章節 11: Lady and the Kelpie
As Eden's tear slipped into the lake, the water began to glow with an internal light, sending silvery ripples outward. Mist began to rise, swirling up from the surface in tendrils that drifted toward him, wrapping around trees and stretching into the air aroumd him. Eden stared, his sorrow slipping away as he watched the lake transform before his eyes. Then, he noticed the water shifting, small waves breaking out as if someone were walking across it.
And indeed, someone was.
A figure appeared, gliding over the surface of the lake with an effortless grace that seemed beyond mortal movement. Her gown was light blue, with shades reminiscent of the midnight sky, adorned with shimmering pearls and blue gems on her head that sparkled like stars. Long, flowing blue hair cascaded around her, blending with the mist as though it were part of her, but her eyes remained closed, giving her a mysterious and otherworldly aura. By her appearance, she didn't look old; it was as if she had just finished her teenage years. Beside her strode a giant black horse, its mane long, tangled, and curved, spilling over its face and almost completely covering its eyes.
Eden's heart raced, but after a moment, he gathered his courage to ask.
"Who… who are you?"
The woman paused, her expression turning curious as her closed eyes seemed to focus on him. "Are you talking to me?" she asked, her voice soft and lilting, like the sound of waves caressing the shore.
Her voice is relaxing, but what did she mean by talking to her? Is she supposed to be invisible? And how is she walking on water like its nothing?
Eden looked around uncertainly, feeling both foolish and awestruck. "There's no one else here. You are the only one around besides me. Also, how are you walking on water?"
A flicker of surprise crossed her face, but she smiled, a small and knowing smile that made the air feel colder.
She took a step forward, her gown flowing like water, the pearls shimmering as if alive. "Your eyes are quite unique and rare. You shouldn't let anyone see them," she said quietly. "Cover them, always, and never let others see them. They would hurt you just to get your eyes."
Eden felt a chill but pressed on, the questions tumbling out before he could stop himself. "But… who are you?"
The woman tilted her head, a touch of wistfulness in her closed eyes. "I am the middle daughter of The Lady of the Water, Misty," she replied, her voice rich with a sense of pride. Her words seemed to echo, carrying with them a weight of history and myth.
"And… are you a human?"
She raised her brow, still with her eyes closed. "Human? Of course not. I am a spirit, the spirit of the water."
I can't deny her claims; she is nothing like a human. But what's with this horse? It's like it's giving me a death glare.
"And he?"
She gestured to the towering horse at her side, a sly smile appearing on her face. "And this," she said, patting the creature's neck, "is my companion—the kelpie."
The horse snorted softly.
"Oh, he's harmless," she added with a grin that said otherwise. "Unless, of course, he gets bored and decides you look like you'd be fun to drown." She laughed lightly, as though the thought were nothing more than a dark joke, but Eden felt an icy chill ripple through him.
The kelpie took a step forward, its heavy hooves somehow not sinking into the lake's surface. Eden could have sworn the creature's mouth twisted into a smile, a sinister glimmer in its yellow eyes.
I think he's been sent here to drown me.
The woman tilted her head as if studying him, despite her eyes remaining closed.
Then, with an unexpected warmth, she gestured to the mist-shrouded lake shore. Besides him."Would you mind if I sat with you for a moment? It's rare I find someone interesting to talk to."
Eden swallowed, hesitating, but nodded. "Sure…"
She moved with quiet elegance, her gown becoming a bit shorter, revealing her bare feet. Stepping lightly onto the shore as if floating above it, she settled gracefully beside him, her hair ceasing to flow. Then she turned her face toward him. "Now, tell me—who are you?"
He shifted uncomfortably under her unseen gaze. "I'm… Eden. Eden Snow."
She nodded, her expression thoughtful, then playfully repeated his words, mimicking his hesitance. "Eden Snow…" Her smile lingered as though savoring his name. "And what are you?"
The question felt strange, almost too intimate. He glanced away, his mind scrambling for an answer. "As far as I know…" He paused, gathering his courage before meeting her closed eyes. "I'm human."
Who isn't from this world...
The woman's lips curved into a small, almost wistful smile. "Human…" she murmured. "Yet those eyes of yours hold a beauty that most mortals cannot even imagine." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "But you must be careful. There are greedy souls who would stop at nothing to possess what they do not possess."
Does she mean people can kill me because of my eyes? Are my eyes really that special?
He felt his pulse quicken, her words bringing an edge of unease. "What do you mean?"
Instead of answering directly, she reached into the folds of her gown and pulled out a slender piece of fabric—a black blindfold, its surface embroidered with faint, shimmering symbols. She held it out to him, her fingers delicate as she extended the gift.
"Take this," she said softly. "This blindfold is enchanted. You will still see everything around you while wearing it, yet it will conceal your eyes from others." She tilted her head, a shadow of concern passing over her features. "Consider it a gift—and a warning."
Eden took the blindfold, the fabric cool against his fingers. "Why… why do I need to hide my eyes?"
Her expression softened, almost sad. "Because your eyes are a rare gift, Eden. They see more than they should. And there are those who would exploit that for their own purposes. Protect yourself, as well as your eyes."
The weight of her words settled over him, and he nodded slowly, slipping the blindfold into his hand as he processed the warning. Her presence felt both like a dream and a mystery he could barely grasp. But as the mist thickened around them, Eden couldn't shake the feeling that her words held a truth he had yet to understand.
The woman regarded Eden thoughtfully before speaking, her voice as gentle as the mist around them. "You should join Arch Academy, Eden. There, you can become strong—strong enough that you won't need to hide your eyes or anything else."
Eden hesitated, a mix of curiosity and caution in his gaze. "What's Arch Academy?"
A smile touched her lips. "It was founded by seven heroes long ago. They created it to teach young ones how to harness their gifts and powers, to defend against Chaos Beasts and the dark ambitions of evil worshippers."
So this world isn't in peace era. And what is this 'gift'?
"Gift?" Eden asked, searching her face. "And… how would I even get to Arch Academy?"
"A gift," she explained, "is a special ability that an individual can awaken, including humans. Some may awaken one or two gifts, while others may never awaken any. Once you pass the age of fourteen, you lose the chance to awaken a gift forever. They vary greatly; some strengthen magic or swordsmanship, while others offer support in subtle ways.There are wide varieties of gifts." She paused, her expression growing serious. "Your eyes are a rare gift, Eden. And dangerous—not only to others, but also to you."
A flicker of unease crept into Eden's expression. "How do you know I have these… 'gifted eyes'?"
But as he asked, her face grew concerned. "My time here is ending," she murmured, her words tinged with urgency. The mist around them began to thin, the enchantment slowly unraveling. Moving quickly, she controlled some water and conjured it into the shape of a book, giving it to Eden along with a bracelet.
"You should become a strong magus," she said, her voice gentle yet firm. "You have talent for it, Eden. This book will only teach you the basics of water and ice magic, but I sense you have an affinity for ice magic. And the bracelet—it can act as a catalyst for you."
Eden clutched the items, his heart racing as he looked at her. Rising to her feet, she gestured toward the towering black horse beside her. "My kelpie will guide you to Arch Academy, but first… you must tame him. If your spiritual consciousness isn't strong enough, you won't form a bond, and there's a risk—your consciousness might slip away, leaving you trapped in a deep sleep."
Eden's heart thundered at the thought, the kelpie's yellow eyes locked onto his, exuding a predatory intensity that sent shivers down his spine. Every instinct urged him to back away, but he squared his shoulders, determination blazing in his eyes. "I'll take the risk."
Mysty nodded, approving of his resolve. She traced her fingers through the air, forming an intricate symbol from the lake's water, then turned back to him. "I need a drop of your blood, Eden."
He held out his hand, steady despite the intensity of the moment. With a single, deft motion, she drew a droplet of blood using a fine strand of water, she did the same for Kelpie.
She allowed each droplet to fall on opposite sides of the symbol.
Light blossomed from the sign, casting a shimmering glow over both of them as symbols appeared on their foreheads. A silvery thread unfurled, slowly connecting and linking them.
In the next moment, Eden found himself in front of a river—a completely new place to him. Amidst his curiosity, he spotted the kelpie, staring back at him. This time, its eyes were unveiled, casting a deathly glare in his direction.
I need to tame him.
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