Chapter 6)

"Do you know where Iris is?"

"Not a clue."

We had been walking briefly towards Barsanti's shop, only a block or so away from where we were currently. There were still no signs of civilians yet, or the sounds of them either.

Barsanti was walking right next to me, his hands placed behind his head, looking straight forward. He still kept the same smug grin he always has, his eyes looked a little lower than usual.

"Why didn't you go with the civilians when the nightmare was there? Were you asleep?"

"Ahh, not at all! I just didn't really see the need to go with them, I was just fine sitting in the shop."

Yeah, cuz you could have probably defeated the nightmare by yourself without Iris and I. Where were you?!

"And how did you know I was out here? Did Iris tell you?"

"No on that, either. I was just strolling the city by myself, just some me time, you know?"

The stars still twinkled in the night sky as we passed several buildings on our way to the shop, the sounds of bells chiming on one of the buildings doorstep could be heard, it sounded it like a bird chirping. 

"Here we are, back home!"

We had stopped just short of the shop's doorstep, as Barsanti went ahead to open the door. The lights inside were still on, you could just barely see inside through the windows. He gestured to me to enter, and I politely accepted his proposal.

"Must be nice to finally get some light, right?"

"Yeah, being in the dark definitely sucks."

Barsanti stretched, yawning as he proceeded to pull two chairs from the counter and sat on one of them, I figured he had wanted me to sit on the other as well, so I sat on the high chair.

"I think it'll be some time until Iris gets back, helping the people and all... It should be enough time to tell you about the elephant in the room."

"Elephant in the room? Could that be...?"

"You thought that your eyes were just playing tricks on you? Maybe, but what you saw was something even Iris doesn't know about."

Something even Iris doesn't know about? That definitely sounds interesting.

"So? What is it?"

"Just like how you felt the strong wind from before, tell me if you can feel this."

He looked straight at me, without a shift in his facial features. It was the smallest feeling, you would barely be able to notice it if you were outside, but inside, it was definitely something amazing.

"Is this, wind?"

"It could be considered wind, but not quite. We like to call it Projection."

"Projection?"

"The projection of essence. Basically, it is the ability of being able to release the essence inside of you, a form of attack, really."

The small breeze stopped, no longer could I feel the wind on my face as Barsanti leaned back and smiled.

"How can I learn to do this?!"

"Slow down there, kid! Even if you tried, you wouldn't be able to do this yet."

"Whaat? Why not?"

"Well, to put it simply, you don't have enough essence for you to project efficiently. With as low of essence as you have now, you would just become exhausted and tired even doing it for a second, barely creating even anything."

"So why haven't you told Iris about this then? She's definitely stronger than me."

"She gets too inclined to use everything at her disposal whenever she can, which would include her using projection. She would just end up burning through her essence, tiring her in a real fight. She has the essence to use projection, just not efficiently. It's the main reason why I really don't teach her the abilities that tire you out without proper training."

"So then why tell me?"

He looked at me confused, like he didn't even know the answer to my question as well. Putting his hand on his chin, he rubbed his goatee while looking at the ceiling, before he finally just gave me a shrug.

"Just felt like it. Sooner or later you would need to learn how to use this ability to your advantage, and telling you now would be better."

"I guess..."

"Just don't tell Iris that I told you what projection is. She'll just end up pestering me until I finally give in. I'll most definitely end up giving in, so don't tell her."

"Don't tell me what?"

Woah?!

Iris stood at the door, arms crossed on her chest, as she jumped into the conversation. I hadn't noticed her opening the door, and Barsanti too was taken by surprise.

"Don't tell you how we fought off a bunch of nightmares while we were gone! Yup, if you knew that, then you'd definitely worry! But oh well! Ahahaha!"

You're a terrible liar... but it's not to say that wasn't true.

Iris gave Barsanti a pestering stare before sighing and dismissing him. She slumped into one of the chairs in the room and giving a sigh of relief.

"Whatever. I couldn't care less about what you guys are hiding from me."

"Ah, but we're not! I can assure you that what we say is 100% the truth! I would never hide anything from you!"

She turned to look at Barsanti with a wicked eye, which looked as if it had made Barsanti jump.

"I said I didn't care."

"Eek! Scary!"

You're just gonna make her hit you again...

"Ahh, but look at the clock. If you were in an academy you would most definitely be past your bed time, you two. I think it's time we head to sleep."

"What? Why do I have to listen to the pervert who fawns over my sister?"

"My shop, my rules! I'll act like I didn't just hear that remark and send you straight to bed! Everyone upstairs!"

He's kinda like my mom, but more of a weirdo.

He pushed the two of us upstairs into the second floor, each of us taking the room we were in before. Iris immediately shut her door, while Barsanti kept his open. He had turned the lights off, leaving me in the darkness, as I closed my door shut. 

I laid myself on the bed without taking off the covers, staring deeply at the wooden ceiling above me. I could hear my own breathing as my eyelids slowly drooped, covering my vision. 

Finally, a good night's rest for once...

I cleared all of my thoughts from my mind, as I proceeded to sleep without worries. The beginning of a new day would await me, a bright, sunny day.