Aptitude for Spiritology.
In truth, it has little to do with personal intelligence or effort. From beginning to end, Spiritology depends entirely on an individual's innate 'talent.'
You could tell just by looking at Kiriel. She detests studying, yet she consistently achieves outstanding scores in practical applications.
Of course, even in the field of magic, there are monstrous individuals with traits that make them 'instinct-types,' but they are the exception, not the rule.
'I don't even know if Roen has an aptitude for Spiritology.'
There was precious little information on the guy; in fact, I'd learned more about him since arriving here than I ever knew from the game.
However, the fact that the [Spirit Summoning Tutorial] had popped up meant that, system-wise, summoning a spirit was possible for him.
To think he could use Spiritology—a power diametrically opposed to his half-demon lineage. It was a strange irony.
Regardless, since the system had given the green light, I pressed the notification window without hesitation.
Ting!
The moment I touched the notification, a series of holographic system windows began to flash before my eyes.
[Scanning for tutorial requirements...]
[Current Location: Meteor Archipelago, Primary Development Zone. Academy Union. Voltimir Territory. Albheim Hall, Room 109.]
[Executing tutorial appropriate for the current environment. Please place your hand on the orb.]
'Wow, this thing is efficient.'
Impressed by the system's responsiveness, I placed my hand on the crystal orb.
"Very good. We will now begin the aptitude test."
As Isley nodded, mana began to coalesce within the transparent crystal.
Wooooong—!
As the orb vibrated, another system window manifested.
[Mana confirmed. Spiritology aptitude test initiated. Searching for a spirit that matches the player's conditions, character traits, aptitude, talent, and disposition.]
[Spirit of Fire: No match found.]
[Spirit of Water: No match found.]
[Spirit of Grass: No match found.]
…
…
…
A list of countless spirits scrolled rapidly past my eyes.
It bypassed the spirits of the 5 Great Elements that represent the world of Myrillin Saga and continued through a long list of various lower-class spirits.
[Spirit of Rock: No match found.]
[Glass Spirit: No match found.]
[Spirit of Ice: No match found.]
…
…
…
But even after a long while, no spirit was selected.
Fwaah—!
The crystal orb in my hand flashed repeatedly, emitting the symbolic colors of the spirits scrolling by before fading away. It spewed out a chaotic kaleidoscope of light like a malfunctioning machine.
The classroom was soon bathed in the multicolored radiance emanating from the orb.
How much time passed like that?
Ting!
The light from the orb died down, and the notifications that had been flashing wildly finally came to a halt.
[Aptitude test complete. Proceeding with the contract for the corresponding spirit.]
Then, a notification written in golden letters appeared.
[Dark Spirit: Kavelthar]
'…!'
After checking the system notification, I looked down at the crystal orb in my hand.
At first, I thought the orb's light had simply gone out, but on closer inspection, it had taken on a deep, subtle, jet-black hue—a color so dark it felt like it could pull your soul inside.
At that exact moment...
Shhhh—
Something in the shape of a black dragon shot into the air, then instantly scattered and vanished.
Immediately, a new notification window appeared.
[A new Trait has awakened.]
[Black Lotus (黑蓮)]
• You have been chosen by a Dark Spirit. A special talent for Spiritology has blossomed.
• You can summon spirits, ignoring the effects of your other Traits.
• You cannot contract with or summon any spirits other than Dark Spirits.
'Black Lotus?'
This was an Epic Trait I had never seen before, despite playing Myrillin Saga dozens of times.
However, it seemed no one else had witnessed the black dragon ascending into the sky, as they showed no particular reaction.
"Hmm. A rather curious result."
Isley tilted his head, peering at the black crystal orb in my hand.
"Professor, what does black mean?"
At Kiriel's question, Isley used a vine to lift the crystal orb from my hand and bring it to his own. He examined it carefully before speaking.
"…A typical Spirit User is chosen by one of the 5 Great Elements that make up the world: Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, or Steel."
Unlike other games, Myrillin Saga—despite its Western-style setting—uses the Eastern concept of the Yin-Yang Five Elements to classify its spirit system.
To put it kindly, it's unique. To put it bluntly, it's unfamiliar and a bit of a pain.
Unlike the rigidly defined Four Great Elements, the combinations, power, and affinities of these five elements are endlessly variable depending on their interactions.
"Based on the Obangsaek [the five cardinal colors], blue, red, yellow, white, and black each symbolize one of the five elements. This is very basic, but…"
Isley glanced at Kiriel, his brow furrowing slightly. His expression clearly asked how a second-year student could possibly not know this.
"Then Roen's elemental attribute is…"
"Yes. Since it's black, it would normally be the water attribute. However, from what I can see, the light from this orb is no ordinary black. And I didn't see the form of an Undine in the orb, either."
Click-clack.
Isley tapped his hoof lightly, looking intrigued.
"I have a guess as to what this phenomenon is, but it's still just a hypothesis, so I cannot share it with you all yet."
As Isley evaded the question, heightening their curiosity, the students began to pester him.
"Aw, come on, tell us, Professor!"
"You can't just leave us hanging like that!"
"No. As an educator, I cannot provide uncertain information. However, according to certain ancient texts…"
Isley observed the crystal orb with a cool gaze and spoke quietly.
"It is said that when a jet-black color—so dark it seems to pull you in—appears in this five-element crystal, the entire continent is soon engulfed in great turmoil. And from amidst the chaos of war, a new king emerges. Some, therefore, call this the color of the Overlord (霸王)."
"…!"
The students, startled, turned their gazes toward me. Their eyes were filled with fear, or perhaps astonishment.
Into this heavy atmosphere, Isley chuckled—phrrung—and then corrected himself as if it had all been a joke.
"I'm joking. In truth, no such text exists. What power could a simple crystal orb possibly have to determine something so grand? Phrrreureung."
"Professor!"
The students, completely fooled by Isley, cried out in protest, but the deer professor simply shrugged.
"In any case, it seems we've gained nothing from this aptitude test. The crystal orb appears to be slightly malfunctioning."
"So, Roen's Spiritology aptitude test is…"
At Kiriel's question, Isley adjusted his glasses as if it didn't matter.
"Well, we'll do it next time. This isn't a practical combat class; there's no absolute need to conduct the aptitude test today. It was merely a procedure to help you all understand and empathize with Spiritology so you could focus on the lecture."
"Eeeh?"
"Now then, let's begin the theory lesson in earnest. Roen, thank you for your trouble. Please take your seat."
Only then was I able to sit down.
Isley, using sylphs to flip through the pages of a book, glanced sideways at Kiriel.
"However, before we proceed with today's lesson, I will first explain the Obangsaek to establish a basic theoretical foundation. Since someone asked a question without even knowing that the water attribute is represented by black."
Noticing Isley's cold gaze, Kiriel scratched the back of her head.
"I-I already know about the Obangsaek."
"Oh? You do? Then do you know the symbolic color of the wood spirits you've contracted with, Kiriel?"
At Isley's question, Kiriel didn't have to think for long before shouting, "Green! It's green!"
"…"
At her answer, Isley lowered his head in silence. The transparent glasses that revealed the deer's clear eyes seemed to cloud over, as if shrouded by a dark storm.
"…Lady Kiriel."
"We told you to ask us!"
As Isley lowered his head, the aides sitting on either side of Kiriel poked her in the ribs.
"It's not green?"
"It's not!"
After keeping his head down for a long moment, Isley looked up, his expression resolute.
"…Huu. At this point, I have no choice. I am normally of the opinion that students' grades only need to meet the minimum requirement, but this is simply unacceptable. Therefore, I will prescribe some drastic measures."
Isley had a spirit unfold the attendance roster in mid-air, then called out Kiriel's name and mine.
"It's perfect that Roen is here as well. Roen Devalis! Kiriel Silverwalker! The two with the lowest written exam scores!"
"…!"
"If you were ordinary students, I might let it slide. But for Kiriel, the Student Council President of Voltimir, and Roen, the Student Council President of the Union, to receive such scores on their written exams is something I, as the head professor of the Spiritology department, absolutely cannot overlook."
Thump!
Isley stomped his hoof loudly, then glared at us and roared his command.
"The student who receives the lower score on the upcoming midterm written exam will be given a heavy penalty. I swear this on my name as Head Professor Isley Ahibalt. Absolutely!"
*
"Ah! I'm screwed! I'm so screwed!"
After the Easy-to-Learn Understanding of Spiritology lecture ended and the students began to filter out of the classroom, Kiriel stomped her feet wildly and shouted at me.
"This is all your fault! If you hadn't come to class today!"
"What are you talking about, you idiot?"
She was the one who couldn't answer a basic question, and now I was getting dragged into her mess. If anyone should be angry, it was me.
Although, considering the conditions for maintaining my position as Student Council President, I had to get good grades anyway.
"Lina, Silphy. What do I do…?"
As Kiriel whined, her two aides tried to comfort her.
"It's okay. We'll help you."
"Let's study together!"
"…Thanks, you guys."
Gaining strength from her friends, Kiriel clenched her teeth and pointed at me.
"You better watch out. I'm definitely going to beat you. I'm an elf who does what she says she'll do!"
For some reason, Kiriel was now burning with motivation. I didn't know how long it would last, but it seemed Isley's plan had worked perfectly.
Since I was from a different department and had a reputation as a delinquent, Isley probably wasn't hoping to reform me. He was likely just using me as a catalyst to force Kiriel to actually study.
"Do whatever you want."
When I gave a lazy, annoyed reply, Kiriel, brimming with confidence, proposed a bet.
"Why? Wanna make a bet with me? Huh?"
"…"
Fine by me. But instead of jumping at her offer, I played hard to get for a moment.
"No. Why should I?"
"Heeh, scared you'll lose to me? That's just like you!"
"…"
Her taunts were so clumsy it was obvious she was still a kid at heart. I sighed and shook my head.
"It means there's no need for a bet because I'm going to win anyway."
"What? If you're so confident, then let's do it! The bet!"
At Kiriel's forceful suggestion, I pretended to give in.
"Fine. What are the stakes?"
"Hmm. The loser has to be the winner's slave for a year. How about it?"
What was with these childish stakes?
I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpectedly harsh condition, but I quickly regained my composure and shot back a question.
"…Can you handle the consequences?"
When I asked that, Kiriel's aides also tried to stop her. Of course, to protect Kiriel's pride, they didn't say, 'What will you do if you lose?' but instead tried to persuade her with, 'What would you even do with a slave like Roen?'
"That's true. Then how about one wish? You know, within reason."
Following Elena, this was the moment I essentially secured a wish from Kiriel as well.
*
After the eventful Spiritology class, I returned to the Union's main building and attended one more elective.
This time it was a liberal arts course on continental history. It was surprisingly fascinating, so I listened intently. It was the result of the professor's storytelling skill synergizing with the Myrillin Saga lore I already knew.
Anyway, that was it for today's classes. By the time class was over, it was already close to dinnertime. A truly murderous schedule.
'I should stop by the weapon shop before dinner.'
I needed to buy a personal weapon for tomorrow's swordsmanship class. They provided protective gear for training, but not the swords themselves. Since I wasn't planning to learn swordsmanship seriously anyway, I'd just buy something decent.
'It'd be nice if they have something good, though.'
Then again, how good could the items sold at an academy weapon shop be?
Jingle.
"Welcome."
When I opened the shop door, a bearded dwarf greeted me. He was the very image of a craftsman or a blacksmith. Though short in stature, his sturdy build and solid muscles, forged by years at the anvil, were impossible to miss.
The Union's weaponsmith, Ironhand.
He saw the mage's insignia on my chest and tilted his head.
"What's an Eredor student doing in a weapon shop?"
"I signed up for a swordsmanship class."
"Oh? That's unusual. What's your name?"
"Roen. Roen Devalis."
When I told him my name, the blacksmith clapped his hands together.
"Aha. So you're that famous delinq— no, ruff— no. The wayward student."
"You can just call me a delinquent."
"Can't go calling a customer that, now can I? Anyway, take your time and have a look."
"I will."
Just as I was looking around the shop, choosing a sword from the ones hanging on the wall…
"Oh, look who it is!"
The dwarf's expression changed, and he welcomed a student who was just coming through the entrance. I, too, turned my head to look.
Jingle.
A girl appeared to the clear chime of the bell. She was beautiful, with hair as white as the first snow.
On her chest was the insignia of Ishtal—a crossed sword and shield. On her collar was the star symbolizing a student council president.
Looking at the girl with her ethereal beauty, I spoke quietly.
"Freya."