Rimholm University: Clandestine

[ II: Emergence] Chapter 30

"I forgot to mention, you don't need to stay here. You may leave now. The training hours are over. Also, remember that we're having sparring against the Elite class - B students four days from now." Lady Selene said before leaving the place. Julius and all of their teammates leave the place. Zachary stopped by the door and looked in Mira's direction, waiting for her.

"I want to practice for a while. You can leave me and Ellistal here." She said with a smile.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Don't be so hard-headed and argue with me." Zachary nodded before going outside and closing the door slowly. Mira slumped herself to the ground then stared at the sky. The place might be looked like a simple training ground from the outside but she never thought that it'll be this massive.

"The whole place is safe for you to practice, Lady Mira," Ellistal said as he landed beside her. The girl rise from the ground she's laying on then looked at him.

"You haven't discussed everything with me yet. Since I become your familiar, we haven't talked too much." He added.

"Did I?" Ellistal nodded. Mira laughed awkwardly then dusted herself, "Sorry. It's too dangerous to use if the other students found out about your existence and magic." She explains while dusting off her clothes, "I can stop the time but only in a short span or my nose will bleed. I can even use my magic to heal wounds and everything to get it back to normal. Not capable of combat, right?" She mumbled.

"It's capable for time being, however, you have a lack of controlling it properly." Ellistal paused, "Who taught you that?"

"My mother, Lily Gloucester."

"I can say that she has a small skill." The spirit commented while figuring out what he should teach her first. Knowing only two of the factors of Time magic is a sign of square one for Ellistal. But it's not too late for her.

Ellistal smiled before turning at the girl, "Lady Mira, you should focus on controlling it." Mira tilted her head in confusion when Ellistal takes the small leaf and rock out of his pocket.

"Try on preventing these two objects from falling." He raised both of them before releasing them from his grasp. Mira's eyes widened and immediately use her hands in a rush. Ellistal raised his brow while he observed the rock and leaf in its position in the mid-air. He noticed how her hand trembled; trying to hold both of the objects at the same time. The wind blows and Mira collapsed on her knees together with the rock and leaf.

"That's ten seconds, Lady Mira."

"I told you so, Ellis." She said, still catching her breath.

"Don't give up easily, Lady Mira. I have high hopes on you not only because my goddess told me to never lose my hope on something I saw with potential." Ellistal told her with a gentle look on his face, "She's probably watching while sitting on her throne together with other divinities."

"You thought highly of your goddess, Ellis."

"Indeed, my lady. She's strong of her generation together with other royal deities." He sits on the ground; legs are grossed together then looked up at Mira, "But before we continue talking about her and forgot about our purpose, can you sit on the ground like what I'm doing and relax?" Mira dusted off the soil and crossed her legs as she settled.

"I think it better for you to channel your energy first before you do the same thing again." Mira closed her eyes. Ellistal placed his hand on her back, "Feel the warmth again like that day. It's your energy flowing all over you but it's scattered everywhere. Gather all of it and make it stream on your body. By that, you can channel your magic easily." He opened his eyes after knowing that Mira is still tense.

"Lady Mira, calm down. Think of it as an st---oh you did it." Ellistal blinked twice and grins in amusement. Mira finally succeeded in gathering her energy and making it flow, "How is it?" Mira asked while she keeps closing her eyes and proceeding with big faith on what she's doing.

"Going well, Lady Mira. Keep it up." Ellistal removed his palm on her back to allow her to do it on her own. He watched the golden flares--more like a cloud of smoke, surrounding the girl.

"Keep doing that every day so you can master it. But can you perhaps cast the spell that I've shown you before?" Mira opens her eyes and the golden flares vanished along with the air. She nodded in reply. She balled her hand into a fist before opening it. The magic pentagram emerges from her palm.

Ellistal smiles and takes a glimpse at one of his pocket watches. He clutches the one with the emerald carving on its hands and numbers. His brows almost knitted into a line after realizing that the clock stopped its motion.

"What happened to my pocket watch? It's odd since it's still moving from thousand years till now." The spirit looked around and hides it in his pocket. Ellistal forgets it and lets the matter pass then staved off his attention to Mira, "She's too used in combat and her stamina is not low. Well, I guess I'll going to teach her something interesting after that." He murmurs.

"Elilstal, can we leave now? I'm want to eat some food in our dorm." He got snapped out of his thoughts when Mira spoke up. Ellistal bowed politely at her, "Of course, Lady Mira. I prepared snacks for you in our dorm before we leave earlier."

"Are you sure that Freddy won't eat it? You know that kid, he's like a scavenger when it comes to every food." Ellistal opens the door for Mira to exit first before him.

"I'm sure he won't." Mira vent out small laughter and shook her head as they walked along the lonely hallway.

On the proceeding day,

"Chivalry, are you alright?" Lady Augustine asked. Her hand is placed on the top of Mira's shoulder; shaking her gently. Mira squinted after wiping away her dirt and other things that sticks on her face. Her eyes widened in realization. She reluctantly lifted her gaze and meet the mentor's gentle one.

"It's so rude to sleep in class."

"Maybe she's just tired, Megan."

"Here it goes the nice Grimoire again."

"I'm sorry for sleeping on your class, Lady Augustine. I won't do it again."

"Well, I'm afraid to give you a punishment if you don't have enough excuse for sleeping in my class, Mira." She reached out for her student's neck, head, and cheek, "Your temperature is not high. Do you feel something wrong than that?"

Lady Augustine is the one with who you don't want to lie. She can sense a liar. Once she senses some malice it's a game over to that person. But it's different this moment, Mira's back and arms are aching. Even enough sleep doesn't work to relieve the exhaustion she has. She convinced herself to take a short nap. Yet it turns out a long and tight sleep. She almost feels like she's still inside of her room; burying herself under the comfortable and warm sheets.

Using her magic is no use either. She's too exhausted to use it. Mira is planning to do that but she fell asleep. She even plans to go to her mother for help, however, she still forgot about it.

"Lady Augustine, I don't feel well today." Lady Augustine stared at her with empathy.

"Go to the infirmary and take an early break." She averted her gaze on her student at the back, "Zachary?"

"Yes, Lady Augustine?"

"Can you please, bring her to the infirmary?"

"Sure thing, Lady Augustine." He stood up and take Mira's bag. As they both exited the room, Kellion give his sister a meaningful look.

"They are grown-ups. That's not my business." Salem just shrugged and bury her face in her arm.

"The couple is here. May I know why both of you are here instead of your class?" Winston placed the tray on its rack. Lily stopped from writing on the record book and looked at the doorway.

"Mrs. and Mr. Chivalry, she's been sleeping on our class in two days straight. I don't know what is she doing." Mira glared at Zachary as he placed her bag beside her, "You sound like an authority."

"Because you're not telling in any of us what are you doing. I attempted to talk to you inside of two days but you ignored me."

"In case you forgot, we're here." Lily gives her daughter a 'have enough' expression before checking her, "What are you doing? You got multiple injuries. There's a problem with your back muscle, ankle, arm, and on your sides." Mira immediately covered her forehead when her mother flicked it.

"Reckless as ever, Amira."

"This exhausts me than a combat training," Mira said while catching her breath. Her body is getting heavier to the point that she collapsed on her knees; allowing herself to lay on the ground. She covers her eyes after the sun meets her eyes, "My mother's type of training is far different from this, Ellis."

"I'm not your mother, Lady Mira. Training is training. If you want to protect yourself and everyone around you, then you need to be strong. Not every time the people you talked with are your friends." Mira slowly stood up and takes the flask on their bag. After the water deluge her dry lips and throat, it's like rain in the middle of the desert for her. It's the type of relief that she sought for. She put the cap back then joined her familiar.

"Same thing that Lady Selene and the others told me. Don't worry about me. I can protect myself." Her gaze cast upon the sky, "Can I ask you something?"

"Go on, Lady Mira." Her familiar takes another flask and took a sip.

"I wanted to ask you about this at the very first but I don't dare to do it. You're a spirit but how come I can touch your hand? You can do house chores, you can eat and drink. Spirits are just like air, right?" the spirit burst out the water and start coughing violently. He wiped the water before looking in Mira's direction. He doesn't know if she's still looking at the sky or she pretends that she didn't see that.

"W-Well, it's not like that. Spirits like me have a great amount of energy so I can shift into my physical form. Unlike other nature spirits, they need to get attached to something or someone to be their vessel. But their vessel is no temporary because it can be destroyed." He dusted off his clothes, "Stop entertaining me if you think I will forget that five minutes break." Mira groaned in annoyance before standing up lazily. She didn't immediately stand up when a pair of familiar shoes stopped not far from where she at. Mira stood up and get rid of the dust on her clothes then forced an innocent smile.

"No wonder why you sleep a lot in class."

"Well? It's her again?"

"It's the one and only, Lance," Salem replied. He clings his arm on his sister's shoulder then grins.

"How did you know that I'm here?!"

"Blah blah blah. Geez, Amira Gloucester. We've been watching you for days." Kellion laughs. Mira stared at them in disbelief. How come she didn't notice them? Is that because she's too focused?

"What?!"

"Don't be surprised. You're fun to watch and we put our interest in you." He said then lowered himself on Mira's level.

"That's why we decided to help you not because your boyfriend asked us to but willingly. How does it sound?" Their familiars; Zephyr and Ifrit appear beside her familiar. She exchanged looks with him before averting her attention back to the siblings.

"We accept it."

"Then, let's start tomorrow before the sunrise."