"Okay... I understand now, Altheius is here because it soul bounded to me and Zenith is here because I've synchronized to him more?"
"Yep," Azrael responded
"Okay... But none of them are really talking especially Zenith he's kind of just staring at us even when he is addressed..."
Zenith continued to stare with his eyes flipping through the 3 of us.
"....."
The room was silent for about 20 minutes, probably the most awkward experience of my life.
"So Altheius what are you really?" I questioned.
"A sword spirit." She smiled while looking at me.
"Grandfather... It's great that you called me here but it seems like nobody has anything to say."
"Sorry." He apologized while looking at the other two. "Since they began active in your soul I assumed one of them would have something to talk about."
"I see... So is it fine if I leave?" I asked with an irritated smile.
"It would se-" Azrael spoke but was cut off.
"Actually I have something to say" Althieus spoke up.
I gave her a slight nod of approval and she spoke.
"As my new master, I plan to teach you my sword techniques... As well as how to use me properly, with our souls connected we will be able to understand more about each other the more you use me."
"Alright.."
"We'll be able to do things like this."
[Testing-testing]
I heard a voice in my head.
"You can speak through my mind?!"
"Yep." Altheius began smiling again and continued, "I can also read it."
"Uhhh."
'This is slightly uncomfortable...'
"You don't have to worry, I'm a weapon who is bounded to you, I won't tell anyone any of your secrets master, so don't feel uncomfortable." She chuckled
I exhaled and looked at Zenith.
"Is there anything you want to say?"
"..."
He continued to be silent for about 10 seconds so I started turning my head then I finally heard a soft voice.
"Yes."
With a pleased smile, I looked back at him signaling that he has my attention.
"I'm not Zenith I'm simply a fragment for starters, you're Zenith and I'm simply being absorbed by you more and more as the days go by. I simply want to let you know what I am and what's happening, that's the only reason I appeared here today and why you may find your behavior strange lately."
"That clears up a lot of my issues thank you, Me? I guess." I laughed
I saw a slight twitch in his lips but that's all, his indifferent expression continued to hold on. Aura deprived Zenith of most of his emotions so I'm not surprised. 'perhaps becoming closer to being Zenith will allow me to become more composed...' From my grandfather's explanation of Zenith and such last time I visited the cabin I knew Zenith wasn't really taking over my body, it was more as if we became one so I didn't really have fears that I would lose my current self.
"I understand both of you more now, sort of... Are you guys ready to leave?"
They both gave a small nod soon after my grandfather snapped causing my vision to be covered with white and the cabin to melt away.
"Goodbye."
Waking up I shot up from the bed looking around making sure I was in my room, with the bizarre things that have happened lately I've been on edge. Confirming there were no problems I slammed my head back into my bed, and immediately fell asleep.
*****
Crosseal Day 1
The entire venue I was on patrol I did take a few breaks but my breaks were short and the longest one I took was to watch my sister's match where she pretty much dominated her opponent, a boy from Leantare a kingdom near the Kueian Empire.
"Been boring on your side as well?" I said watching Gareth approach me
"Nothing eventful has occurred."
"Nothing eventful probably won't ever occur, but we did sign up for this." I scoffed.
We both laughed and then Gareth looked at me while laughing, "I have good news for you then, we're off duty for the rest of the day so you don't have to worry."
I was about to cheer but the wind picked up and it seemed as if the weather changed for a moment, right after that strange phenomenon a giant blast went off in the arena and a warm feeling of heat that could reach both me and Gareth passed by.
"Let's check out this match."
We arrived at the arena in an employee-only box and began watching the match. A boy with brown and green hair stood facing Aaron ross, one of the highest-ranking students in the academy.
"Looks like Aaron is facing a mage," I observed the match.
"Silas Westfall, he's known as the most talented mage in our current age group... He's truly incredible, I've heard about him being able to face century-old archwizards with his skills!" Gareth proclaimed with an excited look, he then grabbed my shoulder and said, "Make sure to pay close attention to how he fights, but Aaron isn't a joke of an opponent."
Watching I saw magic circles covered in runes fly throughout the air around Silas, "Ritual magic!?" I shouted, soon the magic circles dispersed into thousands of pieces and the gravity of the area became much higher, Aaron himself down there was hardly holding himself up by his knees, and everyone else outside the arena felt slightly heavier.
"How is it possible someone could do that? Everyone's Mana Heart has a limit and a mage this young are able to cast high-range gravity magic?" I watched amazed.
"Incredible." Gareth beamed not answering one of my questions.
Silas walked over towards Aaron who was slowly sinking into the completely solid ground. Magic circles flew from Silas again and suddenly thousands of swords made of magic appeared through thin air surrounding Aaron after a few seconds the referee raised their hand signalizing Aaron's surrender.
"I wish I watched the whole match," I said frustrated I didn't see the full abilities of Silas.
"Haha, don't worry at the beginning they seemed evenly matched but suddenly into the match Silas began casting stronger magic on Aaron, perhaps he was trying to get his abilities hidden but realized Aaron wasn't too shabby, but that's what I saw before I went to get you," Gareth said to me while walking away.
"Where are you going?"
"To go grab a snack."
After a few hours, the rest of the matches played out I missed most of the good ones while on duty, but the ones that happened after weren't that bad and I saw a few talented people nothing on the level of Aaron vs Silas though.
Walking into the Dorm room I was greeted by Dawn who waved at me and smiled.
"Did you watch my match Rei?"
"Yeah, it was great." I lied, "Who was the guy you went against anyways?"
"Malik Vale."
I covered my mouth with my hands in an attempt not to laugh but the laughter streamed out and I put my hands on the wall while laughing like a maniac.
"Did I say something funny?" Dawn asked with an aggravated tone.
"S-sorry, I just remembered something from when I was young." I cleared my throat and then walked past her.
Right after I walked past her I heard knocking on the door turning around I asked, "Did you invite Airene over tonight?"
"No, it's probably one of the academy staff."
Having no arguments with her deductions I began walking away from the door. Dawn soon opened the door and I heard her say, "Who're you?"
Turning around I saw a boy around our age with brown hair and green eyes. I stood silently watching them converse from a distance.
'Silas Westfall?' I wondered.
"I'm Silas Westfall you may have heard of me, but I've come to meet the Hero Dawn Leviea and perhaps form a relationship."
"What sort of relationship?" Dawn said with an untrusting expression.
"That depends if you truly live up to your legend, I aim to become the strongest and defeat the demons so I need to have the absolute best on my side, and it doesn't help to have a demon-killing machine who also turns out to be a beauty." Silas shamelessly added.
Walking back over to the door I nudged Dawn over to the side and towered over Silas looking down at him I said, "You're uninvited Silas Westfall."
"Who're you?"
'Is this fucker serious? Even the Prince of the Keuian Empire knew my identity and even showed his hospitality.'
"Leave...Please." I said with an expression I didn't know covering my anger as best as I could.
"I asked you a question nicely the first time, don't make me ask again fodder."
'Does this guy thinks he is the main protagonist of Ixia?'
"I'm Rei Ven-August."
"Never heard of it... And why don't you kneel down, those weaker than me don't deserve to stand over me, I didn't see you participate in the Crosseal perhaps you're too much of trash to attend it." Silas said with a smile not seeming frustrated or angered in the slightest.
Looking at him dumbfounded I lifted my right hand with my sub-space ring on it, taking my left hand covered in a black glove the handle of a spell-breaker began sliding out of the sub-space.
"Seems like you need to be humbled." I spat.
Before I could even finish pulling my weapon out of the sub-space I heard Silas shout, "Demon Purging Akashic Orb of Arcane Fury!" A staff materialized in his hands and his gaze became fierce.
Dawn and I both gaped at his cringeworthy words, I then started laughing at the stupid ass name his staff had.
"What are you laughing at! Uhhhh, Ren?" Silas maintained his seriousness.
Letting my spell-breaker slide back into the sub-space I relaxed.
'This kid really thinks a higher being personally took their time out of the day to create him to save this world or something?'
"A fight here wouldn't be wise, it could cause tension between Central and the Keuian Empire, plus I do not wish to have nowhere to sleep tonight."
"Sleep!? Do you perhaps sleep with the Hero!" Silas angrily snapped.
"No, we're just roommates, we hardly interact with each other."
Silas's remarks caused both of me and Dawn to look at each other blush then look away.
"What is this atmosphere?! Are you lying to me... Ren Ven-August."
Clearing my throat I replied, "First of all my name isn't Ren it's Rei, second of all those questions would cause anyone to feel awkward." A wide smile appeared on my face and I pointed at myself, "If I competed in the Crosseal then there wouldn't be one, I would obliterate every single one of you."
Silas looked at me skeptically, "Perhaps so, but that sounds like anything a third-rate talent would say." he replied looking at Dawn. "Is he really that great Hero?"
"Rei is very impressive, he single-handedly defeated a higher-ranked demon alone, he can use the abilities of dragons and he's pretty smart and handsome."
I looked at her after she said the last part but it seemed as if both Silas nor she didn't realize what she said.
"A d-dragon?! You're the guy that formed a bond with a dragon?" Silas looked at me surprised.
Sliding the black glove off my red hand Silas's mouth gaped.
"Dragon scales!!"
"Yep."
"You can serve as my right-hand man in the future perhaps... What you've shown me doesn't show you could beat me in a fight."
"Maybe."
I hope this guy matures soon, he's annoying as fuck right now...