Shunned by Spirits
Excited voices erupted among the students who had formed their own groups.
Who would try communing with a spirit first? What did spirits of each element look like? If left alone, they could chatter like this all day in cheerful harmony. But amid it all, one student alone was steeped in gloom.
"Your mana was colorless last time, right? Still haven't found it?"
"What're you talking about? No, it's not that... never mind."
"Then I guess it's fine if I go first for sure. You can yield, yeah?"
"Yield or whatever, do what you want."
"Why so half-hearted? Did working at the trading company let you see spirits to your heart's content or something?"
He couldn't possibly suggest skipping class now that it had come to this.
"But why'd it have to be you?"
"...Could you phrase that a bit nicer?"
"No, I mean, there must've been tons of people begging to team up with you."
Iris shook her head with a weary sigh at the question.
"One girl was supposed to pair with you, but everyone recoiled at the idea."
"Obviously."
"Doesn't it sting a little that you're admitting it so easily?"
Feeling despair beyond mere disappointment, Maness looked to Conien like a drowning man grasping at straws. Conien, catching on, shook his head too.
"Looks like we'll have to make the most of this class."
"...Yeah."
Maness hurled random questions at Iris, who was eyeing their exchange suspiciously, instead of answering.
"You're magically talented, right? Don't suppose you know a spell to make a hundred steps look like ten?"
"How would I know something like that?"
"...Right."
He could only muster the same defeated response.
"Focus."
A single resonant command cut through the clamor. All eyes turned to Hiteri.
It was time for final warnings before entering the barrier.
"I hope there are no idiots here who harbor malice toward spirits or think of pranking them. Even the most harmless ones could make you suffer without breaking a sweat."
"What if a dangerous situation arises? How do we request help?"
Morras's question was one that needed addressing. They were still at a stage requiring a professor's protection, unable to handle every contingency.
"Strange question."
"Pardon?"
"Why should I help you?"
Maness was impressed. How did he come up with such a novel response? It was beyond anything a guardian figure should say.
"You're leading the class, Professor..."
"In this class, I'm just a chaperone. Whatever happens from here is yours to bear. You didn't come to magic school expecting me to babysit like a parent, did you?"
The mood sank like a bucket of ice water. Every student shared the thought that the professor had more talent for venomous words than magic.
"I'll help if you're on the brink of death. Too much cleanup otherwise is a hassle."
Another admirably chosen phrase that left him inwardly awed.
"I-I'll be careful!"
Hiteri, frowning at the pointless time-wasting question, drew his wand and fired a small mana bullet. The students' eyes followed the swiftly shot spell as it embedded in the ground.
"You might not feel it, but where the mana bullet hit is the boundary. From the moment you step forward, take care of your own body."
The heartless professor tapped his palm with the wand and left one piece of advice.
"And unless you must, don't go too deep. At your level, there's stuff you can't handle..."
Hiteri paused, scanning the students.
"...that even a few specific ones would struggle with."
His gaze lingered on Maness and Iris.
*
"Whoa..."
After Hiteri's curses ended and the students crossed the boundary, exclamations poured out.
Until moments ago, there had been nothing special—just trees, grass, and ridges. But the instant they stepped inside the barrier, it transformed into a paradise teeming with spirits of every shape and color.
Not space magic. Maness, having experienced his share, analyzed the change. It wasn't like the Library of Memories, where space itself was transplanted or shifted. Likely, the barrier dispersed or sharpened perceptions of spirits via some spell. He wasn't certain, of course. He was still a novice in the vast realm of magic.
- Isn't that a wind spirit?
- No puddles around? Gotta head there; might find one that matches me.
- Hey, hey! Stay within ten paces!
It was only a matter of time before the students scattered. Eager young mages, each and every group, set off in high spirits to find their desired spirits.
Thus, only one group remained before the barrier.
"...What're you doing?"
"Sensing with mana. It's a fire spirit, so maybe it'll feel hot."
Iris, eyes closed in concentration, gave a brief reply before diving back in.
Sensing spirits with mana? Maness swallowed his budding doubt. Mana and spirits seemed similar at a glance—both wielding nature's forces—but they were entirely different. He wanted to explain, but held back, anticipating snide remarks. At least her stillness was a plus.
"Won't work."
Conien filled the gap instead.
"Nothing's registering, but... you sound certain. Why?"
"Spirits wield pure natural forces. Too tenuous a link to detect with external mana."
Conien added to his meaningful glance at the fiery girl.
"Heard it from a spirit shaman in my tribe. Someone skilled enough to contract a high-grade spirit once—you can trust that."
"Yeah, then you're probably right."
Fortunately, Iris accepted quickly despite her personality. Stubbornness would've been odd against a veteran spirit shaman's word.
"Guess we gotta hoof it then."
"How about communing with a non-fire spirit?"
"Our affinities don't match; inefficient, no?"
"Magic's different from natural forces anyway."
That much was certain. If mana color tied deeply to spirits, famed spirit shamans couldn't contract varied ones. Not entirely unrelated, perhaps.
"Hmm, okay then..."
Her intent grasped, Iris approached a fluttering wind spirit. Resembling a flying squirrel, it twisted warily as she neared.
"C'mere, nice and easy."
Undaunted, she coaxed it earnestly. The spirit slowly lowered its path, landing on her raised hand. Joy lit Iris's face.
"See? It came to me!"
It worked. Her talent truly set her apart. Even low-grade spirits with faint egos weren't easily won over. Affinity alone didn't prove genius, but it impressed.
"Spirits like the untainted."
"Duh! I've lived pure as can be."
True enough. Her straightforward speech and lack of pretense made her popular for good reason.
"You guys touch it too."
Iris approached, cradling the spirit. Conien offered his palm; it switched hands, rubbing its cheek against him.
"It's let its guard down."
"Now we can travel together?"
"No, befriending and contracting are separate. High-grades with communication might skip steps, but usually, there's a proper ritual."
Maness seized the moment their attention fixed on the wind spirit. He'd sat since Iris's mana-sensing attempt, now claiming a brief, sweet nap.
But Iris, ever studious, wouldn't miss it.
"You, didn't sleep last night?"
"...Yeah."
"What kept you up? Hang in there and touch it. Opportunities like this don't come often."
He couldn't hate her for it. No malice in her insistent prodding—pure goodwill to share the experience.
"Hoo..."
Deep breath rousing him, Maness stood and dusted off. The wind spirit atop Conien's hand lifted its head, basking in comfort.
Cute. As he reached for its blinking eyes...
Shooo—
The spirit panicked, whipping up a faint gust and fleeing far away.
"Ah."
Fatigue forgotten, Maness watched its retreat. Rejected?
"Pfft!"
He whipped around at the ill-timed sound, spotting Iris clutching her mouth.
"No, I just didn't expect it to freak out like that."
Conien shared the sentiment, though without bursting into laughter. Unsure how to react, he stared skyward.
"Freak out? That's a strong word."
"Then, appalled?"
"Bad match or whatever."
Lame excuse. Anyone could see it fleeing a top predator.
"Sure, with all the tarnish you've accumulated."
"Spirits can't see the past."
"Maybe not, but they see the soul."
"This... "
Maness tamped down his irritation. Actions over words. Prove the wind spirit was an outlier.
"Watch."
As if the nap never happened, he approached a crawling earth spirit. Turtle-shaped, it craned its neck at his blocking foot.
"Nice."
Squatting to meet its gaze, the spirit blankly retreated—then bolted with turtle-defying speed.
"......"
"Gotta admit it now, huh, expert?"
Iris teased, roping in flustered Conien—her rival candidate.
"I know next to nothing about spirits."
"Don't patronize; it's pitiful."
Fueled by their reactions, Maness ignored exhaustion, attempting communion with every visible spirit. But failures piled on misery. Soon, they'd scared off every spirit in sight, drawing collective sighs.
"Um... maybe stop now?"
Pity tinged Iris's voice, who'd been mocking moments ago. Yet Maness's shock lingered. Rejection by spirits felt like a denial of his very self.
Wait.
His mind flashed, dodging self-blame.
- This class won't benefit you anyway.
- I'm interested in spirits.
- Don't you know a familiar-owner's intent doesn't matter?
Hiteri's words. He'd been certain this spirit class held no gain for him.
- Experience it yourself.
It rang true. He'd learned only powerlessness firsthand. The reason? His familiar.
Maness drew the egg from his pocket. Ignoring the duo's quizzical stares, he quietly approached one of the few remaining spirits—a sluggish earth crawler.
He placed the egg carefully beside it, waiting.
The spirit turned, spotted the egg, and...
"As expected."
...fled in haste.