Spirit (2)
Spirit (2)
The natural park was a space brimming with mana.
In fact, the facility itself had been built specifically for mana training.
Through the Authority of Observation, wherever I directed my perception, the abundant mana registered more vividly than any scenic beauty.
The mana density was high. Faint as it was, merely breathing allowed mana to seep into the body.
It wasn't just dense—its purity was also exceptional.
The cadets of the Ipchun Class sat scattered in clusters throughout the park.
The one thing they all had in common was the fist-sized crystal orb each held in their hands.
The orb was transparent, with five-colored wisps of energy drifting inside like paint dissolving in water.
The crystal orb we'd used before for introductory mana training had been a magic tool that aided 'mana sensitivity.'
This particular tool was designed both to confirm spirit affinity and to help awaken latent affinity.
The cadets were focusing intently, rolling the orbs this way and that in their hands.
Some frowned as they fiddled, others held their orbs with a serene, almost detached composure.
A few had placed themselves at a distance from the others, perhaps finding solitude better for concentration, while close friends huddled together in small groups.
Everyone was immersed in their own way.
The first session of the 『Understanding Spirits』 lecture was devoted entirely to confirming affinities.
I too held a crystal orb.
Normally, I would have been concentrating alone, or sticking close to Hong Yeon-hwa or Ellia.
"It might look like a waste of time, but periodic potential checks are a good idea."
This time was different.
I pulled my attention back to the voice right in front of me.
A person whose inherent mana was overwhelming, even in this place brimming with abundant mana.
If I closed my eyes and perceived nothing but mana, she registered as little more than a colossal mass of magical power—Professor Liana.
She continued her explanation with a bright smile.
"Innate talent is important, but it's not unheard of for affinity to develop and bloom later through nurture."
[Is it common for talent to bloom later?]
"No. It's rare. By and large, it manifests when you awaken your mana."
Wasn't the average age of becoming a superhuman somewhere around three to five?
Typically, that was when humans diverged from superhumans, and superhumans further split into those who possessed unique abilities and those who did not.
"But that doesn't mean it never happens. Professor Atra initially lacked a unique ability, and there are cases, like someone I know, where awakening is exceptionally late."
I knew exactly who that 'someone' was.
My own case, a full ten years later than a standard awakening, was considered exceptional.
It was exceptional and special, but whether that made it superior to other cases was something I doubted.
Others had trained since childhood. In the end, wasn't I just a latecomer, only now beginning to learn?
I couldn't see the advantage—only massive drawbacks.
I wriggled my fingers as I thought this.
It didn't go as I wished.
Partly because I was holding the crystal orb in one hand, and partly because Professor Liana's hand, supporting mine, was in the way.
My one free arm was restrained. For smooth communication, I had no choice but to activate the Confession Necklace.
Which meant I was currently in a state of heightened nerves. My senses were sharp, intent on preventing a repeat of the earlier disaster.
I was braced to sever the connection the moment the Confession Necklace even hinted at spouting something bizarre.
"It's been a while since we've talked like this."
[You came to visit me in the infirmary, didn't you?]
"Back then, I only saw your sleeping face before I left. And when you regained consciousness, I was too busy to drop by."
A soft sensation brushed the back of my hand. Fingers that weren't mine occasionally tapped lightly against my skin, tickling.
In Professor Liana's own way, she claimed it was to check my concentration.
"The atmosphere does feel similar to back then."
Professor Liana, who had been explaining with a smile, suddenly spoke up as if a thought had just struck her.
Her gaze swept across the surroundings. I followed suit, scanning the area with the Authority of Observation.
A sun rising obliquely in the sky, grass shimmering under the falling light.
Branches and leaves rustling softly in the occasional breeze.
A lake that composed a dreamlike atmosphere even beneath a faintly settled mist.
It was similar to the park where I'd received help with mana introduction at the start of the semester.
The presence or absence of trails, benches, and other artificial structures differed, of course, but the overall mood was alike.
One other difference was the gazes directed this way—from Hong Yeon-hwa and others, watching me plainly.
Back then, there had been no one else besides Professor Liana and me.
"How is it? Can you feel the energy well?"
Professor Liana tapped the back of my hand.
At her question, I refocused my senses on the crystal orb.
- Clatter.
The crystal orb in my hand trembled. It was a shudder I'd felt countless times already.
The energies wavering inside the orb nudged at one side of its wall.
As if they wanted to get out, the energies were tapping in my direction.
"I expected as much... but it seems you have talent here too."
Professor Liana, gaze fixed on the rattling orb, sounded somewhat incredulous.
The others were holding their orbs to confirm affinities while cultivating individually, but since my affinity had already been confirmed, Professor Liana was instructing me personally.
Thus, we had naturally ended up sitting face to face, the two of us, for a private lesson.
Her finger pointed to the crystal orb.
"Can you see— no, perceive them? The energies inside the crystal orb."
[Yes.]
[Five types of energy.]
Red, light green, blue, yellow, and brown.
The five-colored energies were still tapping at the orb's inner wall.
"These are the energies of basic-attribute spirits. The energies stir according to the affinity of the person in physical contact... and you, Cadet Lee Ha-yul, possess affinity for all five."
Fire, wind, water, lightning, and earth attributes, was it?
Even attribute-type unique abilities, despite nuances in their specific functions, mostly fell under those five attributes.
"Now that we've confirmed you possess affinity, let's simply walk through the contract process."
Professor Liana retrieved the crystal orb from my hand and gave a slight flick of her fingers.
"Lower spirits possess very faint egos. In fact, it's fair to call them cogs with instincts suited to their respective attributes."
That was knowledge I already possessed.
Higher-ranking spirits were one thing, but lower-ranking spirits had next to no self-awareness.
They just followed instinct—preferring places full of mana and, occasionally, repeating simple actions like restoring nature.
"Spirit casters contract and command these spirits. In the case of lower spirits, the 'contract' is extremely simple: once the caster wills it, it's done."
In spirit arts, a contract was the process of establishing control over a spirit in order to wield it.
An uncontracted spirit could not be commanded.
Just as you could not wield mana that wasn't your own, you couldn't command a spirit that wasn't yours.
Therefore, a spirit caster formed and managed contracts with as many spirits as they could handle, according to their affinity, vessel, and mana levels.
Professor Liana, whose affinity, vessel, and mana capacity were monstrously high, could consequently command an absurd number of spirits.
'What about me?'
Affinity toward spirits.
Truthfully, I had suspected I might have some.
Given I had a unique ability called All-Rounder, I'd assumed I'd possess at least enough affinity to dabble.
But from Professor Liana's explanation, it seemed my affinity for spirits themselves was unexpectedly, remarkably high.
"Then, let's begin in earnest!"
Professor Liana traced her finger through the air. The mana wavering at her fingertip left a trace in the empty space.
And then, a door opened.
'?'
A door? It split open? It tore open? Any description would fit the phenomenon.
It wasn't the Authority of Observation that perceived it.
The Authority of Space, which had seen scant use lately, recognized the gap that had opened in the air.
Following Professor Liana's gesture, the line etched into the void split apart to the left and right with a rip.
Mana leaked from the space thus opened.
Energies of five brilliant attributes.
It was the same energy I had sensed from the crystal orb, identical to the energy perceivable in nature.
But its quality and sheer volume were staggering.
I sensed presences, too. Could they even be called presences? I had my doubts, but countless entities were unmistakably being perceived beyond that rift.
'Spirits.'
I realized it instinctively.
The presences existing in that space were those of spirits. Each of those countless individual entities was a spirit, of higher and lower rank.
- Pop!
Just then, one of the countless spirits darted out toward us.
The moment it emerged, perceived as a cluster of light-green radiance, the rift resealed itself.
The green glow floated up to hover above Professor Liana's palm.
My sensitive skin felt the fine, swirling currents of wind.
"This child here is a wind spirit."
I could feel it through mana affinity, too. And likewise, it was observable through the Authority of Observation.
I guessed the green glow would even register to the naked eye.
"This particular spirit is currently contracted to me. In other words, it is a spirit under my command. No one else can command it unless I sever the contract."
Professor Liana, who had been checking the spirit's state from various angles, resumed her explanation.
"In a moment, I will dissolve my contract with this spirit. Then, you, Cadet Lee Ha-yul, simply need to form a contract with it yourself. It might be difficult at first, but we have plenty of time, so let's take it step by step."
Finishing her explanation, Professor Liana gazed at me quietly.
She seemed to be granting me time to sense the spirit.
It was the same approach as when I'd been introduced to mana.
I nodded with an odd expression on my face.
[It's fascinating.]
Actually feeling spirit manipulation firsthand—the sense of novelty was inescapable.
[It's amazing.]
I'd wielded unique abilities, magic, and other supernatural powers, but I couldn't help finding full-fledged spirit handling novel.
And then.
[Familiar?]
It felt eerily familiar.
'What is this?'
It was a sensation I couldn't comprehend. Could novelty from a first experience really carry a tag of familiarity alongside it?
'Hm...'
I observed the spirit with the Authority of Observation.
I operated the authority a little more minutely. I attempted to observe not just its surface appearance, but its internal structure.
A sharp ringing filled my head. It was a strain, but it didn't cause me to collapse bleeding from seven orifices.
This was partly thanks to my growth, and partly because I'd limited the scope to just the small spirit.
'Is that the contract?'
With that effort, I could perceive a tether linked to the spirit.
The thread-like connection led back to Professor Liana.
Meaning, this spirit was contracted to her.
A spirit already under contract could not be contracted by another spirit caster.
Without a contract, no one else could command it.
I had heard the explanation from Professor Liana. That link was precisely the pathway connecting caster and spirit.
It was through that pathway that the caster's intent was conveyed and mana was supplied.
Thus, conveying my own intent to that spirit was impossible.
'Can I not command it?'
I tilted my head.
I wasn't thinking anything in particular. I'd simply felt a strange sensation.
'Want to come over here?'
A thought barely murmured inwardly, not even rising to the level of a soliloquy.
An intent that wouldn't reach anyone else, since I hadn't even used the Confession Necklace.
"Huh?"
It should have been so.
Professor Liana blinked. Her gaze fixed on her own palm.
Her palm was visible. The spirit that had been floating above it was nowhere to be seen.
Blinking, Professor Liana raised her head. Her gaze rose with it, toward the spot the spirit had moved to.
'......'
Distinctly sharper than before, the wind's touch physically brushed my palm.
"Hm?"
The place the spirit had moved to was the top of my hand.
Professor Liana's mouth fell open.
???
Numerous question marks bobbed up above her head.
'?'
Question marks also popped up above mine.
[Eh.]
A flat, belated tone followed from the Confession Necklace.