Spirit (5)

For a Spiritualist to grow stronger, they must develop two key abilities.

The first is Spirit Affinity.

This grows by deepening the bond with a spirit through empathic connection. As this process unfolds, the spirit gains greater influence over this world.

When one's affinity reaches its peak, their spirit can feel as comfortable in this world as they do in the spirit realm.

Arin herself had only recently attained this level, showing just how demanding the process is.

The green-flamed spirit was indeed remarkably at ease, just as she'd said—sleeping soundly on a futon spread over the grass, still wearing its eye mask.

"Does that mean spirits are stronger in the spirit realm?"

"Yes. To be precise, the power they display there is their true, original strength."

I see. If I had to compare it, it would be similar to how gods descend in fantasy novels—possessing immense power but facing limitations when interfering with the mortal world.

Nodding in understanding, Arin swiftly moved on to the next topic.

The second ability is Control.

This determines how skillfully a contractor can wield a spirit's power.

This aspect belongs purely to the realm of instinct, making it difficult for others to assist in its development.

Arin admitted she had struggled through much trial and error here as well.

Especially since, like me, she had become a Spiritualist without a master or teacher to guide her—it must have been even harder.

"No matter how high one's Spirit Affinity is, lacking in this ability leaves them vulnerable in battle."

To put it simply, it's like having a water tank full to the brim but a narrow faucet—the water can't flow properly.

One must increase the total amount of power they can unleash at once while also honing the instinct to control it.

Thus, Spiritualists are unique existences who must train both their Spirit Affinity and Control to grow stronger.

Arin pointed at the words "Control Ability" written on the board and spoke.

"What we'll be training is the second one—Control."

[Isn't this too intense right from the start? Normally, you'd begin with forming an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠empathic link with the spirit.]

Arin shook her head in response to Silpi's question.

"Lady Adel and Silpi already possess top-tier affinity."

[...Is that so?]

Silpi frowned, looking unconvinced. Seeing Abel's face make such an expression felt strangely unfamiliar—he rarely ever scowled.

As my thoughts wandered, Arin approached Silpi, studying his form carefully.

"Most spirits don't achieve a form as vivid as Silpi's during their first transformation."

She then held out her palm.

"Pii?"

[...Hmm?]

At Arin's call, the spirit Pii removed her eye mask and crawled out from the futon. She cautiously settled onto Arin's palm before shifting her form.

Her appearance had become noticeably cruder than before.

If earlier she resembled a figurine, now she looked more like a clay doll. Though she still had limbs and a face, details like her nose and mouth were barely visible.

Only then did I grasp the meaning behind ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Arin's words.

"This was Pii's original form."

[...How long do I have to keep this up?]

"Oh, you can change back now."

With a soft poof, Pii returned to her usual form—a night-and-day difference compared to moments ago.

Looking back at Silpi now, the contrast was undeniable.

[So I'm the unusual case here.]

Silpi floated in midair, inspecting his own body. Seeing him do this while wearing Abel's face somehow made him look oddly cute.

[...Sigh.]

He let out a resigned sigh and took a step away from me—probably having read my thoughts just now.

Unfazed, as if accustomed to such antics, Arin continued her explanation.

"In short, you already possess the minimum Spirit Affinity required to train Control."

"How exactly do you develop Control?"

In response, Arin wheeled over a cart laden with neatly stacked wooden blocks.

Selecting one, she carefully placed it atop a tree stump.

"Methods vary by attribute, but for wind, this is the most effective approach."

[That's just an ordinary block of wood.]

Arin nodded at Silpi's muttering.

"Correct. Now, try splitting this exactly in half."

She emphasized that the division had to be precise.

But I doubted whether I could manage it, still unfamiliar with wielding this power.

Reading my expression, she spoke with confidence.

"Don't worry. You'll pick it up in no time."

["Easier said than done..."]

Silpi grumbled as he approached me again. Seeing him do this while wearing Abel's form created a strange cognitive dissonance.

After all, Abel's usual image wasn't the type to get irritated over such trivial things. Well, this side of him was kind of cute in its own way, so maybe it wasn't so bad.

[You're hopeless.]

As if reading my thoughts, Silpi clicked his tongue. Then, without hesitation, he reached his hand toward me.

Realizing what he intended, I mirrored the gesture, pressing my palm against his small one as I took a slow, deep breath.

[Contractor, visualize it.]

I closed my eyes and began to imagine.

[Compress the wind into a sharp form and release it.]

Following Silpi's words, I formed the image in my mind. The only reference I had was the blue Aura Strike Evan had once demonstrated.

Mimicking that shape, I slowly began to channel my power. A new sensation bloomed within me, as if something had opened—wind gathered from all directions.

[Make it rougher. A gentle breeze won't cut it.]

Evan's strike had felt similar, hadn't it?

At a glance, it seemed refined, but the moment it reached its target, it thrashed wildly like a beast.

"Silpi."

[Ready?]

"Yeah."

I imagined myself drawing a sword.

I mimicked the resolute stance Evan had shown me.

Go.

In my mind, I swung the blade.

Tracing even a fraction of the Sword Path he had walked.

Whoosh!

With a sound like the air itself tearing, the Wind Blade shot forth.

Before I could even react to its unexpected force, the wind had already cleaved through the log.

"...Huh."

[Oh boy.]

The only problem was...

I hadn't expected the stump to get sliced along with it. Arin, watching from the side, let out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠an impressed sigh.

She stepped closer, grabbing both my hands and shaking them excitedly.

"That's amazing! I knew your affinity was good, but this is beyond expectations!"

"R-Really?"

I felt a little dazed. Was this what it felt like to have talent? Somehow, it left me oddly drained.

"But you lose points for control."

"Ah..."

Right.

She had instructed me to split the log in half—not obliterate the stump along with it.

"Still, you'll get used to it in no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time."

I nodded at her encouraging words.

She retrieved another log from the cart and placed it on the grass. Pii, who had sidled up beside her, promptly burned away only the surrounding weeds.

She did it without Arin's instruction—burning just the grass while leaving the log untouched. If a spirit could control their power to this degree, did that mean higher-level spirits could manage even finer precision?

Pii muttered defensively under my gaze.

[Weeds get in the way of training...]

"I see. It's fine."

Had she been afraid I'd scold her?

This was just a clearing in the backyard, not a proper garden. A few burnt weeds wouldn't matter.

Besides, there was no way Arin's spirit wouldn't know better.

"Now, try splitting this log into four."

"Four... pieces?"

The log was standing upright.

Unlike before, simply slashing in one direction wouldn't work. So this was what Arin meant by control training.

It wasn't just about regulating power—it was also about thinking how to apply it depending on the situation.

This must be part of the foundational training.

Then how should I do it?

One method was to release Wind Blades from different directions simultaneously. But I couldn't quite visualize it.

Even if I could, I wasn't sure I could pull it off.

Wait. Do I even need to do that?

"As long as I don't touch the log with my hands, right?"

"Yep. Exactly."

Arin smiled. Silpi, standing beside me, tilted his head.

[Got an idea?]

"Yeah. Wanna help?"

I held out my hand, and Silpi chuckled before pressing his palm against mine again. Through our Empathic Link, he seemed to grasp my plan and gave a small nod.

"Haaah..."

I pictured the Space Magic Abel had demonstrated—how he could move objects freely just by raising his hand.

Whoosh...

With a gust of wind, the log floated into the air. After rising vertically, it tilted horizontally.

Strike in an X-shape.

Not much different from before.

Just adjust the angle slightly and release two consecutive slashes. The tricky part was maintaining the wind to keep the log suspended while doing so.

I wasn't used to multitasking, but I managed to hold it together.

"Let's go."

[Got it.]

Whoosh.

The blades flew.

The Wind Blades sliced through the log in an X-shape. As the four pieces fell with a thud, I released my hold.

"Impressive, no?"

Arin clapped her hands in applause.

I felt like a toddler being praised for taking its first steps. Still, the sense of accomplishment was undeniable—and it left me in a good mood.