Chapter 18

“Listen up!” A booming voice cut through the cacophony of noise in the auditorium. “All you first years, up against the wall. Good, now listen carefully to the instruction I’m about to give you.”

The voice belonged to a large man with bulging muscles and a lattice of scars all over his body. “You are not allowed to go off by yourselves during this field trip. You probably noticed we have eighteen upperclassmen here. These will be your chaperones.

We have nine upper-class students from the Spirit school, and nine from the school of magic. Upper class spirit users will pair with freshman from the School of Magic and the reverse goes for the nine upper class magic students. I want four students per chaperone now!”

The students jerked into motion as they gathered around their chosen chaperone. Nate didn’t care who he was paired up with, but when he saw Ahri waving at him he moved towards her.

“Ahri, can we join you?” A group of four girls approached Ahri before Snog and Nate could get there.

“Sorry, I have a group.” She dismissed them before moving towards the two boys. Suddenly she turned towards the group of girls who looked embarrassed to be dismissed so casually. “Actually, I have room for two of you. You and you, come with me.”

The two girls that were chosen shrugged apologetically at the others, then walked after Ahri who already had Nate wrapped in a headlock. “Hey bro.”

“Alright, now that we have that out of the way get into the teleportation circle. We’ll begin the process shortly.” The scarred man went towards the other teachers.

Nate noticed Adrian amongst the crowd of students. It appeared that freshman from both schools were selected to go on this field trip. Those that didn’t get to go the first time would be going in six months when the next field trip occurred.

“Why’d he mix us up like that?” Nate wondered. “You would think pairing the freshmen with upper class mages would be a better learning experience.”

“Well you have to understand, because of the difference between magic and spirit, it’s more beneficial to mix things up.” Ahri explained. Nate just looked at her, not understanding the point she was getting at.

“Okay you know how the Trinity consists of: blood, soul, and mind?” When Nate nodded his head, Ahri continued. “Well mages are your average spell-slinging caster. They absorb world energy to cast elemental, arcane, or shaman magic. Spells vary from instantly cast spells, to spells charged for hours, days, or weeks. Mages are capable of devastating magic, but they’re limited to their cast time. The Qiyamah is the most powerful spell ever created.”

Several students gathered around Ahri to listen to her explanation, but her sole focus was on Nate.  “Spirit users are different. Everyone has a soul. We’re all born with a certain amount of spirit. It’s only a rare few that have a strong enough spirit to actually do something with it.

Spirit energy can be used primarily in two ways: fortification and conjuration. Fortification refers to anything that strengthens the body, allowing a spirit user to run at fast speeds or resist a lot of damage. Conjuration is condensed spirit energy that is created externally. Like this.”

Ahri swung her fist and an arc of black energy shot across the room and striking the far wall.

“Ahri!” The scarred instructor shouted.

“Sorry, sir!” Ahri apologized before continuing with her lecture. “Everyone’s spirit is different. Some might have a darkness affinity while others have fire or lightning. Spirit utilization is geared towards combat whereas magic can be used for a lot more.

Think of spirit users as warriors. Most mages are slow to cast their spells and require the protection of a spirit user to protect them until they can bring their magic to bear. Now obviously there are some variants in both classes that don’t adhere to the norm, but essentially this is the difference between spirit users and mages.”

Nate knew the basics from reading his mother’s diary, but he never got to finish the whole book. He still had a lot of questions when it pertained to magic and spirit. Although he wasn’t that powerful at magic, he did have some skill in it since he was an arcane mage.

It was his soul and mind abilities that were abnormal. His spirit wasn’t confined to a core, and it was mutated by the tribulation lightning that had almost killed him. It was only thanks to his mind abilities that he was still alive today. But his mind abilities have essentially reached a new level because of the near-death experience he went through.

There was no school to help him learn about his mind abilities, but Nate had tried to transfer to the Spirit School. He was stronger in spirit than he was in magic. His request was denied for some reason. Still, Nate wasn’t in a hurry. Eventually he’d get the answers he needed.

“Alright, the teleportation will begin in sixty seconds. Brace yourselves.” The scarred man’s voice boomed.

A minute later the world fell away into darkness before a new world appeared. Nate was already used to the experience, but there were several students who grew nauseous from the teleport. Snog was one of them.

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They were in some kind of abandoned village surrounded by a jungle. The village consisted of dilapidated houses and shacks that looked like they haven’t been lived in for years.

As the students recovered from the teleportation, the scarred instructor addressed them again. “There is another party here that will take part in the cleansing. I want you all to welcome Amarosa and Mendell.”

Nate jerked his head at the instructor. Did he say Mendell?

Behind the instructors were two groups of people. One of them was Amarosa and her band of werewolves and vampires, but it was the second group that caught Nate’s attention. Mendell was standing beside half a dozen other Guardians, but Nate was focused on the tall man with grey hair.

“I know you freshman are eager to try the new things you’ve been taught, but remember to stick with your chaperones. The monsters that will cross over are rank-less, but they’re still more than you can handle alone. The cross-over zone will be within a three-mile radius so feel free to explore but be warned: you are being monitored. Attacking each other will result in disciplinary action.” The scarred instructor excused the students who began splitting off in different directions.

Nate found himself staring at Mendell. His hands were shaking as adrenaline and anger began coursing through his body. The demon within was tugging at the chains holding it in place, howling for release.

“You all right?” A familiar voice he hadn’t heard in a long time said to him.

Nate turned to Aiden who was watching him with a worried expression. They’ve smiled and waved at each other from a distance but for the past month they haven’t really spoken to each other. “I’m good.” Nate said gruffly.

“You’re not. You can’t be.”

“The fuck do you care?” Nate snarled as he shook Aiden’s hand off him. “You wanted freedom from me, right? Well you got your freedom, now fuck off.”

Nate walked away. He knew it was unfair to lash at Aiden like that but he couldn’t help it. Although he would never admit it, he was hurt. Nate still thought of themselves as brothers but it was clear Aiden wanted nothing to do with him ever since they arrived.

His reflection on a broken glass called his attention. His eyes had changed again. Placing a hand on the wall he tried to calm himself. There were only a handful of instructors that knew about Nate’s demonic side.

They tried to get him to release it in a controlled environment, to try and gain control of it. But Nate never allowed it. The hatred and anger from ten years ago was still there. The hellish nightmare he went through during his coma only made it worse.

To stay sane, Nate had to find a way to master the hatred and anger, otherwise it would’ve consumed him. All his pent-up anger was pushed onto the demon, and rather than face it, Nate locked it away in the deepest recess of his mind.

He knew if it was ever free he would go on a rampage. In some ways, the demon had paid the price for Nate’s sanity and it was easier to keep it locked away rather than face the wrath of the demon.

“Nate, stay with the group.” Ahri called out to him.

Nate exhaled and once he was sure his eyes were back to normal, he turned to his group. “I’m coming.”

…

Master Andrea watched Nate through the eyes of his subordinate. “It’s just like you said.” He heard the subordinate whisper to himself.

“Wait for your opportunity. Don’t rush it, and when you do it, make sure Nate can see Mendell and his group.” Master Andrea ordered.

“Yes, Master.”

…

Aiden watched Nate walk away but he didn’t bother chasing after him. He was done looking after Nate. That wasn’t his responsibility anymore. The last ten years was hell for him, and even though it wasn’t Nate’s fault, he couldn’t help but be reminded of the bad times whenever he looked at Nate.

He still cared about Nate. He loved the man like a brother. But all he wanted to do now was to move on, and this was the only way he knew how.

A loud siren blared as the clear skies began to turn reddish-brown. Aiden had never heard such a loud sound before, the siren seemed to be coming from the sky itself. He looked around frantically trying to pinpoint the location.

“Aiden! With me!” His chaperone ordered, a pale young elf by the name of Ellen.

He rejoined his group and Ellen began to lead them into the forest beyond the village. “The creatures that’ll cross over are not to be underestimated. They will resemble the animals of our world, but they’re not. These creatures are mutated animals that will be very dangerous so stay alert.”

“Oh look!” The boy next to him shouted.

The group turned and saw a monkey staring at them from a tree-branch. “Oh, how cute!” a girl in their group squealed. “That’s a golden lion tamarin. They’re harmless.”

The girl moved forward offering her hand to the monkey but Ellen quickly pulled at the girl and shoved her back towards the group. “Foolish girl! Did you not hear a word I just said?!”

The monkey began to move its lips, but its eyes were focused on them.

“Prepare yourselves.” Ellen shouted.

There was a low hum that Aiden could barely make out, even with his advanced senses. He concentrated on the hum and slowly amplified it. What he heard made his skin crawl.

The monkey was speaking in hushed tones, too low for normal ears to hear. It’s whispering was too low for Aiden to make out any words, but it seemed like it was speaking to someone else. Someone nearby.

The brush exploded at the same time the monkey lunged, it’s body glowing with golden light. Several of his fellow peers yelled and tried to run away but they smacked into a pale blue barrier.

The monkey also smacked into the barrier as several other objects clanged against it. “Focus!” Ellen shouted at them. “Use your spirit for god’s sake. Stop being cowardly!”

Monkeys appeared everywhere. In the trees, in the bushes, all around them. The students were understandably terrified. The only ones who’d kept their calm was Aiden and Ellen.

“I will isolate them so you’re only fighting them one at a time. Who wants to go first?”

The other students were reluctant to go first so Aiden volunteered. He was a little nervous, but he had combat experience.

“Go!” Ellen shouted when she dropped the barrier.

Aiden stepped out of the barrier and approached the monkey closest to him. Before he could worry about the dozen other monkeys he saw a barrier spring up, cutting the other monkeys off before they could get near.

The monkey was fast and nimble, and its hits were powerful, but it wasn’t any different from fighting a Guardian. He quickly ended the monkey’s life and brought out a spirit crystal given to every freshman at the Spirit School.

Crystals were essential to spirit users. Mages had diagrams that allowed them to absorb world energy, but the only way for spirit users to get stronger was to kill monsters and absorb spirit energy.

Once he waved the spirit crystal over the monkey’s corpse, a pale white light flew out of the monkey’s corpse and into the crystal. Aiden walked back into the barrier and passed Ellen as he went towards the other spirit users.

“Just like they taught us.” Aiden said.