Rustle – Along the Path of the Blowing Wind
Two figures walked along the path where the wind rustled through. Rapina, beside Kang Hanbit, wore a face mixed with tension and anticipation.
“You don’t have to be so tense. If the spirits didn’t like you, they would’ve kicked you out ages ago.”
“That’s a relief, but……”
The efforts of those ten stagnant months. On top of hearing from Asla that her affinity was lacking, it was only natural for worry to take hold.
“You’ve never actually seen a spirit before, have you?”
“Ah, no. Black Dragon-nim’s Sylph was the first.”
“What about the feeling of the wind or water trying to talk to you?”
“Hmm…… Sometimes it felt like a finger or cheek was being touched. But it might just be my imagination from the wind I create.”
“I see.”
Listening to her, Hanbit nodded inwardly. Rapina wasn’t without talent as a spirit mage. Even if her affinity was low, the spirits kept showing interest from their side. If she had a better environment to bond with them, she could advance a step further.
Whoosh—
A lush green meadow stretched out ahead. Beyond it, beautifully rooted trees and scattering leaves made the existence of “wind” visible to the eye.
Squeeze—
Rapina clenched the fist pressed to her chest. A resolve to find some thread of progress, no matter what.
“Let’s go in.”
The two stepped into the shimmering green meadow.
“Ah, don’t be too startled. It’s just playing around.”
“Pardon? What do you mean……”
Whoosh—!
Suddenly, a massive gust engulfed them.
“Eek!”
Before they could react, the two were hurled into the air. Rapina especially soared so far she vanished from sight.
-Oof;
-Playful but intense lol
-Don’t get startled? By this?
-But looks fun tho……
-Nature’s rollercoaster whoa
‘Still greets aggressively as ever.’
Floating in the air, Hanbit recalled old memories. Among spirits, this mid-tier wind spirit was the most mischievous. To sate its curiosity, it needed stimulation.
Shing—!
Drawing his sword, Hanbit assumed a stance. Something to ignite the spirit’s curiosity explosively. He could think of a few options, but right now, he had a method bordering on certainty.
‘No need for anything else.’
The spirit king who had vanished from the world. What reaction would they show upon seeing the remnants of its power?
Hanbit knew the future.
Fwoosh—!
Flames ignited instantly, surging along the blade. Half his stamina and mana gone as the price of Element Awakening. Its value appeared before his eyes.
Whoosh—!
The spirit, facing him from a distance, reacted to the unexpected power. That burst of doubt and curiosity stirred the winds.
Kaboom—!
The gale whipped into a storm, swirling and charging. The erupting flames rode the currents, weaving a spectacular sight.
Fwoom—!
Several massive fire vortices formed in the air, asserting their presence with grandeur. Far more dazzling than when Hanbit used his skills. You could feel how thrilled the spirit was.
Whoosh—
The successive blasts of wind gradually lost power. As they fully died down, another change occurred.
Swoosh—
Hanbit’s body, hovering in the air, slowly descended to the ground. Chuckling softly, he addressed the encircling breeze.
“Shuriel, had enough fun?”
Whoosh—!
The mid-tier wind spirit Shuriel tickled his face in response. Then messages appeared.
[The wind spirit Shuriel lets out a joyful laugh.]
[The wind spirit Shuriel shows interest in your power.]
[The wind spirit Shuriel shows even greater interest in you.]
[The wind spirit Shuriel expresses surprise at your high affinity.]
……
This should wrap up the communion smoothly. Or so he thought.
Swoosh—!
Suddenly, a gust swirled from Hanbit’s chest, manifesting a small bird.
“……Sylph?”
The unexpected situation puzzled him. But Sylph looked serious.
Chirp—!
As if confronting Shuriel. Even across all his past lives, this was a first.
“What’s wrong?”
Chirp—!
Sylph trilled as if telling him to stay put.
Whoosh—!
Shuriel’s wind, which had briefly retreated, approached cautiously again. The two spirits’ powers mingled carefully, beginning some form of communication.
‘What’s this?’
Spirit hierarchy was clear. Not strictly vertical, but distinctly divided existences. Thus, not meddling in each other’s affairs was the natural flow.
Chirp—!
Whoosh—
Yet this enigmatic exchange seemed to resolve some conflict. All the more wondrous for same-attribute spirits.
-?
-What’s going on?
-Fighting?
-Kids grow by fighting.
-Kids (roughly 5,000 years old)
-Too cute to blame.
Viewers, unaware of the details, were equally intrigued. After about ten minutes like this.
Chirp—!
Sylph returned to Hanbit’s chest. At that moment.
Whirl—!
A dense wind enveloped the small bird, spinning around it.
Swoosh—!
Unlike its sharp appearance, the wind was endlessly gentle. As the rotation halted, revealing the interior.
Ding—
With the alert sound, the bird emerged larger.
[The lower wind spirit Sylph evolves into a mid-tier wind spirit.]
[The mid-tier wind spirit Sylph wishes to stay with you longer.]
[Title: Recipient of a Spirit's Attachment added to list.]
-Huh?
-Evolution?
-As expected of our Sylph. T_T
-Roots are eternal.
-Sticking with us all the way ;
‘…Evolution?’
Checking the messages, even Hanbit was surprised. Spirit evolutions were that rare. Moreover, Sylph’s identity detaching as an individual was no ordinary event. Spirits were one and all, sharing consciousness by tier usually.
Chirp—!
The bird perched on his palm had grown to soccer-ball size. Stroking its nuzzling head, Hanbit examined the title.
[Recipient of a Spirit's Attachment]
Enhances communion with spirits. Solidifies their identity, exponentially grows communication ability. Effect varies by spirit tier.
‘Communication?’
An odd word caught his eye. Lowering his gaze slowly, Hanbit met Sylph’s eyes.
[Like!]
“……Huh?”
A speech bubble over Sylph’s head. And the words rang clearly in his mind.
“Are you talking to me right now?”
[Yep!]
-No way lololol
-Comm channel ON
-Our baby finally speaks. T_T
-Bubble is adorable lol
-Smack Baldor. I’m coming.
-Already happening.
Viewers were thrilled at the first chat with Sylph. But the weight Hanbit felt was different.
‘Already conversing?’
Not mere communication, but clear dialogue. For a spirit to hold such identity started at upper tier. Even then, it required long interaction—language response this soon defied common sense.
Chirp—!
Sylph flapped as if oblivious. Hard to comprehend, but anyway, the contract with a mid-tier spirit succeeded safely. Time to move to other attributes.
“Uwaaaah!”
A scream from afar made him turn. Rapina still dangled in the sky, tossed by winds.
“Sylph, can you take me over there?”
[Yep!]
Whoosh—!
Wind wrapped his body with the reply. In a spirit realm, Sylph’s power was free and potent.
Swoosh—!
He reached her in moments.
“Black Dragon-nim!”
Spotting him, she cried out desperately. Face full of bewilderment.
“Looks like Shuriel’s interested too. Try everything you can.”
“Pardon?”
“Play with the spirit. Use magic, sing—find a way to imprint yourself. I’ll go ahead.”
“Wait……! Black Dragon-nim!”
-lololol
-Trial level almost;
-Feeling the kids’ cafe worker struggles.
Leaving Rapina reaching out, Hanbit exited the realm. Three spirits left. He headed to fire first.
Ding—
Alert as soon as he stepped in.
The message matched expectations.
[The fire spirit Salrist senses your heat.]
[Mid-tier fire spirit Salrist wishes to join you.]
Thanks to Salion’s traces, fire spirits naturally opened to him. A decision fitting their passionate, impulsive nature.
Next, water spirits.
Splash—
A shallow lake expanse. Entering, similar messages rose.
[The water spirit Undine questions the power within you.]
[The water spirit Undine expresses slight concern.]
[The water spirit Undine can’t shake her worry.]
[Mid-tier water spirit Undine wishes to join you.]
Ice spirits branched from water’s origin. Like parent and child. Gentle, sensitive water spirits wouldn’t overlook Glacier’s traces.
“Last one… over there.”
The final earth space, covered in rock and soil. Hanbit stepped in slowly.
“……”
Unlike the prior three, no reaction. After a moment, messages trickled.
[The earth spirit Gnome ponders.]
[The earth spirit Gnome hesitates at change.]
[The earth spirit Gnome shakes her head, needing time.]
The shift ended in refusal. As expected, but Hanbit’s goal differed slightly.
“I have a request. Could I have your spirit stone?”
Rumble—
The ground quivered faintly at his words. After more time, a message.
[The earth spirit Gnome reads your footsteps.]
[The earth spirit Gnome confirms the echoes of many lives you protected.]
Crack—
The ground split before him. A translucent yellow-glowing round gem lay there.
“Thank you.”
Bowing slightly, he reached out.
[Obtained Spirit Stone Containing Earth Power (5-rank - Epic).]
-5-rank Epic whoa
-Giving this away?
-But no contract.
-Tough friend.
-Got the stone. Drinks on me.
The spirit stone’s quality was superb as aimed. Infused with earth power, no need for extra infusion work. Contract could wait for next chance with more time.
Hanbit carefully inspected then stored it.
“Then I’ll be off. I’ll visit again, and next time……”
Crack—
Mid-farewell, the ground shifted suddenly. Messages followed.
[The earth spirit Gnome worries over your burden.]
“……It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
Rustle—
His quiet reply drew the ground around his legs like an embrace. The earth spirit’s special power: retracing past footsteps. Not clearly knowing his 55 lives, but vaguely sensing that long time. Perhaps from all the footsteps, battle scars, shed blood soaked into the earth.
Crack—
The wriggling ground stilled soon. Another message promptly.
[Mid-tier earth spirit Gnome wishes to join you.]
-Huh?
-??
-Bounced back, then why;
-Pulling this now?
‘…Faster than expected.’
He’d planned a real revisit. Yet Gnome decided here. Game system influence? Or his actions here swayed it?
[The earth spirit Gnome wishes to help you save many lives.]
Gnome’s will was clear. Most sensitive to good and evil among spirits. Desires saving lives, but equally resolute in judging evil. Much like Leon, in a way.
“Thank you.”
Short thanks sealed the four-element contracts. It manifested as another achievement.
Ding—
[Title: Contractor of the Four Elements added to list.]