Chapter 3: Chapter 2: Tormented Soul
Inside the Academy Ko and Evane walk side by side. The taller teen is looking around the place in awe.
"Woaaaaaah, this place is in top condition. The Elves and Dwarves of the Sayani Kingdom really outdid themselves with the designs."
Evane nods to himself as Ko hums along nonchalantly. It was then the taller of the two looks down to Ko and focuses on the headband around Ko's eyes…
"Ah, uh, yeah – you can't see all this huh?" The red head winces whilst rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
I remember what it looked like at least.
"It's fine, I can't see all the details but I can see the outlines of everything with manaaaaaah-" Ko immediately stops walking, inwardly cursing and berating himself for talking without thinking.
Idiot, a commoner wouldn't know the fundamentals of Mana!
Evane merely stares at the shorter teen, tilting his head and blinking in confusion.
"Dunno what that means, but you're able to see with that bandana of yours over your eyes yeah? Some kinda special Sayani item?"
Ko isn't sure how to respond to that, Evanes conclusion made absolutely no sense to him! So he made no comment, letting Evane believe that the bandana was a Sayani item. He chuckles to himself at the memories of Evane always being a bit clueless on the most obvious things.
I'm glad that you're the same as always.
They follow the signs, walking by a large building adorned with many windows. It stood impressively tall and the windows gleamed that new shine.
"I'm guessing this is the main building – it's really got that feel to it."
Ko just hums along, Evane snapping his head to look down at Ko – having forgot that he can't see the details – and laughs awkwardly as they come to another gate. There's a wooden sign with 'Sacred Area' in front of it.
In the distance is the tip of a traditional Japanese temple – a garden of bluebells run down the left and right side of the path. Evane and Ko tread down the path, the temple rising up like the sun.
"The temple really does stand out compared to the rest of the Academy, you can tell this was here before the rest was built." The red haired teen looks behind him to the building they passed awhile back, it still tall in the distance. He turns back to the temple. "It's like there's two era's clashing."
"Well, the Sayani are known to strive for the future, unlike Entia where we keep to the past. But I guess even nobility here are starting to see the value of moving forward...even if only to secure their own wealth."
Ko doesn't look away from the temple as he explains to Evane, the latter nods slowly at his words, not really understanding what he means. The taller teen scratches his in wonder.
"Makes you wonder what the headmaster of this academy is like."
He's a crafty old man.
At the top floor of the main building stands a well-dressed elder man with a long white beard and a shikha hairstyle. He looks out the window, staring down at the students walking towards the Exam Area, right hand stroking his beard and left hand holding a cup of tea.
"Another year, another test. How many shall pass this year I wonder?"
Ko and Evane stand in front of the temple, the large wooden doors are open wide and inside are a large crowd of people that stand about.
"I guess we're not the first to arrive?" Evane watches as a boy walks out of the crowd with slumped shoulders and his head down. He watches him walk back towards the main building.
"We won't be the last either, It's not even midday yet."
They both stand behind the crowd and follow along as more people exit the temple with downcast expressions.
A short while later and they're both finally inside the temple.
"Woaaaah…"
Evane is stood still, taking in the entire room with awe.
The walls and the ceiling are build of wood, scriptures and symbols carved into the walls with the history of the world. In the middle of the room is a large sphere of pure Mana that hovers a few feet off the ground.
Standing a few metres away from the sphere are four stone statues that are placed in each corner of the sphere and face inwards towards it.
On the top right was Goddess Kreta, she gave birth to Mana and life, the original God of the world. Her long silver hair and blue eyes watch over the Kingdom of Entia.
On the top left was God Erudi, he gave knowledge and technology. God Erudi was of Elf race and was blessed by Kreta to become a God. His long green plaited hair and pointy ears guide those of the Kingdom of Sayani.
The bottom right was Goddess Elixir, she granted resources and healing. She was of a race which evolved from the sea, her human and fish features allowed her to created the Ka Wai Kingdom which exists under the seas in which she lurks.
Then the bottom right was God Rex, who cultivated Mana and turned it into magic. His brawn stature and tattoo's command those in the Kingdom of Heikka.
Those were the four Gods of the world, ones which only Entia revered to all of them.
"Statues of the four Gods – but what's that sphere in the middle?"
Evane watches as a person stands in front of the sphere. They place their right hand on the sphere and their left hand over their chest.
"That sphere is Mana's original form, before it was cultivated into magic. Pure Mana." Evane side eyes Ko as he explains to the taller teen, then looks back to the person at the sphere who walks away with a defeated expression.
Ko stared at the sphere of Pure Mana, it's light blue glow brighter than anything else in the room.
So this is how it looks in Mana form.
"You sure know a lot about this, lil dude."
Ko shrugs his shoulders. This was knowledge he learned whilst at this Academy, he wouldn't let it go to waste when he knew it would help him a lot.
"This is just common knowledge." The lie slips out his mouth with ease, because he knew Evane would believe that.
It was true that commoners weren't totally oblivious to the workings of the world. They made up most of the trade after all – slaving away at farms for the nobility to fill their pockets. So it made sense that a few commoners would be more knowledgeable than the rest. Ko would play on that reason.
Evane laughs and pats Ko on the shoulder a few times.
"I guess you're right, common knowledge isn't really my thing."
Ko inwardly smiles at the red head's honest response, remembering a conversation similar to this when they first met the last time.
Don't I know it, you pain in the butt.
Evane's eyes widen in sudden thought, he turns fully to face Ko.
"Never got your name did I, lil dude?" Evane pats his chest, "I'm Evane Von Schild, good to meet ya!"
He extends his right arm for a hand shake but then pulls back realising his mistake – but Ko grasps his right hand with his own and shakes.
"Ko. Ko Erzum."
Not that it matters, you'll still end up calling me lil dude anyway.
Evane smiles brightly, shaking Ko's arm up and down.
"I-"
"It's the Princess! She's really here!"
A females shout gains Ko and Evane's attention. They turn to the parting of a crowd next to them. Ko's body freezes on the spot as long wavy golden hair whips past him. He inhales the familiar fragrance of someone special that he'd lost in the future.
His thoughts can only think one name as his sight follows up her taller body and to her serious yet beautiful face.
Natale.
The girl in question wears a deep blue military jacket with a white blouse underneath, black and red chequered skirt which flowed to her thighs, black thigh high socks that show off the muscle of her legs, and black combat boots on her feet. Her golden blonde hair was plated at the sides and ties into a ponytail at the back.
"Dang that's right! Princess Natale is our age, so obviously she'd be at the exam." The shouts and screams of support for the princess as she raises her right hand. She stands in front of the sphere with a look of conviction in her viridian eyes.
Ko exhales the breath he's been holding in, Evane side eyeing Ko, noticing his strange behaviour.
"You know who Princess Natale is right? The heiress to Entia and descendant of Goddess Kreta. I'm sure with your 'Mana seeing' thing that even you can tell she's different from everyone else."
Ko doesn't take his eyes off Natale. White Pure Mana swirls all around her, it's more potent and as bright as the Mana Sphere.
Images of her from the future flash through his mind for a moment, before they vanish with the image of her smiling softly.
"Yeah, she's in a league of her own."
Natale places her right hand on the Mana Sphere and her left over her bigger than average chest. She closes her eyes and inhales.
Light shines from the Mana Sphere – the four statues eyes glow white, the light from the Mana running down her right arm, to her body and then up and over her left arm, to end at her fingertips.
A portal appears in the gap between her left hand and chest. She dips her hand into the portal and then opens her eyes. Pulling her hand out, it reveals a thick leather book clutched in her hand. The light then fades and the room, and Natale, are back to normal.
Everyone stares in awe at the princess, then cheers erupt around the room.
"The Princess was chosen by all four Gods!"
"Of course she was! She's a descendant of the original Goddess Kreta!"
The blonde haired teen walks over to the side where other successful candidates stand. Her eyes glance over to Ko and Evane, then looks away.
"No surprise she was chosen – she's gonna be as strong as her mother one day."
Evane puts his hands on his hips and nods proudly, Ko still having his attention solely on the princess.
Her golden hair shines from the small gap of light that sneaks through the windows near the top of the ceiling.
Suddenly the image changes to her lifeless body laying on the ground, her hair damp with her blood and the light from the destroyed castle ceiling rains down on her like a halo.
The image vanishes with a shake as Ko blinks back the memory to his shoulders being shaken by Evane. The taller boy looks down at him with a blurred face that slowly comes to focus as a worried expression.
"Hey, lil dude, you there?"
Ko moves a step back in fear, Evanes hand slips from his shoulder. The smaller teen breathes heavily, the outlines of everything blurring from his lack of concentration.
His vision goes dark, body trembling as the images of all those he lost in the future flood his mind. Natale and Evane are amongst the few.
Inside his mind, Ko falls to his knees, shaking his head frantically.
"Stop it, please stop showing me this!!" He wraps his arms around himself and yells out in pain.
With everything that had transpired between the Archdevil fight and coming back to the past, Ko hadn't let himself have a moments peace so he wouldn't have to think about everything that had happened.
Not until seeing Natale blessed in the light had trigged those memories.
He'd failed everyone.
He could only watch as they all died one by one around him.
Why had he been the lucky one?
Why me?
"Why you?"
One by one the form of his friends and comrades appear, standing in front of him, their faces blurred out.
Ko turns his head up to look at them, his image turning into his future self. His face bloody and beaten, left eye closed from injury.
Tears stream down his face as he takes in their forms. Even without seeing their faces, he knew who each of them was.
"Guys…"
"Why did you get to live?"
Ko looks to the right. The taller males face comes into focus – his wild red hair and older look is emotionless. Evanes form flickers, the image of his lifeless body sprawled on the cobblestone surrounds Ko's vision.
"Why didn't you save us Ko?"
He turns to see Natale's older form is now covered in blood, her clothes tattered and hair dishevelled – the sight horrifies him. He sharply turns his head away to see Evane in the same bloody state.
Slowly, both bloodied people walk closer, their whispers haunting Ko's mind.
"Weak."
"Useless."
The poor teen grips his head in his hands and tightly closes his eyes shut.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." He murmurs over and over, sobbing out.
"Ko!"
His eye's snap open, friends and comrades no longer in front of him.
What was that?!
Ko calms his breathing, slowly regaining his concentration and reactivates Mana Sight. Evane's outline stands tall ahead of him, staring down in worry.
Everyone in the room is staring at Ko. Some are smirking and others look curious. Natale shows no interest.
"Not feeling good.?"
The shorter teen gulps down the lump that had formed in the back of his throat, then wets his dry lips.
"Guess I'm more nervous than I thought."
"Don't think about everyone else, just focus and do what you gotta do!"
As Evane speaks, the person who was in front of Ko walks back from the sphere with disappointment.
"You got this lil dude!"
The taller teen cheers on his new friend, which helps calm Ko down. He begins to talk towards the Mana Sphere, feeling the stares of everyone locked onto him.
The nerve of a commoner coming here to get the blessing of the Gods!"
"Look at his clothes, do all commoners look that plain?"
The whispers of the nobles around him didn't deter Ko. He knew all of this already – that most nobles were Gods in their own minds and looked down on anyone less fortunate.
He also knew what was in store for him later down the line.
Ko stands in front of the Mana Sphere, it pulses with life, glowing a bright white. He turns off Mana Sight, closes his eyes and places his right hand on the sphere.
Time to take back my curse.
When he places his left hand over his heart, the room is blinded by a light. Everyone covers their eyes or looks away.
"What's going on?!" People ask in confusion, not understanding what's going on.
A portal appears in between Ko's hand and chest. He dips his hand into the portal and grips the weapon he remembers well.
As he begins to pull it out, a hand grips his wrist, halting him.
"Not everything should change." The voice of a woman echoes through the portal.
He snaps his eyes open and re-activates his sight as the hand gripping his wrist pulls away. The short teen unveils a metal bo staff from the portal as the bright light dims down.
All four statues eyes also dim before anyone is able to notice.
Ko is left stumped over the woman's voice.
Who was that?
Before he has a chance to ponder, Evane comes up from behind him and slinks his arm around his neck.
"Hot damn dude, you were chosen! And everything was so bright I didn't see a thing! But holy damn!"
Ko looks down to the Bo staff in his hand.
That's right, this is its original form.
It had been a long time since he had seen its original form, being so used to the trident. This was his weapon.
This was also the re-beginning of everything.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone