Io Silas POV
The streets that were once sleek new tarmac are now greyed by the bleaching of the sun. The road is a monochrome patchwork, each one lined with a shiny boarder of tar. Despite these fixes there are still cracks and the potholes grow larger with each passing year.
The trees that were once fine saplings with soft spring foliage are now gnarled embittered trees growing tall but without strength, competing unnaturally against the towering apartment blocks they were planted too close to. Their bark is mossy from the perennial dampness and incessant rain, except a few weeks of reprieve in the summer months.
The sidewalk for the most part is still smooth concrete, albeit scattered with litter and the debris of the moulting trees. The street was glorious in its inception. The sidewalks were smooth grey stones, joined with such precision that the joins were almost invisible. The walls were concrete.
Once out of the alley way I navigate by intersection and aromas. Otherwise it would be impossible to know where I am. I move along in the thick crowd, mostly several inches to a foot shorter than everyone else. I trudged along the pavement at a sedate pace, my mind focused on the gentle footsteps that seemed to echo throughout the desolate street.
This place surely has changed from last time, those children sure have changed this world a lot. It seems I am no longer needer. My heart couldn't help but swell in pride. They have grown so much from their once helpless selves. I chuckle at the fond memories of the past. Oh how I wish to go back to those times.
I ambled through the narrow lane between several fleets of bungalows and chalets on either side cemented with an uneven stretch of glossy, varnished cobblestones. My footsteps halted as I peer up at the humangous build. It towered over the rest of the buildings. The name 'Ecplise' was platered in bold letters on the front of the wooden building. This place hasn't changed at all. I could hear the loud shouts of drunk men and the booming laughter of mates. The smell of strong alcohol seeped out into the mundane streets.
The leaves scud over the ground and take small flights into the air. As I toss my head back and raise my eyes to the sky a smile spreads from cheek to cheek. The branches sway like the arms of a crowd and their chaotic dance. They are hypnotically beautiful. My mind relaxes and I feel the happiness of my life bubble up from within. The light I keep inside begins to escape from my pores. This wind carries the fragrance of the woodland, the essence of the good old days. Before chaos erupted like a virus. A saddened smile formed, but left as soon as it came.
I put on my midnight black cape. It casades over my shoulder, covering me completly. I saunter into the chaotic guild.I blend in with the crowd as I make my way to the counter. There were rows and rows of wooden seats and tables. Where beverages and people sat on top. Goodness when I rember the memories of my past team mates I feel like an old man.
The fairy had a natural sunny glow and yellow hair the bright hue of a newborn petal, kinda neon. She beamed a soft dimpled smile. With a voice not louder than a soft whisper she spoke to me, "How can I help you!" I could sense the excitement in her voice. It was quite adorable. Reminding me yet againf of those cheeky disciples.
"I would like to become an adventurer."
"Okie dokie. Just sign these papaers. When your done give it to me and we can test your powers with the crystal ball. I'm Lisa by the way." The enthuasim seem to lighten up the mood. She seemed like a very approachable and friendly girl.
My eyes quickly scan the paper. I can't seem to fin the prophet job. When I was still here that was an extremely rare job. If I weigh out what happend after the wall I should be the only one left. The closest one and most suitable would be a spirtualist. Perfect.
After finishing all the paper work I hand it back to her. But decide to ask a question.
"It may be odd of me too ask but why is there no prophet as a job on here."
"Well all of them are believed to all have died after the war with the great demon king. Well the king did say if there is someone who claims to be a prophet we immdeiately capture them and bring them to the king himslef. We have had mulitple cases where people exploit this. Everytime this happend the king got furious so no one dares to say it carelessly."
"Thank you for expalining. Should I proccedd to the next task."
"Yep! It'll be done in a jiffy! Please be patient as I prepare the necessary preparation."
As the attendant was preparing everything Leo popped out of my cloak begging for a stroke. W wasn't someone needy. I stroke it's soft fur, a cute purr coming out of the feline. It didn't take long for the Lisa to escort me to the large crystal ball.
"All you got to do is place you hand on the crystal ball. Different colors will appear. It goes from brown, red, orange, yellow and ectara. Platinum being the highest."
I nod in understanding. The brown slowly fades into the colour red then yellow. This seems to catch the attention of some adventurers.
"Isn't that a rare sight. This kid's skipping ranks. Must have a lot of spiritual power within him." The colour kept increasing. More eyes were on me. I decide the most appropriate action would me to stop the output of magic. The colour was still changing. Many gasps and cheers came from the crowd. Lisa also seemed quite surprised.
I manage to stop it, thankfully.
"Wow! Rank C, that's amazing Silias-san! I'll immediately prepare your guild card."
We made our way back to the counter where she handed me my adventure's card. The information was written in a gold letter in cursive writing.
"To store the guild care say retract and to make it appear again say appear. But if you lose it it'll cost 1 gold coin to make a new one. Only you can use it so there are no worries of it being stolen. Even if you do lose it it'll become useless. Oh yes we also have free beginners courses. Please follow me."
She leaded me upstairs and halted in front of a large wooden door where it said 'Guild master' on it.
"Our current spiritualist who does this is away at the moment doing a quest. So I have to hand you to the guild master." Lisa knocked gently on the door.
"You may come in." A deep melodic voice said from the other side of the door. The wooden door slowly creaked open revealing a handsome male sitting at a wooden desk.
"How can I help you Lisa."
"Well sir we have a new adventurer but our current spiritualist is away so can you explain what his job is about. Sorry to interrupt. I know your busy."
"It's no problem. You may leave and attend to other business." Lisa bowed and smiled at me before leaving. The door shut behind me. It was now the two of us.
"Well let's get down to business. I shall tell you the basic and you should be able to figure out the rest by yourself." He sat up from his desk and pushed up his circular framed glasses. His long snow white hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall. He approached me and began explaining the basics which I already knew but decided to listen anyways,
"As a spiritualist you can ask for the help of nature's spirits, or you could contract with the spirits to use their powers. But they have to acknowledge you ask their master first.
Jobs given consist are requests from the guild to scout out cartographers. This can be done by having spirits fly in the sky to see if there is a demon beast.
But since your and adventure there will be less request from the guild.
A technique you can use to communicate with spirits is called 'magic ball refinement' . It is a simple spell for a spiritualist but crucial when you have a job such as this one.
But to activate it you have to give a spirit a meal called 'magic. It will help you in exchange with this magic. That is basically what you need to know. Would you mind demonstrating the spell I just told you about. It won't matter if you can't get it first try."
I nodded and easily did it. He seemed quite surprised but it only showed in his face for a spilt second. I already knew spells such as these. Well I did have too teach over 100 students. And he happen to be one. I can still remember when he was a child and clinged to me. But then started to act mature and try not to cry. I think there was something that happen when he cried a lot.
Now I remember, it was when he was 7 years old. While playing he tripped over. He tried his best to not cry. I remember asking if he wanted me to help him but he yelled no. He ended up bawling into my chest complaining hoe much it hurt.
It was quite adorable to see him try and act like an adult when he wasn't like that at all. That was one of the only times he cried. Now look at him. He was quite unusual as he grew older. He somehow had two split personalities. It happened when he transformed into his wolf form. I remember when it first happened. It pains me too remember it."
~Flashback~
The full moon illuminated the tenebrous, starless sky as if the stars ensconced themselves behind the dim, gray clouds. The sound of a screaming child resonated through the dark woods. It was filled with pain, it would make anyone who heard it heart ache.
A male rushed over to the child who was curled up into a ball. The full moon hung above them, the moonlight shining on said child. Tears streamed down his pale cheeks. The pain was unbearable. It was as if he was being ripped apart from the inside.
"How did this happen. I'm so sorry. If only I was more responsible this would have never happend to you." A pained expression was worn on his handsome face.
The child shook his head and whispered through gritted teeth.
"It wasn't you master. It's never you."
"You silly disciple. Don't speak. It'll be a painful process. Al, I can do is stay by your side."
The silver haired male is in so much pain his complexion is ashen. His natural golden skin has sunken in tone to something so lifeless it scares me just to look at him. His eyes close and he sucks himself into a deeper place to cope.
All Io could do is stroke his soft silver hair and hold his hand. It barely seems enough. Yet his heart rate comes down almost twenty beats per minute. From time to time his eyes drop to the mossy ground, but mostly they are fixed on his face in a soft stare so that whenever he opens his eyes Io the first thing he sees. Io felt more pain than I if it had happen to him.
A pair of golden eyes replaced the ruby red ones. It was filled with killing intent, it pained Io to see his disciple act this way towards him. After all they were like his children. A blue flame shot toward the dark haired male who easily evaded it.
Io with a sad smile struck his disciple on the neck causing him to faint. It was important for the child to transform. If he held it back anymore his body won't be able to contain the power and he would ultimately die. He must get used to the pain of transforming. It didn't make the male feel any better, only worse."
~Flashback End~
I stared at the taller male with fond eyes as I smile graced my lips.
"You've surely have grown Yuki."