Chapter 3
Aeron walked alongside Jinx, his cloak wrapped securely
around him as they made their way through the academy grounds. Jinx moved with
a determined stride, her enthusiasm practically palpable as she led him toward
the training arena.
"So, the arena is one of my favorite places here," she said,
flashing him an eager smile. "It's where I try out all kinds of ideas—and where
we'll get to see what you can do."
Aeron gave a slight nod, casting a quick glance around as
they entered the large, bustling space. Students were sparring with weapons,
practicing spells, or huddled together in intense conversations. He hadn't
expected to feel so out of place, but the noise and the crowd made him
instinctively tighten his grip on his cloak.
From under the fabric, Ob shifted slightly, sensing Aeron's
unease. The spider's legs clicked softly against his shoulder, and Aeron found
comfort in Ob's silent, watchful presence. Despite being hidden, Ob's awareness
of their surroundings reassured Aeron.
Jinx led him to a door on the far side of the arena, where
several targets and dummies were set up. She turned to him, her eyes filled
with anticipation. "Alright," she said, crossing her arms with a grin. " This
is our private training arena. Let's see
this 'bladecasting' you mentioned."
Aeron hesitated, suddenly feeling the weight of her gaze and
the significance of showing her his abilities. But Jinx's excitement was
contagious, and he found himself loosening the clasp of his cloak. With a quick
motion, he shrugged it off, letting it fall to the ground, and Ob skittered
free from the folds to stand beside him.
Jinx's eyes widened as she took in Ob's dark, gleaming form,
but she quickly returned her focus to Aeron. "That's quite a partner you've
got," she murmured, impressed.
Aeron nodded, giving Ob a brief glance before turning his
attention back to Jinx. Slowly, he drew the hilt from his side, feeling the
smooth surface of the ancient runes under his fingers. Taking a deep breath, he
centered himself, reaching out to the familiar energy of the earth.
The connection felt steady and grounding, like reconnecting
with an old friend. With a focused motion, he extended his will, drawing the
earth up to his blade. Stone and hardened minerals surged from the ground,
wrapping around the hilt and forming a solid, glistening blade.
Jinx gasped softly, her gaze locked on the blade. Her eyes
darted to the runes, her expression filled with admiration and awe.
"Incredible," she breathed. "I've never seen anything like this—the way it just
forms in your hand. And those runes… they're amazing."
Aeron felt a slight flush of pride as he watched her
reaction. "Bladecasting isn't just about summoning an element," he explained.
"It's about bonding with it, learning to shape it into a weapon."
Jinx stepped closer, studying the intricate details of the
hilt, her fingers hovering over the etched runes. "You're the only one who can
do this?"
"As far as I know," he replied, his tone quiet but sure.
"It's an art that was lost, but I'm learning… slowly."
Ob clicked softly, and Jinx's attention shifted to the
spider, her curiosity rekindled. "And Ob… he's part of this too, isn't he?"
Aeron smiled, reaching down to gently pat Ob's shell. "In a
way, yes. He's grown with me, kept watch when I needed it." Ob's mandibles
moved, his gaze fixed on Jinx with a reserved wariness, though he stayed by
Aeron's side.
With her curiosity satisfied for the moment, Jinx stepped
back, her face bright with excitement. "Alright, I promised to show you around
the academy, didn't I?" She gestured for him to follow her, and they left the
arena to begin the tour.
"This here is the prototype lab," she said, gesturing to a
room cluttered with tables stacked with half-assembled gadgets, crystals, and
scattered tools. "It's where we test out new inventions, see what sticks and
what… doesn't." She grinned, clearly proud of the chaos within.
They moved on, stopping briefly at the target room. "For
practice," Jinx explained, gesturing at the rows of training dummies lined up
against the walls. Some of them were charred, and others looked like they'd
taken quite a beating.
"I take it you spend a lot of time here?" Aeron asked,
trying not to laugh.
She shrugged, flashing him a playful grin. "What can I say?
Testing things on dummies saves a lot of cleanup. Most of the time, anyway."
She laughed as they continued down the hall.
Finally, they arrived at a door at the end of the corridor.
Jinx stopped, a sheepish expression crossing her face. "And here's… your room."
Aeron opened the door, peering inside. The small space was
barely more than a bed shoved against one wall, and a desk overflowing with
sketches, crystals, and spare gears cluttered every inch of available surface.
Shelves stuffed with yet more gadgets and spare parts lined the walls.
"Cozy," he said, raising an eyebrow at her, though his eyes
twinkled with amusement.
Jinx rubbed the back of her head, looking slightly
embarrassed. "I know it's… packed. I'll clear some of it out for you, I
promise! Eventually."
Aeron chuckled, his initial discomfort melting away. "Guess
I'll try not to trip over anything." He moved toward the bed, gently shifting
some scattered papers aside, while Ob watched with a curious flick of his
mandibles. Jinx's blush deepened as she stepped back.
"No, it's alright," Aeron reassured her. "I'm used to making
do with what I've got."
She looked visibly relieved and gave him a quick nod. "Well,
that's good. But if you do need anything, just ask. I, uh… kind of like having
someone here who doesn't think my work is a total mess." She flashed him a shy
smile before quickly looking away, pretending to focus on rearranging some of
the items on the workbench.
Aeron took a breath, trying to suppress a small smile of his
own. The room was cramped, sure, but he could feel the energy and dedication
she poured into her work.
"So… what are you working on now?" he asked, curiosity
getting the better of him.
"Oh!" Jinx brightened instantly. "It's a prototype for a
rune-based amplifier. I think I can boost the power of spells cast through it
by etching runes directly onto crystals." She pointed to a small device on the
workbench, a rough metal frame holding a glowing crystal, its surface lined
with delicate rune markings.
Aeron leaned in, examining the craftsmanship. The runes
looked familiar—some resembling the ones his grandfather had shown him in the
ancient scrolls.
"You've done all of this yourself?" he asked, his respect
for her growing.
"Yep! I've been experimenting ever since I could walk," she
replied, a proud glint in her eyes. "Of course, some things work better than
others… and sometimes, things explode. But I've got a good feeling about this
one."
Ob gave a slight chitter, as if sensing Aeron's mixture of
awe and wariness, and Aeron chuckled softly, reaching up to give the spider a
reassuring pat.
"You've got an interesting setup here, Jinx," he said, his
gaze wandering over the intricacies of her workbench and tools.
Jinx's eyes gleamed. "Just wait! I'll have you fully
equipped in no time. And—" She stopped herself, a slight blush coloring her
cheeks. "I mean… if you want to test any of this stuff, of course."
Aeron gave a nod, realizing how much her work meant to her.
"I'd be honored to test your inventions. But no exploding ones, alright?"
She laughed, the tension easing as she playfully elbowed
him. "No promises."
They spent the next hour discussing ideas, Jinx's enthusiasm
filling the cramped space with an energy Aeron hadn't experienced before. She
explained her theories, her hands moving animatedly as she described how
different rune patterns could affect magical power. Aeron, in turn, shared some
of his own insights on elemental control, intrigued by how much he could learn
from her.
When they finally wrapped up, Jinx stretched with a
satisfied sigh, glancing around at the scattered parts and tools. "I think
that's enough for tonight. We've got plenty of time to experiment later."
Aeron nodded, watching as she prepared to leave the room.
"Goodnight, Jinx."
"Goodnight, Aeron. And… welcome to the academy," she said
with a warm smile, giving Ob a quick, friendly wave before heading out.
As the door closed behind her, Aeron took a long breath,
letting himself settle into the quiet. He gently brushed his fingers along Ob's
shell, feeling a sense of calm and purpose.
"Looks like we're in for an interesting stay," he murmured,
glancing around the chaotic room. Ob chittered softly in agreement, and Aeron
lay back on the small cot, closing his eyes as he drifted into sleep.