章節 13: Don't be too curious
"Concentrate!"
Alan shouted far away from a cliff.
Arsh was trying to learn the basics of shadow attributes, from the very master of the craft. Arsh grumbled, his hand raised high up in the air.
"Shut your mouth for a second. Let me concentrate, then"
The 1st day of the 3 months magic training regiment, brought to you by Alan.
Alan huffed in a snooty voice.
"Ungrateful buffoon, Listen carefully first"
Alan jumped down, looking more annoyed than usual. Probably due to Arsh's snarky remark. He smacked him on the head and commanded-
"Imagine yourself being wrapped by your shadow. Imagine the pathway for the spell. Concentrate, make your intentions clear to the spell, and what you want it to do"
'....Make it Clear'
Arsh closed his eyes again, listening to the instructions.
He took a small breath, commanding his shadow to cover him. He concentrated on his legs first, trying to raise the shadow slowly upward from there, gradually.
His red eyes tinted with a dark gleam.
|Shadow Envelope|
The shadow moved slowly, from the ground, covering his legs little by little. It started from his toes, then to his knees, going all the way up to his neck.
Arsh neither spoke nor moved. He can hear the grumbling of his potentially crazy mentor in the background. But, he ignored everything around him, focusing solely on the spell.
To Arsh, it felt like a new layer of being attached to him. Which felt exhilarating in its own right, along with scary.
"Open your eyes, now"
Arsh nodded, opening his eyes slowly. He could already feel the shadow over his skin, like a new thin sheet of clothes covering him.
The shadow had adjusted itself around his body like armor. A menacing black armor, covering every nook and corner of his body, leaving only the head open.
'Damn! This looks cool'
Arsh touched it excitedly. Examining it from every part. After a few seconds, the spell broke, resulting in the armor being disintegrated. The shadow was now back in its old position, under the scorching sun.
"Why? Why can't you fail for once?"
"Why did it disintegrate so soon? I was still concentrating"
Arsh ignored his mentor's rant, asking a question instead.
"You weren't. If you can concentrate continuously, it won't come off, even after long use. It is beginner's magic"
"Shadow armor gives you a little more durability. It can also decrease your presence in different situations, according to lights present"
Arsh smiled ear to ear, he needed durability the most. Even after completing torture-like body training for almost a year.
His body was still not strong enough to guard the hit from the hound. Durability was indeed an important factor for him.
'But lights??'
".....Umm, What? What do you mean by 'according to lights'?"
"That is pretty much self-explanatory. The darker the place, the more invisible you will become. It can never erase 100% of your presence like stealth does. But, it can give a similar effect, if you are in a dark place"
"I don't recommend using it though. As there are much better spells out there"
"Why not both? My friend"
Arsh smirked, at his already annoyed mentor.
Alan scowled, continuing the lecture-
"It is basic knowledge. You can't use too many spells at the same time. It will overload the body, even if you just use basic magic"
"I will normally advise a phase 1 mage like you, to not use more than three spells. But, I don't really know about your situation. You are an anomaly"
Arsh looked at his disheveled hair. Staring intently into it. He gave a thoughtful pose, before raising his hand again.
"How many times can I use beginner's magic? At least give me a little bit of an idea. Before, it overloads me completely"
"I am not an encyclopedia, Kid. You will have to test that out yourself. But, believe me, it is a very bad idea. An overload can cause permanent damage to your soul"
Alan stood up from the ground unsheathed his sword, juggling it high up in the air.
"Teach me stealth, next. The one you always use to cheat during our duels"
Arsh responded hurriedly, the excitement palpable in his voice.
"You can't use it, kid. It's an advanced spell. It can't be used with your physique. I already told you that"
Arsh was not much surprised by the answer. He already knew the spell looked like an advanced one. But, it was disappointing nonetheless.
'... That was the most useful spell, I have ever seen'
"I can only teach you beginner's magic, of shadow attributes. At least the ones I am aware of. Which is not much in counting. You should try to learn the other attributes from the books"
Arsh frowned at Alan, giving him a look of disappointment.
'Books. I'll rather use hit and try method than read books'
"Can't you just ask someone?"
Arsh asked, trying to avoid the books.
No one likes books, it seems.
"No. I can't. You should already know, I am considered an outsider within the town"
Arsh sighed, looking at Alan chargined.
"What about the adventurers? Can't we just strike a deal with them"
"Nope, can't do that either. Every single adventurer comes from other places. They are not natives of the northern continent"
"They surely have heard about a rogue assassin, named ALAN on the run. I have an unimaginable bounty on my head, kid. If they found me out, I have to kill them"
"....And, I already had enough of pointless killing,"
Alan added in a low voice.
"So, you are a celebrity"
This earned a chuckle from Alan. Arsh juggled his daggers, tentatively. Alan pointed a finger at him, challenging Arsh to attack him.
Arsh moved toward his mentor, concentrating on his shadow attribute.
'Cover my body'
"What is the purpose of adventures anyway?"
"Concentrate! Make it clear. Don't talk while concentrating, you are nowhere near that level yet"
Alan gave him a lazy glance, answering in a firm tone.
"Adventures are the strongest warriors of lower-standing families. They are sent to the northern continent by the churches, to hunt for ores and beasts exclusive to the northern continent."
Alan explained and stood up, a loose stance on his end. He blocked the first strike, sprinting ahead. He slashed the sword straight, aiming directly at the torso of his disciple.
Arsh deflected the sword with the daggers, taking a step back. He placed himself in a defensive position, focusing solely on the spell.
'Make it clear. Make it clear'
|Shadow Envelope|
The menacing armor rose up from the ground, forming around his body. It claded around his body all up to his neck.
Arsh opened his eyes, smiling a dark smile. He moved to attack Alan directly, feeling more confident than before.
'The denser parts. It will be darker in there'
Arsh slashed a faint and quickly turned around, running toward the denser part of the forest.
"Good strategy. But, you can't use it against someone like me. Who is already aware of your spell mechanism"
Alan leaped directly ahead of his path. Standing just in front of him. Alan slashed his long sword down at Arsh with overbearing speed.
Arsh was caught off guard, by the sudden attack. With no time to think, he stood straight. He decided to take the strike straight at his shoulder, confident in his armor's capability.
The armor stopped the sword completely before it could pierce his shoulder. But, it was just for a short second. The armor disintegrated, in the very next moment.
Letting the sword pierce deep into his shoulder skin. The damage was reduced a little bit, by the disintegrated armor. But, it still left a clear ghast wound.
'Shit! it sliced through'
Arsh took a step back, whining in pain from the last strike. He lifted both of his hands in the air, announcing his surrender.
"Hahaha..... Are you serious, kid?"
"You really thought, you can block a strike of a swordmaster, with just a beginner-level spell"
"Even if this is just a normal sword. I am still an Espada, having been through plenty of life-threatening situations. You don't stand a chance against someone like me, with a weak ass spell"
Alan laughed in pure joy, slandering Arsh with ridicule.
'If I died before him. He will be the happiest person on earth'
___________
"Concentrate on the spell. Dumbshit"
It's been two complete weeks of the new regiment. Due to Alan's expertise in teaching about magic, He was able to absorb every spell Alan taught him.
|Black Fire|
Arsh chanted somberly.
A tiny black fire formed in his hand. Not even big enough to fit his palm. As the name already suggested, It was completely little black, flickering like a true flame.
'Why is it so tiny?'
It looked dense and ominous. But, the size of any matter is also a part of the appeal. But, in this case, it made it look …..rather cute.
"What should I do with this tiny flame? light fire under your butt?"
Arsh whined, trying to suppress his sigh.
"No need to be mad at me, kid. Blame yourself for your inability"
"And, If you have plans, to kill a calamity by beginner's spell. Then, I hate to break it to you, but that is impossible."
Alan suddenly lit up, looking like he remembered something.
"Oh, by the way, It was the last beginner's spell. From now on, you are on your own"
"Wow, aren't you the greatest mentor ever?"
Arsh smiled sarcastically, walking deeper into the forest. Alan looked at him go, and chose to ignore it.
Annoyed by his lovely mentor and his inability. Arsh moved deeper into the forest, cursing his ever-so-beautiful luck.
'...This is really dense. Leo mostly talks about these parts.'
Arsh turned back, halting his venture. He didn't forget any of the stories told to him by Leo. He slowly moved again, now in the direction of the town.
"KYYAAAAAAHHHHHHH"
Suddenly. A blood-curdling scream resounded throughout the whole forest.
"What was that?"
Startled, Arsh entered the forest again, following the voice.
'Shit! Who was that?'
He moved quickly, following the noise of the monsters and humans, coming from the exact same place. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva, standing at the edge of the densest part of the forest.
'Curses! this can be dangerous'
He climbed a tree nearby. Continuing his journey moving through the branches. For a better and more safe approach.
The loud scream resounded again, clearer and nearer than before.
Arsh increased his running speed, scouting the whole area around him from the top of the trees. Trying to pinpoint the source of the sound.
He looked around, finding himself in the middle of the dense forest. Trees scattered in every direction to the very ends, leaving nothing else visible for plain sight.
"I can't see anything from here"
He jumped again, to the tallest tree near him. He climbed upward between the branches, standing at the top of the tree.
'Found it! They were closer than I thought'
6 humans came into sight, at a visible distance. Fighting against a whole herd of monsters all alone. While two of them were on the ground, a woman squatted near them.
'She should be the healer'
The monster caged the people, from every possible direction. Attacking them together at the same time.
Arsh looked at them silently, many different feelings welling up inside of him.
"They are going to die"
He stated, his voice devoid of any emotion.
He looked at them for a second. Calming his overturned senses, he turned his back on them. Listening to his mind.
'They are not worth it'
'I should head back, before they notice me'
Arsh slowly took a step ahead, moving in the direction of the town.
It was at that fateful moment. Every sense in his body pleaded him to run, as far away as possible, from the imminent danger.
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