The air crackled with anticipation as Shiki, a whirlwind of energy, sprinted towards Nashimi. His eyes, alight with excitement, were fixed on his younger sister, who stood with an air of serene detachment.
"Nashimi!" he exclaimed, reaching out to embrace her.
But Nashimi remained impassive, her gaze unwavering. An unseen force, a ripple in the air, ensnared Shiki, halting his forward momentum.
"Chains of Empty Memories," Nine murmured, his voice a low rumble. He recognized the power Nashimi wielded, a chilling ability that could bind even the most powerful of beings.
Shiki, however, was not one to be deterred. He pouted, his playful anger aimed at his sister. "Can't you let your older brother embrace his little sister?"
Nine, observing the scene with a keen eye, felt a deep sense of understanding wash over him. This was more than just a sibling reunion; it was a complex dance of power and emotion.
"You're always so full of energy, dear brother," Nashimi finally spoke, her voice a soft melody that belied the power she wielded. "I still believe you must be the adopted one in the family..."
Nine chuckled, his gaze shifting from Shiki to Nashimi. "Give him a break, won't you? He's missed you all this time, and it's only natural for a brother to long for his sister. Surely, even you must feel a hint of longing, Miss Ebony?"
Nashimi remained silent, her expression unreadable. The invisible restraint tightened, causing Shiki to stumble forward, crashing to the ground with a thud.
"Perhaps she doesn't remember you well," Shiki said, his voice laced with a hint of disappointment. "After all, she was just a child back then."
Nine, ever the gentleman, helped Shiki to his feet. "Don't worry, Shiki. She'll come around."
Nashimi, her gaze fixed on Nine, finally broke her silence. "So, you're the limitless user?"
"Yes, that's correct," Nine replied, a hint of pride in his voice.
Nashimi's mind raced, memories of her brother and Nine, fragments of a shared past, flashing before her eyes. "I see... I remember now," she said, her voice softer than before. "So, why are you here with my brother, Mr. Eizoku?"
"I'm flattered that you recalled my name," Nine said, his smile warm and genuine. "But no need to be so formal."
"I understand," Nashimi replied, her tone still formal. "But why are you here?"
"Long story short," Nine began, his voice taking on a serious tone. "One, I wanted to reunite with him. We've always been buddies. And two, some organization is after me, or so it seems. It's strange because I was never pursued when I was in Alteria. But as soon as I arrived in the UK, I could feel their watchful eyes. Your brother possesses the ability of 'Absolute Protection', making him the perfect ally to have during my time here."
Nashimi nodded, her expression thoughtful. "That does make sense... Well, it's nice to meet you again, Nine."
"The pleasure is mine, Nashimi," Nine replied, his gaze meeting hers.
A few minutes later, they found themselves in Shiki's spacious, modern condo. The air was thick with the scent of dust, a testament to their recent travels.
"Brother, this place is quite spacious and modern... although a bit dusty," Nashimi observed, her gaze sweeping across the room.
"Apologies for that," Shiki said, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "We were staying in a hotel before."
"Yes, I joined him a week ago," Nine added, his voice calm and collected. "That's also when we encountered those 'organization people' who attacked us. We were even falsely accused of damaging the balcony."
Nashimi's eyes narrowed, her expression hardening. "Really? They have the audacity to send someone to kill you, N? Were they formidable opponents at least?"
"They sent two individuals," Nine replied, his voice betraying a hint of amusement. "And they were among the organization's strongest members, probably. Interestingly enough, one of them happened to be the current light bearer."
Nashimi's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "So, my duality was one of them? How intriguing... What more can you tell me about the encounter with the light bearer?"
"The light bearer appeared to be a young woman, possibly in her early twenties," Nine said, his memory struggling to conjure a clear image. "I vaguely recall her introducing herself as 'Stel—la Anastasia' , or something along those lines. My meta vision hasn't completely taken in enough information to give a viable description."
"I see..." Nashimi mused, her fingers tracing the edge of a nearby table. "Could you have defeated them if my brother hadn't been there?"
"With just the two of them and no assistance?" Nine chuckled, his voice laced with confidence. "It would have been a very challenging and frustrating battle for me."
"But would you lose?" Nashimi pressed, her eyes fixed on him.
"Nah, I'd win," Nine replied, his smile unwavering.
"I believe you," Nashimi said, her voice filled with a newfound respect. "The only way they could have stood a chance is if you made a grave mistake, but that's highly unlikely."
Shiki, unable to contain his excitement any longer, interjected, "You two keep dwelling on the negatives and forget about the positives. We have something more important to discuss than that."
"Oh?" Nashimi asked, her curiosity piqued.
"School," Shiki said, his voice filled with a sense of purpose. "I've enrolled you as a transfer student at LIST."
"I did provide you with my student information from China," Nashimi said, her brow furrowed. "What does 'LIST' stand for? It sounds unfamiliar."
"London Institute of Science and Technology" is the full name," Shiki explained, his voice brimming with pride. "It's a relatively new institution, established in 2017. I know how much you enjoy science and technology, so I specifically chose this school for you. I've reviewed their teaching methods, which are efficient and cater to students from diverse backgrounds. I'm confident that you can excel there and even become the top-ranked student."
"Of course, Brother," Nashimi replied, a hint of warmth in her voice.
"And there's a secret about that school," Shiki said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Well, you know what I'm talking about."
Nashimi nodded, her eyes twinkling with understanding. "I understand..."