten and we were discussing important things with Seiran, sorry... the prince replied, inspecting his fingernails.
Lou didn't even notice. After all, she'd only grumbled for the sake of grumbling. She, too, had a lot on her mind and hadn't really seen the time go by, preoccupied as she was with her thoughts.
-The Nymphéa will take its original route, passing through Jimalu. We'll stop there and take a boat to Noïke.
-Noïke? But there's nothing there?" exclaimed Niris. Apart from the archive of classified documents...
-That's exactly what we're interested in," bounced Lou as soon as he'd finished his sentence. We're going to the archives to find out more about Niyarii. Or rather, about the angel from whom she was born, Lycanthe d'Ensra.
Niris opened his eyes in surprise.
-Is there any information on Lycanthe d'Ensra in Noïke? How come?
-You'd think the creation of the most powerful and destructive demonic spirit in our history would have remained undocumented for all these years," ironized the master of blades.
Niris frowned. With a finger on his lips, he began to think, completely ignoring his master's sarcasm.
-In that case, perhaps we can find some information that will enable me to better assimilate his fragments? he thought aloud.
-That and, above all, to find a way of getting her to cooperate," added Lou.
-Get her to cooperate?" repeated Niris a little stupidly.
Lou straightened up and uncrossed her legs, then put her elbows on her knees and clasped her hands together. Then she looked deeply into the prince's eyes.
-You told me she'd refused to help you since your last contact," she said.
Niris pursed his lips. Since then, Niyarii had shut herself away in her spiritual lair and hadn't let a single ounce of her natural energy flow through her energy channels. He could barely feel her presence inside him.
-Yes," he admitted in defeat.
-We can't move forward if she doesn't cooperate, especially when it comes to integrating the fragments. She'll have to help us anyway, otherwise you risk dying in the process, and that's out of the question.
Niris lowered his eyes. Unconsciously, his fingers closed into a fist on his thighs. The idea of not having control of the fragments when he integrated them affected him more than he dared admit to himself.
-Anyway, we can't even get them back yet..." he said half-heartedly.
-We'll worry about what we can do for now, then we'll see about the rest," Lou decided, cutting short his silent guilt. Trust Viknard and the teams at the organization. There's a lot of talent out there, and I'm sure one of them will figure out how to open the box.
Niris didn't reply. He nodded weakly. He knew she was right, and that there was no point brooding over the situation since there was nothing they could do about it anyway. He could just move on, hoping that one day they'd find a solution.
-Once we're there, we'll take the opportunity to perfect your training," continued Lou, who had put his hands on his knees. I hear you used an embryo of the Emperor's Phinikon during your battle with the elves?
Niris nodded.
-We're going to develop all the skills you've acquired since we left Selanpe and refine them so that you can develop your own version of the Phinikon.
-My own version? continued the prince.
-Yes, you won't be able to use your father's Phinikon, and it would be a mistake to do so. You need to use the basis on which he developed the technique, but then customize it to your own skills.
Niris darkened. He wasn't sure he'd understood what the master of blades was trying to tell him.
-Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying you're less competent than your father, but simply that you have different skills, starting with Niyarii's presence inside you, which must be taken into account," Lou explained.
-Is she... going to change things a lot?" he asked, unsure.
Lou couldn't hold back a sigh.
-Niris, everything about you is affected by Niyarii's presence in your inner fort, apart from your personality. It will always have an impact on the way you use natural energy, and even on many other things you don't realize. And it's only going to increase with the integration of other fragments.
The truth was always hard to hear, he knew. But every time he heard it, he was overcome by a deep sense of despair. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. If he didn't banish these absurd thoughts now, they would get the better of him. He thought of Seiran to give himself courage, and the demon's smile in his mind lifted his spirits. He opened his eyes again, ready to face the next part of the conversation.
-Niris, deepening your training to master the Phinikon is surely the best way to better apprehend Niyarii's power, Lou reassured him. I'm convinced of it now that I've seen the recordings of your fight when you used it for the first time. You've developed a lot of finesse and control in your use, and the strengthening of your energy channels has improved the quality of your natural energy. You have a very high energy connection, you just need power now and I'm sure you're capable of acquiring it. I'm sure you can do it, so trust me. Above all, trust yourself.
Niris gazed into her black pupils and struggled inwardly. Between his fear and his will, his rage to move forward, he had to arbitrate precisely so as not to get caught up in either extreme. The important thing was to keep a clear head.
-Okay, I'll count on you to guide me," he finally replied.
Lou smiled. She liked the gleam of determination in his eyes. He'd always had it, but it was growing stronger every day. Growing more mature.
-I'm sorry I haven't had much time for you lately, but I absolutely had to regain my former power to be able to train you properly," she apologized before continuing. Now that that's done, I intend to devote myself fully to your training. From now on, you're going to undergo rigorous and testing training that will push you to your limits.
Niris nodded, satisfied. As Lou stood up, putting an end to the conversation, he called out to her.
-Master, is...I...uh..." he began, but didn't dare finish his sentence.
Embarrassed, he wrung his hands anxiously.
-Niris, talk or shut up, but choose," Lou scoffed.
-Can Seiran come with us from now on? he spouted without question. I know this is a teaching and I'm supposed to travel alone with you and ....
-Of course he can come," cut in the Master of Blades. It was obvious to me that he'd come with us, so why are you making such a big deal out of it?
Niris looked at her puzzled. He hadn't expected her to agree at all. It seemed absurd that she should accept so quickly, when he'd prepared a whole argument to convince her. Lou sighed at his discomfited expression.
-Niris, you're not my apprentice," she explained sympathetically. I'm training you because our survival depends on it, and because you deserve it, but you're under no obligation to carry on my legacy, or even to wear it. You are free to follow my teachings or not, and you don't have to follow the precepts of the apprentice masters.
She looked at him sternly, arms crossed over her chest. Her attitude was intimidating for the angel, who had never seen her so incisive about something that seemed trivial given the strangeness of the situation.
-On the contrary, I even think that Seiran will help you achieve your goal on many levels. His help is invaluable, so let's not deprive ourselves!
The prince smiled. The gratitude he felt towards the master of blades had just increased a little. The more he got to know her, the more he appreciated her fairness and wisdom.
-I consider you my master in your own right, master of blades or not," he said just before leaving, without giving his master time to react.
The door closed on a Lou standing there in the middle of the room, arms flailing. She hadn't expected this sudden confession at all. She had sensed the Prince's sincerity in his tone, and frankly it had touched her. She would have liked to pretend nothing had happened, but she couldn't just ignore it. Embarrassed by his attitude, she scratched her head and muttered that angels these days no longer knew how to respect their elders.
Niris walked briskly down the corridor. He had prepared himself for a categorical refusal, and the fact that he didn't even have to defend his position made him feel light-headed. But his lightness soon faded. He was now standing in front of another cabin door. A cabin occupied by someone who had been avoiding him since Meica's funeral, and whom he would now have to face. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. After a moment, it opened.
-Azur? he asked, seeing the Pegasus' eye appear through the doorway.
He looked exhausted. The pegasus hesitated, then opened the door, letting the angel in. Niris didn't hesitate twice and closed the door behind him. With tired movements, the Pegasus returned to his bed and lay down on it.
-What can I do for you?" he asked with a monotone in his voice that betrayed his extreme psychological fatigue.
-Nothing, I'd just like to...talk," said the angel as she sat down at the end of the bed sized for the equine.
Azure looked away. It was obvious he didn't want this confrontation.
-We're leaving soon for Noïke with Lou and Seiran, do you want to come with us?
The Pegasus looked vaguely surprised. He didn't answer, and the angel continued gently.
-I'd love you to come with us, I honestly miss your company. And going on an adventure without you isn't really the same. After all we've been through together... I miss it. If you feel up to coming with us, it would be a great help with my training.
Niris's voice was gentle. He knew that his fellow adventurer was angry and had been brooding since his return to the Nymphea. But he wasn't about to leave him like that. Their friendship was important to him and he'd let him know it!
-Even after my cowardly escape? You want me to go with you even though I've separated you from Seiran...
He couldn't finish his sentence. His throat was knotted with the still vivid emotion of the guilt he had felt since the events in Yerpena. Touched by his friend's distress, Niris approached his neck and laid his hand on the pegasus' scaly skin.
-Azur, I don't blame you! You did what you could!
-But I couldn't save Seiran, I took you by force and... I didn't even try... to save him...
Niris could feel the Pegasus' rage and remorse in his voice.
-You saved me, that's all that matters! You couldn't have done anything else anyway, the situation was far too complicated! So stop blaming yourself and look at me," ordered the angel gently.
The Pegasus turned his head slightly but couldn't look the angel in the eye.
-I can't, I left afterwards because I was too angry with myself and... I can't help feeling that I've abandoned you," he confessed with tears in his eyes. That I abandoned you and Seiran.
Niris couldn't hold back any longer and wrapped his arms around the Pegasus' powerful neck. Seeing his lifelong friend in this state of distress was a pain he couldn't bear.
-You didn't abandon us Azur, you dealt with your emotions as best you could, and it's normal to walk away from time to time if it's for your own good. Now, if you're doing this just to punish yourself, I'd like you to stop. Neither Seiran nor I blame you for anything, on the contrary, without you the situation could have been even worse. Without you, we'd probably have been taken prisoner together and it would have been catastrophic! So please stop blaming yourself and come back! I miss you too much!
His baited tone made the Pegasus cringe, and he ended up cradling his head against the angel's chest, who held him close. Relieved to see the Pegasus accept his feelings and give in to his forgiveness. He rested his head against her broad black forehead and smiled, relieved.
-It's been too long, don't ever go off like that again! I can't live without you Azur," he confessed with a sort of friendly reproach.
They stayed like that for a while. The Pegasus gave free rein to his emotions and waited for them to dry up before raising his head. They looked at each other for a moment, then laughed. At their stupidity, their youth, their mistakes. Laughter liberated them from all forms of apprehension, and they felt freer. Freer to make mistakes, freer to forgive themselves. Freer and happier. For there's nothing more soothing than knowing you'll be forgiven by the love of those around you.
-We're leaving for Noïke tomorrow, are you coming with us?" asked the angel as a precaution.
The Pegasus nodded. Niris rubbed his cheek against the animal's nose one last time, unable to hide his joy.
-I can't wait!
-I thought you were going there to train," insinuated the Pegasus.
The angel pretended to be offended and the Pegasus laughed. They chatted a little longer, then as the night wore on, Niris took his leave and returned to his cabin. He felt at peace. Deeply soothed. Friendship wasn't easy, he knew. Relationships in general. But this was what filled him most. Without all these people around him, he knew his life would be meaningless. And knowing he was surrounded by the right people reassured him deeply. Thanks to them, he had confidence in the future, and for the moment, that was all he needed.