Chapter XXX
Year 2049
Six Years Ago
Caspian and Yoki shadow stepped in and out of the darkness within the abandoned observatory. Yoki thought he had cornered Caspian, but Caspian sank into a nearby shadow, merged, and reappeared a short distance away.
Their rapid succession of sunderglyph shadow steps turned this Nightwalker skirmish into a stalemate. Both had yet to thoroughly learn the abilities of their Tearing class, for little was known about Nightwalkers.
Earthworkers were self-explanatory—they harnessed the elements of wind, water, fire, or earth. Fire and water were opposites on the Earthworking spectrum, so if someone was a water Earthworker, their specialty, and most easily manipulated element would be water, followed by a three-quarters reduction in ability with earth and wind and a zero affinity to fire, making it nearly impossible to wield.
This made dual-elemental Earthworkers powerful; they had greater access and ease in grasping the other elements. Take a wind and earth Earthworker, for example. Wind and earth were opposite elements, like water and fire. However, since they have 100% affinity with wind and earth, water and fire would rise from a three-quarters reduction to a half reduction.
This is also what made Daniel so special—he was a tri-elemental with three different attributes: wind, water, and fire. He had access to earth at only a quarter reduction, making him ridiculously powerful in controlling the elements.
The less reduction you have for an element when Earthworking, the easier it is to learn and manipulate it, which, in turn, significantly reduces the Sphaeram cost in units. You can do remarkable specialties with a minimal reduction, like Daniel. For instance, Daniel could form sub-affinity elements like lightning and ice, fusing hints of different elements to perpetrate their combined effect. This was a demanding feat, something exclusively multi-elemental Earthworkers could achieve.
That was Earthworkers, presumably the most straightforward of the four Tearing classes. After that, there were Interlopers and Shifters, whose magicks were slightly more intricate than the basics of Earthworking—the most regular of Tearing classes, though not that any Tearing was normal.
The thing about Earthworking was that it could be used by any Tearing class. Still, if you're an Earthworker with an affinity to one element, it's like a part of you—a limb in ease of use. It is not just any limb, though; a limb like the hand is a muscle with more nerve connections than any other body part. It might take some time to fully master, but it's no different than if someone were to write with their right hand and become adept at it.
Someone who wasn't an Earthworker and attempted to manipulate elemental affinities was like trying to use a foot to write, only it's their weak foot, and they must hold the element in the pinky and fourth toe. To be completely candid, it was next to impossible.
That doesn't mean Interlopers and Shifters couldn't utilize Earthworking attributes; it highly rode on the Tearing's respective lineages and if any relatives held Earthworking attributes. If they did, it might become more like using a dominant foot and manipulating the element with your big toe and second toe, or even a touch more if there's purity in the bloodline—where it might even be like using a non-dominant hand instead. This is one reason aristocratic families prospered at the Academy—they bred for power.
Regardless, that was just for Interlopers and Shifters—Nightwalkers were altogether distinct. Yoki wasn't confident about how many Tearings were Nightwalkers compared to the other three classes, but he knew it was slight. In his Introduction to Sphaeram class, he had memorized all this. Yet, he didn't recall much about being a Nightwalker himself. Why concentrate so extensively on learning about a class with so few Tearings?
This was beyond frustrating, but even more than that, it was a staunch ignorance he couldn't swamp, a gap he couldn't fill with the finite details obtainable in the library.
However, Yoki did learn a few things. He understood that Nightwalkers stood as the most well-rounded of the Tearing classes. He had made a list of everything he'd discovered thus far concerning them, but it was really quite elementary:
Nightwalkers
Attribute Description Powers Can harness multiple powers and learn the powers of others with practice. Easily susceptible to greed. Potency One of the most potent kinds of magickal people. Connections Connected to dreams and communicating between worlds. Physicality They are very physical beings. Roles Often, they work as spies or military leaders after graduating from the Academy. Mindset Thinking and reacting quickly and having the power to back it up. Sphaeram Have the most potent Sphaeram. Shadow Control Can blend in and be one with the shadows—control darkness to their will. Note There is a dark side which is never taught but is extremely powerful yet dangerous. I am unable to figure out what this is precisely, as all these books are vague as shit.
And that was Yoki's list, something he'd memorized many times over. Of course, he had also discovered considerably more concerning the other Tearings. Still, he focused on understanding more about himself and his capacities. He was clinched to know more about the Nightwalkers, the Tearing class who most likely butchered his parents, to see if they were like him. He had suspicions, but there was no way of knowing if he was right or wrong.
Which brings him back to the present—his current brawl with Caspian. The atmosphere crackled with uncertainty as they bobbed in and out, a game of who had more Sphaeram at this juncture.
Is this what it would be like to fight my parents' murderers?
Yoki abruptly ceased vaulting into the shadows. Caspian didn't think twice about seizing the opportunity to attack.
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Yoki had hoped Caspian would attack so he could use his atypical strength to seize him, thwarting him from slipping into the reservoirs of glooms without bringing Yoki.
Bad idea.
Yoki discovered why seconds later. Caspian hurled himself at Yoki's back, his presence recognizable by how he emitted his Sphaeram—something Yoki had learned to read exceptionally well over the past few months, thanks to Indigo.
Yoki pivoted immediately before contact, knowing Caspian would anticipate him to have yet to discern where he was coming from. But—
a problematic kick struck his rear opposite where Caspian had just been closing from.
Fuck—
And just from that one kick, Yoki was bashed onto the ground. Within a wink, Caspian was on top of him, holding a coalesced blade of shadows down at Yoki's throat, clicking his tongue in disapproval.
Caspian got off Yoki, and Yoki stood up, understanding why it had been such a flawed notion. Caspian voiced this for him, "A Nightwalker can never be expected to be in the same place reliably, Yoki. Would've presumed you'd known that. When you spun around, I merged into your shadow, coming out and striking from your rear."
"My shadow..." It was something Yoki had done during his outbreaks but continually required to recall about when lucid. That's right—he could move into any shadow, not just those made by the environment, but the authentic moving shadows of others.
He felt like a fool, something Caspian must've apprehended from Yoki's shaking head, consoling him with a slap on the back, precisely where he had kicked when taking Yoki down.
Your martial arts are only helpful if you understand how Tearings fight, boy.
"It was a good bout," Caspian said.
"It was for you," Yoki laughed. "But you're right, it was."
"It's so strange, though," Caspian started. "We're just waiting for the other to slip up or run out of Sphaeram when we Shadow Step. But surely there are other ways to fight beyond just a stalemate chase?"
"I'm sure there are," Yoki said, still berating himself for his lack of thought.
A vacuous twit indeed.
Missteps were okay, though; this is why Caspian's proposal to train was so worthwhile. Make mistakes now so that they won't happen again.
"Alright, you ready to go again?"
Yoki responded by letting himself sink into the shadow at his feet, his form dissolving like brume into the night.
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It was the busiest time for breakfast now. Caspian and he had trained so long that Ethan's brothers were undoubtedly already on their way to their upperclassman duties. Nova had yet to emerge since yesterday's talk with Yoki.
So Caspian and Yoki returned to their dormitory to soon face the inevitably bustling and long-lined breakfast of those who woke at what could be deemed the average time but would be sleeping in for Yoki—people like Yoki's new friend group.
Walking into the Umbra Dormitory, they passed the tall, yellow-eyed house leader, Samantha, who held an invariant, stern countenance about her. Caspian and Yoki nodded respectfully as they passed, and she nodded back as they entered the common room. It was much more animated now, with students of all years fraternizing about, waiting for others to come down so they could depart with their respective parties to breakfast. Caspian appeared to evaporate into the background, unseen, as Yoki ambled past the yawning students, giving his informal "mornings" as he returned to his room to shower quickly and move on to breakfast.
He entered the stairwell, climbed to his new fifth floor, and met Caspian, who had already strolled out of their door with shampoo in hand.
Yoki quirked an eyebrow. "Shadow Stepping in our dormitory? Ballsy, I must say."
Caspian gave an irregular smirk at that. "You can call it ballsy; I call it real-life application."
Caspian winked as he passed Yoki down the corridor to their floor's showers. As Yoki finished assembling his supplies to shower and exited the room, none other than Yoki's best friend since coming to the Academy stood outside his door.
"By sanguis, I had to do a double-take after hearing in the common room you had yet to go. Finally going to eat with us again this morning?"
Yoki dropped his shower cache and tackled Enrique.
"Maybe if you woke up earlier and didn't sleep like a bum, you could come to eat with us earlier."
"Yeah, well, I happen to like sleeping."
"Then don't complain about my absence when I eat with you guys for lunch and dinner, you idiot."
Enrique pinned one of Yoki's hands and swung on top, only for Yoki to execute a knee slide, leaving them both panting, both standing in level three positions.
Enrique grinned as he stood up, and so did Yoki. They clasped arms, Enrique gripping the back of Yoki's head, saying, "Lunch and dinner—that's pushing it! We're lucky to see you at one or the other of those meals, if even at either."
Yoki swatted Enrique away, picking up his fallen shampoo and body wash before going after Caspian to the showers.
"Yeah, you're right. But—" Yoki turned around. "Maybe you're just upset because I can't play wingman to you and Lila."
"As if, man. I will ask her to be my date tonight for the Winter Gala next week. We're going strong—something I can't say about you and Lucia."
Yoki perked up at this, surprised. Enrique was highly affable, but when it came to girls—well, he was just about as clueless as Yoki was, worse even.
Not now; you seem to be avoiding your little lady friend.
Shut up, as if you have gotten any game.
You'd be surprised.
But it seemed that after Yoki introduced Enrique and Lila to each other—keeping his promise to Enrique—they genuinely became good friends.
In the second semester, Yoki didn't have a single course with Enrique, but Enrique had a ton of classes with Lila. It seemed like they were getting closer by the day.
Never would've expected that pair to be together.
Me neither.
Yoki showered quickly and went to breakfast with Enrique. Yoki hadn't found Caspian in the showers but wasn't surprised. If Caspian didn't want to be visited, Yoki wouldn't catch him. That's just how Caspian was, after all.
Arriving at breakfast a touch late, they sat down at an outlying table with Hannah, Helena, Troy, Lucia, Daniel, and Lila. By the time he and Enrique sat down, he heard about the new 'suicide.'
"A new third-year died, apparently found in his room in the Terra Dormitory. Third-years get their own rooms, but he was supposed to have a meeting with his girlfriend to study, and when he didn't show up, the girlfriend sought him out—"
"Helena, what are you yapping about?" Enrique interrupted.
Helena, who'd been gossiping, glanced up to see Yoki and Enrique sit down. Yoki glanced at the group and saw Hannah nod respectfully and with a weighty look. Troy strained to give a soft smile, but it didn't show in his eyes. Lucia and he had been whispering, but that broke when the pair sat down. Lucia looked at Yoki, seriousness on her face. Lila darted to Enrique with eyes that reflected Enrique's claim earlier. But, there was more concern there than anything.
Helena was more than happy to oblige Enrique with the inquiry. "You remember the three suicides that happened last semester? On the first day, we arrived with the student who jumped off the building and then the other second-year boy who died, and the fourth-year girl. Yeah, apparently, a new student was found just this morning. Not much news on it yet, just that he was a third-year in Terra."
"What was his name?" Daniel asked curiously.
Lila answered for him, "His name was Adam. It's strange, though; he was an Interloper, but the first two before were both Earthworkers, and the second-to-last most recent was a Shifter? You guys think it's a..." She paused, letting the implication hang. The group glanced at Yoki.
He sighed. "Guys, I have no idea about this, but I can't imagine why a Nightwalker would be going about killing random students."
"Who said anything about killing students?" Troy asked suddenly.
Yoki looked at him flatly, and Lucia pinched Troy underneath the table, causing him to curse loudly.
"Don't be an idiot, Troy," Lucia said.
"I think it's best if we don't get involved," Hannah said, adult as ever. "Nothing good will come from getting involved in what appears to be a series of serial killings."
"Oh, how could we not want to get involved? Next thing you know, I'll be dead," Enrique said.
Lila frowned at this.
Yoki and Daniel grinned at this, saying simultaneously, "You're not special, pal."