Chapter 29
“All spirits summoned by spirit users are personal.”
The professor turned around after writing on the blackboard.
“You all likely know this already, but since it’s important and we have a student who skipped a grade, let’s go over it again.”
He glanced at me briefly before continuing.
“Even spirits of the same element can vary depending on which qualities of that element the spirit user resonates with, what they consider its essence, and what aspect they emphasize.”
This was during the spirit arts class a few days later.
Helena’s friend sat alone diagonally from me, and a girl and a boy had paired up and taken seats in front of me.
Including myself, only four students were taking the 5th-year spirit class.
“For instance, someone who resonates with fire’s destructive nature may summon flames that burn and melt everything, while someone who focuses on purification may summon fire that destroys only impurities without harming even a child’s skin.”
As he said this, the professor deliberately avoided looking at me.
“Ahem. Similarly, one spirit user of earth might summon fertile, healthy soil, while another might summon sticky earth filled with pests and toxins.”
“These elemental qualities are reflected in the incantations used to summon spirits. After all, spirits are creations of the divine. When summoning a spirit of purification, one might use words associated with Runic.”
“What kind of incantations you use depends on which qualities of the element you resonate with and what you perceive as its essence—it’s virtually limitless.”
The bell rang, signaling the end of class. The professor gave one final reminder.
“So, continue to reflect on your element—feel it, think about it, and engage with it. Understanding and resonating with spirits is the foundation and the entirety of spirit studies.”
As I packed up my things…
Knock knock.
A hand suddenly appeared, tapping my desk.
“Hey, how about practicing at the Valentina Forest?”
When I looked up, the girl who’d been sitting in the front row turned toward me, eyes sparkling.
“Yeah! How was it?”
The boy next to her chimed in. Both of them were practically glowing with excitement.
“Uh…”
What’s with these two?
They were the ones who’d admired my summoning demonstration when I first joined the class and had tried to talk to me.
Back then, Helena’s friend had stopped them…
I looked diagonally across the room—Helena’s friend, whose name I still didn’t know, had frozen in the middle of packing her things, clearly listening.
Then she bit her lip, quickly packed up, and stormed out of the classroom with a loud bang.
Startled, I looked forward again. The girl shrugged.
“Don’t mind her. We weren’t even that close anyway.”
“Yeah, she’s kind of dumb,” the boy added.
It was obvious they’d had a falling out over me.
Come to think of it, she must’ve told Helena that I was going to Valentina Forest…
Now it made sense how Helena had known where I’d be after class.
“Well… sure. It definitely helps me focus more than practicing in an empty space.”
I responded slowly. The girl grumbled.
“Lucky you. You’re that rare case who managed to summon a mid-level spirit on your first try there, so they let you keep practicing. But we weren’t allowed—it’s too ‘dangerous.’ What kind of training are we supposed to do in this barren place? Even going to Moonshadow Forest would be better.”
“The Empire doesn’t support spirit users at all,” the boy added, and then immediately made an oops face. Both of them looked slightly nervous and glanced at me.
I silently nodded. They weren’t wrong.
After what happened with my father, people lost interest in learning spirit arts. Public opinion about spirit users also soured.
And spirit affinity had been decreasing too. So it wasn’t surprising that in this large academy, only four people were taking the 5th-year spirit class.
The girl smiled at my calm reaction and extended a hand.
“Felicia Oakley.”
Surprised, I looked at her. She waved her hand, urging me to shake it.
“…Kalia Estelle.”
I hesitantly reached out, and she grabbed it and shook it vigorously. My hand flailed helplessly in the air.
The boy jumped in too.
“Me too! I’m Fogos Sheetz!”
He layered his hand over Felicia’s and started shaking too.
“Okay, okay—enough. Let go now.”
My arm was about to fall off. More than anything, I was just confused.
“Oh, sorry,” Felicia said cheerfully and let go.
“So, where are you heading now? If you’re free, we’d love to have lunch with you and talk.”
“I have another class right after this.”
“No problem! Then we’ll wait an hour and eat after that. See you in the cafeteria!”
“Wait…!”
I stood up to stop them, but before I could say anything, they waved and left.
I stood there blankly, staring at the door they’d exited through.
What just happened…?
After a moment, I packed up too. I had another class to get to, and I was running late because of this unexpected chaos.
I ended up running a bit as I neared the classroom. Slightly out of breath, I entered, and the professor at the front smiled at me.
“Glad you made it on time, Miss Estelle.”
“Father Adrian.”
I bowed briefly and sat in an empty seat. Unlike spirit class, the room was packed with students.
I was the last to arrive, and the class began.
As always, Father Adrian conducted the class with his platinum hair and blue eyes shining and a gentle smile on his lips.
Despite being a priest, unable to take a partner, and currently a professor, many girls watched him dreamily and blushed.
Now and then, sighs of admiration floated between his words.
Seeing this reminded me of the first time I saw him at the start of the semester.
It was in the theology lecture room, and I had been shocked to see him at the podium.
“Didn’t I say we’d meet again soon?”
He had said with a smile. He’d only been assigned to the lower-grade theology class for a year.
“See you next time. May the grace of Runic be with you.”
The theology class was at a second-year level, so most of the content I already knew. I played with my quill absentmindedly, and the class ended before I realized.
Will those two really be waiting at the cafeteria?
For some reason, I felt nervous and strange. I hurried to pack up.
“Miss Estelle.”
Almost everyone had left the room when Father Adrian approached me with a smile.
“Do you have a moment?”
“I’m supposed to meet Readmore in the central plaza…”
“Let’s walk together, then.”
Before I knew it, I was walking outside with him.
“I’m glad you and Lord Desmier have become friends.”
Oh, right—he saw when Readmore and I didn’t get along.
The whole incident with the spilled water, the rock, the fight with Isla—it all felt like a distant memory now.
I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed quiet. He asked kindly.
“How are your spirit classes going?”
“They’re going well.”
That, I could answer. I nodded firmly.
“I’ve heard about your remarkable achievements. It must be a gift from the divine.”
His words made me stop walking. He paused ahead, then turned back to look at me.
I stared at the ground for a moment, then asked,
“Do you really think so?”
“Why would I lie?”
His smile was pure. His face seemed to shine—without a speck of impurity.
I resumed walking. Without looking at him, I asked,
“…Father, what exactly are demons?”
“They are servants of the Evil One. They follow the commands of the wicked and maintain their unclean forms through that power.”
He answered smoothly, then added as if reading my mind,
“Miss Kalia, humans cannot become demons.”
We were nearing the central plaza. Readmore was waiting by the fountain.
“One can be influenced by unholy forces, yes—but that’s all.”
Father Adrian stopped walking and spoke one last time before waving goodbye.
“Please visit me often. Speaking with you is always a joy.”
I stared at his retreating figure for a long moment—until someone tapped my shoulder.
When I turned around, Readmore was frowning, arms crossed.
“You’re late, Kay.”
“I told you not to call me that.”
Ugh. I cringed. Now I was the one grimacing.
I started walking toward the cafeteria, and Readmore hurried after me, pretending to sulk but clearly smiling.
“Why not? You could call me by a nickname too. Just call me ‘Reedie.’”
“That’s not the issue.”
He was being too much—way too much!
Lately, it felt like he was acting like… like he was my actual older brother or something.
I was flustered by how casually he treated me, but he seemed confused by my reaction.
“We’re comrades in the same boat. Friends. Don’t tell me you don’t agree with that.”
He stopped deliberately in the middle of the street, looking betrayed.
Oh, here we go again.
I quickly tried to calm him down.
