Let’s start with something air related

I spent most of the night reading the book on Air magic. I find it incredibly similar to the book on water magic Aelbrecht borrowed me before the tournament. They both start with an explanation on the nature of the element. When I first read that in the book on water magic, I felt it was interesting, but mostly just some scholarly philosophy. Yet, when training for the tournament, I discovered that understanding the nature of water helps a lot at decreasing the mana cost of my spells. This book here explains it the same way, except with air magic as the focus. By the time I felt it was time to go to bed, I already had a good enough understanding of the element of air, that even before I learned any air spells, they would already cost me less mana to cast. Practice is going to be so much easier now.

The next morning, I wake up late, as I often do. I quickly read the first parts again and even take pen and paper to write down the important parts. Once I’ve got that done, I flip through the pages describing the spells. There are a lot of interesting ones, but most require a lot of mana. I guess for a mage or a cleric it would be good to learn those high mana spells. But as a spellsword … no, before the tournament finals I was a spellsword. I am an archon now. Regardless, my mana reserves are slightly higher than they were as a spellsword. So, I can’t really do any of the special air spells. I also still have my water spells that require mana, especially [Water Lance] requires a lot. So, I have to be smart about my choice in spells.

Eventually, I come to a page which is titled [Wind Strike] and has the image of a sword on it. That looks interesting. The spell is described as attuning a sword, or any other weapon for that matter, with the magic of air. If I were to use it on my sword, it basically becomes a ranged weapon. Throwing slashes whenever I swing my sword. Depending on the magic I spend on the spell, it can even be adjusted to performing concussive strikes that just push my opponents away, or sharp strikes, which can cause my opponents to receive cuts. Now that is a spell that would be interesting to use if I get accosted by some harpies again.

Once I get an idea which air spells I want, I head down to the guild arena for some training. First, I attempt to cast the [Gust] spell. The first few times it was just a light air current. Nothing that is really able to do any form of pushing. I don’t need to cast it perfectly. I just need to cast it. I can always work on perfecting it later. Eventually, I get it to where I can cast a [Gust] spell where when I use it on the ground, it can cause a decent amount of sand to be lifted. That could actually be a decent way to throw sand into the eyes of my enemies. I will have to remember that.

Next, I start experimenting with the [Wind Strike]. This one is a bit more difficult. I also have to borrow a sword from the guild, as mine is still at the crafter’s guild for repairs. So, the first couple of times I try to infuse air into the sword, I just cause an air current around the blade and when I stop the spell, the air current stops. I read the text in the book again and eventually figure out how to make the magic latch on to the blade. Then the air currents continue rotating around the sword. That’s the first part. Now I also need to launch the magic.

The first time I swing my sword, the air currents get launched from the tip. Well, that is not a strike. So, I practice with different swings, yet I don’t really get anything good. I also reapply the spell a couple of time to perhaps cast it better, but I don’t quite get there. Eventually, I have to stop because I ran out of mana. Fortunately, it is nearly noon, so I head over to the mess hall to eat. Ryul and Shalia are there already so I eat with them and tell them about the new spells I’m learning.

After lunch, Kiara catches me on my way back to the arena and shares that she has something different in mind.

“Now that you have air magic unlocked, and can also combine it with water magic to get ice. Why not see if you can make a contract with an air or ice spirit to summon?” Kiara suggests.

“That would be great. But I don’t know how to contact spirits.” I say. “I mean, when I made my contract with the water summon, I was just about to drown. I was begging for help and suddenly she was there.”

“Yes, Darx. You were lucky that this spirit happened to be there at that time. But I know of a way to attract spirits of all kinds, and even see them. Follow me.”

Intrigued by Kiara’s offer, I follow her. She takes me to the roof of the guild’s central building. The top of the donjon. It has been a while since I’ve seen the city from this high. I remember seeing the Knight’s Hospitaller and Griphon Knights guildhalls from last time. But last time I was looking from the castle walls and couldn’t see the castle itself. Now it is reversed and I find it quite interesting to be able to see the castle this time.

I bring my attention back to Kiara. She and Aelbrecht have apparently prepared a couple of candles. There are eight in total, each with a different color and arranged on top of a magic circle. Kiara explains that these are special candles which Aelbrecht keeps in storage for when a summoner like me joins the guild. Each candle has been infused by a type of magic element and when the candles are lit, they release their mana, causing elemental spirits to be lured to the candle of their preference.

When I am ready, Aelbrecht waves his hand and uses his fire magic to light the candles all at once. Then Kiara offers me a dagger and tells me to make a small cut in my hand and drip some blood into the center of the circle. I do as she instructs and meanwhile smell the aroma of the candles. It makes me wonder if Aelbrecht mixed some herbs in the wax to make them smell like that, or if that is just the scent of magic. After I spilled the blood, I step back and we wait for a bit for the spirits to show up.

Soon enough, a small red ball becomes visible, floating above the red candle. I ask Kiara about it and she says, “That’s a fire spirit. You won’t be able to make a pact with that one, because you don’t have fire magic. I cannot see it, because I didn’t offer my blood. Just wait until you find a spirit with the same color as the air candle.”

As we wait, more spirits start gathering, many of them having different colors. I think I notice a yellow light above the air candle. That should be it. I start walking forward to make a pact with the air spirit. I circle around the candles so as to not disturb the other spirits. I then reach out my hand to the air spirit and hold it close to the candle. The spirit begins to take interest into my hand. It moves away from the candle and starts dancing around my fingers. Then it touched my palm and enters my skin.

Is that it? Did I just make a pact? I walk back to Kiara and tell her about it.

“You’re right.” She tells me. “Why not try summoning it?”

I do as Kiara suggests and summon the elemental I just made a pact with. Air currents start moving around us, all flowing towards a single place in front of me. They start whirling into circles, forming little tornados in the shape of a human body, until eventually the elemental is summoned.

I look over at Kiara and ask, “Do all elementals take the shape of females?”

Kiara snickers. “Elementals can take whatever shape they desire. But I have noticed a lot of them choose a female humanoid body. I guess even elementals want to look pretty.”

I then dismiss the elemental and her body fades away. Now I have to wait until an ice elemental shows up at the candles.

But suddenly the flames on the candles all get bigger. The spirits start moving around erratically as well. I look over at Kiara and ask, “What’s going on?”

“I-I don’t know.” Kiara responds. She then turns to Aelbrechts and asks him. But Aelbrecht just stands there silently.

I turn to look at the spirits again and I see a large black light appear. The other spirits all move away from it, as if they are scared. The large black light floats towards me and takes the shape of an owl with black feathers and glowing eyes. It doesn’t move its wings to fly. It just floats in front of me. In my curiosity, I raise my hand and try to touch it.

Behind me I can hear Kiara yell, “DARX, WAIT!”

But I managed to touch the owl. The owl changes shape again, expanding and enveloping me. For a moment I am surrounded in darkness, but then everything fades to normal again. I am dizzy and lose my balance. After falling on my butt, I look at the candles and see they are extinguished. The spirits are gone too, though the scent of the candles still lingers.

Kiara comes close to me and asks if I am alright.

“Yeah, I’m fine. At least I feel fine. Did … did you see that black orb?” I say.

“I did.” Kiara replies. “That is unusual. Normally only the person who offers his blood is supposed to see the spirits. And this one was huge.”

Kiara turns to Aelbrecht again and asks what he thinks about it.

“I have never seen a spirit like that myself. But I have heard of a spirit like that before I became a lich.” The guild master tells us. “If this is the same spirit, you will have to be careful. Powerful spirits like that tend to be hard to control.”

“Right.” I say. “Then I guess I better summon him only when I have no other choice.”

I look over at the candles and ask, “What about the other spirits? Can I still find an ice spirit and make a pact with it?”

“Doubtful.” Aelbrecht answers. “They saw the owl spirit and were afraid of it. They will be too scared to show up again for a while, even with the candles. Be happy that you were at least able to make a contract with an air spirit. I will go to my library and search for information on the owl spirit. In the meantime, try not to summon it.”

With that, Kiara and I headed back inside the guild while leaving Aelbrecht to collect his candles. Before we reach the arena, one of the guild’s servants walks up to me and tells me Amelia has shown up again. According to the servant, Amelia has accepted a quest from her guild and would like for me to join her.

“You may tell Amelia that I accept.” I say with a big smile. “I will just collect my armor and then I’ll go to her.”

It has long been a dream for Amelia, Oliver and myself to go adventuring together. Sadly, Oliver has made a choice to not be part of that any more. But now that I’ve made up with Amelia, and we are no longer occupied with a tournament, the time is finally right.

“Finally going on that adventure with your childhood friend?” Kiara asks.

“Yeah,” I reply. “It’s been a long time coming. And if it hadn’t been for Kase, it honestly would have happened much earlier.”

Kiara then holds my hand and asks, “Any chance one more can join?”

It’s true that we originally planned for it to be a 3-person adventure. But with Oliver quitting, maybe it could be fine to have Kiara replace him. Should I accept her offer to join?