"Hey hey.."
"Hey, eigh.."
"Eigh.. eigh.."
A voice of a kid that kept on calling a certain name. His voice gets louder and louder and the owner of the name didn't mind it and continued reading her book.
"Eigh, have you eaten breakfast?"
"..."
"What did we leave the village?"
"..."
"What time will the Instructor come, eigh?"
"..."
"What will be our lunch?"
Eigh, still her eyes on her book, but her eyebrows are already about to cross.
"Hmm, I'm craving Lacque... Okay that will be my lunch."
Eigh took a deep breath and continued reading again. Hence, the persistence continued as well.
"What happens if an Immovable object meets an Irresistable force?.... " Eigh mumbled as she read what she was reading.
"Eigh, what are you reading?"
Eigh, continued to mumble but for some reason her mumblings started to increase its volume. Her mumblings started to get louder and louder like she's reciting an evil incantation to send the demon beside her away. Or maybe summon a spirit being to kick the demon away.
The kid on the other hand was oblivious of his future, or.. impending doom.
"Ahh!! eigh!!! Have I told you what happened yesterday? You know you know-"
But his words were cut off and Eigh's incantation stopped as if it failed. Next thing they knew,the demon was sent flying across the room, too fast for their eyes to catch on. And there you have the actual representation of what Eigh reading, but in reverse.
The demon.. kid, hit the lockers outside of the room and catches everyone's attention. Followed by awkward silence, confusion and eventually, terror.
Everyone in the room felt the coldness as chills ran down off their spine. The source of this terror is none other than the little kid that stands near the door, huffing as she closes the book she is reading.
Everyone in the room started to whisper about what they were seeing.
Eigh turned towards chattering, glaring as if asking,
"Who wants to go next?"
Everyone fell silent afterwards in fear for their lives. They turned themselves opposite of where there was Eigh seating, which is at the back of the room, the row of the seats.
"Oh hey! Ford! Are you okay??"
A worried voice of a mature woman gave everyone in the room a relief thinking their savior had come.
"Ugh, yes ma'am. But.. can I ask for help. My face is.. stuck."
"Whatt?! How can your face stick in there? What happened to you?"
The woman helped the demon, or we can just call him by his name now, Ford, get out of his position.
"Ughhhh. Uhh! Woooohh! Finally I'm free. Thanks Ma'am."
"It's alright. For the love of God, Ford. How did you get stuck and almost destroy this locker? I doubt even if I punched that, it wouldn't even dent?"
" Uhhh..." He looked at the culprit, the culprit glared. He swallowed the words he wanted to say. Sometimes silence can save your life, the wise words of his father rang on his head. Overpowering the nagging voice of her mother. 'yes father, I understand you now. Forever will I hold onto those wonderful words.'
"uhhh.. i tripped."
"You tripped?" The teacher repeated what Ford said, but asked. She knew there was no way that could happen. "Hmm, okay go inside the room now, we have to start the orientation."
"Yes yes!!" Ford went inside the room, kind of limping, holding his hips in place. And using the wall as his Guide.
The teacher can only shake her head in disbelief.
After she came inside the room, she felt the awkward silence. Her students were quiet yet shaking on their seats. It is an indication that this kids knew what happened.
"Kids, what happened to Ford?"
Everyone kept their silence also to keep their lives intact hoping to be spared.
But in your typical hero story, there will always be one of a kind person that will fight against all odds.
A boy stood up from its seat, proudly raising its chest for everyone to see. He envision this moment since the time he heard the teacher's voice. This moment to shine, and now that he finally got this timing, he will never let this opportunity to get wasted "Ma'am, he -"
His voice was cut off when he saw a cold look from the perpetrator. That look almost opened his bladder, he shut it fast enough to only a drop a spill.
" Was so stupid earlier, he wasn't looking where he was going. "
After those words, the cold glare turned into a smile. A smile that was telling him he's being watched by an apex predator. He can finally relax in his seat after the pressure waned.
The teacher saw the theatrics from the front of the class but she could only shrug the idea of punishing or make peace after realizing who were the Actors.
Her tenure in this school can be said still miniscule. She started only around a month ago being the substitute for a while from a teacher who was in a maternal leave. When she first came into this class, he heard from her colleagues about the fight that happens between Ford and Eigh. At first, she didn't buy the stories for which were unimaginable to happen. Like for one time, Eigh threw him from the third floor of the tower balcony. No one could survive that for a normal person yet, Ford who got stuck in the metal locker was almost Unscathed from it. And just like what her colleagues said, let them be. So she decided to just move on and start the agenda of the class today.
"Class for today, if you may not know, it is one of the most important day of your lives. For one reason, your parents or elders might have talked to you about this in regards to their experiences but ee are here today to give you an insight in regards to this upcoming event.
In a week, the mountain veil will lose most of it's power and a normal person is now allowed to come inside the deeper parts of the snow mountain range, Mantali. Us members of Taw't Tribe are blessed enough to be given the power bestowed upon us by the Mountain. If it wasn't for the divine snow, our tribe would never produce such powerful warriors throughout history.
Before I start the discussion in regards the things that will happen during the event, anyone has any questions in regards to the history itself?"
There wasn't a single kid who was interested on asking anything as they weren't even interested we withbwhat the teacher was saying. But there's is just one kid who she was expecting to ask some things, none other done, Eigh.
" Yes? " The teacher pointed to her as a signal for permission to speak.
"Teacher, according to the book I read, the Mountain Veil was always closed all year round in the past?"
" Yes, you are right about that. " The teacher said.
"Where did you know that?" Her seatmate, Ford, asked.
"Where? On your house's library?" She answered, maintaining her poker face.
"Our house? We have something like that in the library? Well, i don't like reading so," Ford asked back in disbelief.
Eigh can't help but massage her temples after hearing what Ford had said. It's not about how shocked she was but rather she was kinda expecting what the reason behind that. But hearing that she was right about her conclusion was painful to imagine. " You are really one of a kind, Ford. What did I expect."
"Well, I'm strong, I know."
'yes, all brute. No brain.' she said on her mind.
She didn't mind her anymore as she looked towards the front of the class to start listening to the teacher's answer.
"According to history, during the time of the first Tribe leader, they came here to find a place to seek shelter away from the Modavi King. At first, the tribesmen were skeptical about living in this place but the tribeleader went on with it. But once they a plain, where this city we are now, all they found was nothing but white and famine. There was nothing but Snow and Ice. No animal to hunt, no berries to pick, no seeds were able to bloom. And one day, when they were about to run out of food to eat, the Tribesleader went on a journey to traverse the mountain veil, he thought that the veil must be protecting some kind of treasure in such wilderness, animals to hunt and fruits to pick. Months later, they thought the tribeleader was already dead since there was no signs of him coming back from them. But one day when theybwere about to comeback to the lower parts of the moutain, the veil suddenly opened and the tribe leader came back with fruits on his back and pulling a dead dear towards them. When he was asked where did he get them, he only answered, "Our tribe will never lose to anyone."
"Oohhhh. That is an info I've never heard nor read before." Eigh who was silently listening said. Unlike other kids, including ford who never listen and seem to be disinterested about the topic, Eigh was the only one who really puts those details into her head.
" Well, it is much more of a folklore tbh. There wasn't really proof in that story aside from the tongue telling passed through generation to generation. But it's better than nothing."
" Yes, right." Eigh Agreed to her sentiment.
Feeling the connection of having interest with the story, the teacher continued. "After that, it was said that everything we had came from inside the veil when it opened. The first generation picked up berries and vegetables available from there and planted it on the plain and it worked, they grew flowers and bore fruits for them to eat. The animals from the veil were also sent to the plain to be bred and increase their population for additional supply of food. So, like my grandma always told me, we should be thankful for the veil and respect when it's in slumber and welcome it warmly when it shows itself yet again."
Her enthusiasm was through the roof but it wasn't contagious enough to wake the kids whose brains were in slumber. But for her, a single listener is already enough to keep talking.
"So, any other questions?" She looked around to those in the front until the back where the two were. She saw that Eigh only gave her a look and probably meant that she doesnt have any questions anymore. "None? Okay now I'll be moving on to what's happening next week."
This time, the dead came back to life. After all, everyone in the room only cared about their future being.
"Let me give you an overview." She picked up a chalk and started scribbling on the board. "in our 12 month cycle each year, every 3 months, the veil opens, weak enough for a person of power can cross and do their work but only for the last month of that season will the veil weaken enough that even a newborb baby can come inside and feel safe. Hence, your age of ceremony starts at this age when your body is good enough to handle the power of spirit beings."
Everyone in the room started to listen to what the teacher was talking about. This concludes that they only came here today for this sole topic.
"Next week, every 8 yo will be coming inside the veil to find your power capacity and find you first Class.
Inside the Veil, you have your own decision on what do you want to do. You can either start your enlightenment first or start looking for a Spirit Beast.
Going for Enlightenment first is mostly the first thing we recommend to do. All you have to do is to practice your mental aptitude in the middle of the snow and try to gain enlightenment in regards to the power of Ice, our Tribe's most reliable Treasure, the power to control Ice.
The other one is to Look for a Spirit Beast to partner with. The only good thing about looking for a Spirit Beast first is that, you will gain enlightenment in regards to the power of Ice fast, because you are sharing the degree of knowledge about the power with the Spirit Beast itself. But the downside of it is if you contracted with a Spirit Beast with low knowledge, then you will only gain the same aptitude. Increasing it will all depend on the hard work of your spirit beast and not by your own. Another downside is that it's hard to find affinity with a spirit beast. Usually the first thing they look for is if both of you have the same affinity in an element, which is why learning and being enlightened from the element of ice can help you find your Spirit Beast fast.
But of course, sometimes it's all due to luck or maybe destiny. All you have to do and take the opportunity while it lasts.
Failing this year doesnt mean there's no chance to come back up. Of course next year when the veil opened up again, you can come back but you have to compete during the first 2 monts when the veil is still not safe for everyone. Also you are not allowed to join the ranks of 8 yo as well. Which is why, im really saying that you have to take this opportunity while you can.
The teacher listed a couple of words in the board,
Sovereign
Spirit Warlock/Witch
Spirit Warrior
Elemental Warrior
Weapon Meister
Mage
Scholar
"These are the classes that you can achieve throughout your Adventure. Your class will depend on your aptitude after gaining and combining 2 if not all of the kinds of power. Anyone here in this class can tell me how many Kinds of power are there?"
Couple of hands were raised and thr teacher pointed at the student in front.
"recite the Kinds of Power. "
The kid stood up and showed her hand and started counting one finger after the other.
"First is... Elements. The second one is the Weapons. And lastly, the spirits."
"Good job. You may take your seat now." The kid sat triumphantly. He was very excited in regards to this topic after all. He was just like any other kid in town that is itching to etch their name in history. And so knowing their steps and making their own self guide is a very good way to start their journey.
"Spirit, Weapon and Element affinity. Those three are the cornerstone of power that you could pursue. You could pick 1 path or 2, or those 3 to which upon mastery of aspect of it, you can finally find your class. Let me show you...
She extended her arms and opened her palm. She snapped her finger and a flower that was of Ice was made.
"When I was your age, i also went inside the Veil. I was lucky to gain insights in regards to the power of Ice. However, I was not lucky enough to find my spirit in that 1 month span.
I didn't have to be sad about it because I got the Class of Mage at the age of 8, out of 500 kids at that time, I was one of the 37 kids who became an Ice Mage at that time.
After I got out of the Veil, I had a lot of paths I could took.
And so, I honed my ice power in training and tournaments to be strong enough to withstand the power of the Veil and to seek a spirit beast..."
She leaned over her desk and crossed her arms and sighed melancholic.
"But for years, I wasn't able to obtain my spirit beast inside the veil to instead, i ventured out of the tribe and look for my path.
I tried everything such as Increase my strength as a Magus and learn other Elements and eventually learn how to compound it to increase my Magus Rank. For example, I already learnt my Ice element, which makes me a 1 star Magus, and if I learnt another one, for let's say, water Element, My Magus rank will increase by 1 star. If I learnt how to Compound these 2 into a new element or phenomenon. But of course learning a new element is already hard it can be purely by luck, but compounding it to make a new nature phenomenon is another hill to climb on. Some said learning 3 new elements is much easier than learning to compound elements to replicate nature's phenomenon."
At first the class was super engrossed on her stories but kids has one big problem, they have very little attention span. "My plan was to replicate the freezing and Melting phenomenon of an Ice with the power of Element of Water. If I was lucky at that, I would've jumped into 3 star ranking just like that. Oh well, that's how it is. Those were very frustrating years."
She sighed again and when she opened her eyes, she saw the students already doing their own thing. They did reach their limit. Even the studious Eigh at the back is already reading a book.
"Anyways, that's how it is. Anyways, here is something interesting."
She caught the student's attention using her newfound enthusiasm and crosses her arms.
"Did you guys know that someone or maybe something has been watching all of you since earlier?"
Upon her question, everyone looked around trying to look for what she was talking about but their efforts were for naught.
"You couldn't see her? Of course. Because even the tribe leader would have to take it seriously to look for it before he could see it. Okay, you can show yourself now."
On her queue, something emerges from her back, something big around three times of her size. Slowly did it appear from her back as if Unblending from the colors of the wall. The earlier vacant area on the back of the teacher now turned into a black leather like skin.
For the kids, it looked humongous compared to their averageness less than 5ft height. But what's more shocking is that, it was crouching. The needle looking thing that is growing from it's skin shone, giving a sense of it's true sharpness.
It suddenly stood up and walked its way towards a student in front, looking at the kid eye to eye, just a meter across. It opened its mouth wide enough that it could swallow it in one bite. The kid was frozen in the process, his body motor forgot that during danger he has to run away to save his life. All he could do was look for his impending death.
"Umbra, come on. Stop teasing him."
The humongous thing closed its mouth and for some reason, they felt it's mischief from the gleeful smile that it made. And suddenly, a poof happened. The humongous monster was Gone and what remained was a palm size version of it.
The small monster went circles on top of the Kid's desk and pulled out one of the needles from its body and showed it to the kid as if giving it to him.
"What what??" the kid was scared of that act.
"Hahahahahahahaha. Sorry about that. Don't worry. It means Umbra likes you. It's his way of showing that he sees you favorably. He's giving you something that protects him so it could protect you as well."
" Ooohh. Thanks little Guy, I appreciate it."
He picked up the needle and look closely to it. "Be careful, it's sharp even tho it's not poisonous anymore." The little monster looked satisfied after seeing its newfound friend happy from it's gift as It circled again on top of the desk and crouched to rest.
"Teacher, is it a spirit beast?"
"Yes. It is a Spirit beast I found in Midnight Forrest."
"waaahhh, is it true? Midnight forest?"
Everyone in the classroom was shocked about the place that was mentioned. "Why, did your parents told you that they would throw you inside there if you're being naughty?" Said the teacher.
The kids then nodded their heads fast.
"HAHAHAHAAH." The teacher laughed. She kinda expected that reaction, after all, she once was like them too. She remembered the first time she went inside the midnight forest, dhe almost peed her pants when she heard rustling behind her. "Don't worry. As long as you stay quiet inside, you will be safe from getting eaten in one gulp." She chided. She was also satisfied with the reaction of the kids from what she had said.
"Anyways, Umbra is a Hystio which you can find almost in every wild. But my Hystio is kind of special. He has an Element of Darkness which is why he had the skill of invisibility line earlier. They can learn more skill by increasing their knowledge in regards to their element."
"Did umbra learn more skills?" One of the students asked.
" Ofcourse. If you compare him with a human Dark Mage, he would probably be slightly under High Level Dark Mage." She said smugly. Even the resting Umbra raised itself and posed to show off.
"Ooohhhh. Can she show more skill?" Another student asked.
"Hmm, i would love too but teaching is only my part time job. It is in the interest of my main job to not tell anyone regarding our capabilities. Maybe once I finally retire, I can disclose this to the public and teach your generation our Job."
A kid raised it's hand, wanting to question something. However, the teacher turned it down and said, "are you gonna ask me about my Job?" The kid nodded, "hmm, sorry but nope. I can't answer that question. But in return, let me show you something. Umbra?"
The little Hystio yawned as it stood up. It closed it's eyes as its body started to glow until it became a ball of light. This ball of light flew towards the teacher's chest and went inside it. Afterwards, her body glows at the same luminosity and her body outlines changed its shape and seconds after, the light vanished and the teacher now looked like a Humanoid Hystio.
"Woaaaahh!" Everyone in the room exclaimed.
"Everyone. This is What you call a Spirit Beast form. If earlier, i was showing my Magus Capability, now that I can combine with my Spirit Beast, I am now a Spirit Witch.
There's a perks in this form. One is you can freely use your spirit's power and blend it with your own. Let me show you..
My body now has Umbra's needles, right? I can.. " the needles on her body started to go in and out of her body at her will. "Use it however I want. Also," Needles appeared on her hand and it produces a dark violet color goo around it and froze in a shape of the needle but longer and much sharper. "With the innate poison their needles have, I can freeze into this shape to make it much sharper. It made it much lethal and could easily kill anyone who could be stabbed by this."
" Woahh. Thankfully this isn't poisonous." Said by the kid who was given a needle by Umbra.
"Not just that i can also go Invisible." Slowly her body disappeared to nothing.
" Amazing right? " Everyone nodded. But they nodded towards a blank space. Inwardly shocked with what they just saw. They kind of expect it already since Umbra already showed it earlier but seeing it for themselves is still different from just a mere educated guess.
The teacher appeared yet again but she glowed again before reverting back to her original state.
"Earlier, i showed you that I could control the power of dark element, but that doesnt make me a 2 star Magus because in my normal state, I can never do that. But I am a weapon meister as well. Can anyone Guess my weapon of choice? "
The kids think through the question and it was Ford who raised his hands first.
"I think it would be needles, right?"
"Yes you are right about that."
Ice formed on the gap of her fingers. In a second, Ice needles were present. Ready to be thrown to her target of choice.
"I mastered this Needle with the help of Umbra by doing what he always does in his practice. And now, Im also a 1 star Weapon Meister and High ranking Needle User."
She threw the ice needles towards the back of the room. After a series of thuds, the needles disappeared into think air.
"Like how I showed you, that was my path.
Started from Ice enlightenment, contracted with A dark Hystio, learning the way of needles. But of course im not ldtting it to end just there. Currently, Im trying to learn hoe to use the dark element so that I don't have to rely on umbra most of the time. We can be a very powerful 2 man team." She caressed the head of the Hystio to show her affection to which it chirped happily.
"And after that, I'm not sure yet. Because one thing i learned in my journey. You may plan your trip, but there's no guarantee that things will go as planned. But the new plans will most of the time be better than the planned one. So never doubt your results. As there's no weak or powerful path there is. Only perseverance and better wit. "
Each one of them put those words into their hearts. Those words were said by someone they now look up to. They all feel envious of what she achieved. They all feel a burning desire to reach the same height, or more than that.
Eigh on the back look at the window, watching the snowfall. It isn't clear what she is thinking but she's not exempted from that desire as well.
"Will I be powerful as well?"
...
The class ended hours after the teacher's showing of her power level. The day went on after that with an activity where they had to write their path in their future. A lot of them all aim to learn all aspect of power. Some wants to get their dream spirit beast. One said he wants to learn more of a defensive weapon such as shielding their ally in battle. Ford said he wants to be the most powerful Ice Mage in history, to which eigh replied as "typical".
And what was shocking was Eigh's. She said, she wants to become a scholar. Her classmates were shocked and some even looked down at her, why? Because Scholar is usually the place where the so-called "failures" were sent. They focus more on knowing the science side of things instead of re
ally doing it practically. It isn't that it's bad since most of the best war directors came from the line of scholars. But of course, they are just the cream of the crop.
But no one really showed it because they were afraid of getting hit by her. They were no ford after all, they can die, Ford cannot.