The New One

I gasped, feeling my soul being wrenched from my body as I stood once again in the neverending plain of water. I looked up, the dark starry sky coating the familiar dimension.

A seemingly innate reflex shifted my focus downward, my blurry vision starting to identify the holy outline of white that stood before me.

"Look at you, all banged up," joked the silhouette, her long silky hair falling to her upper-waist. My mind took a moment to process Asthia's new appearance, battle armor not something I was used to seeing her wear.

I suspected time to move at a different rate in this weird dimension that I always found myself in upon activating or ending Integrate. Or was this all just in my head?

I chuckled, ignoring my thoughts and directing my attention towards Asthia.

"Yea, I'm kind of dealing with a powerful opponent."

"Jean, right? I'm able to see through the link again now that you opened it," laughed the girl. I frowned, sensing the small hint of sadness present in her voice.