Congratulations! You have been instrumental in the creation of an Epic-ranked item.
New title gained!
Aodhán stared at the message in shock. The new title was a nice boon, but that wasn’t the shocking part of the message. The shocking part was the word ‘Epic’. Aodhán couldn’t believe that they’d created an Epic-ranked item in less than an hour.
Professor Caldwell noticed his expression and asked what was wrong, but when Aodhán explained his shock, she just laughed and said. “Well, if you think about it, it’s not so surprising considering the materials we used.”
Aodhán glanced at the remnant of the Mamacore bone in disbelief, and Professor Caldwell laughed again. “Not just the base material. The entire process of creation was taken into account. From the affinity erasure to the runes and finally the infusion of chaos. Common and uncommon ranked items certainly do not have such advanced runes, nor are they infused with chaos by someone who has evolved their willpower to the next stage and bears so much potential. If Yurin or someone else who hasn’t made an opening in their spirit were the ones to infuse this blade, it would have been uncommon at best. Essence infusion plays a very important role when it comes to the rank of items.”
Aodhán nodded slowly as he processed her words, and after a while he asked. “What is the difference between an uncommon and an epic-ranked item?”
“You don’t know?” Professor Caldwell asked as she cleared the forge and placed the blade within her spatial storage.
"No, no, I do; I just want to understand it better.”
Professor Caldwell looked at the clock at one corner to the workshop and sighed. “Okay, we still have a few minutes before class starts. Basically, Epic-ranked items bear more complicated enchantments than uncommon ones; they are far stronger than uncommon ones and are the only items that can affect advanced-class individuals. An uncommon blade would barely nick their skin.”
Aodhán nodded, reassured in his knowledge. He’d thought Professor Caldwell would mention something he didn’t already know, but it seemed the differences were pretty simple.
“They are also far more expensive and hard to come by compared to uncommon items.” Professor Caldwell continued as she plucked a runic chart from the wall and then another. When she was done, she grinned and said. “Don’t forget, I owe you a favor.”
“I won’t.” Aodhán replied.
“Good.” Professor Caldwell chuckled. “Now, let’s get to class; we have a few things to discuss.”
When they exited the workshop, nearly every other student was already gathered, and as one, they all turned to stare. Aodhán noticed Ankaz’s eyes widen in shock while Yurin’s widened just a bit. The rest of the class looked either too stunned to see him or envious that he’d entered Professor Caldwell’s workshop ahead of them.
He grinned at Yurin and began making his way towards Yurin’s workbench, but Professor Caldwell stopped him. “To your seat, Mr. Brystion, the class is about to begin. We have no time for small talk.”
Everyone still standing moved to their seat, and Aodhán moved to his, just as professor Caldwell began speaking. “Last week we discussed the base materials for runic inscriptions and enchantments; today, we shall discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each one more extensively. Let's begin with metal, starting with gold, then silver, platinum, copper, and lastly, ragnar steel.
The class stretched for nearly two hours, and when it finally ended, Aodhán removed his lab suits and turned to grin at Yurin. “Hey, buddy. Did you miss me?”
Yurin shrugged. “I’m not sure. On one hand, I’m glad you’re alright; on the other, I wish you’d just go back to wherever you’re coming from, and I mean the prison, not Professor Caldwell’s workshop.”
Aodhán frowned, not expecting Yurin’s reaction. Was it wrong of him to have expected hugs and happy kisses?
“Uhm, did I do something wrong?” He asked. “Because, in case you’ve forgotten, I was detained for the last five days.”
Yurin shrugged again. “You promised to tell Andrew and Daruk about your breakup, but you didn’t. It’s not just that too; we’re your friends, yet you’ll never let us help you.”
Aodhán scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “I wanted to tell them, but I just... forgot?”
“You forgot?” Yurin chuckled sarcastically and shook his head. “Yeah, that’s totally believable.”
“Okay, this was not the welcome back that I expected. Aren’t you guys happy to see me?”
Yurin shrugged. “I’m glad you’re alright, butI’d have been happier if you were at least bruised.”
Aodhán grimaced, wanting to mention that he was scarred and bruised on the inside, but he shook his head instead and said. “Look, I’m sorry. Sharing emotional stuff is hard for me, but I can’t believe you’re mad about that.”
Yurin snorted. “That’s not why I’m mad. I’m angry because you’re carrying a lot of emotional baggage, and you can’t be bothered to speak to us about it. Why then are we friends? If my grandparents died today, I’d tell you.”
Aodhán sighed. “I’m not carrying any emotional baggage. I’m fine.”
“Of course you are.” Yurin sighed. “Shame we can’t say the same for the 4th floor bathroom; it’s a complete wreck after what you and Cyrus did to it.”
Aodhán winced and grabbed Yurin. “Okay, I’m sorry. I’ll open up more.”
Yurin chuckled. “I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.” He gestured with his head, and Aodhán turned to see Andrew and Daruk standing at the end of the hallway, glaring daggers at him.
To be honest, Daruk wasn’t glaring; he was just staring with that blank expression that usually felt worse than glaring. Aodhán realized that he had truly fucked up this time, but it hadn’t been easy for him either.
First of all, he hadn’t lost control because of the breakup. It had been a contributing factor, to be sure, but it definitely wasn’t the sole reason. Neither was it all his other fucked-up emotions. He had lost control simply because of his deepened connection with Varéc, his new perk, and his feeble control over their psychic bond. Once he solidified his control over the above three, he should be fine. He would be fine. Now, maybe his breakup had exaggerated the issue, but he was already working on that with Helzarvauth.
“Hi Daruk. Hi Andrew.” Aodhán greeted, waving awkwardly, and although Andrew acknowledged his greeting with a snort, Daruk made no expression whatsoever. It grated on Aodhán’s nerves whenever Daruk did that.
“I see you’re still alive.” Daruk muttered simply. “Welcome back.”
“Yeah.” Andrew added. “We thought you’d go insane in the principal’s prison since your emotions are all fucked up.”
“My emotions aren’t fucked up.” Aodhán replied with a sigh. “You know what? Let’s go to the cafeteria so we can talk.”
They headed to the cafeteria and took a seat at the farthest table so they could have some semblance of privacy. When everyone settled down, Aodhán began his explanation. “Lupin broke up with me last week Sunday, and I was completely devastated...
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
He went on to narrate the whole thing as well as the reason for the breakup. “I was heartbroken, and I know I should have told you guys, but I couldn’t at the time, even when Yurin urged me to, and that was wrong of them. I’m sorry, and I’m working on opening up more, but all my life, I’ve just never...
He was about to say that all his life, he’d never really had anyone to share his emotions with, but he quickly remembered that Andrew and Yurin didn’t know that part of his life story, so he said instead. “I’ promise to do better from now on.”
“That’s all we ask.” Andrew nodded somberly, but Aodhán’s gaze was on Daruk, making sure he understood. Daruk’s cold mask softened, and he gave an almost imperceptible nod before responding, “So, tell us about your time in prison.”
Aodhán grimaced, not wanting to talk about the sink, but he’d just promised to be more open and forthcoming, so he threw a bunch of potato fries into his mouth and began narrating the boring yet surprisingly beneficial experience that was the sink. When he was done, the table was silent.
Yurin broke the silence a moment later. “How are you still sane after that? I can’t sit down for an hour without doing anything."
“I can.” Andrew replied with a shrug. “Its very therapeutic.”
Aodhán glared at Andrew and shook his head. “It was absolute torture, and I definitely would have lost it if it weren’t for the books the guard gave me and Helzarvauth. I’d definitely not wish it on anyone.”
“Not even Lilith?” Daruk teased just as the cafeteria door burst open and Cyrus and his little group strutted in. Cyrus was bruised, and a long red scar covered his left cheek. It was obvious that he’d recently come back from a battle, most likely the tower, and with a smirk, Aodhán checked the leaderboards for any update. The reason for Cyrus’s frustration was immediately evident.
Cyrus Valerion, Level 25—2nd [17:45→21:30]
He had lasted four extra minutes in the 25th level after five days of intense training. Even Aodhán would be frustrated if he were in Cyrus’s shoes. He dismissed the holographic screen and looked up to see Grendar and Lilith glaring daggers at him.
“Maybe just Grendar and Lilith.” He muttered and turned away from them. “They could definitely use a few days of isolation.”
They all laughed, and their conversation flowed into other topics, mostly revolving around his session with Helzarvauth and the exercise that Gwendolyn Blackwood had given in Awakened Plants and Herbology the previous week. They discussed the forge matches after that, and Aodhán quickly took the time to scan his list of potential opponents for this week, extremely grateful that no one had thought to challenge him yet.
There were a lot of red names, signaling that a lot of people were excited for the Forge matches; chief among them was Andrew, who was glaring at Lyra Davenport, his opponent, as if he wanted to fight her right here and right now.
Aodhán scanned the list of names, and after a few minutes of contemplation, he eventually settled on Isis Anvindr, who was only three ranks above him. As soon as he clicked on her name, it took on a red tint, and Aodhán saw her jerk from the other end of the room as she was most likely notified of his challenge. She had been laughing with Lysirel and Celeste, but all of a sudden, her laughter died, and she turned to stare at him with a neutral gaze.
Was Aodhán confident of a victory against her? Sure. However, despite his confidence in victory, Aodhán was still a little nervous about the match. Sound was definitely a weakness for his element, and with the single-minded brutality with which Isis fought, Aodhán knew the match would definitely not be an easy one.
He looked away from her, and his conversation with his friends shifted to the topic of the selection process, the mythic core principal Zatya had promised, and how to help Yurin and Andrew gain a seal before the selection process began. Aodhán let Daruk take the lead in the conversation as he had more understanding of the matter and instead leaned back to listen, hoping to gain a few more tips to help himself.
Unfortunately, Aodhán didn’t really gain much from the conversation, as he already understood all that Daruk was trying to pass across. Yurin and Andrew, on the other hand, were contemplative; their faces scrunched in thought, so Aodhán decided to give them a few minutes to digest Daruk’s words before making his request.
Aodhán wanted to visit the Advanced Library, and although he could go alone, he would rather go with his friends. He waited until they were almost done with their food before speaking. “So guys, during my stay in the sink, I realized that the major reason for my emotional flare-ups is a lack of control. My control over Varéc is still very shaky, and his emotions keep bleeding into mine and messing things up. To solve this, I need to visit the Advanced Library and see if I can find any book that can help me, but I don’t want to go alone.”
“Why not?” Yurin asked.
“Because the last time he went there, he was attacked.” Daruk replied with a small smile.
Aodhán rolled his eyes. “Well, I wasn’t attacked exactly; it was more of an ambush, but it doesn’t matter. I’m confident no one is going to try anything, but I would be much more comfortable with you guys around.”
Andrew frowned. “I’ve got a personal training scheduled for a few hours, but I guess I could push it back further.”
Aodhán grinned. “I would really appreciate that.”
Daruk and Yurin also agreed, and after going to Rahim to collect their temporary passes, they made their way to the library. When they entered the quiet building, Aodhán led them towards the eagle-eyed librarian, named Aurelis Swifteye, and submitted their passes. “Good afternoon, ma'am. We need a few books from the Advanced Library." These are our passes.”
The librarian looked up from the text she’d been reading, glanced at the passes, and muttered in annoyance. “Just great. More work, as if I don’t have enough on my plate already.”
She scrutinized the passes for a moment before stepping out of her cubicle and gesturing for them to follow her. She led them up the stairs and to the large metallic door, where she pressed their passes to the blue screen before finally pushing it open.
“Be careful.” She muttered as she waved them in. “And stay away from the other students; you’re not meant to be here in the first place.”
“Great personality, that Librarian—." Daruk began as they stepped into the library, but whatever he was about to say was cut short when his gaze landed on the rows and rows of books that surrounded them. Yurin was less impressed, but Andrew’s gaze widened, and he pushed past Aodhán to gawk at the spatially expanded library. Aodhán chuckled, wondering when Andrew had developed a respect and love for books.
Before he could tease Andrew on the matter, the plant mage rushed forward, moving towards the section obviously dedicated to plant and nature Affinities, judging by the tangle of vines in that section. He was followed closely by Yurin, who moved in a slightly different direction, and a second later, Daruk shrugged in apology before rushing towards a section at the far left of the library dedicated to winter, cold, and ice affinities.
In less than two seconds, Aodhán was completely deserted by his so-called friends and left to deal with the curious stares of the other advanced-class students on his own. Unconsciously, Aodhán straightened his shoulders and raised his head to project a feeling of confidence, half expecting to be ambushed by another set of third years or second years.
When that didn’t happen, Aodhán nodded to the students near him, some of whom acknowledged him with a smirk or smile while others simply ignored him. Quickly, he moved to a section of the library dedicated to familiars and began searching for a book that could help him out. He scanned each book carefully, but just like the last time, the books he found weren’t quite what he was looking for.
After almost half an hour of fruitless searching, Aodhán was about to give up when his eyes caught a folded piece of paper jutting out of a small comic book. He picked the note curiously and opened it.
Turn left.
Aodhán turned his gaze to the left and let out a burst of laughter when he found Helzarvauth seated with his legs propped up on the table, hiding his face behind a stack of books. He moved towards the man-child and smiled. “Nice to see you here.”
Helzarvauth shrugged. “I’m always here. I was here the last time you came in here, shuddering like a leaf in the rain from apprehension.”
Aodhán grimaced at the memory and decided not to focus on the fact that Helzarvauth hadn’t deemed it fit to save him from Brittany and her posse of witches.
Helzarvauth smiled. “So, what are you searching for?”
Aodhán told him, and after a moment of thought, Helzarvauth pointed to a shelf in the empathic section and said. “Search for the smallest book written by Elrond Griffin. It’s a silver-rimmed leather tome. You can’t miss it.”
Aodhán moved to the shelf Helzarvauth had pointed to and began scanning the books. He quickly found the section dedicated to Elrond Griffin and chuckled when he found that the smallest book wasn’t actually a small book but a large tome, almost as large as his head.Compared to the other colossal tomes, though, it was indeed small.
He pulled out the heavy tome and read its title, EMPATHIC LINKS: CONTROL AND MANIPULATION by Elrond Griffin.
He opened the book and read the first sentence, which was written in a sort of unserious and playful way that brought a smile to Aodhán’s face.
Familiars are a menace! This is true. In fact, if I’d known they would be this much of a hassle, I wouldn’t have bonded one at all. No, that’s a lie, but you get my point. Familiars have the messiest and most chaotic emotions ever, and as their bonds, these emotions just bleed into our minds all day long. One would think that as an empath, I wouldn’t have an issue with this, but I tell you, it’s even worse for me. Fear not, though, for I have devised a solution to this menace...
Aodhán chuckled, and with a hopeful smile, he moved back to Helzarvauth's table. Helzarvauth barely even looked up when he returned, too busy reading what seemed to be a comic book, so Aodhán just sat down and began reading.
He was barely past the third paragraph when a shadow fell over the page, and he grimaced when he sensed the familiar core. He looked up and scowled at Eldrith. “Get principal Zatya in here, and I’ll have all my problems in one room.”