Grindel and Marleen looked at the ritual. That wasn’t the one thing talking to them. They looked all around and couldn’t see, let alone sense, where the voice was coming from. Grindel conjured more orbs of light to illuminate the area they were standing in completely. Nothing. Marleen pushed out her senses, and she felt nothing more than what they had already sensed and tracked.
“Is that a hologram of me?” Levi asked. “Are y’all just going to stand there or say something? Oh, you’re in the ritual room at the summoner’s guild. Thanks for lighting up the space for me to see.”
Grindel swore and extinguished his orbs of light.
“We have to go,” Marleen whispered.
“We didn’t see what we came for, failure is not acceptable,” Grindel said.
“Rather failure than death,” Marleen said.
“Failure is death,” Grindel growled.
“Perhaps, look at the recording, we got nothing. We did not fail he outsmarted us, that is acceptable, no?”
“Barely, but enough, let’s go.” The voices disappeared, and Levi eyes shot open to him being in his room. Anza was snoozing next to him on the floor. Vapor appeared out of Levi.
“What happened?” she asked.
“I saw people in my dream,” Levi said.
“That is hardly unusual Levi,” Vapor said.
“Obviously not, but what is that I talked to them, and they reacted. They didn’t say anything to me, but they did speak to each other. They were watching some ritual of us exploring the summoner’s guild.”
“You said that you spoke to them?” Vapor said.
“Yes,” Levi said.
“Interesting. That seems to be an ability that should only be linked to you and Anza.”
“That’s what I thought, the time kinesis or whatever,”
“Chrono kinesis,” Vapor corrected.
“Yeah that, but I also wasn’t going back in time or resetting. It was like I was there through some sort of projection.”
“That is most unusual, never mind that for now. You need more rest,” Vapor instructed. “Good job letting things out. Your inner turmoil is diminishing.”
“I can feel it, yeah, it feels nice,” Levi admitted. “Alright, back to sleep I go.”
“What the hell was that?” Marleen said as they were entering into their carriage to begin their travels home.
“The hell if I know,” Grindel said. “Was that a cosmic projection?”
“I have never seen one before; only heard it as a rumor. It was something that a 5-star could do. They had two class evolutions the second one was some sort of cosmic sorcerer.”
“His aura didn’t feel strong like a 5-star,” Grindel said.
“No, it didn’t. What freaked me out the most was the fact that his projection looked at me directly. It was as if he sensed we were going to be there, that is even more implausible.”
“Could he have sensed that and then blocked us from seeing what he was in there for?”
“It is possible; something prevented the ritual from doing its proper job. I do not know if he did it intentionally or an ability, but I am unsure of which is the correct answer. Perhaps the boss knows.”
“Perhaps,” Grindel said. “Whatever the reasoning is, I hope that we handle him before he gets to be too strong. He will be a problem.”
“Agreed but keep that between us.”
“Definitely,” Grindel agreed.
Piper woke up and saw Anna drinking some tea. She walked up and poured herself a cup.
“Is he still sleeping?” Piper asked.
“Yes, thank goodness,” Anna said.
“No kidding,” Piper replied. She took an appreciative sip of the tea. “I told my parents about us yesterday. They were not surprised at all. My brother and father were not happy, but my mom was.”
“Of course she was, Aunty is the one who understands love out of your family.”
“She also is a big fan of Levi. She talked about how he had a kind aura about him. I honestly was scared that my mother would have a worse reaction than anyone else.”
“You thought Kai was going to have a good reaction?”
“I didn’t think Kai was going to be home,” Piper chuckled. “Since when are him and Rayvin a thing?”
“They’ve been off and on for a while, and I think they finally were pushed together when we made our journey for the first time to the guild. Definitely a ploy to keep our families as close as possible but it happened to work out.”
“That means we’d be sisters,” Piper exclaimed.
“We already are,” Anna said with a smile. They clinked their mugs in silent agreement. “What are you up to today?”
“I am going to hang out with my family, they want to know more about my class. It’ll be good to see them. Levi will join us for dinner. What about you?”
“Same; I’ll be with my sisters and mom for a bit. My dad wants to talk with Levi alone. I told him Levi needs the day to rest and he can talk to him tomorrow.”
“How’d that go?”
“He was understanding but not happy.”
“Does he know that Levi is an otherworlder?”
“He didn’t say but I suspect he does. He knows more about auras than most people so he probably could read that on his aura.”
“Good morning,” a tired-sounding Levi said. “Is that tea?”
“Do you like tea?” Piper asked.
“Not really, but I’ll try some,” he said, taking a seat next to Piper, who poured him a cup. He took a sip. “Oh, that is amazing.”
“How are you feeling?” Piper asked.
“Better, much better. Thanks, y’all for last night,” Levi said. “I did have a weird thing happen at night.” Levi told the girls about his odd encounter with the two people at the summoner’s guild during the night.
“That is certainly interesting,” Anna said. “I believe you had an experience called cosmic projection. Truthfully, it should not be possible at your rank.”
“Do you think it had something to do with chaos magic?” Piper asked.
“Oh,” Anna said. “You think that his new title has something to do with this?”
“It’s possible,” Vapor said. She manifested out of Levi to join the group. “I have never seen someone who was not an elemental with such a high affinity to that element. Who knows what that affinity could do.”
“Interesting thought,” Levi mused. “I honestly wouldn’t be too surprised. Chaos magic is potent.”
“And you ooze it,” Piper said.
“Ooze?” Levi responded, mock offended.
“Oozes all over you,” she replied with a smile.
“Anyways,” Anna interrupted. “What do you think those people wanted?”
“To see what I was doing in the guild, they were searching for something. They were whispering at the end before they left and cut the ritual off,” Levi explained. “It was something about failing and I prevented them from seeing what they needed.”
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
“I think,” Vapor said. “Perhaps we leave it alone for the time being.”
“That is sound,” Anna said. “I’m off to have breakfast with my sisters. Levi, please spend the day recovering and meditating we need you in tip top shape.”
“Yes ma’am,” Levi responded. Anna rolled her eyes and left the room. Secretly she was excited to see how diligent Levi was with following instructions that were boring. It would be vital for the team if everyone were okay with the mundane. That was the starting point to being great.
“Before you go,” Levi said to Piper. “Can we talk about what you said last night then scurried away?”
“What did I say?” Piper said, looking everywhere but at Levi.
“Something about how incredibly handsome and awesome I am, I think.”
“Mm I take what I didn’t say back,” Piper retorted rolling her eyes.
“Well, that’s just cold,” Levi said. He laughed and grabbed her hands. “Serious Levi moment, I-”
“Levi,” Piper said softly. “You don’t have to say it back, it’s okay… I know that we come from two very different worlds. I’m quick to say it and I don’t regret saying it cause I do.”
“Piper, babe, let me finish. I love you, too. I make jokes and have a lot of unserious moments. You’re the first girl I’ve ever said that to; shoot, you’re my first girlfriend.” Piper sat there stunned, tears welling in her eyes. She was so happy. Piper had never expected that the naked man in front of her four months ago would be telling her that he loved her. She had been wanting someone to say it to her romantically for a long time.
She knew that she wore her heart on her sleeve and often times is ready quicker than most people. That never stopped her, though. For a while she was ashamed until her mom told her that there was no shame in knowing what your heart wants. Her advice was to make sure that Piper took the time to assess whether the feeling as temporary or long-term. She did that with Levi. Piper had felt like this before they had reached the ice valley. It was the night where he taught her ritual magic.
“When did you know?” Levi asked.
“Hmmm,” Piper said, distracted by her thoughts. “The night where you spent time teaching me ritual magic. Something about that night, how much you paid attention to me, cared for me, I melted. You?”
“Looking back, I think I knew when you were teaching me how to use the staff, honestly, for the same reasons as you. At that point, I had thought we were also dating so that shows you how much I thought of that.”
Piper giggled, “When did you think we started dating?”
“Around the fifth or sixth time you came over without Anna, we were studying together in my room, sitting next to each other. I think I leaned on you, or you leaned on me, and I knew at that moment we were forsure more than friends.”
“I remember that night,” Piper said looking distant, reminiscing on the moment. “My mom approves, my dad and brother are coming around. She wants to spend more time with you before we head back. So, you’re coming to dinner with us tonight. I’ll have you stay and meditate like Anna said, when I come back, we get ready to go to dinner at my house. Sound good?”
“Yes ma’am,” Levi said once again. This time, with a bit more sultry in his tone. She got up from the table, leaned over, and kissed him.
“I love you, Winters,” she whispered softly. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you, beautiful,” Levi whispered back. With a deep breath, she got another quick kiss and then left the room.
“So,” Levi said, turning to his familiars. “Shall we meditate?”
Anza made noise that sounded like a spoon caught in a garbage disposal.
“You want to explore the depths of the Omega growth with my soul and aura? Why?” Levi responded. Anza made another noise. “I don’t know how that would help me release or deal with the turmoil though, I understand that it is a new level of power.” Another noise. “That’s a fair point. Okay, let’s give it a try.”
Levi had tried many different types of meditation poses. Levi’s experience in yoga helped him tremendously when attempting different poses. He found the pose that helped him the most was lying flat on his back with his heels dug into the ground and palms flat on the ground as well. Levi got into that position and began focusing on his soul and the omega imprint. Levi was able to visualize his soul; it was a vast, empty space. It reminded Levi of Minecraft superflat edition except for blocks it was a realistic world. He was essentially in a vast field.
Levi realized he was not just visualizing. He was having another projection. He looked at his arms, and he was opaque with a gray smokey glow. He also was not walking but flying just above the ground. He flew to toward the direction where the field stopped, and he found a lake. Inside the lake was an odd structure. He flew into the water and found an alien-looking structure with a giant ball in the middle. Anza appeared next to him, and a lot of team Ember were swimming around the giant alien structure.
“This is the Omega imprint, it’s the actual omega.” Levi said.
“Yes,” Anza replied.
“This is why you wanted me to start here, to see that our bond runs deeper than I had been imagining. We are literally connected.” The world around Levi shifted. He left the water to walk out to see the field had grown some tall grass, a mountain with some slight snow, a few trees, and a river. It was gorgeous; there was a slight breeze that rustled the grass and leaves on the trees, producing an extremely calming sound. He floated over towards this are of his soul. There he saw Willow dashing around the mountain and the rocks all around it. The mountain was made completely of crystals. The outside looked like an ordinary mountain; the inside was beautiful blue crystal caverns that were expansive.
Willow came up to him and nuzzled into his chest.
“Hey little buddy,” Levi said. “Your home is amazing. Are you all connected like this?”
Once again, there was another shift. Levi departed the crystal caverns and found a castle that was made completely of smoke. Levi flew toward the castle and entered the gates; it was a small castle no larger than a three-story office building, but it was a castle. Levi was amazed at how the smoke was so detailed. It was a white smoke that looked like steam, almost decorated the interior. The exterior was dark gray smoke. Vapor appeared right next to Levi.
“You have created quite the domain for us,” Vapor said. “Thank you.”
“I didn’t do any of this,” Levi said.
“Your deep care and trust in us have had a tremendous effect on our nature. We are not your servants that are to bend at your will. We are your friends with a special place in your soul. You have literally created a special place for us in your soul.”
“I really cannot express how grateful I am for y’all. All of y’all. Given me a chance to be a better version, the best version of myself.”
Anza made a screeching noise.
“Thank you,” Levi said not being able to hold back the tears. She had told him that they were here for him no matter what and that they forgive him for his old life. She said that without those mistakes, he likely would not be here with them.
“You’re right though,” Levi told Anza. “I have to let go of the past because I’m forgetting the very awesome thing that I have now. If I went back in time, changed the things I did and lost y’all it would not be worth it. I would do the same things over and over if it meant I got to keep y’all.”
Levi was able to leave his projection to feel his three familiars all close to him. Their bond had increased significantly. Levi could feel his inner turmoil wash away as he spent time forgiving himself and accepting where he was now. Levi opened his eyes and noticed he was drenched in sweat. Meditation with magic was an intense exercise. Especially when it was going soul-deep. Levi had been concentrating and pushing his senses to their limits, especially his first time making a soul projection and exploring his soul with a successful soul projection.
Getting up, Levi brewed himself a pot of tea; the one from this morning was so delicious he had to have more. Sitting at the table, he looked out the window in deep contemplation. Four months, it had been four months since he had been brought to this world. Levi knew that if he kept looking back to his past, to a life that he would never have again then he would be stuck there. He didn’t want that. Levi loved this world sure it was dangerous being attacked many times. So was the other world.
The other world, Levi thought. That was the first time he didn’t call it his old world or his world. It was, for the first time, the other world. He wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Like he said he loved this world. Levi knew what it was like to lose family. He was going to do his best not to lose the ones he’s made here.
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Levi thought about the beautiful things he has experienced so far here. The second chance to be something more than average. He had made friends, family, and he had a girlfriend. He was sitting in that thought, letting the good feeling overtake him, when the tea kettle started whistling. He poured himself some tea and continued to sit looking out the window.
The window overlooked the compound's garden. Black roses, various fruits and vegetables, and beautifully placed pavers created a stunning garden landscape. Levi could feel his aura all around him, it was more controlled today than it had been in previous days. He could feel the red swirls leave his skin and swirl around his body. He continued to practice until he got tired and elected to take a nap.
“Your new friend seems quite odd,” Rayvin said.
“I think he’s cute,” Karin said.
“He’s 3-star Karin, of course he’s cute,” Rayvin said. Rayvin was the oldest sister of the Onyx sisters. She was a sorcerer like Anna but was an Earth Sorcerer, that was the class evolution she had received. She was studious and stoic in her demeanor.
“You know what I meant,” Karin said, rolling her eyes.
“He is odd,” Anna said. “But a good odd, I think.”
“I take it you were harsh to him at first,” Rayvin said. Don’t pretend like I am not your older sister and know you, Annabella,” she added at her sister's affronted look.
“Don’t call me that ray ray,” Anna said back.
“Fair enough,” Rayvin said, putting her hands up.
“I was, I thought he was evil,” she said.
“What changed your mind, dear?” Anna’s mother, Alessia, asked.
“How he conducts himself. I heard that a lesser demon was collecting their dues at a tailor shop and a strange man with a scary familiar stopped the lesser demon from taking the tax.”
“Stopping a lesser demon doesn’t make him not evil, especially if he killed the lesser demon,” Alessia said.
“I didn’t say kill,” Anna emphasized. “I said, stopped. The demon didn’t collect the money then it got punished for not doing its job.”
“So, Levi will have an enemy of a lesser demon,” Alessia said.
“Yes,” Anna said. “What evil person makes enemies with any kind of demons?”
“I see your point,” she conceded. “So, what you’re going to take him under your wings and tutor him?”
“No, I am going to be his rival. He pushes me to be better, there is only one other person to do that and it’s this guy named Declan,” Anna said.
“Oh,” Rayvin said with her eyes narrowed. “Is Declan handsome?”
“That’s not relevant,” Anna said. “The three of us are going to make a good team mom, we’ll make great adventurers.”
“Dear, I want you to be alive, adventurers. I don’t think that boy will be able to keep you safe if things get rough,” Alessia said.
“He already has,” Anna said. “Twice. We fought a frog angel, 3-star. He was the reason we survived the lizardsaurs in the dungeon. You’re falling into the same trap I did, that’s looking at him and seeing a lost, confused, weakling instead of looking past that and seeing the potential that lies deep within. I am more than capable of taking care of myself, and so is Piper. The two of us would have formed a formidable team, let alone know we have Anza, Willow, Levi, and Vapor. Those are beings I will take ten out of ten times.”
“Look at that mom,” Rayvin said. “Little Anna has grown out of her brooding phase and her heart grew.”
“It appears, unfortunately, that your father was right about letting you off your leash and to make your own path. This is not something we will speak of; he must never know,” Alessia winked, and the girls laughed.