Capítulo 89: Soul Enslavement Seal
The Star Shine Academy gates loomed ahead, a familiar sight that filled Alex with a mix of relief and trepidation.
Stepping onto the Academy grounds, Alex immediately noticed how quiet everything felt. The usual bustling energy was absent, replaced by an unusual calm. Most students were likely away, enjoying the break or the short vacation.
As he walked toward his dorm, a creeping unease began to settle over him.
'She's probably going to be mad at me for taking so long.' he thought, scratching the back of his neck.
When he finally reached his room and reached for the door, an unexpected sight froze him in place.
Aurora's ethereal upper body phased through the door. Her golden eyes locked onto his with an intensity sharp enough to pierce steel. But what threw Alex off wasn't her piercing glare—it was the subtle pout on her lips and the way she deliberately avoided looking directly at him.
"Aurora?" Alex called, cautiously stepping inside.
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she turned her head to the side with a dramatic huff. "Oh, look who finally decided to show up." she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Alex scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uh, hey, Aurora. Miss me?"
Her glowing eyes narrowed, and her form flickered faintly. "Miss you? You left me alone for days, Alex. DAYS. Do you have any idea how boring it is being stuck here with no one to talk to?!"
He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I had a good reason! And it's not like I didn't warn you. You're the one who insisted I go. And guess what,"—he gave her a sheepish grin—"mission accomplished. I've got enough points now."
Aurora's pout softened ever so slightly, but her frustration lingered. "Fine. But that doesn't excuse you disappearing for so long! You said two or three days, not almost an entire week."
"You survived many years without me. A week shouldn't be that hard." He gave her a puzzled look.
"That was only because I didn't have anyone back then!" she shot back, her voice rising with emotion. "It's different now! What if you get hurt—or worse, die out there?! Are you trying to stress me to death?!" Her golden eyes glimmered accusingly as she crossed her arms. "You're crueler than you seem..."
"I didn't realize you cared so much." he said, his usual teasing smirk playing on his lips.
"Of course, you didn't," she interrupted sharply, her voice rising before tapering into a soft sigh. She turned her back to him, her shimmering form dimming. "You don't get it, Alex. You're the only one who can see me. Without you around, I'm... nothing. Just a lonely spirit."
An awkward silence filled the room. Alex shifted uncomfortably, guilt gnawing at him. He wasn't prepared for this—Aurora throwing what felt like a tantrum.
He sighed, his voice softening. "I didn't mean to make you feel lonely. I just... got caught up in everything. But I'm back now, aren't I?"
Her words struck deeper than he expected, and for a moment, Alex found himself at a loss. Taking a deep breath, he stepped closer, his tone steady and sincere. "I'm sorry, Aurora. I'll make it up to you, I promise."
Aurora's posture relaxed slightly as her ethereal glow steadied. Her tone, though still sharp, carried a hint of mischief. "Fine. But now that you've said it, you're bound to agree to one of my requests."
Alex raised an eyebrow at Aurora's sudden shift in demeanor. Her golden eyes sparkled with mischief as she crossed her arms and hovered a little closer to him.
'Hehe, I've got him right where I want him. Just a little guilt trip, and now he has no choice but to agree to it later.' thought Aurora, a sly grin forming on her lips as she subtly orchestrated her plan.
"Alright, alright!" Alex said, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"Now, as for your reward…" Aurora began, her tone carrying an edge of playful anticipation.
Alex's curiosity was piqued, but the faint, almost devious smile tugging at Aurora's lips put him on alert.
"Let's go digging." she said, her golden eyes shimmering with excitement.
"Ehh…" Alex blinked, utterly baffled by the unexpected turn of event.
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"Are you sure this time that this is the spot?" Alex asked irritably, wiping sweat from his brow as he glanced at Aurora.
She hovered nearby, her expression betraying a mix of nervousness and silent prayers that this time they'd finally found it.
"Yes, yes, this time for sure." she replied hastily, her voice lacking confidence.
"It's already nighttime, and I'm tired of hearing that same line." Alex grumbled, glancing at the darkening sky. They'd started digging in the early afternoon, but now the stars were beginning to peek through the night.
Aurora floated closer, her golden eyes gleaming with determination. "Just a few more meters, Alex. This has to be the one!"
He sighed, casting a skeptical glance her way before driving the shovel back into the earth. They were in the overgrown backyard of the old dorm, a secluded area rarely visited by anyone. That worked to their advantage, allowing Alex to dig freely without attracting attention.
Aurora had directed him to dig in seemingly random spots, claiming that "a key part of the reward" was buried here.
While her directions were dubious, Alex's enhanced strength made the task less grueling. Armed with a borrowed shovel and his trusty sword, he worked through the layers of soil with ease, cleaving through roots and rocks alike.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Alex struck something solid. With a powerful swing of his sword, he shattered a large rock, and a brilliant golden hue burst forth from beneath the fragments.
"There!" Aurora cheered, her excitement practically tangible as the shimmering object was revealed.
Alex reached down, brushing away the dirt to uncover a glowing golden ring. He held it up, inspecting it closely. "Alright, now tell me," he said, his tone half-expectant and half-annoyed, "what's the connection between this ring and you teaching me a Tier-5 spell?"
Aurora's excitement didn't waver as she waved him off. "Don't get too excited just yet. Let's clean up and head back first. I'll explain everything once we're settled." Her mysterious tone only deepened Alex's curiosity.
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"What if I told you there's a way for you to take me outside the Academy?" Aurora suddenly blurted out as they stepped into the dorm room.
Alex froze mid-step, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face her. "What? Is there really such a way? If you knew something, why didn't you tell me earlier?" His tone was a mix of curiosity and annoyance, a frown creasing his face.
"I... I was just asking. What if?" Aurora stammered, her usually confident demeanor faltering as she looked away.
Alex softened slightly, his voice firm yet reassuring. "If it's something within my reach, of course, I'd do it. Why wouldn't I?"
"O-Okay!" Aurora perked up, her tone brightening. "Here's the magic circle for the Tier-5 spell, as promised!"
A shimmering magic circle materialized in the air between them. This one was far more intricate and complex than any Alex had seen before, with layers of runes and patterns intertwining.
Without wasting a moment, Alex focused on the task at hand. He didn't bother asking what the spell was for—there would be time for that later. For now, his priority was to memorize the magic circle.
Nearly an hour passed as Alex painstakingly committed every detail to memory. Finally, a familiar chime echoed in his mind, and the system window materialized before him, confirming his success.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he read the spell's details, the implications leaving him stunned.
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[The host has learned a new magic spell]
<Soul Enslavement Seal>
Tier: 5
Attribute: Dark
Mana Cost: 10,000
Mastery: F
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Estado de energía semanal
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