Double lies on the floor. The attack he had put his all into is canceled out at the last second. Kairoji looks down in disbelief, a mix of pity and excitement crossing his face.


    "I guess there was no need to worry...he exhausted himself out," Kairoji reflects inwardly, releasing a sigh of relief.


    Joki sits frozen, the worst-case scenario playing out in his mind as he realizes Double has lost. The once vibrant aura surrounding Double dissipates into nothingness, leaving behind an ominous emptiness.


    "I''m okay with going way past my limit, but I can''t get in there. Even if I were to try and find an alternative way to enter, he''d definitely finish Double off quickly. Damn it! What the hell do I do?" Joki thinks to himself.


    Reima observes Joki sweating, his hands shaking with fear. She, too, understands the dire situation unfolding. Though she wants to offer words of comfort, she refrains, fearing that anything she says might exacerbate Joki''s anguish. Nonetheless, she walks up and places a comforting hand on his shoulder.


    "Don''t give up on him. If there is even the slightest chance Double can do something, we have to sit here and wait for him, along with your other friend. I feel the same way for him too. You have to trust them," Reima says.


    Joki takes a long breath, quickly calming himself as his trembling hands steady. Though his mind races with worry, Reima''s words remind him to have faith in his friends.


    "Yeah...I believe in them. All I can do now is believe in them. Though, I can''t stop thinking of the worst-case scenario. What if I''m just sitting here watching my friends die? Kazu''s whereabouts are unknown. Even if Double lives, what about him?" Joki asks.


    "The same for them. Because things are out of your control. You have to sit here. I know it''s painful, Joki," Reima says.


    Meanwhile, Kairoji pulls out his dagger and presses his foot against Double''s face, shoving him down. The circular void held up by Kairoji''s aura slowly begins to lose form.


    "I won''t disrespect you. You fought well. For a kid, that was one of the greatest fights I''ve ever had," Kairoji thinks to himself.


    Suddenly, an unconscious Double begins to wake up in an unknown place. It''s a gloomy area, with a gate leading into a house. Dead plants surround them, and rain pours down relentlessly.


    "Where am I? What is this?" Double thinks to himself, analyzing the area.


    "Ungrateful," a depressing voice echoes, coming from the same voice Double heard before falling unconscious.


    Double turns around and notices a green orb next to a boy. The boy has loose curls, a raggedy outfit, and eyes that convey weariness but also curiosity and innocence.


    "What do you mean ungrateful?" Double asks.


    "You''re ungrateful! To not even pay attention to me, even after all the help I''ve given you," the boy says.


    Double tries to recall, but he can''t remember the child at all. Confusion clouds Double''s mind, leaving him at a loss for words.


    "Listen, I don''t have any recollection of who you are. I want to, but I''d be lying if I said I did. Could you tell me who you are so that I can at least try to understand you?" Double says.


    "My name is Sylphs. I''m the child living inside your mind. This is my first real time speaking to you. The entire time, I''ve been whispering to you through the ether, but you never heard," Sylphs says.


    "Thank you, and I apologize truthfully. You have to believe me; I could have never expected there to be someone in my mind trying to speak to me. Joki never explained to me that this was one of the things that came with having a Sakusei," Double says.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Sylphs stands confused. Double''s words make Sylphs ponder all the training he''s witnessed from Double and Joki. Despite this intimate knowledge, Sylph finds himself at a loss.


    "Maybe I missed something. How can Joki not know that I exist? How can you not tell what Joki''s abilities are? Isn''t it obvious?" Sylphs says.


    "What do you mean? Joki can''t just see into my head, you know. Not even Kazu knows of your existence," Double says.


    Sylphs has a sudden realization but keeps it to himself. A wave of apprehension washes over him as he contemplates the potential fallout of revealing his discovery.


    "Never mind, let''s focus on what''s happening in the real world right now," Sylphs says.


    "But...what about you?" Double asks.


    Sylphs is taken aback by Double''s concern, a wave of heavy emotion washing over him, yet he struggles to understand why.


    "Why do you care about me so much? You just met me. For all you know, I could be lying to you," Sylphs says.


    "True, but I refuse to believe an innocent kid would lie to me like that. You''ve watched events in my life play out, but there are a couple of chapters in my life you''ve missed as well. So, in retrospect, you''re like my little brother, whom I can teach as I go. Also, that look in your eyes...you''re a smart kid, but you''re also a scared one. It''s okay to be afraid, you know?" Double says.


    Sylphs stands frozen, understanding Double''s words and unable to utter a word.


    "Sylphs was it? Why don''t we work together, you know? It''s so cool to have someone to talk to at all times. It''s like an imaginary friend; it''s great," Double says.


    "Friend...what''s a friend?" Sylphs asks.


    Double hears this, and he has a look of shock on his face. The words Sylphs had spoken were the same words Double had asked Joki.


    "I...uh, a good friend once told me that a friend has multiple definitions. So it''s impossible to define a friend, but to me, a friend is someone who walks behind you to make sure no one sneaks up on you, someone who isn''t afraid to jump into a pit of lava if it meant they could save their friend," Double says.


    Sylphs doesn''t fully grasp Double''s words, yet he smiles, recognizing the sincerity behind them. Sincerity he has never heard, as Sylphs has been alone this whole time, watching Double from inside this unknown place.


    "Double, we can''t waste time any longer in here. Do you want your power back?" Sylphs asks.


    Double glances around, his gaze sweeping over the desolate surroundings, before settling back on Sylphs. Though his initial inclination is to agree, a sense of melancholy washes over him as he takes in the somber atmosphere surrounding them.


    "What about you? Will you be okay?" Double asks, a concerned look on his face.


    "I''ll be fine. But the question is: why are you still not using your full potential? Even in the fight with Kashikoi, you''ve neglected using your Sakusei''s true nature," Sylphs says.


    "But...I don''t have an ability. That''s what Joki told me," Double says.


    Sylphs walks up to Double and grabs his right arm.


    "He''s right and wrong. You don''t have an ability, but you are still extremely unique. Charge your aura into your arms quickly," Sylphs says.


    Double wastes no time and charges all his aura into his arms, the impact rippling through the area.


    "Now, focus, calm yourself, and imagine a gust of wind running through your head. Create a potent synergy between your emotional state and the power of wind," Sylphs says.


    Double begins harnessing the force of wind and channeling it through his emotions.


    He can feel his emotions corresponding to the wind around his body. Double''s yellow eyes begin to flicker white every second.


    "How... did you know about this before I did?" Double asks.


    "When you find yourself alone in a world like this, it offers ample time for introspection and experimentation. I may not inherently contribute to your strength; honestly, I am pretty useless to you. However, we exist as separate entities. During my presence here, I''ve discovered a fascinating ability we share: the capability to manipulate the essence of our aura, enabling you to harness the power of the wind," Sylphs says.


    "Useless? No, not at all. Without you, I would never have figured this out. Though it is pretty sad, you can''t give me any power, and you can''t fight alongside me, it''s pretty sad honestly, but don''t let it get you down. Being here, and working with me through situations like this is what makes you useful; remember that, Sylphs," Double says.


    "Yeah! And by the way, what will we call this?" Sylphs asks.


    "I...um...how about...the wind...no, wait...maybe...?" Double asks.


    Sylphs emits a sigh of annoyance, thoroughly exasperated by the amount of time Double is squandering.


    "How about this, tough guy: Elemental Unity: Aeromotional Confluence. You see how easy that was," Sylphs says.


    "Yeah, that sounds great!" Double yells.


    Double begins closing his eyes, and Sylphs slowly goes into the house, waving his hand with his back turned towards Double. A look of excitement forms across Double''s face.


    "More importantly, I can''t let that bastard get away from me. I said it once before, and I''ll say it again. I will end your life, Kairoji," Double yells, an uncontrollable smile spreading across his face.