A strange sensation invaded my entire body as if it was decomposing before reassembling again. But at the same time, my mind remained intact, maintaining awareness of the distortion of my physical body.
As I had just crossed the portal, I saw before me a completely desolate landscape with no habitation. On the horizon, only steep mountains and imposing cliffs stood, seeming to defy the sky. I turned around and saw the portal close after my passage, its luminescent contours vanishing into the air. We couldn't see the other side, but I still heard Elyra's voice reaching us just before the final closing. "Good luck, be careful."
With the portal closed, only we five remained in the middle of this completely unknown and hostile place. At first, we observed the horizons to understand the environment. The sun was shining mercilessly, transforming the sand into golden waves that undulated under the suffocating heat. By luck, there were no dragons in the area to attack us, which gave us a moment of calm to think, despite the oppression of the crushing silence.
By reflex and instinct, we tested whether we had truly lost the use of our elemental aetherium. Unfortunately, Harris could no longer control the air, Shinrei had lost his speed, Kael his strength, and it was the same for Aria and me. For now, we were defenseless. Apart from our aetherium which boosted our physical abilities, if a dragon decided to attack us, it would be terribly complicated for us to fight it in our current state.
I spoke. "Guys, it seems that Elyra's information was true. If we're going to have to stay here for a while, we first need to find shelter to stay in and remain covered. Here, we are exposed. We need to hide."
The others easily agreed with me. We decided to leave in a random direction, not knowing exactly where we were going. We decided to follow our instinct and see where it would take us.
We were about to leave when Harris called out to Kael. "Kael, are you okay? You seem strange since we arrived. You haven't said a single word."
However, Kael denied Harris's concerns. "No, don't worry, I just felt weird being in another dimension."
These words didn't really reassure us. Kael's behavior seemed unnatural, almost distant, as if he was elsewhere. But lacking time and in a complex situation, we decided to believe his words and set off.
After traveling kilometers, it led us to nothing. While we had been running and running from the start, the landscape remained the same: composed of mountains, hills, and desert, especially not a single vegetation on the horizon. The merciless sun struck our shoulders, and thirst began to grip us. The situation was becoming critical. Without a source of food and water, we would die quickly in this arid place before we had time to train.
By luck, after climbing a hill, we spotted an verdant oasis kilometers away with a pure water source at its center. Green grass emerged from the desert like a miracle, and trees laden with fruit swayed gently. After long hours of walking, fatigue was starting to set in, but this news was enough to give us a burst of energy and greatly motivated us.
After a few minutes, we reached the oasis. The fresh air was filled with the scent of life that we hadn't felt in hours. We were able to rest and replenish ourselves with water, but also with food. Fruits had managed to grow on the trees that drew their sustenance from the water of the source to survive. Night was beginning to fall, and it would soon be completely dark if we didn't make a fire to light us. The others were beginning to gather wood for the fire when, suddenly…
Harris, who was observing the oasis lake, seemed to be thinking deeply. His brow furrowed in concentration, he seemed to weigh each word before speaking. After a few moments, he spoke in his grave voice. "We shouldn't spend the night here. If we think about it carefully, the world Drakaryon seems to be completely desert-like. Oases like this one, there should be quite a few scattered around. That means there's a strong chance that dragons come here to cool off. To be safe, we should find shelter near the oasis."
The others were surprised by Harris's analysis. He had told us he had lots of outdoor adventures. Maybe that's why he was so cautious and came to this conclusion. On my part, with my fist clenched, I was furious at myself. Maybe fatigue, but I was ready to spend the night here without taking into account the danger it represented. Without Harris, we would have been dead in the night. I was quite stupid and careless for that. I had to get myself together and be more vigilant.
Aria asked, a note of hope in her voice. "Okay, but do you know where we could shelter, Harris? I assume you already have an idea about this."
"When we were on the hill and while we were walking, I was able to spot that there were ruins, castles, towers, or even abandoned temples. There was surely a civilization before, but it has disappeared. I'm not certain of anything, but I don't think dragons use these places to live or sleep. If I remember correctly, in that direction, there's a tower not far away."
Kael, who was sitting near the source, stood up with determination. "Alright then, let's go before it gets completely dark. If you feel it's right, then we trust you."
After that, we set off. The sky took on orange and purple hues as the sun slowly disappeared over the horizon. We reached the tower just before night fell completely, wrapping the world in velvety darkness. There was no one in the tower and no trace of dragons. We quickly laid down our things and prepared a fire to warm us. Once the fire was prepared, some rested while others withdrew to their corners to be alone for a moment before the meal.
I went to the roof, at the top of the tower. The view was splendid, almost magical. In complete darkness, we could barely see the view thanks to the light given off by a magnificent starry sky. A sky composed of thousands of stars, all glittering with a thousand lights, letting us catch a glimpse of distant galaxies. This, combined with the softness of the lunar lights given off by what I could describe as a very beautiful moon, created a soothing moment. This world had things to offer, then Kael joined me at the top of the tower.
"The view is magnificent from here. I understand why you came to the roof."
"When I'm on the roof observing the stars, I forget what situation we're in. I forget that we've changed worlds and what awaits us. And you? Kael, what does this starry sky make you feel?"
Kael sighed, his eyes reflecting the light of the stars. "For me, this sky just reminds me of the immensity of the universe. Even in another dimension, the universe remains vast. And I chose to protect this vast universe. I just wonder if I'll be up to the task of achieving my objectives."
"Only the future will tell us. We can just make sure to make the right choices so that one day this future comes true."
We said nothing more, contemplating together the view that this new world offered us. Only the sound of the wind in the night could be heard, a soft and melancholic melody. Observing the sky without thinking about anything, I was just enjoying the present moment, like a moment of rest in our overloaded lives.
While I was contemplating the view, I asked Kael, my tone becoming more serious. "Aria is standing by the door. You should go see her. Since we arrived, I've noticed there's something wrong with her. Talking to you might help her feel better."
"Aria's not feeling well? Are you sure? Why didn't you mention it before? It doesn't bother me to go see her, but you should come too."
"Talking to her one-on-one will make her more comfortable, and it might help you too. You're in a similar situation as her. Besides, it's the role of the big brother to take care of his little sister, don't you think?"
He agreed with a light laugh, then left to join her, leaving me alone on the roof. Once he left and I was alone, I thought back to a discussion I had had with Elyra just before crossing the portal.
As I was about to cross the portal, Elyra stopped me to speak to me alone about important information for the upcoming battle. "Nozomi, before you leave, I wanted to talk to you. I don't have much time before the portal closes, but it's important that you are aware of it."
With a surprised and confused look, "Something important? What should I be aware of, Elyra?"
"You know what happened to you during your fight against Raven. It is the manifestation of your elemental power. It is the key to victory against Reimu Hikarizuki. He will seek to take your power, but if during your journey through the world Drakaryon, you manage to master it, our chances of victory will increase."
I didn't say a word, my gaze empty, staring at the ground while thinking back to what happened at that moment. Fear was slowly rising in me, like a cold tide. After a few moments, I revealed a truth to Elyra, my voice barely a whisper. "To be honest, since that day, I can no longer use my power. I feel paralyzed every time I want to use it."
"This is a situation that is understandable. What you went through is not easy to overcome. Right now, your two cores are fighting and the one of elemental power wants to take over, consuming everything. Moreover, the fear you feel doesn't help you. These circumstances deprive you of mastery of your powers."
"What should I do then? How can I regain control of my powers? If I don't manage to do it before Reimu arrives…"
Elyra didn't let me finish my sentence. "Don't say such things, Nozomi. Listen, I have no doubt that you will recover them. You need time to recover from this trauma. The most important thing for now is to find the balance you're looking for… you must find it within yourself. I can't teach you. Find the balance within you and train yourself to use these powers well. I know it's vast, but it's up to you to find the answers you're looking for."
"Wait, Elyra! Is there nothing else you can tell me to help?"
"I'm sorry, Nozomi, but we're running out of time. The portal is closing. It's time for you to leave. Sorry I can't help you more. Your case is special, but if there's anyone who can succeed, I know it's you."
The portal closed and I crossed it as quickly as possible.
I had to manage to master this power within me. This echo of our words still haunted me. I knelt down, ready to meditate. As I caught sight of my two cores, I tried to blend them in harmony based on the principle of yin and yang. But as everything was going well, all of a sudden, my core which came from elemental power took over my original core and the balance was broken.
With all my strength, I screamed. "Ah! My body! It hurts like hell!"
A terrible pain ran through me, like burning lightning coursing through every fiber of my being. It also broke my concentration and I collapsed to the ground, invaded by unbearable pain throughout my body and difficulty breathing. It was like the feeling of a parasite living in my body, gnawing at it from the inside. After a few minutes, the pain left, but I was extremely tired and drained of all energy. I stopped training and went back down to join the others, trying to hide my fatigue and what had happened to me. I didn't want to give them any more cause for concern.
Meanwhile, Kael joined Aria in front of the door. Once he saw her, he spoke to her, his voice soft and full of care. "Aria? Are you okay? I was told you weren't acting normally. If something's bothering you, you can talk about it. You might feel better talking about it!"
Aria turned around and realized it was Kael. Despite the darkness that was beginning to set in, Kael managed to perceive traces of tears running down her cheeks. In a soft voice, he said, "Come, can we sit down?"
The two sat down in front of the door and, once Aria felt ready, she spoke, her voice trembling and hesitant. "Before I left, I of course talked to my parents, but they revealed a truth to me."
"What did they tell you? What could put you in this state?"
Aria, her hands on her head and panic, almost collapsed under the weight of her emotions. "They revealed to me that they knew the truth. They know everything. That I'm a heroine, who you are, the dangers I risk, about my powers and more." Aria released everything she was holding inside, revealing all the accumulated problems that were suffocating her heart.
Kael remained speechless, not knowing what to say. Questions were running through his mind. How was that possible? What had happened afterward? Were these people also aware? With a trembling voice, he asked. "And what did they do after?"
"Nothing, they just told me that if this is what I chose, then they accept it. They trusted me and let me fly away on my own. But now I feel guilty about lying to them."
Tears began to flow down Aria's face, and Kael, without saying a word, hugged her, turning his gaze to the starry sky. He whispered softly. "If they trust you and let you go, that's what matters most. When you come back, you can talk to them calmly. For now, you just have to move forward to have hope of seeing them again."
Kael's words soothed Aria's mind. After a moment, she dried her tears and the two stood up to rejoin the others. Reunited all five in front of the fire, together discussing and enjoying the meal together, forgetting each one's problems. But suddenly, a roar echoed outside, so powerful that the walls of the tower shook.