How many days remained until the Aetherfall Festival? A grand event that tested both skill and spirit, it was the pinnacle of the academy's tradition, where students competed for honor and recognition.? The thought lingered in my mind as I sat beneath the cascading waterfall near the town bordering the academy. The rhythmic sound of water crashing against the rocks blended with my steady breathing, grounding me in meditation.
I had undergone rigorous training in preparation for the festival, yet no official announcement had been made regarding its structure. Would we be competing individually, or as teams? The uncertainty gnawed at me, but all I could do was continue preparing for whatever lay ahead.
My gaze fell to the blank runestone embedded in my arm, a constant reminder that I had yet to form a contract with a spirit. A pang of unease settled in my chest—was I falling behind my peers? The weight of uncertainty pressed on me, but I steeled myself. I had trained relentlessly, and I refused to let doubt cloud my determination. Should I seek out a spirit contractor within the kingdom? It seemed the most efficient path—contractors acted as intermediaries, ensuring a smoother connection between individuals and spirits.
Determined, I made my way to Mistress Lenara's office. She was well-connected and, given her own lineage, would likely have insight into my predicament.
Knocking twice on the ornate wooden door, I called out, "Good morning, Mistress Lenara. May I ask you something?"
I heard the soft rustling of movement before the door swung open, revealing Lenara's poised figure. She greeted me with her usual grace, her sharp gaze studying me for a moment before stepping aside to let me in.
"What can I do for you?" she asked, leading me into her lavishly decorated office. The space exuded an air of refinement, with intricate furniture and carefully curated ornaments adorning the shelves. As I settled onto the plush couch, she prepared a cup of tea, her movements fluid and precise.
"What is it you wish to inquire about today?" she prompted, taking a measured sip from her porcelain cup.
I hesitated for a moment before responding. "It's about my blank runestone. I'd like to meet a spirit contractor—someone who can help me form a contract."
A flicker of recognition crossed her features before she set her teacup down, crossing her arms in thought.
"I see. That makes sense. Higher-class students typically have a spirit contractor assigned to them through their families." Her crimson eyes studied me for a moment before she continued. "Given your background, I can assist you with this, Selene."
I exhaled in relief. "That would mean a lot, Mistress Lenara."
She offered a slight smile before standing. "I'll take you to meet him personally. He's not just any spirit contractor—his abilities and knowledge are unparalleled, and even the most powerful nobles seek his guidance. Since you are a student of this academy, it is within your right to receive this assistance."
With a snap of her fingers, her modest maid uniform transformed into an elegant crimson dress that shimmered under the dim lighting. The sheer elegance of the transformation left me momentarily speechless. The shift in her presence was palpable—no longer just the academy's head maid, she now exuded an air of undeniable authority and power. A shiver ran down my spine, equal parts awe and apprehension settling in my chest. She reached for a coat and handed it to me.
"We're going to a very special place." Her lips curved into a knowing smile. "Prepare yourself."
With a single blink, I found myself standing before a massive steel gate, my mind struggling to process the sudden shift. Just moments ago, I had been in Mistress Lenara's office—now, we were in a shadowed alleyway, the air thick with an eerie stillness. Lenara, unfazed, dusted off her dress before ringing a small, rusted bell attached to the gate.
"How did we—?" I started, my voice trailing off in confusion.
"We simply appeared here," she said playfully, her lips curving into a knowing smile. There was no trace of movement, no sensation of travel—just an abrupt transition that defied logic. She was clearly concealing the nature of our arrival, and I knew better than to press further.
With a heavy creak, the steel door swung open, revealing a dim corridor. Mistress Lenara stepped aside, motioning for me to enter first. As I hesitated, she conjured a flame in the palm of her hand, its soft glow casting shifting shadows against the narrow passageway. With no other choice, I stepped forward, following the flickering light.
At the end of the corridor, an unexpected sight unfolded before us—a vast chamber that looked nothing like the alleyway we had entered from. It was an indoor sanctuary mimicking the untamed wild, lush with towering trees, thick foliage, and a ground carpeted in moss. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and an unnatural mist curled around the roots of ancient-looking trees.
A deep voice echoed from the heart of the room. "Did not expect to see you so soon, Lenara."
Mistress Lenara, to my surprise, immediately lowered herself to one knee. "I apologize for the sudden intrusion, Bladhuim the Seventh."
From the shifting mist, the air itself seemed to crack apart, revealing a tall, pale man cloaked in a deep green robe embroidered with archaic symbols. His presence exuded an otherworldly authority, a thick tome resting in the crook of his arm. His piercing gaze settled on me, sharp and assessing.
"You bring company, I see," he mused. "A student seeking a spirit contract, perhaps?"
Lenara gently placed a hand on my shoulder, a silent cue for me to respond.
I swallowed hard, lowering myself to one knee as well. "Yes, sir. I was hoping you could assist me in forming a contract."
Bladhuim studied me for a moment before slowly lowering himself onto a moss-covered stone. "I have done this many times before. Very well, I will aid you. Do you seek a specific spirit, or are you here to meet one?"
"I am here to meet one," I replied, my voice steady despite the tension coiling in my chest. "Hopefully one willing to form a contract with me."
Lenara remained silent, standing just out of my peripheral vision, watching me intently. There was something unreadable in her expression, as if she was anticipating something beyond my understanding. Her fingers twitched slightly, an unconscious reaction, as though she could sense something in the air that I could not. Being half-spirit, she must have felt the presence long before Bladhuim summoned it.
Bladhuim's fingers brushed over the pages of his book, flipping through ancient inscriptions before he raised his hand. With a sharp snap of his fingers, the air around us shimmered, and a blinding light erupted before me.
From within the glow, a dark, smoke-cloaked figure materialized, its form shifting like a living shadow. It exuded an ominous yet oddly familiar presence, its shape flickering between solidity and vapor.
"Se te ka ra no mi fabula," the spirit murmured in a tongue foreign to my ears.
Bladhuim's eyes barely left his tome as he translated. "The spirit asks for your name."
I bowed slightly, placing a hand over my chest. "Selene Ashborne."
The spirit stirred, its essence swirling around me like an unseen wind. "Ah do me si ra fo su."
Bladhuim's brow arched ever so slightly. "The Ashborne family… What a coincidence."
A chill ran down my spine. "What do you mean?"
The spirit drifted closer, its presence brushing against my skin like a whisper of air. "Mi fa so ra do mi."
Bladhuim hesitated for the first time, his gaze flicking between the spirit and his book. "Your ancestor once held a contract with this spirit. By lineage, the contract remains."
My pulse quickened, my thoughts racing. This wasn't a mere agreement—it was something predetermined, bound by blood. A strange unease settled over me, mixing with a reluctant curiosity. Did this mean I had no choice? Or was there something deeper at play, something my family had kept hidden?
The spirit circled me now, its form shifting erratically. "Ga ro na mi le sefa."
Bladhuim's expression darkened, though he translated nonetheless. "You will know when the time comes for your role."
My fists clenched at the cryptic response, but I steadied myself. "Then… are you willing to form a contract with me?"
The spirit halted, its form condensing into a solid mass of swirling black mist. "Su ma ri no fa lota."
Bladhuim's grip on his book tightened slightly. "Yes… as per the contract established by your predecessor. Brace yourself."
Before I could react, the spirit surged forward like a crashing wave. The moment it touched me, a frigid rush engulfed my body, an unbearable cold seeping into my very bones. My breath hitched as a sharp whisper echoed inside my head, words in an ancient language spoken directly into my mind. Memories—foreign, yet hauntingly familiar—flashed before my eyes, too fast to grasp before vanishing into the void.
My body wavered, the force of the impact overwhelming my senses. Just as darkness threatened to take me, I felt hands catch me, steadying my trembling frame. Lenara's touch was firm, her presence grounding me, but her gaze flickered with something unspoken—recognition? Worry? I barely had the presence of mind to register it before my vision swam again.
Bladhuim, unshaken, quietly noted something in his book before closing it with an air of finality. Whatever he had written, he kept it to himself. The time was not yet right.
The contract was settled.
Back at Pasagin Village, where we were set to depart this evening, I decided to seek the wisdom of the elders from the Celestial Tribunal. If there were any spirit domain hotspots in the area, I wanted to know—binding my blank runestone to a spirit before returning to the Academy would be invaluable.
I approached the elders gathered near the village shrine, their robes flowing with an air of wisdom. Bowing respectfully, I made my request.
"Honored elders, I seek guidance. Are there any known spirit domains in this region where I might form a contract?"
The eldest among them, a man with a silver beard and piercing eyes, shook his head. "We cannot sense such domains in this area, young one," he said, his voice deep with wisdom. "However, places rich in history, where artifacts and ancient events left their mark, may yet harbor spirits."
Another elder, a woman with eyes clouded by age but sharp in mind, added, "Seek the remnants of the past—ruins, relics, and hidden places. It is there that spirits linger."
Their words sparked an idea, and I bowed once more. "Thank you, honored elders. I will follow your guidance."
Taking their advice to heart, I began questioning the villagers, asking if there were any significant historical sites nearby. Many spoke of old ruins swallowed by time or abandoned shrines, but nothing stood out—until an old man, leaning on a gnarled staff, approached me.
"You seek a place of old power, don't you?" he rasped, his eyes twinkling with mystery.
I nodded. "Yes, something where a spirit might still dwell."
The old man stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Long ago, before this town was built, the land was contested. During those times, there was talk of an underwater cave—an ancient hiding place for treasure. It lies east beyond the town's outer wall, resting beneath a forgotten lake."
His words sent a chill of curiosity through me. "An underwater cave?" I echoed.
"Aye," he confirmed. "They say strange things happen there. Lights flicker beneath the surface, and those who wander too close sometimes hear whispers on the wind. If a spirit lingers anywhere, it may well be there."
I thanked him and set out toward the location he described. The journey was treacherous, leading me through murky rivers and thick mud, my boots sinking with each step. Along the way, I stumbled upon remnants of the Abyssal forces that had besieged the town the day before—charred tents, shattered weapons, and lingering traces of their foul presence.
Eventually, I arrived at a secluded lake, its still waters reflecting the twilight sky. The air around it was eerily silent, as if nature itself hesitated to disturb this place. As I stood at the water's edge, a sudden pressure filled my head, and my vision blurred.
In an instant, I was elsewhere—submerged in an endless abyss of water. The silence was deafening, the weight of the water pressing in from all sides. Then, as I looked downward, a vast, monstrous eye stared back at me from the darkness, its pupil contracting as if acknowledging my presence.
I gasped, snapping back to reality, only to find my body being drawn toward the lake's center. A strange force beckoned me forward, compelling me to step into the water. Cautiously, I waded in, each step making the pull stronger. My instincts screamed both warning and intrigue.
"This is madness," I muttered under my breath, yet I continued onward.
The deeper I ventured, the stronger the compulsion grew, until I could no longer resist. Taking a deep breath, I dove beneath the surface.
Beneath the water, a faint glow flickered in the depths. I swam toward it, the currents shifting unnaturally around me, guiding me downward. Soon, I realized the glow emanated from an opening—a submerged cave hidden beneath the lake. Just as I reached its entrance, a powerful whirlpool formed, dragging me inside with an overwhelming force.
I struggled against the current, my lungs burning as I fought for control. The pressure was immense, and for a moment, panic surged through me. Then, as suddenly as it began, the whirlpool ceased, and I found myself lying on solid ground, gasping for air.
As I sat up, my surroundings came into focus. The cavern was vast, its walls unnaturally smooth, as if carved by something—or someone—long ago. The floor beneath me was not rough stone but carefully crafted, an intricate pattern etched into its surface.
At the chamber's center stood four towering stone pillars, each engraved with ancient symbols and carvings. Beneath me, an eye-shaped emblem was embedded into the ground—the very same eye from my vision.
I exhaled sharply. "So it wasn't just an illusion…"
Determined to see what lay ahead, I conjured a small flame in my palm and approached one of the pillars. "Let's see if this place still remembers its past."
I ignited the top of the pillar, and instantly, the cavern responded. A deep blue light pulsed from beneath me, flowing outward like veins of energy, converging upon the eye-shaped emblem at the chamber's heart.
As the symbols on the pillars flickered to life, an otherworldly hum resonated through the air.
Something was awakening.