Azrael and Eirian stood in awe as they examined their newly acquired weapons, each marveling at the unique transformation bestowed upon them. Azrael's ring had morphed into a sleek bow, while Eirian's bracelet had transformed into a formidable sword. The significance of these spiritual weapons was not lost on them, especially considering their inherent inability to wield conventional magical arms.
Before they could delve deeper into the mysteries of their newfound equipment, Fraus, the mischievous spirit who had facilitated their acquisition, cleared his throat, drawing their attention. His presence, though ethereal, commanded a certain gravity that demanded respect.
"As you can see," Fraus began, his voice tinged with amusement, "those are not normal weapons. They cannot even be compared to the ones you imbue with mana."
Azrael nodded in agreement, his gaze flickering between Fraus and his own bow. "I can tell. What about you, Eirian?" he asked, though he already knew the answer. Eirian's proficiency with swords was well known, but his inability to use magical weapons had always been a point of frustration for him.
Eirian confirmed Azrael's assumption with a simple nod, his expression a mixture of curiosity and awe. Fraus chuckled proudly at their reactions, his hands resting on his hips as he regarded them with satisfaction.
"And since those are Spiritual weapons," Fraus continued, his tone brimming with excitement, "they both have unique aspects to them that your magical weapons lack. For example..." He pointed to Azrael, who raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Are you not wondering why you do not have any arrows but are holding a bow?" Fraus teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Azrael glanced down at his bow, realization dawning on him as he noticed the absence of arrows. "Oh...yeah. Are you going to provide me with spiritual arrows as well?"
Fraus chuckled, shaking his head. "Mhm. No, foolish human. That would be boring and plain."
With a sudden burst of energy, Fraus darted forward, seizing Azrael's bow and positioning himself to demonstrate its unique feature. Azrael and Eirian watched in anticipation as Fraus pulled back the string, a radiant light emanating from the bow.
In an instant, a glowing arrow materialized, leaving Azrael speechless with wonder. The implications of this revelation were not lost on him.
"The bow spawns arrows? That means..." Azrael trailed off, his mind racing with possibilities.
"Indeed," Fraus confirmed, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed Azrael's awe. "Your arrows are limitless."
'Limitless? Wow. That's great and all but...' There was another thing plaguing Azrael's mind as he stared at the bow. "I don't know how to use a bow."
This was the first time he has ever held one, even in his life as Zak. He wasn't really interested in sports, especially archery. He already had to deal with having to walk home from school almost everyday, he did not have time for extracurricular activities.
"Oh?" Fraus turns his head with a look of doubt on his face, which confuses Azrael because he wasn't lying. "Why don't you try it, human?"
"Try it...?"
The spirit smirks then shoves the bow to Azrael, while the young prince instinctively holds onto the valuable item. "Heh." After Azrael takes the bow, the spirit flies to the other side of the forest, near a big tree. "Try hitting this."
Holding out his hand, an unusual, spiky fruit appeared on top of Fraus' hand. Eirian, who was watching the whole ordeal, speaks. "Is this another test?" Suspicion was evident in the black-haired prince's tone, which was understandable.
Azrael also felt that Fraus' action was quite odd.
However, Fraus did not seem fazed by their doubts. Instead, he just pointed to the unusual fruit again using his head. "This is not a test. I am simply telling you to hit the fruit, foolish human."
Azrael and Eirian exchanged a wary glance, their mistrust of Fraus evident in their expressions. Despite their reservations, Fraus remained unperturbed, his demeanor a curious mix of amusement and confidence.
"Like I said, I don't know how to use a bow," Azrael reiterated, his tone tinged with uncertainty. "There's a high chance I might hit you or a creature nearby."
Fraus simply hummed in response, his eyes twinkling with mischief. It was clear he had no intention of backing down from his request.
'What is he planning...?'
Feeling a sense of unease gnawing at him, Azrael cautiously followed Fraus's instructions, positioning the bow with a strange sense of familiarity that defied his lack of experience. Beside him, Eirian voiced his concern in a hushed whisper, his gaze flickering between Azrael and the spirit.
"Are you sure about this, Your Highness?" Eirian's voice held a note of caution, mirroring Azrael's own apprehension.
'It's suspicious but for some reason it feels like...my body knows what it's doing.'
Despite his doubts, Azrael felt a strange sense of assurance wash over him as he notched the arrow. The sensation of the arrow's feather against his cheek felt oddly familiar, stirring a cascade of thoughts in his mind.
'Does...the original Azrael know how to use a bow?' he mused inwardly, his focus fixed on the target before him. 'I think I can do this.'
"I'm sure." With a steadying breath, Azrael closed one eye to hone his aim, his senses attuned to the task at hand. He could feel the tension in the bowstring as he drew it back, the anticipation building with each passing moment.
"Shoot," Fraus beckoned, his voice a playful challenge.
With a swift release, Azrael let the arrow fly, his heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The arrow sailed through the air with remarkable accuracy, finding its mark as it impaled the fruit and lodged itself into the tree trunk beyond.
'I...did it?'
Azrael's eyes widened in disbelief at the success of his shot, a surge of elation coursing through him. He turned to Fraus, ready to voice his astonishment and gratitude, but before he could utter a word, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over him.
"I did i—"
The young prince abruptly stops his words as he felt his heartbeat thundered in his ears, drowning out all other sound as darkness closed in around him.
'Oh.'
At that moment, Azrael knew with chilling certainty what was happening.
He was having a vision.
"Brother, big brother! What is that?" Azrael, who is five years old, asks his 7-year-old brother, Valerian.
"Settle down. Remember, princes are supposed to be calm and dignified," Valerian reminds him gently, placing a hand on Azrael's head to soothe him.
Azrael huffs impatiently. "I'm still a baby! I do not need to act like adults do yet!" he protests, his eyes fixated on the strange object in Valerian's hands. "What is that, big brother?" he asks again, hoping for an answer this time.
Valerian smiles affectionately at his younger brother and presents the object to him. "It is my birthday gift for you. It's a bow."
Azrael's eyes light up with wonder at the revelation, especially upon learning that the bow was a gift from his beloved older brother. "A BOW? WOW! Ah—" He pauses, tilting his head in confusion. "What does it do?"
Valerian chuckles at Azrael's enthusiasm, his heart warmed by his brother's excitement. "My little brother is quite adorable," he remarks fondly. "This bow is a magical weapon. It's used by hunters to catch their prey."
"What's a prey?"
"Preys are weak animals who get hunted and killed."
"What?" Azrael frowns, his expression puzzled. "Like rabbits?" he ventures, seeking clarification.
Valerian nods in confirmation. "But...But I don't want to kill rabbits!" Azrael protests, his brow furrowing in concern. "Rabbits are cute."
Valerian's smile wavers slightly at Azrael's protest, but he maintains his patience, understanding his brother's sentiment. "You don't have to kill rabbits, but a prince needs to know how to use a bow, so I will teach you. You trust me, don't you?"
Azrael hesitates for a moment, uncertainty flickering in his young eyes. However, his trust in his brother ultimately prevails, and he nods slowly. "Perfect," Valerian says, his smile returning. He gestures for Azrael to follow him as he heads towards a bag filled with sharp arrows, beside which rests a large round target with red rings.
Valerian selects his own bow and arrow, then positions himself before the target. "Follow my lead," he instructs Azrael, guiding his younger brother's hands to mimic his own stance.
But Azrael finds it difficult to hold the bow steady, his lack of physical strength making the task challenging. Frustration builds within him as Valerian's attempts to help only seem to exacerbate his struggles.
"Big brother...this seems difficult," Azrael mumbles, his frustration evident in his voice.
Valerian remains silent, his grip tightening on Azrael's hands as he tries to force them into the correct position. "Big brother, this hurts," Azrael protests weakly, his discomfort growing.
"Big brother..."
But Valerian pays no heed to Azrael's pleas, his determination to teach his brother overriding any concern for his comfort. As he continues to insist, Azrael pushes back, his frustration boiling over into a shout.
"I said, I don't want to do this!" Azrael cries out, immediately regretting his outburst as tears well up in his eyes. He moves to apologize to Valerian, but the cold look on his brother's face stops him short.
"I-I'm sorry—"
"Azrael."
Valerian's voice is sharp, cutting through the air with an edge of anger that sends a shiver down Azrael's spine.
"I told you before that you are loved by God, right?" Valerian's tone is stern, his pink eyes flashing with intensity. "If you want to continue being loved by God, then you must learn how to use a bow. Do you hear me?"
Azrael could not answer as more tears fell from his eyes, at this point he was sobbing. He could not understand what was happening, or what his brother was saying.
"I said, Do YOU understand, Azrael?"
"I-I..." Azrael was trying his best to speak, but could not, fortunately for him another voice joined in on their conversation, which made Valerian step back.
"Azrael? Valerian, why are you being mean to your brother again?"
"M-Mother!"
'Mother?'
Azrael snaps back to reality, his eyes blinking multiple times as the vision concluded, rather unexpectedly, unlike the other visions.
"I thought you did not know how to use a bow, Your Highness?" Eirian asks from beside him, but Azrael was still feeling a bit disoriented so he could not answer right away. No matter how much he has had visions of the real Azrael's memories, he could not get used to the feeling, and how it does not seem like time moves in real life as he is having the visions.
'That vision was...something.' Azrael thought to himself with a frown. 'I thought I finally was getting the first positive vision about Valerian, I thought I was finally making sense of why the real Azrael was so attached to him but...'
Even during the times the two were still close, Valerian was acting questionable.
And...
"I told you before that you are loved by God, right?"
'There's that line again. When the original
At this point, it felt like Valerian's words meant something.
But what?
"Your Highness, are you ok—"
"How peculiar."
Both Azrael and Eirian looked at Fraus who was staring at the young prince, now with a creepy smile that sent shivers down the young prince's spine. 'Why is he smiling like that? It looks so scary especially with his child-like appearance.'
"What's peculiar?" Azrael asked cautiously. Despite the fact that Fraus stayed true to his words that after completing the task he would grant them whatever they wanted, there was even a bonus of Azrael himself getting a spiritual weapon, he still distrusted the spirit.
After all, he was the spirit of deception and control, and there was a sinking feeling inside Azrael that Fraus knew something and was withholding information on purpose.
Azrael did not know what kind of information he had, and he had no proof that Fraus actually did know something, but it was better to be careful.
Another reason for his distrust is also due to the vision he just had. The vision had nothing to do with Fraus but there was a sensation of fear and anxiety brewing inside his heart, and he wanted to pour those emotions out of him.
Azrael's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as Fraus approached Eirian and pushed him away, the action causing Eirian's expression to contort with a mix of surprise and discomfort. Azrael's shock was evident as he spoke out, questioning Fraus's actions.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Fraus ignored Azrael's question for the moment, focusing instead on ushering Eirian away. "You humans have gotten what you came for," he stated matter-of-factly. "I believe it's time to go."
Azrael understood the sentiment. They had achieved their objective, and lingering any longer might invite unnecessary complications. However, Fraus's insistence on separating him from Eirian raised further questions in Azrael's mind.
As Fraus continued to push Eirian away, Azrael couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settling over him. The spirit's actions seemed calculated, purposeful, and Azrael couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye.
"What do you need to talk to me about?" Azrael inquired, his gaze fixed on Fraus with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
Fraus glanced at Azrael, a smirk playing on his lips as he offered a vague response. "Something that concerns only you, foolish human," he replied cryptically.
Eirian, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke up, his concern for Azrael evident in his voice. "Why do you need to speak to his highness alone?" he asked, his tone tinged with suspicion.
Fraus's smirk widened slightly at Eirian's question, but before he could respond, Azrael intervened, seeking to reassure his companion. "I'll be fine, Eirian," he reassured, offering a small smile. "It's just a talk. Fraus has proven that he won't harm us."
Eirian's expression softened at Azrael's words, but he still seemed hesitant to leave his friend alone with the mischievous spirit. Azrael couldn't help but chuckle at Eirian's heroic nature. He truly was a hero through and through.
"Well, he won't harm us directly," Azrael added with a playful wink. "For now, why don't you try out your new sword?"
Eirian blinked in surprise at Azrael's suggestion, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. However, he soon nodded in understanding, realizing that Azrael was trying to reassure him while also providing an opportunity for him to test his new weapon.
Which Azrael knew he was still definitely enthusiastic about.
With a nod of gratitude, Eirian backed away, giving Azrael and Fraus the space they needed for their conversation. Once Eirian was at a comfortable distance, Azrael turned his attention back to Fraus, his expression serious.
"Are you going to ask about the nature of his magic?" Azrael questioned, his curiosity piqued. "I had a feeling, a spirit like you would be able to sense it, but what I didn't expect is that you'd know that I know."
Fraus's smirk widened at Azrael's observation, confirming his suspicions. "Indeed, I am aware that the black-haired human is peculiar," Fraus acknowledged. "I sense a lot of light magic emanating from him, yet it seems like he does not know."
Azrael nodded in understanding, his mind racing with possibilities. "I understand your interest, but..." he began, only to be cut off by Fraus's interruption.
"But he is not the one who piqued my interest," Fraus stated, his gaze locking onto Azrael with an intensity that sent a shiver down the young prince's spine.
Azrael's eyes widened in surprise at Fraus's revelation, his mind buzzing with questions. "Then who...?" he trailed off, his curiosity burning bright.
'Who's more interesting than the literal child of light? Someone who does not have access to his own abilities? Eirian even believes he's cursed with darkness.'
"It is you."
'Oh, me.'
'Wait...'
"What?"
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Azrael and Eirian strolled side by side, making their way back to the academy. The surrounding landscape hinted that they were nearing the third strata of the Aurora Glades. Despite feeling like they'd spent ages in Fraus's peculiar black dimension during the test, time passed differently in reality. The sun still lingered in the sky, its warm glow signaling that they'd be back earlier than anticipated.
But Azrael's mind wasn't focused on their return. Instead, it drifted to the unsettling encounter with Fraus.
"What?" Azrael's voice carried surprise. "I don't know what you're talking about."
'How am I more interesting than Eirian, a person BORN with light magic? The main source of a spirit's power?'
"You know what I mean," Fraus retorted, his tone sharp. "You are trespassing, plain and simple."
Confusion etched Azrael's features. "I don't get it. We already settled any issues about trespassing," he protested, his tone tinged with frustration.
"That's not the trespassing I'm talking about, Foolish Prince...or shall I call you a clever deceiver?" Fraus closed the distance between them, seizing a few strands of Azrael's hair. His touch sent a shiver down Azrael's spine. "You are not the rightful owner of this body. You are intruding, and deceiving everyone around you, including your companion."
Azrael's heart sank at Fraus's words. 'He knew?'
He'd anticipated the spirit's ability to sense and know certain things about humans since they are close to what his world considers Gods, but this revelation caught him off guard.
Azrael had the urge to lie, to deny the truth, but he realized on the spot that it would have been pointless. After all, he couldn't deceive a spirit designed for deception.
So, he steeled himself, and with a serious expression he asked the spirit.
"What else do you know?"
Fraus's smirk widened, his demeanor shifting to a more contemplative stance. "Plenty more," he replied cryptically, giving Azrael some breathing room. "But there is one thing I do not know that you should tell me."
"Huh? What is that?"
"Your name."
'My name?' Azrael thinks, tilting his head a bit. "It's Azrael."
"No. That is the name of the body you are inhabiting. What is YOUR name, human?"
Ah.
Fraus wanted to know HIS name. The name he has not been called for almost a month now, the name he had for years, his real identity.
The real him.
"My name is Zak."
For some reason, Azrael felt strange when he said that, but at the same time it felt right. From the moment he woke up in this new reality, he easily took on the role of the second imperial prince named Azrael Celestria.
Almost forgetting that Azrael was not him, and he was not Azrael. He is Zak, simply using Azrael's body to help Eirian.
"That is not true."
"Excuse me?" Azrael raised an eyebrow at Fraus, who disrupted his thoughts. "My name really is Zak. There is no point lying to you." The spirit rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Not about your name, foolish human. Right now, you were thinking about how your only desire is to use that body to help the light magic user, correct?"
Again, Azrael did not expect that. The novel did not explain how much spirits could know about a person. Fraus snickered as he crossed his arms against his chest. "Most spirits do not have this much power. As I am a spirit of deception and control, I have the ability to read one's thoughts, desires, and secrets to use it against them."
"That does make sense." The young prince mumbles under his breath then looks at Fraus. "But what do I mean by thinking that my only goal is to help Eirian? That really is my goal though."
Fraus snickers. "If you truly believe that then you are much more foolish than I thought." His words made Azrael scowl, and since Fraus knew about his identity, he did not hide how he really feels or mask his real emotions anymore.
"Enlighten me then since you're such an all-knowing being." Azrael said with a tinge of sarcasm that seemed to amuse Fraus.
"I see you are not making the effort to hide your true self." Fraus points out, making Azrael shrug casually. "You desire to help the real Azrael, correct?"
"I—" Azrael stops himself from speaking. Did he want to help Azrael? Was everything he is doing right now considered helping? So far, he has done nothing that would be beneficial to the original Azrael.
He befriended Caspian and Adham for Eirian's sake, but also because he truly wanted to be close to them because he knew how kind they were. The reason he was starting to slowly rebel against Valerian was so he could stop bothering him.
And he wanted to figure out how the original Azrael died, so that he would not suffer the same fate.
Those facts do not seem like they are desires to help.
It was mostly the desire to survive.
However, he did feel bad for Azrael, but he was also not sure where his soul was, or if he would ever return considering Zak had to die to get to this world.
"You seem confused."
"That is because I am."
"I do not know how to explain it to you, but that is what I see. Your body has countless desires and aspirations. One of those is to use this body to help the true Azrael."
Azrael didn't know how to respond. If Fraus said it, it must have been true. It just didn't make sense to him right now, perhaps because he was too immersed in helping Eirian and saving the empire.
"Why are you telling me this?" he asked, referring not only to his desires but also to Fraus's sudden disclosure. Was Fraus planning to blackmail him? Strike a deal? Control him?
"Do not let your thoughts run wild, Zak," Fraus said, causing Azrael's eyes to widen. It had been a while since anyone had called him Zak. "I know almost everything you know, and I might know things you don't. Since I find you interesting, I want to give you a warning."
'A warning?' Azrael thought, feeling a bit uneasy. He had to know Fraus's intentions. "Why are you doing this?" he asked cautiously.
Fraus, for the first time since they'd met, turned serious. He did not have a smile on his face, and Azrael felt a hint of fear in his eyes. "As a spirit, our laws prevent me from telling you certain things, but I can tell you this," Fraus said, turning his head slightly. "I've met someone. I've seen that person's thoughts, desires, and his secrets. You know that person as well, and you will soon know everything I know about him, which is related to my warning."
'Wait... does he mean Caelum?' Azrael wondered. It made sense; who else would worry about a spirit like Fraus? Perhaps Fraus had even given Caelum his spiritual sword, it would make sense that a spirit of deception and control would take interest in someone who deceives like Caelum.
And then the realization dawned on him.
The reason Fraus saw him as interesting was because he also deceived people into thinking he was still the Azrael they knew.
"Do not rely too heavily on what you know, Zak," Fraus whispered. "There's more to him, more to the story, and more to you than you realize."
That was their conversation until Fraus abruptly ended it. Truth be told, Azrael did not remember anything else because he was so dazed. Eirian, of course, did not question it much. He probably assumed that Azrael was just exhausted.
Well, Azrael was indeed exhausted, but only mentally. Fraus's warning gave him the chills, and the spirit even stopped calling him human or foolish human. Whatever Fraus knew, it seemed to be dire. 'Caelum...He dies at the hands of Eirian, but even so, Eirian also dies. After that, I never knew what happened to the empire. Does Fraus know? He mentioned he knew most of what I knew, so he should be aware of everything.'
If that was the case, then why was Fraus worried? Spirits are not usually concerned with wars because their world is hidden deep inside the Aurora Glades, and even so, they have their own realms.
'Does Fraus know how Caelum was able to kill Eirian even in his death? Ha...more things to think about.' Azrael succeeded in getting a sword for Eirian, even with the bonus of him getting his own spiritual weapon, but now he had more questions than ever.
He already had his future death to think about, there was still the guidance counselor, Thaddeus, now there is that ominous warning.
Azrael really had his work cut out for him.
'I have to calm down. I still have a lot of time before the war, now I just have to keep in mind everything Fraus said and focus more on finding out about Azrael's death and the Academic Olympiad. There's no point in panicking.'
That's right.
He still has a lot of time, so he should just breathe and play his cards well. After all, he may not have strong magic, but he had the upper-hand against Caelum when it comes to knowledge.
"Your Highness."
Azrael, who was absentmindedly playing with his hair while thinking, looks to his side when he hears Eirian's familiar voice call out to him. It had been the first time in the past hour that Eirian spoke up, and immediately Azrael realized that he must have been weirded out with how quiet he was.
"Eirian, I'm sorry for being so quiet. I was a bit lost in thought about the next phase of our plan." Azrael forces out a laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It may be bold of me to assume, but I think this trip made us trust each other a bit more."
'Though, I already trusted Eirian wholeheartedly.'
"So, I'll discuss the whole entirety of my plan for the Academic Olympiad to you when we get back."
Eirian narrows his eyes a bit, but his facial expression is still neutral as always, then he nods his head. "Alright." He says, not denying Azrael's words, which made the young prince very happy. "But I, your highness, are you alr—"
"DEAR STUDENTS OF LUMINARA ACADEMY."
A sudden loud voice rang inside Azrael's ears which made him jump and gasp simultaneously in fear. It seems he was not the only one who heard it considering Eirian was also taken aback.
"What...is that?"
"It is the Headmaster's Message Relay." Eiran answers while holding onto his ear in mild annoyance. "The headmaster has the ability to speak to each student and staff from the academy, but he usually does this when he has an urgent announcement, and only students who are inside or near the academy grounds should hear the message relay so that means we are close."
'Oh. That's cool.'
"That means we're close."
"Indeed."
"TONIGHT WHEN THE ACADEMY BELL RINGS THREE TIMES, GATHER AT THE LUNAR HALL AND WE ALL SHALL DINE TOGETHER AS I HAVE AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND."
Azrael winced in pain as the loud voice of the headmaster continued to shout inside his ear. "Is there a requirement to be this loud?" He could not help but say.
"Unfortunately, I do not think he's aware of it, nor did anyone try to tell him that his message relays could cause a student to go deaf." Eirian answered, obviously in pain as well. "But that is peculiar, a sudden announcement at this time?"
'That is true. If it wasn't important, the headmaster would have just put out a notice, but to gather every student, and in Lunar hall? It must really be important.'
"Then, we should make haste. We do not want to be late." Azrael says with a smile on his face, pushing back all the complicated thoughts. Eirian nods in agreement as they both quickened their pace a bit, but before Azrael forgets. "By the way, what were you going to tell me before the message relay?"
Eirian glances at the young prince then shakes his head. "It was nothing, Your Highness."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Alright, well after the announcement, we should get some rest then perhaps tomorrow we can talk about my plan. Is that alright with you?"
"Of course, Your Highness."