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Launching a wind slice at the target, I watch as it barely scratches the dummy. "Damn… had I known I wouldve been sent back to earth I wouldve gotten at least one spirit in each element so my attack magics wouldn't have suffered so much… the basic things are fine but any attack without the bolstering effect the contract gives makes all my elemental magic besides dark and light useless…"
Getting into stance, summoning a shadow spear. Copying its form from Avon's own weapon, with the only difference being that mine is made from shadow magic while his own is an actual weapon he can summon.
Running through my exercise's, launching several different shadow lances at the dummies and targets around the gym under Avon's keen eye, scrutinizingly as per the usual.
While I had learned all of my swordsmanship from Delvin, my training with a lance, bow, and daggers had been under Avon and Theia's watch respectively.
Sending out another lance, and seeing it pierce its target I nod thankful that even though I didn't have the varying elemental spirits, the two I had were incredibly powerful.
Spirits were comprised of many differing ranks of power, from the low-level Pawn to the medium-level Bishop, the high-level Knight, and finally the master-level king. Thankfully both spirits that contracted to him when he managed to escape were of that final level of King rank.
King rank spirits were capable of incredible power and destruction, able to modify large landscapes on a whim. How those two partners of mine had been captured by the Balam church I have no clue, but I'm thankful they deemed me capable of being their contractor.
Spirits all started at the Pawn-level of power, in this tier, all spirits took on an animal-like form with slight differing features due to their magical heritage. From the bishop tier they grew larger in size and more dangerous as they didn't yet possess true intelligence and if angered could wipe out small towns before being taken down. At the Knight level, spirits gained true intelligence and gained the ability to take on a more humanoid form similar in size and shape to a fairy, and depending on if the creature they embodied prior held similar features in their new forms. For example, Avon's Crow wings in his fae form, though some like Theia held smaller or lesser features as she only has a tail, due to their inherent magical control being greater, though neither of my two contracted spirits have greater power than the other, despite Avon's claims.
Finally, the King-Rank. Capable of destroying mountains with a simple concentrated charge of mana. At this level, the spirits can take on the form of a true humanoid. They look incredibly similar to their fae form but lose the more animal like features other than their wings if they so chose to keep them. In this form they are, depending on the spirit, taller than most normal-humans… pre-quirked era at the least.
In this form they gain access to their core-weapon. A weapon that develops from their growth period as lower-level spirits. It matches the fighting style of the spirits perfectly, while personality influences it the weapon tends to form due to preferred attacking method. For example; Theia has always preferred ranged combat despite being an upfront and rather blunt character and her core-weapon is a bow. Avon has always preferred, to take his duties head-on and with a calm strategic mind, but his preferred range has always been mid-range, his weapon? A spear.
The age of a spirit has little to do with their power, a spirit requires more mana to grow and therefore many more will be found in mana-concentrated locations. They also grow when contracted to someone with a larger mana-pool, acting as a 'hot-spot' of mana to keep them growing without being tied down to one location.
Mages on the other hand, while not tied to only one element like spirits. Have much smaller amounts of mana to draw from, though unlike spirits that require mana generated from nature or contractors, mages can draw the mana directly out of food and nature. This allows mages to have an easier time regaining their power at a much faster rate than a spirit.
Mages can use magics other than the main six elemental schools that the spirits are tied to, but at a level much lower than any spirit can do. Thankfully, due to spirits, contractors can use the mana of a spirit to draw upon and use in their own magics, allowing them to use much higher levels of magic outside of the elemental schools, such as space, enchanting, runes, alchemy, etc.
Though, the only other school I learned in my time in Ravia was the School of Space, the one school that could make use of my large mana-pool, as the spells in the school require a large amount of mana for even the most basic spells. Though my large mana-pool only means I can store more mana than the average mage, not regenerate any faster.
Stopping my exercise, I look over to my spirits. Watching as they ran through their own drills, Avon in his humanoid form, using the dummies for spear practice. While Theia, currently in her Fae form, was launching volleys of light arrows down at her targets across the room.
Hearing the gym doors open, I glance over and see a blue-haired girl enter the gym followed closely behind by a buff blonde guy, and a… a really shy raven-haired dude.
Confused, because I was supposed to have the gym to myself for the day thanks to Nezu I slowly wave at the three, "Hello? Nice to meet you?" confused I extend a hand to the blue haired girl that shot over like a bullet.
"Hello! Nice to meet you! What's your name? are you a new student, I don't recognize you? What's your quirk? Can I see?" grinning as she exclaimed question after question, I could only smile.
"My names Sirius Rofan, I'm a student hopeful. I'm the guy that was brought to the future, and Nezu's been letting me stay in the old dorm building. My quirk lets me summon spirits like the two behind me, and no that's not their normal forms, and they let me use mana. Mana is magical power that I can use for spells." Mentally checking that I crossed off all of her questions, nodding, I smiled back towards her.
She gasped and smiled, right as she was about to ask more questions, the blond man from before came up and put a hand on her shoulder, "Nice to meet you Sirius, I'm Mirio Togata, the girl that didn't introduce herself is Nejire Hado, and behind me is Tamaki Amajiki. We came over to introduce ourselves after we heard you were here." Shaking his hand, I smiled back at the friendly blonde.
Oh, I remember these three. Nezu called them the… "Ah the big three! Nezu had told me about you guys. Mirio the man who turned a quirk with many downsides into a formidable weapon." Looking over to the girl that was currently inspecting me from every conceivable angle, "Nejire, the girl who managed to impress the Dragoon hero: Ryukyu, which is incredible!" finally, I glanced over at the third-party member.
Waving at the timid guy, "Finally, Tamaki. The man that battles the stigma of being called a monster due to his quirk. A quirk that wouldve driven others to turn to villainy, is instead in the hands of one of the future top-ten heroes. The principal thinks very highly of you three, in fact you three have been brought up many times during my Japanese lessons."
My words seemed to get a positive reaction as two former were grinning and cheering, while the latter was turned to hid a large blush on his face, a small smile peaking through his fingers as he did.
Calling over my spirits, I introduced them to the group. Nejire and Theia looked at each other for a moment before the excited cheer and questions seem to erupt out of the two. Avon on the other hand seemed more in favour of some idle introductions as the four guys tried to decipher any of what the girls were talking about.
"Mirio." Turning towards the guy, "can you understand a single thing they're saying?" pausing for a moment he turned to face me, held his thumb up, "Nope!".
After that the group had talked for a while longer until Sirius's slotted gym time was over, and they were forced to part, but not before Sirius had received the phone numbers from each of the big three.
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"So, how did I do? Is my Japanese passable yet? Come on Mic, I need to beat Nezu at this bet! You know how he'll get if he wins this! I cant even imagine what horrible thing he's going to make me do! Plus, can you begin to imagine how smug he'll be?! I cannot let him win this!" holding my hands together in prayer as Present Mic, the voice hero, had a small grimace on his face.
"Its not looking to good listener, unless you really get the naming sense down, your not going to beat him!" crying out in fear for his student?.
"Shoot! There's gotta be some way I can beat him! Is there a quirk that can teach someone a language? Or maybe one that makes the target really smart? I'm running out of time! The Exam is only a month away and I'm only half-way through the language! the only reason people around here know what I'm talking about is because for some reason a lot of people are good at speaking English!" pacing back and forth, my bad habit starting to show.
"Calm down listener, I've got an idea! There's only one thing you can do… CRAM!" shouting out as he pointed a finger at me.
"…Remind me again how you got your job as an English teacher?"
"That hurts listener…"
"Hah, it is the only option at this point… wait! Hah! I've got a plan! See you later Mic, I forget about something my quirk lets me do!" shouting as I blasted back towards my apartment, sporting an evil smirk.
"That rat wont know what hit him…"
Shooting through the door, both Avon and Theia gave me a surprised and annoyed look, having interrupted their down-time. "Guys, you remember that special skill of ours? You know, that one? I need us to do that right now so I can beat Nezu at this damn bet before he makes me do something horrible!"
As a look of realization hits their faces, Theia grins as Avon nods. "Lets do this!" "A splendid idea Master."
Grabbing both of them, as a flash overtook the apartment, "he-he, that Rat will never see this coming. God I forgot how powerful this form makes me. Now lets get studying shall we?"
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Two weeks till the exam, and my progress of the local language had grown by leaps and bounds, and I was finally ready for Nezu's final exam. The final threshold that would determine if I'm forced to listen to the devilish mouse's command.
Walking up into the principals office, I wait a moment taking a deep breath. I might be confident in my skill, but I'm also confident that Nezu can be a terrifying opponent to face.
"Come in." hearing that, I enter the room. Nezu as per the usual was sitting in his chair facing away so he could dramatically spin around… the guy is so overly dramatic.
Smiling at his act, I decide to play into it for once. "Are you ready Nezu?" "Oho, someone must feel as though they stand a chance. you're approaching me? instead of running away, you come right to me?" "I cant win the bet if I don't approach you." "Then come as close as you dare!"
Cackling, the mad mouse laid out a stack of papers and a single pencil. Sending him a grin, I sit down and start writing. My study sessions with Theia and Avon coming back to me in full force, as I call forth the memories of the things I learned using that magic, a slight pressure starts to build in my head causing a headache to form. Clutching at my head as I continue writing, I can hear Nezu's damn smirk as he believes my headache stems from the questions and not my own mind remembering a memory its not built for.
An hour later, Nezu was grading my test. I needed any percentage over ninety for Nezu to declare my Japanese passing.
"Well, it appears we have our winner Sirius, and unfortunately for myself, that winner is you. How you managed to learn a foreign language up to this level I cannot calculate but I must admit you have surprised me."
"Now the bet, you can make any request of me and I will fulfill it to the best of my capabilities." Waving his paw towards me, I slowly nod. "My sword, I need you to return it to me. its been far to long since you've been 'studying' it. I want that and my gear back."
Tapping his chin, he smiles, "I believe I can do that, the support departments scans have been long finished, though if your wanting your armor back, I might suggest some changes we can provide to improve them and add them into your hero costume once you get into the school."
Shaking his hand, I accept his offer. Its time to do my final preparations for the entrance exam.
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… 1 week till the exam, Sunset
Sirius knelt beside the faded and worn grave marker, feeling the weight of centuries pressing down upon him. Time had been both his enemy and his captor, whisking him away from his world and depositing him in a realm that was both alien and unforgiving. Now, as he traced the weathered letters of his mother's name, he couldn't shake the heavy burden of guilt that settled upon his shoulders like a shroud.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the rustle of leaves in the wind. "I never meant to leave you alone for so long. Three hundred years... it's been… too long, mom..." His words hung in the air, mingling with the scent of earth and dew. He wished he could turn back time, erase the years that had slipped through his fingers like grains of sand. But such wishes were futile, lost to the relentless march of time.
As he lingered there, memories flooded back—moments shared with his mother, now distant echoes in the vast expanse of time. He remembered her laughter, her gentle touch, and the warmth of her embrace. Tears welled in his eyes, mingling with the earth as he bowed his head in silent reverence. Though he could never reclaim the lost years, he vowed to honor her memory for as long as he drew breath, carrying her love with him through the ages until they were reunited once more.
With a heavy heart, Sirius reached out his hand, his meager earth magic just strong enough to mend the worn grave marker. Threads of mana responding to his call, weaving through the ground beneath his fingertips. Slowly, the earth began to stir, shifting and settling as if responding to a long-forgotten melody.
His magic flowed through him like a whisper, fragile and tentative yet filled with an unwavering determination. Sirius closed his eyes, focusing his full intent as he smoothed the surface of the stone, erasing the ravages of time with each careful touch. Though his abilities were but a fraction of what they could be had he an earth spirit by his side, the stone began to reform.
As the last crack disappeared beneath his touch, Sirius stepped back to behold his handiwork—a humble restoration of the monument that marked his mother's final resting place. Tears glistened in his eyes, a mixture of sorrow and gratitude for the chance to offer this small gesture of love.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the cemetery, Sirius remained by his mother's grave, the weight of three centuries heavy upon his shoulders. The newly restored stone gleamed softly in the fading light, a beacon of remembrance amidst the encroaching darkness.
With a sigh, Sirius settled onto the grass, his gaze fixed upon the carved letters that spelled out his mother's name. "Mom," he began, his voice barely more than a whisper, "there's so much I wish I could tell you... so much that has happened in these past three hundred years."
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead, as if urging him to speak, to unburden his soul to the woman who had always listened with unwavering love.
And so, beneath the watchful gaze of the stars, Sirius began to recount his journey in Ravia—the trials and tribulations, the friendships forged and battles fought. With each word, he felt a weight lift from his heart, as though his mother's spirit hovered nearby, embracing him in her ethereal presence.
Feeling the cold stone against his palm, Sirius continued telling his tales, "If only I could've made it back sooner… I think you'd be proud of all I accomplished there… I know you'd get along well with Delvin… he was like a father… after he rescued me from that damn Balam Church… anyways, he rescued me as I was escaping one of the churches, I had just managed to steal the sword that damn Saintess used against me, I used it to escape and find my partners. I know for a fact you'd love Theia and Avon, though you would probably take a while to get used to his serious attitude… I miss you… so much… but I'll make you proud, that way when we meet again, I'll have more stories to tell you…"
As he spoke of the wonders and dangers of Ravia, he couldn't help but smile, knowing that even in death, his mother remained his confidante and his guiding light. And though the years may have separated them, he took solace in the knowledge that their bond transcended time and space—a love that would endure for eternity.
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Now how was that for a sad chapter ending! I probably shouldn't right that in an excited tone… Anyways, Sirius finally visits his mothers dilapidated grave, patching it up as she deserves no less. Next chapter will be the anticipated entrance exam, answer in the reviews how you think he'll do, and what he might encounter in the exam… after all, Nezu doesn't back down lightly to losing… also after this I promise the chapters will be longer, these are mostly from my older writing times where I didn't write many words in a chapter... I'll be shooting for a minimum of around 7000-8000 at the least but probably more around 10,000 words at the most