I am Edward. Edward Freeman.
20 years old. A freshman at the University of Witchcraft Defensive (UWD). Majoring in the Technology and Spiritual Relations.
This is the first university that teaches and conducts research on the military witchcraft field for the people who is not only equivalent to be a Shaman; a military wizard, but also to train Conquistadors, the people with special abilities to control otherwordly beings known as Spirits and to administer the Spirit-bot, a robotic device connecting humans and the Spirits, to produce an elite army, the Spirit Army.
In short, I'm just a military student that will be trained to be an elite soldier under the government to handle all the paranormal phenomenon which could not be settled by the world's security and military forces.
However, it was strange that the university only equipped with 100 students including me. Because the university was a secret institution and limited for only those with certain related potentials, it maintained the small number of students enrolling here.
And... "Brother..."
Duh! She hugged me too tightly. She came so suddenly that it surprised me.
"Anna! Let me go! I'm short of breath... Ouk!"
"Sorry. I'm afraid that I can't find you in this big place. Remember, we need to be together always."
"Yes, yes, yes... I get that."
Ow yes... This tall, teen girl with purple and long wavy hair that reached her back, with a plain face without any expression shown, she was my Spirit. And, she was my adopted sister, my late father's 'creation'.
*****
"Welcome to the University of Witchcraft Defensive, successor!"
The principal of the university founded by my dad seems happy. "Yes, yes... Thank you for persuading me to enroll into this strange university."
A wide smile emerged on the principal's face looking at me accompanied by Anna. I could already guess the principal will smile widely because the successor of the university had been found after my dad has gone, a year ago. I didn't know what exactly my dad's job was. All that I know is-he was a scientist who studied just about everything even the illogical spiritual field, until he was called the mad scientist by the community.
I don't mind that, instead I was proud for having him as my dad. It was to the extent that I made him as a mentor to achieve my ambition as a scientist.
Five years later, after dad has left, I lived with somebody that I called Bro Haris. But it was so sudden that he passed away due to his old age previous year. And dad's latest project that has been delayed before was continued by him. By then, I had to stay alone at his home. It's good that I was able to survive alone because Bro Haris taught me how to be independent when I was staying with him. Now, I can't believe I'm gonna be a student in a university founded by my dad and was once his laboratory for his research group.
What made me feel odd is-was my dad really died due to his old age? With his unfinished research project? I feel suspicious. Dad was still young to get that kind of disease because his physical condition was strong enough and dad was somebody who wouldn't feel at ease if his research didn't give any progress like how he wanted them to be. If dad's passing was a fake, then what is the truth?
I have no answer. So, I'll just let it be as a mark of respect for him. What I believe, the time will definitely come to reveal it, and I need to be ready to face all possibilities.
"So, what I need to learn here? If you want me to be a soldier, I don't have the skills yet."
"Don't worry, we provide military training while helping Conquistadors to polish their talents, just like young master polishing your relationship with...your beloved sister!"
"Wow! It won't be that way... If it's only about the brother and sister relationship with Anna, then it will be okay..."
"If you want it, I'm always willing to accept a closer and a more intimate relationship between us."
"Anna..."
What a useless principal! Is she really comparing between enhancing a Conquistador's skill with his Spirit with a relationship between lovers? And Anna agreed without even understanding the real meaning behind it. Duh, I'm becoming more ashamed of myself now.
"Hahahahaha... I'm just kidding. One more thing, you have to form a platoon to complete your study here. Minimum will be five people. Each platoon must consists of at least a Shaman and the other Conquistadors." The principal explained on the academic matters.
"Platoon? It's quite complicated to be compared with students from the other universities as they'll always be busy with theses."
"Well, by being in a military university, one has has to succeed being an army."
"Moreover, it is not that I really want to do all of this. I just want..."
"To get a hand over the Spirit in your body, right?"
Ah! She guessed it right. Yes. I came here not to be a soldier. In fact, it never came to my mind at all. All I've ever wanted is to live a normal life. But now, after having a pact with Anna, I have to learn how to handle her who has been 'gifted' by my dad and the most important thing, I want to control my otherself... No. Actually, it's a Spirit in my body that had been studied by my dad for so long. Yes... That is all that I want.
"Edward, Other than your father, Prof. Danial, Dr. Haris and me are also your family. You're our best hope, the major key for the success of Prof. Danial's research on you, the first God Slayer. We'll try with everything that we can to help you whenever you want to improve yourself. Don't worry Edward, we'll always be with you..."
The principal looked serious when she talked about dad's research on me. Im' indeed the first God Slayer in my dad's very first research project in this university, once was his personal laboratory, but the project was put on halt due to lack of funding and I was too young to be an experiment subject. Now, the project is considered a success after it was tested on the other subject, thanks to Bro Haris's effort alone. And of course the experiment on me will resume after I have the ability to control Anna.
"Sorry, principal. I'm being emotional thinking about all this thing..."
"It's okay. The important thing is you just need to have fun furthering your study here. Make yourself stronger to be your father's pride. Okay?"
"Em... Well then, I'll try my best!"
"That is the spirit that I want! Hahahaha... Now you'll be accompanied by a lecturer to show you around the university."
The principal pointed towards a lecturer who would be accompanying me. After turning around, there was a woman dressed in a professor-like white coat and she was a Muslim based on her white scarf wrapped on her head. By looking thoroughly, she was indeed a woman that I knew.
"Hello Ed!"
"Aisyah?"