In the beginning, Eoum was actually a living being. Some might called it a god or a cosmic being of unimaginable power but nothing was certain.
Legend has it that it was severely wounded after many eons of wandering in the eternity of space and with no way of healing its wound; it decided to remain stasis to be alive.
As it remained stasis, it curled and hardened physical body attracted the surrounding meteors, debris and satellites, clumping layers upon layers thus forming the planet of Eoum after millions of years.
At that point, it had physically died but the conscience was still alive. That conscience became the Planet-Spirit of Eoum.
Well that is the summary I could make of from Professor Keh Tauzad on his two hours long of the most agreed and the most popular theory of the creation of Eoum. After we introduced ourselves to him, our lecture starts with this.
As far as I concern, back on earth, people had been making up theories on creation ever since they could lifted cudgels and bashed each other in the name of religion and ideology.
It was still an enlightening discussion as there were other theories like Eoum was a collection of spirits that converged like vortex to form the planet and it spirit or that it was originally a barren planet and Eoum was a wandering great spirit that inhabited and possessed the planet thus making it grow with life.
Aside from me, Erganisu and Akujin were also quite the inquiring minds and Keh Tauzad was really calm and open-minded as he sagely discussed with us and answered our questions.
Three hour had passed and it was over. The next class is the magic system or Eomancy but first, a one hour break.
--
We were transported to the same room that served us food before. It was lunch time. It was almost the same feast but seems to be less grandeur but still satisfying.
Unfortunately, I was sitting beside August, who once knew that we’re both from the same world was talking and sticking to me, on my right and Erganisu who were quietly eating his meal, on my left.
The Heirs were nowhere in sight as they were probably having lunch with the Inheritors.
I do miss talking with Miss Aeriasus but I guess Mister August will do for the male to male conversations.
Across us were the Green and red hairs squad and behind us were the elves majority team. Everyone was throwing glances at one another.
I guess it’s still too early to interact with each other. From the way things are, we have all the time in Eoum to get to know each other.
After we finished our one hour lunch break, we went inside the portal.
--
The new room was like a mini amphitheatre just enough for dozens of person to sit. Standing on the stage was Miss Dekhine Folcruza as she stood with a grin.
“Welcome to the class for Eomancy studies!”
-As she welcome us.
We all took the first row seats.
Looking at her still grinning on the stage, it reminded me of my little cousin who always welcomed me when I visited her. I wonder how my family is taking the news that their son had suddenly gone up and vanished.
“Eomancy, just like the theories of how Eoum came to be, is varied. Some had said that it was originated from an ancient civilization that had faded into obscurity or that one of the first summoned had brought or created Eomancy. Regardless, is it agreed that Eomancy is heavily tied with the Planet-Spirit of Eoum. Eomancy is also called the Circle Magic System.”
I, as always, lifted up my hand in curiosity.
“…Yes?”
“Is Eomancy the only magic or is there any other magics?”
“Before Eomancy was called Eomancy, it was a rough collective of unnamed native arts just called magic’s. After it was formally codified and officialised, Eomancy is the only magic that was mainly taught but there is other type of magic, specialized or specified sort of magics brought about by our ancestor like Dimensional Art or psykermancy. But those two and some others are exception as most magic that were brought by the summoned back then and now wouldn’t work here.”
I nodded on her explanation. Oops, it seems I wasted some time. After my question, she addressed to everyone.
“Anyway, let me teach you all the basic principles, fundamentals and logics behind Eomancy. Eomancy is heavily tied with the Planet-Spirit of Eoum as it derived from it. It is its source of power so to speak.”
She paused and walk to the other side as in contemplation. After she reached the other side, she turned towards us again.
“But how can Eomancy draw its power? It needs a medium and that medium is the ‘Circles’ and Ancient Words.”
As she finished, she lifted up her right arm and stretched her hand in a palm.
(‘Eo, Lavus, Ucerna, Obis,')
A circle was form in front of her hand. Inside that circle was another smaller circle with the same position as the bigger one but it was only half of its diameter and there was another three smaller circles that enlarge the first circle and intertwining the second circle. Inside the second circle and three smaller circles, there was a word in each circle that reminded me of the Logogram of written Chinese or kanji.
Then a floating orb of bright light was made out of the circle. Most of us here were awed or at least a little bit intrigued.
It reminded me the floating orbs when we had arrived… Wait this is the same orb!
“This is a basic, Yellow Eomancy magic called ‘Lantern Orb’. Most spells are already named because most of the magic in Eomancy has been classified on which words to use and combine.”
The orb floats leisurely in front of us.
I don’t know about other worlds but August and I can’t help but to gawked at the sight of real magic.
The rest looked less surprised as their old world probably had magic.
“You see, Eomancy has three types of circle: ‘Origin Circle’, ‘Colour Circle’ and ‘Sub Circles’. The ‘Origin Circle’ is invoked upon chanting the first ancient word which is ‘Eo’, the origin that forms the foundation of an Eomancy spell. After the Origin, then there’s the ‘Colour Circle’, I’ll explain more on that on next lecture. Moving on, there are the sub circles. They are consisted of many Ancient Words, which form the characteristic of the spell as they form circles inside the foundation.”
Oh, that is quite simple in a way. I sometimes wonder how magic work back then. I mean I understand the whole incantation, magic power and stuff but how do you approached them within a logical realm? Is it like how an eel produced electricity or when a bombardier beetle mixed the volatile chemicals in their abdomen?
Still this is just a preliminary observation, there’s probably more to Eomancy.
“Before you learn how to create the circles, you can memorize the basic of the Ancient Words since you can’t use Eomancy right away.”
Akujin lifted up his hand to ask a question.
“Why is it that we can’t use it right away?”
“The reason is that since you from outside of this world, you are not connected with the Planet-Spirit of Eoum but after you consumed the Specialized Pill, it usually takes a day for a connection to established but in order for you to even invoked the Origin Circle, you need a week for the connection to be fully established and even after that, you need at best weeks or even months if not years to learn how to even invoke.”
Akujin nodded several times, seemingly satisfied with answer she gave.
After she answered that, she turned around and walked further into the theatre.
“Also, the power of the Eomancy depends on the words that you use and utilize. There are three category of Ancient Words are divided into a category: Basic, Advanced and Forbidden. Most people that understand and trained in the basic of Eomancy know the Basic Ancient Words. A highly skilled one can use the Advanced Ancient Words.”
She got down to her knees and picked up something on the ground.
“And there were records about those who could do the Forbidden Words but those people are legends at best.”
It was books, exactly six books.
She turned back and walked towards us. She then extended both of her arms, holding the books up front. Verganisu, without being told, got up from his seat and took the books and gave each to everyone.
I don’t know why but I could read the title.
‘The Basic Ancient Words Learning Guide.’
It is quite the straightforward title.
“So… we’re just gonna memorize this for three hours?”
“Yes, there’s yet nothing that can be taught for any of you as of now. If you excuse me, I leave you all to self-study. I have other matters I need to attend.”
She got off from the stage and she was moving towards the portal.
“You said you were gonna be free right?”
“I said that ‘if I am free’. Unfortunately, something cropped up at the last minutes and I rather stay away from you two… no, make it three.”
She fearfully shied away from the approaching Vefal who got up from her seat, trying to ominously approached Dekhine while occasionally throwing wary glances at August and me.
Seriously, I only had the intent but I didn’t act on it unlike these two or rather i didn't have the chance to act on it!!
I could only sigh and I did.
As I did that, I heard the sound a portal opening.
She had left.
The six of us were left to our own device.
……
Erganisu opened his book and started to read. Akujin follow suit afterward and I did the same.
Instead of opening the book, August started to doze off in a different seat and the slightly dejected Vefal was sitting next to his twin brother who was looking at the book deciding whether he should read it or not.
I got to the introduction part. It was written by someone named Ghazra Helsion, a second generation Inheritor.
I read on and started to memorize the Ancient Words and read them in silent.