After leaving the tension of Kenzo's house behind, Arata throttled his motorcycle, cutting through the fading remnants of the afternoon light. Throughout the ride, his heart remained in turmoil, replaying Sora's explosive outburst from earlier.

  Why did she have to be that angry? I didn't even have the chance to explain everything, Arata thought bitterly. Sigh... hopefully, she'll be able to accept my apology later.

  Suddenly, a voice thundered directly inside his head, jarring his nerves. Instinctively, he swerved to the side of the increasingly deserted road. Arata ripped off his helmet, his breath hitching as his eyes darted around, searching for the source of the sound beneath the bruised streaks of the sunset. However, he found no one in sight.

  "Arata, go to the clearing near the forest reserve. Come alone," the voice boomed once more, heavy and laced with authority.

  Arata realized then—it was the voice of the three guardians he had encountered in the infirmary earlier that day. Without wasting another second, he snapped his helmet back on and revved his engine, chasing the sun as it began to dip below the horizon.

  Unbeknownst to Arata, two pairs of eyes were tracking his every move from within the lengthening shadows of the evening.

  The first pair was sharp with suspicion, watching from behind a tinted visor in front of a convenience store. The figure kicked their motorcycle to life, tailing Arata discreetly. The flicker of the newly lit streetlights helped them maintain a safe distance without losing the trail.

  The second pair was far more predatory. Cov perched high atop a cypress branch, a dark silhouette standing in stark contrast against the fading twilight. The creature unfurled its stiff, iron wings, slicing through the evening wind as it locked onto Arata's position from above.

  Arata reached the forest clearing and promptly killed the engine. In the dimming light of dusk, he stood undecided, unsure of where to step next. He attempted to speak to the knights residing within his mind.

  "Hey, you guys in my head! Which way am I supposed to go?" Arata asked the empty air.

  "Keep walking along the edge of the field until you reach the forest line," the voice replied.

  "Whoa, so you actually can hear me!" Arata exclaimed, a mix of shock and excitement bubbling up.

  "I hear and see everything you say and do. Now, stop dwelling on this and do as you are commanded," the voice snapped, its tone firm.

  Arata frowned as he trekked across the field. "Wait—even when I'm... taking a bath or in the bathroom?"

  "Yes. We see everything," the voice replied flatly.

  "Dammit, that is incredibly awkward! We are definitely making a deal about privacy later," Arata muttered. "But... why should I trust you? I don't even know who you actually are."

  "You will see. If we harbored any ill intent, we would not have shielded you in the Valley of White Mists," the voice replied, reassuringly.

  "Oh, right, I remember! You were the voice that popped up in my head back then, too," Arata said, his skepticism finally giving way to full trust.

  "Yes. Now keep moving and stop asking so many questions," Mire interjected sharply.

  Arata reached the edge of the forest, which was growing increasingly dark, swallowed by the heavy shadows of the trees. In the distance, the figure who had been tailing him moved with agonizing slowness through the underbrush.

  "What is he doing out here?" the figure whispered inquisitively, maintaining a safe distance as the sky shifted from orange to a deep, bruised purple.

  ---

  The Vault Gate

  "Arata, concentrate. Within your mind, envision an interdimensional portal," the voice commanded.

  "What? You've got to be joking," Arata stammered, taken aback. "I don't even know what you mean, let alone how to make one!"

  "Focus your mind. Imagine a rift that you can step through to enter another side," the voice guided him patiently.

  "Like... a drainage hole?" Arata asked innocently.

  "Yes, exactly like that. Now, do it!"

  ----------------------------------------------------

  Inside the pendant hanging around Arata's neck, a mental storm was brewing among the trapped entities.

  "See? I told you this wouldn't work," Mire hissed cynically. "The boy is too slow; he can't even open a rift as simple as that."

  "Hey, everything is a process," Fero defended calmly. "It's easy for you because you've been doing it for centuries."

  "Ah, forget it! I'm starting to lose hope," Mire grumbled, her tone growing even more biting.

  "Don't be such a pessimist. Come on, we need you to help train him," Fero pleaded.

  "Will both of you be quiet?!" Jole barked firmly. "I need to focus to guide the boy!"

  ----------------------------------------------------

  Back in the physical world, Arata squeezed his eyes shut. He tried to center his entire mind on the image of a massive drainage hole. Suddenly, a crackle of energy sparked before him, hissing with power. However, the moment Arata snapped his eyes open in shock, the sparks instantly vanished.

  "What was that?" he asked, terrified, his breath coming in shallow hitches.

  "That was it! Just a little more, Arata. And remember—do not close your eyes," Jole commanded.

  "How am I supposed to focus with my eyes open? I can't do it!" Arata protested in frustration.

  "Do it as if you were painting with your hands. Trace a circle that resembles the object you were imagining," the voice guided him again.

  Arata took a long, deep breath. He began to move his hand through the air, tracing a circle. Once, twice, three times—the sparks of energy reappeared. This time, a small black void began to form and stabilize in front of him.

  "I've got it! That's not the right object," Arata muttered.

  He shifted his tactic. This time, he envisioned the rear wheel of his motorcycle spinning at full throttle; he imagined the sheer torque and the overflowing energy rotating violently.

  Instantly, the hole expanded drastically.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Rrrttttzzzz...!!!

  Bluish-white electrical sparks surged around its edges, creating a low hum that vibrated through the evening air.

  "Exactly like that, young man," Jole praised. "Now, step inside. We are waiting for you."

  ---

  An Encounter of Two Dimensions

  Arata stepped forward hesitantly. He poked his head into the ring of light first, and his eyes widened in sheer amazement. The view inside was exactly like what he had seen in the infirmary the other day. Without further hesitation, Arata leaped into the portal.

  Inside, Arata felt as if he were drifting in a vacuum, yet strangely, his feet met a solid footing.

  "Welcome, Arata," Jole added, already standing before him.

  "Hey, it's you three again!" Arata exclaimed, feeling a slight wave of relief at seeing familiar faces.

  "I am Jole, and these are my companions, Mire and Fero," Jole said, introducing his comrades. "We are the three guardian knights locked within your pendant."

  "Okay, fair enough," Arata replied casually, trying to remain composed even though his heart was still hammering against his ribs.

  "That pendant is the manifestation of our souls and energies. The voices you heard earlier were the resonance of the pendant, traveling through your bloodstream to your brain," Jole explained in detail.

  Arata scratched his head, though it wasn't itchy. "That sounds... incredibly complex."

  "Can we please be serious and get straight to the point?" Mire cut in sharply, crossing her arms over her chest.

  "Wait—you're a woman?" Arata asked spontaneously. He squinted his eyes, trying to peer through the blinding radiance. The three figures had no physical faces; their bodies were merely clusters of pure light in the shape of human silhouettes.

  "Yes, she is the same species as your friend in the infirmary. However, I'd suggest you mind your manners with her," Fero's voice rang out, tinged with a teasing edge.

  Jole stepped forward, his radiance calm and steady. "We need your help, Arata. Centuries ago, your ancestors protected us. We came to Earth to safeguard the Vault—that pendant is the key to an incredibly powerful energy cache. Now, there are those who hunt it: Zili, the ruthless dimensional drifter, and Dixor, the creature that pursued you in the Valley of Mists."

  Jole paused for a moment. "Beyond them, there are three others: Zed the Tiger, Nox the Serpent, and Cov the Bird. They have been watching your lineage since the time of your forefathers."

  "What? So you've been around since the time of my ancestors?" Arata asked, his mind reeling.

  "Yes. Ever since the Vault landed, a man named Arata protected the stone. He sacrificed his life when Dixor's forces came searching for it. They wiped out your entire family back then," Jole recounted, his tone heavy with sorrow.

  "Takihiro, Arata's son, managed to hide the necklace within a steel box that was passed down through generations until it reached your parents. Your parents opened it and fashioned it into a necklace for you, unaware of the danger it held. Now, the pendant has bonded with you; it has chosen you to wield the power within. That is why it led you back to the Valley of Mists—it could never be whole without merging with the Vault. I was the one who influenced you to stop there, guiding you toward that temple until you successfully broke the seal. Now, that power has completely fused with your soul."

  Arata stood in silence, his vision blurring with tears. "So... you saw everything? From my ancestors to... my family?"

  "Yes," Jole replied softly. "Do you wish to know what happened to your parents?"

  Arata lowered his gaze. "I've always wanted to know, but I'm also terrified."

  "Do not be afraid. I gave my word to the elder Arata that I would watch over his descendants. With the power of the Vault now, we can protect you here. However, in your world, we can only act as a shield, for our physical forms do not exist there."

  "So... what actually happened to my parents?" Arata asked, his voice barely a whisper.

  "Dixor killed them when you were only a year old," Jole said quietly. "They protected you until their final breath. You were so small then; you couldn't yet control the energy shield to protect them. You were the only survivor because that shield manifested automatically, and Dixor could not penetrate it. He let you live because he needs you to lead him to the Vault."

  "Fine. I don't really know if I'm capable, but my parents became victims because of this thing. I will tr—"

  "AARAAAAATAAA!!!"

  ---

  The Mystery Carried Within

  A piercing scream echoed from the portal's rift.

  Arata and the three knights of light turned in unison. There, standing at the threshold, was a girl with a very familiar face.

  "Yumi?!" Arata cried out in a panic.

  "That girl..." Fero muttered, confused. "Her again?!" Mire added, her voice biting.

  "How is it possible for her to enter?" Jole appeared genuinely shocked.

  Yumi stepped inside, her face a mix of bewilderment and intense curiosity. "What are you doing here?" Arata asked, his voice half-rising to a shout.

  "I should be the one asking you! Why are you here?!" Yumi snapped back. She then fixed her gaze on the three luminous silhouettes. "You're the ghosts that possessed Arata in the infirmary earlier, aren't you?"

  "How can you see us?!" Mire approached Yumi, her gaze sharp with suspicion.

  "Arata, who is this girl?" Jole asked.

  "My schoolmate. We're in the same year, just different classes," Arata replied innocently.

  "That's not what he meant!" Fero interrupted, exasperated. "How was she able to enter the portal and see us?!"

  Mire didn't just stand by. She made a swift, fluid motion.

  Zinggg!

  A crystal shield materialized in front of her. "Step forward, woman!"

  Yumi approached the mirror-like shield. Instead of being frightened, she stared at her reflection. "Ugh, my hair is such a mess from the wind earlier," she said casually, smoothing her strands. "This is a great mirror, so clear!"

  The three knights were struck dumb, rendered speechless by the girl's nonchalant behavior.

  "Who are you, exactly? My mirror cannot penetrate your identity," Mire said, her guard up.

  "Just erase her memory, Jole," Fero suggested.

  Jole extended his hand of light toward Yumi's head, chanting an ancient incantation. Yumi stood stiff for a moment.

  "What are you doing?" Yumi asked suddenly, her face a picture of innocence.

  "What?! It didn't work?" Mire and Fero gasped.

  "I'm Yumi! Didn't you hear Arata call me earlier? Anyway, who are you guys supposed to be? Angels?"

  Arata quickly pulled Yumi away by the hand. They huddled, whispering to each other, plotting a plan. Once they were sure, Arata turned back to face the three knights.

  "Uh... I—"

  "No need to explain. I can hear everything the two of you are discussing in your mind," Jole interrupted. "I agree. Do it."

  "Ah... I forgot about that," Arata replied, looking embarrassed.

  ---

  Ambush from the Twilight Sky

  Arata and Yumi stepped out through the portal. The forest reserve had begun to surrender to the darkness.

  "Close the portal with your mind," Jole instructed.

  Arata focused, aiming his palm at the dimensional rift before snapping his fingers. Zzzsaaappp!!! The portal vanished without a trace.

  But the silence lasted only a second. A pair of crimson eyes watched from above. Cov dove sharply like a lead bullet! Just before its talons could strike, a dome of radiant light manifested, shielding them.

  Duaakk!

  The collision was so violent it sent Cov recoiling, but the impact hurled Arata and Yumi in opposite directions.

  "Arata, get up! Fight back! I will be your shield!" Jole's voice resonated.

  "How?! I don't even know what that thing is!" Arata screamed in a panic.

  "Draw your weapon!" Jole shouted.

  "Hey, we haven't even gotten to that part of the conversation yet!" Arata scrambled to his feet while dusting off his clothes, his eyes searching frantically for Cov.

  "Focus, or you're dead!" Mire snapped.

  Arata saw Yumi lying on the ground not far from him, while Cov hovered in the air, preparing for another dive.

  "Think of anything that could serve as your weapon!" Fero urged hurriedly.

  Zzssseeeeshhh....!

  The protective dome flared up again, encircling Arata, but Yumi remained outside its reach.

  "What am I supposed to choose?!" Arata clenched his fists with all his might. Suddenly, a streak of light elongated within his grasp.

  Ziiinggggg.....!!!

  A brilliantly glowing staff of light appeared. Cov lunged again, attacking with its razor-sharp steel talons.

  Clash! Clash! Clash! Tak! Klang! Klang!

  Arata struggled to repel the relentless, blind fury of the attack. Realizing the weapon was a threat, Cov soared high before pivoting into a sharp dive—aiming elsewhere, toward Yumi, who lay motionless on the ground.

  "Yumi!" Arata screamed in terror.

  He braced himself and hurled the staff of light with every ounce of strength he possessed. Wusss!

  Exactly one inch before Cov's talons could tear into Yumi, the staff pierced the iron bird's neck. Cov was slammed violently into the dirt, thrashing convulsively right beside Yumi.

  The Escape

  The sound of the heavy thud jolted Yumi back to consciousness. Arata rushed to her side, hauling her to her feet.

  "I'll explain later! We have to move, now!" Arata guided Yumi quickly, trying to shield her gaze from Cov's direction.

  Krrraaaaakhhh...

  A guttural groan broke from Cov's throat. Yumi flinched. "What was that sound?"

  "Don't look back!" Arata commanded, his voice laced with worry.

  But Yumi had already turned. Her eyes widened in horror as she saw Cov half-risen, its head lolling at a sickening, tilted angle.

  "HUAAAAAAAA!" Yumi shrieked hysterically.

  "IT'S STILL ALIVE! RUN, YUMI!"

  They sprinted with everything they had toward the parking area. Arata lunged for his motorcycle, but the engine was completely dead.

  "Why won't it start?!" Yumi cried out, panicked.

  "It's not turning over, dammit!" Arata broke into a cold sweat.

  "Forget it! Leave it! We're taking my scooter!" Yumi ordered firmly.

  Without a second thought, Arata hopped onto the back of Yumi's scooter. She immediately gunned the throttle. They pushed the small scooter to its absolute limit, not daring to glance back even once.

  --The scooter sped through the biting night air on the desolate road, racing with all its might to find the safety of the city lights--