Chapter 15
MIRA AND HER FRIENDS retired to Solomon’s office to enjoy a cup of after-lunch tea. Whenever all three were together—and alone—the stories flew fast and furious, and they found themselves getting worked up over even the most trivial matters.
It was during this precious bonding time that Garrett came back from his quest.
“Mission complete, Your Majesty.”
“Good work. You’ve done well.” Solomon praised him as he checked the freshly excavated Firefly Ore safely secured in a black bag.
Garrett saluted, then turned to Mira and formally bowed. “Miss Mira, thank you for lending us the use of your Dark Knight.”
“Hrmm, don’t mention it. But…” Mira was relaxing cross-legged on the sofa, but her eyes were sharp as she stared at the Dark Knight standing behind him. “The knight’s vigilance leveled up. What might’ve caused that?” She shifted her gaze back to Garrett as she traced her chin with a fingertip.
The vigilance level was one of the unique features separating Dark Knight escorts from the standard spirits. A summoner could expend extra mana to increase the Dark Knight’s lifespan and give it advanced regeneration. Furthermore, this armor spirit had the ability to learn. It could analyze the circumstances of its destruction and reform with armaments to confront the situation properly.
Obviously, such a change didn’t go unnoticed to Mira, who was intimately familiar with her Dark Knights. In this case, the changes were clear: The knight’s armor was thicker, and there was a longsword at its waist in addition to the greatsword it normally carried.
“I see. So it’s got a vigilance system, eh?” Garrett said, slowly understanding why the knight’s appearance had changed. “This will also be included in my report.”
He went on to mention the beast fiend and the sage who had easily defeated it. As Mira, Solomon, and Luminaria listened to Garrett’s report, they focused more on the description of the girl than the fiend.
“Thank you, Vice Commander. We’ll go over the details later. You’re dismissed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. By your leave.” Garrett saluted once more and then left the office. The Dark Knight vanished into particles of light as it was also dismissed.
“So what do you think?” Solomon asked, leaning forward with his hands folded on his desk as the door closed.
“It’s got to be Meilin. I can’t imagine anyone else who looks and talks that way.”
“People say the same thing about you. But the evidence lines up, I agree. It has to be her.”
A girl in a cheongsam who triumphed over a fiend with ease using her command of the immortal arts, and who spoke in a peculiar manner. There was no mistaking who their mystery sage must be: the Wise Man of Immortality, Meilin the Controlling Fist.
“From the sound of it, she’s off on another one of her warrior’s training journeys,” Solomon said, walking over to his office window and staring out in the direction of the Raggett Copper Mine with a small smile.
It sounded like Meilin had come to the region just to fight the fiend. But she was always quick on her feet. With her goal achieved, she was probably back on the hunt for another “training partner.” Even if they sent a search party, she’d be long gone.
“No doubt, knowing her. Though if she’s going to come this close to the palace, it would’ve been nice of her to drop in and say hello,” Mira muttered as she put her shoes back on. It would have saved her a lot of trouble hunting Meilin down later, in any case.
“Well, nothing we can do about it now. And the title of Wise Man is a heavy burden. She comes back now, and that’s the end of her training. She’d be stuck, like me,” Luminaria said with a shrug and a self-deprecating chuckle.
“According to the report, she said, ‘Maybe someday,’ right? So, if we wait, she’ll come back on her own, won’t she?” Mira asked, hoping this problem would solve itself.
“Perhaps. But she’s also the sort to forget responsibilities when she gets fixated on something else.” Solomon left the window and settled back into his office chair, side-eyeing the other two. “If only I had someone more reliable.”
“I know, right? All of them out there wandering about somewhere? If only we could find them,” Mira griped.
“At least you get to travel. I’m stuck here all on my lonesome,” Luminaria said sullenly. “Won’t they think of poor old me?”
“Why don’t we put a pin in this conversation before the Firefly Ore cools off?” Solomon said, cutting them off with a kindly smile.
***
After learning how to disarm the device guarding the third floor of the Fools’ Wunderkammer, Mira left for the academy with the Firefly Ore in tow. It was just after three o’clock in the afternoon, and the main street was packed with students returning home after their classes.
Fighting against the stream of people pouring out of the gates, Mira remembered her visit from the other day and dipped into one of the school buildings to search for Cleos.
Hmm, not here. I figured he’d be stuck doing overtime.
After a short walk through the building, up the stairs, and down the hallway—only getting slightly lost—she found the summoning classroom. But when she stood on her tiptoes to peek inside, she didn’t see anyone there.
Hrmm. What’s that sound?
Instead of tracking down the headmaster to help hunt for Cleos, she decided to investigate. Opening the door, she saw that the room was indeed empty. But the sound continued unabated.
Maybe it’s farther in?
Straining her ears, she noticed it was emanating from behind a door in the corner of the room. As she approached, the sound became louder, and she could hear voices mixed in. Some of those voices were familiar. Deciding that Cleos must be somewhere beyond, Mira opened the door to find a set of stairs leading down.
When she reached the bottom, Mira found herself in what appeared to be a training area. The room was awash with magic and the sound of clashing metal, and sure enough, Cleos was there with Hinata and ten students.
And twelve Dark Knights.
Compared to her own, the Dark Knights standing beside the students were definitely looking worse for wear. These spirits had clearly been summoned with brand-new contracts. On the other hand, Professor Hinata’s knight stood tall and cut a splendid figure. Cleos’s was as regal as any knight commander.
It seemed she was interrupting a mentoring session for new summoners. The knights belonging to Cleos and Hinata were engaged in battle, and Cleos was giving a running explanation. The lesson seemed to be focused on teaching the newbies the basics of how to control their armor spirits.
Good to see them teaching the fundamentals.
Mira watched the lesson with a swelling sense of pride, but then the eloquent commentary cut off. Hinata asked Cleos if there was an issue, but his eyes were fixed on Mira, his mouth hanging open. Following his gaze, the students turned around, wondering what was going on, only to see a small girl peeking into the training room from the entrance.
“Mira!” Hinata called out happily, bounding toward her. The students promptly started gossiping, trying to determine whether she was a new student or Cleos’s illegitimate child.
“Hrmm. Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to interrupt the lesson.”
“Don’t worry about it! We’re glad to have you here!” Hinata said with a smile, her tail standing tall as she took Mira’s hand and pulled her into the room. Then she spun back toward the students with a fresh spring in her step.
“Everyone! Let me introduce you. This is Mira, who took first place at the last Spell Symposium!”
Hinata held up a finger to represent number one, beaming and boasting as though it had been her own achievement.
“Hi. I’m Mira. Nice to meet you all,” Mira said, trying to maintain her dignity before the students. On closer inspection, the students appeared to be of all ages.
Stepping close, Cleos bowed and then added to the introduction. He told the students that not only was she the pupil of Master Danblf, but that she also provided the tools that allowed them to learn the summoning arts.
A buzz broke out among the students, which slowly built up into an enthusiastic round of applause. To them, Mira was the savior who kept their discipline alive. The applause gave way to scattered cheering before one student piped up, their eyes glimmering with hope and respect.
“Um, Miss Mira! Might you show us your armor spirits?!”
The cheers immediately shifted into cries of agreement.
“Well, I don’t see why not!” Magic circles appeared either side of her, and a Dark Knight and Holy Knight emerged from within.
Mira stood there fearlessly with her chest puffed out as the students marveled at her ability to cast without any incantation. They just happened instantly, effortlessly. Even more impressively, her summons were in leagues of their own when it came to their appearance. It was as if their forms channeled the divinity of ancient heroes and dreaded berserkers.
“Whoa,” one of the students finally managed to say.
Unfortunately for the students, the difference between their skill levels was so vast that it robbed the demonstration of any educational value.
“No matter how many times I see it, it still amazes me,” Hinata said excitedly with a look of respect.
“Armor spirits are the foundation of the art of summoning,” Mira replied as she dismissed her two knights, flattered by the honest praise. Then she summoned another two Dark Knights simultaneously, their greatswords swinging toward each other.
The blades whooshed through the air. As the swords met, the metal screeched and sparks flew. A sudden gust of wind blew through the training room, knocking several students head over heels. The sight of the two knights locked in combat was overwhelming.
“If trained properly, your armor spirits can achieve this level as well. Study hard, and remain diligent!” Mira called out to the new students.
The novices were amazed by this show of power, and the look in their eyes gradually shifted from amazement to aspiration. Armor spirits gained experience as they fought, and the stronger the foe, the faster they grew. The growth might be slow, but it kept building as long as the student kept practicing.
Then one of the students announced that they wanted to square off against Mira’s Dark Knight. They’d learned the basics from Cleos and wouldn’t let the opportunity to gain valuable combat experience against such a strong opponent slip by. Soon, all the students’ voices rose up in a clamor as they demanded their own chances to have a go.
Mira couldn’t let such passion and motivation go unanswered. Dismissing one of her two Dark Knights, she smiled daringly. “All together, then!”
The students’ spirits charged in, and a fierce battle raged around Mira’s lone knight.
A few minutes later, the students lay strewn across the training room floor. Dark Knights only remained summoned so long as the caster had mana, but the students were quickly exhausted, and the few knights fell.
Finally, only one opponent remained—the knight belonging to Hinata. It frantically turned aside a blow from Mira’s summon.
“Oho, not bad!” Mira told Hinata with a smile.
Hinata’s tail flicked back and forth behind her. “I have to show off a little! I am their professor, after all!”
Nevertheless, the difference in power was clear. Mira’s Dark Knight pushed Hinata’s steadily back, then swiftly cut it down. After that, Mira’s armor spirit stood alone in the training room. The students cheered in admiration at its stalwart unblemished appearance and overwhelming strength.
Then a dilemma arose within the students. Who was stronger: an Elder’s pupil, or an acting Elder? As one, they turned to Cleos.
Picking up on their curiosity, Cleos turned to Mira and bowed. “Why don’t we spar?”
Mira agreed immediately. How could she refuse?
And so began the ultimate battle between Dark Knights. Both Mira and Cleos had trained their summons in an elite sword style famous for its emphasis on decisive first strikes. Soon, the blades dancing between the two spirits mesmerized all those watching, and the tremble of air and clashes of noise that accompanied the slashes rang out like peals of thunder. The overwhelming power of the flashing swords left the audience breathless, their cutting blows leaving traces in the air before smashing together. The strikes looked brutal and wild, but each was precisely targeted. The skirmish transcended mock battle, now a duel between two blade masters.
Had it been seconds or minutes? No one could tell. But after a fierce exchange, the battle came to a close. Mira’s Dark Knight put everything into its fastest strike, outstripping Cleos’s knight, who had attempted the same technique just a fraction of a second slower. Mira’s spirit bisected its foe and claimed the victory.
The students were elated, not just from the exhibition, but because they’d learned how powerful a Dark Knight could be.
“I thought I might have had a chance, but I should’ve known better,” Cleos said with a hint of frustration. “Well done, Mistress Mira.”
Sensing her friend’s feelings, she replied, “Oh, no, you’ve definitely improved. I hardly recognized your summon!”
He smiled in return. “Thank you very much.”
“However, I think you need more combat experience. You should head to the Sword Saint’s Shrine. No better place to train an armor spirit,” Mira suggested as casually as if recommending a neighborhood restaurant.
“I’m not sure that’s the best place to train…” Cleos muttered disapprovingly. He had been dragged out there more than a few times in the past.
At that moment, one of the students anxiously piped up. “Um… So I—er, we—might be able to reach your level someday?”
“Cleos and I both started where you are now. Put the effort in and the possibilities are endless,” Mira said, her smile radiating confidence.
“Thank you very much!”
It seemed that was exactly what they needed to hear from a Wise Man’s pupil, and it opened a floodgate of requests and questions from the assembled students. Even Hinata, who had at some point joined the ring of students, was tossing out questions. Mira carefully took the time to go over the important basics of summoning, how to affix their summoning locations, how to train to prepare for simultaneous summoning, and how to best utilize both the Dark Knight and the Holy Knight.
Cleos sighed as he watched her carefully guide the new generation. I wish I’d had these lessons… Why couldn’t Mira have been so kind when she was training him? His shoulders slumped as he remembered the harshness of his own education.
Mira’s lecture finally ended when the academy started to shut down for the day, but the evocation students’ faces were filled with hope for the future. One by one, they headed home.
“By the way, what brought you to the academy today? Surely it wasn’t just to check on the new recruits?” Cleos asked as they were straightening up the classroom.
“Oh, that’s right. I’m headed down to the lowest level of the Fools’ Wunderkammer in search of some documents.” Mira pulled out the key that Luminaria had given her.
“Ah, so that’s why you’re here.” Cleos nodded in understanding. Two keys were required for entry to the Wunderkammer; he presumed it was an errand for King Solomon.
“So I’m here to borrow your copy of the key, and—” Mira started, then stopped and stared at Cleos as a thought struck her. She sidled up to the acting Elder before asking, “By the way, do you have any plans after this?”
“No, nothing in particular.” Her face lit up at his response, and he put his cleaning on hold.
“Perfect. Why don’t you join my little adventure?” she asked. The Fools’ Wunderkammer was poorly lit, making for a dim and gloomy dungeon. But that issue could be solved with the addition of one light spirit to the party.
“Sounds interesting. I think I will.” Cleos knew that dungeon delving with Mira—or rather with Danblf, as she used to be—could be a life-threatening experience. But there was also much to be gained. Just being around her counted as training. And so, it was with half nostalgia, half ambition that he expressed his desire to accompany her.
Hinata overheard this little exchange, and this wasn’t something she was prepared to overlook. “Umm… Might I tag along as well?” Hinata asked meekly.
She knew that she would regret missing this opportunity to further her own practical studies. If these two were headed to a dungeon, there would no doubt be battles. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the two strongest summoners in action.
“Sure, fine by me,” Mira said.
Cleos smiled at Hinata and mouthed, “Well done.” Hinata had always been a bit timid, but this time, she had asserted herself. Cleos had known her since she was a student herself, and he was happy to see such growth.
She shyly thanked him, but her perked ears betrayed her joy.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login