23 The First Mark (1/2)
The white saber dimmed as the weakening progressed. The threads were strong in their ability to weaken and the tattoos were also not falling behind in their control. The light they shot out was slowly taking control over bits and pieces of the blade. If the saber was any stronger, than the whole situation would have been hopeless. However, with the weakening and controlling abilities being used at the same time, the process was moving quite smoothly.
Arnin was delighted to see that his plan was working. If he could control the blade then he would be able to continue with his marking test. Although, if he used the tattoo and the threads together, the effect would be similar, but there was a problem with this. He was unable to guarantee that another problem like the one that occured in the cave, would recur. Not just that, but the blade would have an equilibrium between the abilities, allowing for more precise control. The blade was just a much better way to continue with the procedure.
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Outside his body, Arnin was unable to notice that a group of teachers had appeared. Not only that, but Kelnorin was standing on the side, observing seriously. When he had arrived to the location, he questioned Xillar as to what was going on. When he heard about the situation, he couldn't help but take the matter extremely seriously. Beside Kelnorin was a middle aged man. His hair was tied up and placed behind him, his slender figure releasing a domineering aura. His resting abyssal hair swayed under the wind pressure that Arnin was creating. This man was the principal of Lepidoptera Academy. He wore a similar robe, but his was golden. The moth and butterfly were the same as the other robes however.
”Xillar, Kelnorin, this is the boy? The one that has to go through the third test?” The principal looked at Arnin calmly. His eyes contained a hint of pleasure when he saw what Arnin was doing. He couldn't help but be gratified that such a gifted student was coming to his academy. Kelnorin and Xillar saw the hint of happiness and pleasure, and couldn't help but say something.
”Principal Alastar, this boy may be a danger to us. Shouldn't we lock him up or even…” Kelnorin was very happy when he first met Arnin. However, after he saw Arnin's current state, he was feeling threatened. He didn't know if Arnin would become a disaster to the academy in the future, which was why he wanted to get rid of him early. He would rather sacrifice a child for his academy than the other way around. Talents appeared everywhere. Although rare, they would still appear randomly. Arnin was just too talented and could even be slightly dangerous.
”Kelnorin, as a teacher, why are you saying such things? Didn't you want to recommend this child for the third test? Isn't he what you called the Demon talent? So why are you becoming too hasty now?” Alaster joked with Kelnorin. He also felt a threat from Arnin, but he didn't want to get rid of him. He wanted to allow Arnin to grow and see what would become of him in the future.
”Principal, I know that I have suddenly changed my mind, but this child could become a major threat. We need to ensure the safety…” Alaster lifted his hand to quiet Kelnorin down.
”We will do no such thing. He will also not do the third test...yet. Right now, we will allow him to join the academy and treat him like any other student. He will receive adequate guidance and will not be given special privileges. I will think of something later on, but for now we will only observe him.” The principal walked away from Arnin, leading many teachers with him.
”Also, do not mention our gathering to him for now. Xillar, you stay here and continue with the test. The rest of you, get back to position. Make sure he doesn't find out that I came!” With that said, Alastar disappeared from sight. Kelnorin and the rest took one last glance at Arnin before also disappearing.
Xillar stood alone. It was still bright outside and the crowd of people that were here left when the teachers gathered. Luckily, that crowd did not hear anything about the principal or anything related to Arnin, or they would have gotten in deep trouble. He continued to watch Arnin with a relaxed look.
”I truly hope that you don't become something that must be destroyed in the future.”
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Inside of Arnin's body, the blade that was previously dimmed and going through the process of being controlled, floated in his mind. The white flames returned to normal and the blade was no longer unmovable. Arnin was extremely delighted that he could control the saber now. Although he was limited to using very little power from the blade, it was still more than enough for him.
The blade floated in front of the cube that sealed his powers, not going higher or lower. It was like a trapped mouse. Arnin thought of controlling the saber with his mind and extracted some power from it. Unlike the bright light rays from the tattoos, the threads from the orb and the gas from his sealed power, the saber didn't release anything. The whole blade itself transported to the location where it was needed. Arnin was bewildered by the discovery. He followed the blade to his fingers, but he found that the blade only got as far as his palm. It didn't go to his fingers. Arnin was confused but also somewhat worried. He needed the blade to get to his fingers in order to make this work. If that didn't happen, then how would he create marks? Just as Arnin was crazily thinking of ways to make the blade go to his fingers, the blade began to split. The single blade turned into five similar ones. All the new blades had the same characteristics and looks; white with grey.
It was then that it hit Arnin. The blade didn't release a type of branch, rather it was able to create more versions of itself and use those as branches. The multiple blades traveled to his fingers and pierced through, however Arnin felt no pain. Rather, he felt a weird energy begin to enter his body. He hurriedly came out of his body and was astonished by the sight.
His fingers had white blades coming out, which looked somewhat like nails. Not only that, but the blades were surrounded by multiple colors. Arnin tried to feel them out and understood that all of these were the colors of essence. Although there was the worldly essence in there, Arnin also felt some other essences. After thinking for a few minutes, Arnin figured that there were essences from sun as well as other places, however what he needed was the essence from the sun. Arnin quickly soaked his hand in the sunlight, which increased the amount of red and white. He was able to see that the red and white were brighter than the other colors. Arninassumed that these were the life and flame essence from the sun.
He was now able to gather solar essence, which let him complete step one. The next part was about him figuring out a way to isolate these two essences onto his fingers. He only needed the flame and life solar essences, nothing else. Since he had the saber under his control, he was able to easily think of a good method to complete this. What he thought of was having another saber coming out of his palm, but this piece will absorb all the essences except the solar ones. He would take the solar essence with his fingers while the rest would go to his palm. Arnin had his palm begin absorbing the essence, whenever he felt a solar essence make its way to his palm, he would use his finger saber blades to wrap them up and drag it back towards themselves.
This was the first time Arnin was executing such a skill, so he had to do everything manually. After his control over his blades increased and his knowledge on the essences furthered, then he would be able to make the process much quicker.