Igor: "So... you guys are Ars Goetians as well?"
The bleach-haired one shrugged with both shoulders, keeping his sinister smirk.
Akira: "Depends on who's asking."
Igor: "Oof!! Still a bit stiff, eh? I thought only this one looked like he came from a monastery."
He pointed at Zhenzhen.
Whatever strictness Mia had shown earlier seemed to vanish completely. She just stood behind Igor, lightly clutching part of his uniform like he might fade into the morning mist.
Zhenzhen: "If you think I'm going to negotiate with you, you are mistaken, fiend."
Igor made a confused grimace.
Igor: "Wha?! Fiend? I've been called worse, bold one. Look, I don't really care about you in particular. I just want to talk to our black-haired Japanese friend here. You're a swordsman in the Dreamscape, right? What's your class, man?"
Akira narrowed his eyes.
Akira: "Class?"
Igor: "Whatever you call it here in Japan, man. I'm a Death Knight—you?"
He crossed his arms.
Akira: "You mean my type? I'm a Warrior."
Igor: "Wow. Finally getting some info outta ya. But if you ask me, you two are definitely the edgy type, my dudes."
Zhenzhen: "I've got no temper to listen to whatever this rotten-to-the-core swindler is proposing."
Igor: "Swindler, eh, shorty? That's a new one for my insult collection."
Zhenzhen: "Whatever suits your needs, blasphemer. Yamauchi, I'm off. If you ever need me, I'll be waiting at the entrance or before the amber gates again. We still need to talk—without evil incarnates overhearing us."
Zhenzhen brushed past the bleach-haired one and left.
Mia stood behind Blinov, but after a moment, stepped forward toward Akira.
Mia: "No question why Mother always called me a 'failed negotiator'."
Igor winked at her.
Igor: "Don't be hard on yourself, beautiful."
To Akira's surprise, Mia Walker blushed.
Mia: "Stop it, fool."
Igor shrugged again.
Igor: "Her Majesty, the Shy Emissary!"
Mia: "You seriously need to stop it, Igor!"
She waved her hands up and down in some awkward little ritual of defeat.
Akira shook his head—he couldn't believe Mia had fallen for this guy so hard. It wasn't his business, but watching these two was quite a show.
Akira: "So, what's your deal with me?"
Igor turned back toward him.
Igor: "Right to the point, eh? I'm starting to talk like some cliché jester from an old movie, I swear. Anyway, my proposal is simple: 'Warrior.' I heard from Mia that you can enter the place you call the Dreamscape. I've got a different name for it, but that's not the point. Mia and I are after some powerful enchantments and artifacts in that realm. Wanna join us?"
Akira studied him for a moment.
Akira: "That place is dangerous. I don't treat it like it's a park."
Igor: "But you've entered it multiple times, right? You must be after something."
Akira: "Yeah. But I'm not about to join forces with someone like you. No offense."
Igor comically shrugged.
Igor: "How sad. We could've made a great team. I won't say no to another swordsman on my side. No offense to Mia, but between you and me..."
He leaned toward Akira and cupped a hand to his mouth like he was about to whisper—yet spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
Igor: "I hate spellcasters."
Mia lightly thumped him with her fist.
Igor: "It was a joke, I'm sorry, stop it!"
Mia: "Never, you idiot!"
It was strange for Akira to see how some people could seem strict and dangerous at the same time, yet still act like them.
Igor: "Eh... sorry about that. Old habits die hard, heh. So your answer is—no, Akira?"
Akira: "I'm after only one thing in that realm. I want to stay strong... but not for myself. I want to protect the people I care about."
Igor: "Noble cause, no doubt, my man. But my offer still stands—for a couple of days at least."
Akira gave him a polite nod, though he had no intention of agreeing.
Igor turned his attention back to Mia.
Igor: "Well then, Madam President, I'm off. Try not to cheat on me with this pretty boy, yeah?"
Mia grinned and gave him a goofy slap on the back.
Igor threw her one of his trademark sinister smirks, stepped toward the garden exit, then suddenly stopped and spun back around toward Akira.
Igor: "Ah—Yamauchi, what exactly are you after in the Dreamscape, if it's not a secret?"
Akira shrugged.
Akira: "I cannot reveal it just to anyone."
Igor smirked.
Igor: "Gotcha."
And with that, he left.
Akira and Mia stood silently for a moment until Akira finally dared to ask.
Akira: "Mia, you two... you're together?"
Mia blushed slightly but tried to keep her usual teacher's tone.
Mia: "First of all, Yamauchi — it's none of your business. And secondly..."
She clasped her hands.
Mia: "Ah, damn it all! I invited you here to ask about Ars Goetian business, but never expected Igor to be bold enough to show his face here and now. I... owe you an apology for everything that just happened. And yes — we are together, for you to know, Yamauchi. But if you dare to gossip about it to anyone, I..."
Akira stopped her with a palm gesture.
Akira: "Never thought I'd repeat after Zhenzhen but... my lips are sealed. You know I'd never do anything like that, Mia."
She adjusted her glasses.
Mia: "Good. But, just like he said, we require help in this 'Dreamworld.' So if you don't see his proposal as valuable, consider mine at least."
Akira: "Dreamscape is dangerous, Mia. Don't throw your life away like this, especially since you already know my story. My mother died in that world and never woke up."
Mia stood silently for a moment.
Mia: "I know what you're after in Dreamscape, though I never told Igor about it yet..."
Akira sighed heavily.
Akira: "Figures. Since our parents are somehow connected through business, I was wondering if you'd discovered the truth about my father's real goal in the Dreamscape."
Mia: "Yeah, the Lesser Key of Solomon. I read about it some time ago—never thought anyone would take it seriously, let alone go looking for it."
Akira: "Sadly, it is. My parents got obsessed with this legend a long time ago. After what happened to my mother, I thought my father would stop. But he never did. Whatever his goal in the Dreamscape is, I've got a gut feeling it won't lead anywhere good."
Mia: "Is it true you can ask anything from it?"
Akira: "I have a valuable source of information — whatever the Key of Solomon is, it's not meant for mortals to handle. You also asked me about the 'memory of the blade' earlier."
Mia laughed nervously.
Mia: "Funny you still remember that."
Akira: "Aye. Since you're being honest with me, Mia, I'll be honest with you in return. If you ever get trapped in the Dreamscape, it'll help you. The memory of any weapon contains both its wielder's and the weapon's power, like it remembers its previous uses. So instead of finding new weapons, naming them, or handling them again and again, you can fuse them with your current weapon to make it stronger."
Mia raised her hand to her chin with admiration.
Mia: "Fascinating."
Akira nodded.
Akira: "So the 'memory of the blade' isn't just an enchantment that gives your weapon special power, it is your weapon's power."
Mia giggled.
Mia: "After talking to your monk friend, I wonder what they use as weapons there, since it's just their hands for them. I mean, fists, right?"
Akira grinned and nodded.
Akira: "They are. But that's why the memory of the blade—or any weapon—is so powerful. It holds knowledge and power. As long as it resonates with you, you can fuse it even with your fists. It still works. So, do you get the picture?"
Mia nodded and adjusted her glasses again.
Mia: "Curious place, this dreamworld. But enough idle chatter, Yamauchi. We've already spent too much time here. At least the Professor isn't dead or anything — my mother would be furious if anything went wrong inside the facility, especially with this being its first year running as a university. I also need to keep up with my duties, or she'll skin me alive."
Akira: "Let's be on our way then."
Mia: "Aye, let's, Yamauchi. Let's hope no one's trapped, eaten, or whatever else can happen to us nowadays, since this 'dreamworld' activity is plaguing our country — maybe even the whole world!"
Akira nodded, and they moved toward the exit.
Right after they left the left wing of the RIU gardens, Akira saw Liza and Cleo dashing toward him and Mia.
Mia rolled her eyes.
Mia: "The 'menace' again. I need to run away quickly. See you, Yamauchi."
Akira gave her a wave and braced himself to get rekt by Liza.
Liza and Cleo approached fast. Liza, though, seemed out of breath. She bent over, hands on her knees, right in front of Akira.
Liza: "Senpai..."
After catching her breath, she stood tall.
Liza: "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL THIS TIME?"
Akira couldn't decide which face was funnier to watch—Liza's angry grimace or Cleo standing there like a timid sentinel.
Cleo: "Miss Liza..."
Liza cut her off.
Liza: "Not you too, again, Cleo. I told you I can handle this alone!"
Cleo: "But I promise you—we come together."
Liza facepalmed.
Liza: "Anyway. Senpai, what's your deal meeting 4-eyes without us?"
Akira rubbed his forehead.
Akira: "Liza, you could've just told me you wanted to come before we split, before our last morning class."
Liza: "Ha! So now it's my fault? Well, okay, maybe it is..."
Cleo giggled.
Liza: "Look at her—feels funny every time I get embarrassed in front of you, Senpai."
Cleo: "No, you're just charming as you are, Miss Liza. I like you."
Liza's eyes widened.
Liza: "Never thought a girl would say that to me. ALSO—can you please stop calling me 'miss'? Your politeness is going to kill me sooner or later, Cleo. You called me 'Liza' before—you forgot already?"
Cleo: "But if I call you that all the time, does it mean—you consider me a friend, Miss Liza?"
Liza glared and waved her hand.
Liza: "Look at her, still can't get it. WE ARE ALREADY FRIENDS, YOU DUMMY!"
Cleo blushed.
Cleo: "Oh!"
Liza: "This girl, I swear. So anyway, Senpai, are you going to explain what you two—or, to be precise, FOUR of you—were doing in that garden, huh?"
Akira never thought Liza's steam locomotive engine inside her could sound like that, and after her 'huh,' he completely lost it for the day.
He laughed.
Akira: "Liza, sometimes I can't believe you're human. I'll tell you everything you want to know, if you want it that badly."
She smirked and beamed at him with her usual confidence.
Liza: "What was that, Senpai? So that's your idea of a compliment to a lady, huh?"
Cleo and Akira giggled almost in unison.
Liza: "Clowns, both of you!"
Akira: "I didn't mean to offend you."
Liza muttered disappointedly.
Liza: "Then why did you just call me that, Senpai? If I'm not human, then who am I to you?"
Akira smirked.
Akira: "A force of nature, Liza. You're a storm, and I welcome you into my harbor every day."
Cleo: "Wow!"
Liza raised a hand.
Liza: "Whoever told Merlina this guy can't handle compliments?"
After saying that, she tried to bite her tongue, but it was too late.
Cleo: "Merlina? Who's that? Someone you know, Mister Akira?"
Akira shook his head.
Akira: "Just Akira is fine, Cleo. She's our friend from a faraway place."
After Liza finally quieted down, Akira and she exchanged glances, as if trying to fabricate a story on the spot.
Liza: "She's our teacher, yes!"
Akira raised an eyebrow.
Akira: "A teacher?"
Liza shot him a look.
Liza: "Yes! A teacher. Got a problem with that?"
Akira: "No, ma'am!"
Liza narrowed her eyes and nodded.
Liza: "Glad you finally agree with me."
Cleo giggled again.
Cleo: "If I didn't know you for just a little while, I'd say you're hiding something from me."
Liza jolted.
Liza: "What do you mean? We? Hide? I've got nothing to hide! Aside from maybe a few moments from my past, maybe."
Cleo giggled for the fourth time.
Cleo: "If you say so, Miss Liza."
Liza: "Okay, girly, you seriously need to stop it! If you consider me a friend, it's LIZA from now on."
Cleo beamed at her, just like Liza had been beaming at Akira that morning.
After another walk around the garden, the trio began preparing for their afternoon classes. They passed through an arch leading to the front left wing of the RIU.
Liza: "So, what now, Senpai?"
Akira: "I still need to talk to Zhenzhen about 'the gauntlet' game."
Liza nodded to herself.
Liza: "Right."
Cleo: "Are you going to show it to me?"
Liza stared at her like she'd just asked to swim in a sewer full of wild alligators.
Akira gave them a meaningful look.
Akira: "I just need to talk to him alone this time. Sorry."
Cleo looked a bit disappointed, as she missed her new friend's affection.
Liza gave her a light shoulder bump.
Liza: "Hey, don't be so sad, Cleo. Forget about boys and their games. How about the three of us go see what's going on in the right part of this gigantic garden, huh?"
Cleo's eyes widened, and she brightened.
Cleo: "You'll show me?"
Liza: "Sure!"
Cleo: "Yeah, but you said 'three of us' are going. Who's the third? Is it Akira?"
Akira gave Liza an understanding look. She'd obviously meant Merlina. He was certain the mischievous panther had already woken up and was ringing in Liza's head, so much so that Liza considered her real.
Liza: "Uh-oh."
She looked confused, startled, and struggled to find words in her defense.
Akira: "Liza's just feeling a bit weary today, Cleo. That's all. You two should go ahead and enjoy your free time while you still can. I'm just going to meet Zhenzhen. We can catch up after classes or on the way home."
Cleo: "Oh! That's the same way for us. I completely forgot. Ready? Let's go, Liza!"
Liza still seemed a little puzzled, but took Cleo's hand, and they left together.
Akira followed the path through RIU back to the entrance, where he expected to find Zhenzhen. The little monk stood before the dark entrance doors like a security guard, gazing off into the distance toward the sun. Akira stepped through the doors and spoke.
Akira: "Hello again, Zhen."
Zhenzhen gave him a sideways look.
Zhenzhen: "So, you finished your conversation with the grave robber?"
Akira looked confused.
Akira: "Grave robber? You mean you know that guy somehow?"
Zhenzhen made a quick sign. He crossed his arms behind his back, speaking not as a member of the order, but as an abbot.
Zhenzhen: "In the Dreamscape, people like him take what they will—whatever serves their purpose. Such folk oft cloak their greed in noble names... 'treasure hunters,' they call themselves. Though there are no true graves in the Dreamscape, the spirits and memories of those who once were—they are real, Akira. I'd advise you not to keep company with such people. Even the president of this university, it seems, has dealings with that rogue. And to my eyes, both bear the mark of corruption, not upon their flesh, but upon their souls."
Akira: "Yeah, but you seemed to see the same corruption in me just this night?"
Zhenzhen: "It wasn't like that, Akira... I was wrong, I admit it. But I think you've made your choice. You're a rare kind—one of the few who act against their own nature. Like a predator who kills only to survive, not for sport."
Akira's lips twitched with a coy giggle.
Akira: "A predator, huh?"
Zhenzhen: "It is just a metaphor. No insult was intended."
Akira nodded.
Akira: "Understood."
He paused.
Akira: "So, Zhen, can you finally tell me what you are really doing here in Japan, and why nobody can see that tattoo you're wearing on your forehead?"
Zhenzhen turned slightly to the right but didn't change his posture.
Zhenzhen: "Like I mentioned before, as you reckon—I am from the Shaolin Order. Long ago, somebody left me at the monastery gates. After a while, a few individuals of my order with the same talent as mine began to recognize that I, though young, could enter the world of dreams—you called it—the Dreamscape. Moreover, people who share my talent began to notice a tattoo on my forehead that a regular person, or even those within the order, cannot see. A phoenix—a fire, an immortal bird that is born again. My noble companion."
He made a brief pause and continued in the same manner.
Zhenzhen: "So far, the Phoenix has been not only my companion but a loyal friend as well. I do not know how this connection works with your ' inner self'—that demon shadow thing. But I, myself, long ago recognized that my purpose in this existence is to save and rescue those who get stuck or are threatened by demons or other entities in the Dreamscape. The phoenix can freely move to any part of my body, manifesting as this tattoo. That's why regular people cannot see him. He is not of this world, but from another one. The only thing you see on my head right now is a vision within your own mind."
Zhenzhen turned toward Akira and tapped his forehead with a smile.
Akira blinked twice. Students roamed in and out, but none seemed interested in their conversation. He blinked again and could not believe his eyes. It wasn't because the people around couldn't see the mark on Zhenzhen's forehead—it was because Akira himself was seeing it, or rather imagining it, projecting the tattoo's silhouette inside his own mind. Like an illusion. A mirage.
Akira: "No way it's real, Zhen. All this time, it was just my imagination."
Zhenzhen: "Not imagination, Akira. A vision. Because you are an Ars Goetian, just like me."
Akira: "Strange to think that only last night we fought as enemies."
Akira gave a warm smile, which Zhenzhen returned immediately.
Zhenzhen: "Our destinies have twisted paths, it seems, but I believe it is no coincidence what we are..."
Akira shook his head with a smile.
Akira: "Not you too, Zhen..."
Zhenzhen laughed—the first time Akira had heard it.
Zhenzhen: "Like I said, Akira. Even if you don't want it to be this way, destiny brought us together. We must be responsible for our actions, both in the real world and in the Dreamscape. I hope you understand that. We don't need to be just power-hungry magicians who toy with people's lives within the dream realm. We need to help them, by all means necessary."
He paused, gazing toward the sun.
Zhenzhen: "I told you about the artifact I must reclaim? It's held in one of your city's museums. I haven't come to steal it, but to take it back—even if it's only a projection within the Dreamscape."
Akira: "Hard to believe someone stored a Shaolin relic in a museum in Ryoto."
Zhenzhen: "Aye. But it is here, and I was sent not only to scout the dream realm within this country, but also to retrieve the relic, or at least the projection of its power."
Akira: "You mean the 'memory of the blade.' That's what I called it, anyway."
Zhenzhen smiled again.
Zhenzhen: "Memory of a relic, more like."
Akira let out a small giggle.
Akira: "Yeah, something like that."
Zhenzhen: "Anyhow, now I have a clear path before me. I will retrieve the relic's power within the Dreamscape, and if ordered, I will return. But for now, I'll give you this."
Zhenzhen rolled up the sleeve of his left arm, revealing a delicate gold bracelet. With calm motion, he removed it and offered it to Akira.
Akira looked like a guy who lost the race but got the trophy anyway.
Akira: "I can't take this from you, Zhen. What is it? Why—"
Zhenzhen: "If you ever need my help, Akira, you can summon me in the Dreamscape again."
Akira: "But it's gold—I can't take this, Zhen."
Zhenzhen: "It is a token of my gratitude, Akira—and an offer of friendship."
Akira appeared shocked more than once today.
Akira: "Friendship, huh? I can't believe you just said that."
Zhenzhen: "Aye, I said it because I believe we are friends."
Suddenly, they heard a scream behind them. Cleo and Liza walked through the entrance doors.
Liza: "Senpai! Oh, and baldy here too, hi!"
She waved at Zhenzhen with a fox-like smile.
Liza: "So you guys finished your 'gauntlet' talk? Because Cleo and I almost lost our legs roaming the garden's right wing!"
Cleo giggled.
Cleo: "Liza, you truly are a storm sometimes!"
Liza glanced at Akira.
Liza: "Thanks for my new nickname, Senpai. Now I'm the storm that's coming..."
She dropped her hands.
Cleo spotted the golden bracer Akira had been holding all this time.
Liza and Cleo (in unison): "What's this?"
After they said this, they looked at each other and both giggled.
Liza: "Well, anyway, are you guys robbing a pawnshop while we weren't watching, huh?"
She poked Akira's chest with a long nail.
Akira: "It's not like that, Liza. Zhenzhen just asked me to keep these bracelets at my place... for a while."
Liza: "Uh-huh..."
Akira and Liza looked at each other like two old thieves trying to keep their story straight in front of normal people.
Zhenzhen: "It is my gift to Akira."
Cleo brought her hands to her mouth, eyes wide in silent astonishment.
Cleo: "Wow!"
Liza: "Don't freak out, Knighty. We still have to survive the second half of the day, somehow."
Liza looked at Cleo again, then turned her head toward Zhenzhen and Akira, who stood waiting to be commanded.
Liza: "Well, boys, are you going or what?"
Akira nodded.
Akira: "Aye, lead the way, Liza."
Liza: "Yeah!"
She took Cleo by the arm, and the four of them moved through the entrance doors.
Akira looked at Zhenzhen once again, but said nothing. Strangely, he felt warmth coming from the bracer he had just received, as if it were part of Phoenix's power, lying within the newfound relic.
Finally, gathering his last wits, Akira whispered to Zhenzhen.
Akira: "Thank you, Zhen. It's a great honor. I will cherish it. Both this relic and our friendship. Thank you."
Zhenzhen gave a humble bow with a smile and remained silent.