by Michael Sisa
Dan’s eyes widened. He knew that the spirit was not lying. There was a tremendous pressure engulfing everything as of the moment, and he knew that if the spirit willed it, it could kill everyone present here.
The voice of the spirit seemed to have loomed closer, and Dan instinctively took a step back. “I wonder… why did I answer the summons of someone so weak, so feeble?”
Dan felt an invisible hand touch his chest, rendering him completely unable to move.
“Kid, you are not capable of utilizing magic. Even if I become benevolent and grant you a contract, you will not be able to use even a fraction of my might,” said Karazaan. “But still, the question remains unanswered. Why did I answer your summons? It is the first time in a hundred years since I had contact with a mere human. I wonder… I wonder… I wonder.”
The spirit repeated those words like a mantra. After a few more moments that felt like eternity, it once again spoke, “You are unworthy, but you have piqued my curiosity. Very well, I shall watch over you and see you grow. Maybe by then, I will realize the answer to my question. Do not die so soon, child. You will still serve as entertainment for this King.”
A hot sensation flowed through Dan’s body, particularly at his chest. Before the presence of the spirit completely faded away, it said, “I shall not lend you my strength for you are unworthy, but I shall watch over your growth and keep you company. Make this interesting, mortal.”
And time once again flowed.
The buzzing sounds from the students resumed, and it took a while before Dan was able to discern the voice that called out to him.
“Hey!” said Shirel. She sighed when Dan finally noticed her call. “It’s like… what, the twelfth time I called? We still have many students that need an assessment.”
Judging by her expression, Dan was somehow sure that she had no idea of what had just happened. He glanced at the spectating students, then to the professor.
“Is it over?” he simply asked.
There was a hint of dejection within Professor Shirel’s eyes. “Yes. I hate to say this, but you do not have an affinity for any of the elements. People like you are rare… and this is probably only the eighth time I’ve encountered such a student in my entire career of teaching.”
Behind Shirel, Professor Janus gazed at Dan with a complex expression. Was it regret, resignation, or pity—Dan was unable to tell.
“I understand,” said Dan. He left the magic circle to give way for the next student.
“Hey, aren’t you no different from a stupid farmer now?” said a male voice as Dan made his way back to his previous spot.
“Dude, that’s the son of Edward Roshaila! It’s better if we don’t mess with him!” said another.
Dan stopped in his tracks and looked at the source of mockery, and he was immediately greeted by a smirking face.
“So what if he’s the son of that damned magician?” said Ryle Monfort. “He’s a defect. Trash. Someone without any affinity for the elements doesn’t have a place in this Academy.”
The student next to Ryle lowered his head upon making eyes contact with Dan.
Ryle sneered, “Marco, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m pretty sure his father wouldn’t care even if we devastate this piece of garbage. He has no talent at all. What a joke.”
Ryle furrowed his brows when Dan did not respond to his provocations. Instead, he turned around and resumed his way through the crowd.
Dan’s mind was currently in turmoil as he tried to digest everything that had transpired. Was that a dream?
He broke from his stupor when Negi tapped his shoulder.
“You okay?” said Negi. His usual innocent grin was gone. “Mate, not all magicians bloom at our age. Some of them reach an affinity with the elements during their third year. Don’t mind what others are saying.”
Even now, Dan could feel the gazed of the students around piercing through him. He shrugged the thought out. He did not care what they would think.
“Hey, have you heard of Karazaan?” said Dan.
Negi furrowed his brows. “Karazaan? I haven’t encountered such name before. The last syllable may indicate that the name originates from the far south—”
“Far south, huh?” said Dan. “I guess I’ll go dig some information in the library.”
Dan cast one last look at the still ongoing assessment test. He turned around and silently made his exit.
“Hey! You’re going to the library at this hour? Why not finish the assessment? It’ll be finished soon,” said Negi, his legs briskly moving forward as he tried to catch up to Dan.
“No, there’s something I need to find out.” Dan turned around and smiled at Negi. He was well aware that the kid was only worried about him. “I’m fine. Just stay here and finish the event. If you need me, I’ll be in the Grand Library.”
***
Unlike when Dan first came to the Grand Library, it was not crowded. Numerous empty seats were immediately seen the moment he entered, and the students that usually frolicked near the shelves were gone.
He went to the counter. “Excuse me. I’m here to find books about the Elemental Spirits. Particularly, the Spirit Kings.”
Dan wondered if the female behind the counter was the librarian or was also a student like him. She was definitely young, but at the same time, she carried with her an air of maturity that could only be found in adults.
“Third floor underground,” she monotonously said. She did not bother looking at Dan as she continued scribbling something in a parchment. “Q9, level fifteen. Just use a damn ladder, midget.”
“I see. Thank you, ma’am,” said Dan. And he immediately went towards the third floor of the underground library.
Surprisingly, the air was not stale despite the fact that it was situated underground. Contrary, it was actually chilly, almost soothing. Dan was sure that if he was given a pillow right now, he would have dozed off into dreamland in the blink of an eye.
The third floor was almost desolate, with only a handful of students that could be counted in a single hand.
“Q9,” mumbled Dan. He traced the towering shelves alphabetically, until he reached his desired location. He looked up and saw the level fifteen sign almost at the top.
“The National Library back in my world doesn’t even compare to this,” he said as he climbed up the ladder adjacent to the bookshelf. After rummaging through numerous books, he finally found what he was looking for.
He immediately went down and found himself an empty table.
“Karazaan,” he mumbled to himself a he flipped through the pages. “Damn, this thing’s too thick? Five thousand pages? Seriously?”
He stopped and stared when he finally found something related to it.
Karazaan
Hailed as one of the nine Spirit Kings in the Ethereal Realm, it governs over the element of the Dark. I have personally witnessed its true form when Master Walker unleashed all nine Spirit Kings as he fought against the Great Demon Lord.
Until now, I am still grateful that I have survived that encounter, and I’m now able to convey what I have found towards the next generations.
I had always doubted how Master Walker created the Great Wall that surrounded and protected the Great Empire of Kulaima, but after witnessing the strength of those Spirit Kings, such feat felt child’s play.
Those nine creatures each have the power to level a nation by themselves. Each of them are monsters—no, Gods—by their own right. Then, what does that make Walker Vont Ilian? He, who have tamed all nine Deities.
I have never felt so moved. A human could be so great, so Godly. I guess living for so long has its merits, for I was able to witness what true strength is.
Mountains were reduced to ashes. Skies were sundered. Continents were split, and the Gods themselves watched as the two fought with their full strength.
Dan furrowed his brows when he realized he could not read the next words. Everything else had faded with time, and he had no choice but
to flip through a couple more pages before he once again found something related to the Spirit.
…I have journeyed through Lankan, and I have overcome the Valley of Bones. The Demon Continent is vast. I doubt I’ll fully explore everything in my life time.
Inside the Great Rift, just after crossing the Valley of Bones, I found ancient records about Karazaan.
Who would have thought that such a Spirit could exist? Does Master Walker know it? Does he know what kind of Spirit he had made contract with?
My mind is filled with doubts and worry, but all I can probably do right now is trust the Great Magician.
“So, did you find anything interesting about me?” a voice suddenly spoke.
Dan almost jumped from his seat in surprise. He looked left and right but saw no one. He felt a surge of heat within his chest as the voice once again spoke, “What are you so surprised about? Damn, mortal. Maybe it is a mistake to let my spirit oversee this realm.”
Dan’s eyes widened. “Karazaan?”
“Took you a while to realize,” said Karazaan. “I have placed my insignia on your chest. Should you remove your clothes, you’ll be able to see it. Hmmm, this brings back memories. So, the Academy that brat has created still stands till this day? Impressive. I really have to give that brat a credit.”
“Brat… you mean that legendary magician? Master Walker?” said Dan.
The heat in his chest cooled down, only to surge once again. “Correct. I could still remember the first time he called me from my throne in the Ethereal Realm. He was a bit older than you, but I did not hesitate to make a contract with him.”
If there was a window right now, and Karazaan was in its spirit form, Dan sure that it would have been looking out it, reminiscing.
“Good old days. Good old day,” said Karazaan. “So, did you find what you are looking for?”
Dan felt a chuckling sound reverberate from the insignia in his chest. “A little bit. This excerpt I’ve read…”
He stopped for a moment. He had not fully comprehended what the author of the record was trying to say, but he was sure that there was something to the spirit called Karazaan than what meets the eye.
Karazaan broke the silence. “Well, tell me?”
The insignia within Dan’s chest once again blazed aflame. He felt the burning sensation run through his entire body.
“Hey, are you trying to kill me?” said Dan, his eyes partly closed from the pain.
“You jest. Why should I?” said Karazaan. The burning sensation immediately vanished. “I think you might be interested, but someone has been watching you from afar using magic.”
Now that the spirit had mentioned it, Dan did feel a peculiar sensation of being watched by somebody. He channeled his soul spirit into his surroundings in an attempt to locate that person.
At the same time, he felt the piercing stare of Karazaan in him as soul spirit subtly oozed out his body.
“Found him,” he said as he shut the book with a loud thud sound.
He stood up and went towards the shelves at the eastern corner of the third floor.
“You’ve been watching me all this time,” said Dan. “What do you wan—”
He stopped in his tracks when a familiar face greeted him. More specifically, there were two of them. One was a stubby man that was of the same height as Dan. His overcoat seemed too small for his round body, and the buttons gave the impression that they would soon pop out. The other one was a female student in her fifth year. Her eyes were rubies, almost luminous against her pale skin.
“Professor Lamark,” said Dan as his eyes landed onto the small orb in the stubby professor’s hand. “And… Lady Yvette.”
There was an awkward silence as the three stared at each other.
“Oh Gods, this is embarrassing!” said Yvette. She glared at Professor Lamark. “Uncle! This is why I told you that we should just approach him directly! Why use magic to watch him from afar!”
Dan and Yvette’s eyes locked with each other for a full second, before Yvette eventually turned her gazed away in embarrassment.
Lamark grinned, and a putrid scent wafted through the air. “Kakaka! My. Great. Niece. Isn’t. It. You. Who. Insisted. We. Watch. Over. Him?”
His every word was deliberately said slowly with great emphasis. Yvette’s glare at Lamark intensified. “Uncle! You know that’s not true! I told you that we should go over there and talk to him in person! Not this!”—She glanced at the crystal ball in Lamark’s hands—“Not with this thing!”
Dan felt that if he let the argument go on, there was no telling when it would stop. He sighed and said, “It’s fine, Lady Yvette.”—he turned to the professor—“Sir, what do you want with me?”
Until now, Yvette’s cheeks were livid. She could not look at Dan in the eyes. Lamark, on the other hand, was broadly grinning.
“Just checking on my test subject,” said Lamark. “And as for my niece over here, she was worried about you. Told me ya got zero affinity for the elements. Must be very down as of the moment. She’s quite a stalker, eh?”
Lamark scrutinized Dan from head to toe. “Ya seem fine. But didn’t expect that ya’ll be so incompetent, lad. To think that I’ll encounter someone without any affinity here.”
“Uncle! Stop!” said Yvette. She finally looked at Dan in the eyes. “Hey, don’t mind what Uncle Lamark said. He’s just an insensitive prick.”—She furrowed her brows—“Are you alright? You can always try next time, you know that, right?”
Dan’s lips curled into a smile. “Thank you. I am fine, Lady Yvette.”
“Is that so…,” she mumbled.
Lamark handed Dan a small envelope. “Here. Ya can’t read the books delivered in yer room, right? This should help. Forgot to give you that. Just open it later. In private.” The last part was emphasized.
Dan stared at the envelope for a full second before eventually accepting it. He said, “Thank you.”
“Then, I’ll be on my way. I’ll leave ya younglings on yer own,” said Lamark. He tapped Dan on the shoulder thrice. “Wellter told me ya two are goin’ to be married soon. Kakaka!”
“Uncle!” said Yvette, her cheeks slightly red.
Another laughter from Lamark echoed as he walked forth and disappeared from sight, leaving the two alone with each other. The entire floor was almost desolate, and the silence that filled the air made it awkward.
“So,” Dan broke the ice. “Negi told me you visited me in class.”
“Ah, yes,” said Yvette. She thumbed through her hair. “I was going to congratulate you that time. Well, I guess it isn’t too late,”—she smiled, revealing a perfect set of teeth—“ Congratulations, Dan! And welcome to the Sky Academy!”
For some reason, that smile reminded Dan of a kid that had been given a stack load of candy. He burst out laughing. Tears started forming at the corner of his eyes.
“Hey!” Yvetted pouted.
Dan wiped the tears that clung to the corner of his eyes. “Sorry. It’s just that… you reminded me of a kid I know.”
Yvette fixed her posture in an attempt to appear taller. “Kid, eh? Young man, I think you’re forgetting who’s the kid here!”
Dan grinned. “Yes, I know. I know.”
“Oh, and to be safe—just to remind you, I am still opposed to our marriage,” said Yvette. “There’s no way that I’ll be marrying someone seven years my junior. Just to clarify, ‘kay?”
“Same here,” said Dan. The two of them locked eyes with each other, and they both smiled in response. “I’m too young for those things.”
“Hey, have you been to the Flower Cliff?” said Yvette.
“Flower Cliff? No.”
Her eyes glimmered in anticipation after that statement. She clapped her hands once. “Of course! Great! Then, it’s decided. We’ll go there right now. I’ve brought some food with me. It’s the perfect place to eat!”
The eagerness in her voice would make one incapable of saying no. Dan nodded once. “Okay.”
“Oh, you’re not afraid of large insects, are you?” she sternly said.
Dan lightly tilted his head to the side. “I don’t think so?”
“Then it’s all good!” she enthusiastically replied. “Come on, let’s go!”
***
After exciting the Grand Library, they immediately went to the southern part of the Academy, just before crossing the Coliseum. They traversed a steep path filled with overgrown weeds, with occasional insects biting their skin. Dan would have asked Yvette if she was fine with those insects biting her skin, but her enthusiastic gait made him unable to do so. He could feel her excitement just by looking at her eyes.
After half an hour of passing through numerous boulders and shrubberies along the way, coupled with gashes from overgrown weeds and bites from insects, they finally arrived at their destination.
Dan was struck speechless by what he saw.
From beyond, a large translucent bubble separated them from the sky itself. He stepped on the edge of the cliff and saw the mountains and cities below. Everything looked so small from there, and he was even able to make out the outline of an entire mountain range.
He felt a pricking sensation in his skin and he flinched. “What’s this?”
Upon looking, he saw a gargantuan beetle biting his arm. Blood quickly spread from the wound into his long-sleeved garb. He waved his arm in attempt to brush the insect off, but it did not budge an inch from its spot.
“Here,” said Yvette as she burned a piece of grass using magic. The smoke from the burning leaf wafted through the air, and the beetle that was biting Dan’s skin immediately flew away.
Dan noticed that the other large insects also started leaving the area.
“Vampire beetles” she said. “They won’t let go of their prey even if you crush their bodies. The only way for them to leave is by burning this grass here.”
Dan looked at the piece of grass that even now was still burning into cinders. Surprisingly, the smoke that came out of it was sweet, almost aromatic.
