25 We Meet Again (2/2)
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Inside the room, Arnin was sitting back in his chair. He went back to his orb and began to study the time component. It was small, but it was large enough for Arnin to gain some enlightenment.
”If I add this time component to a mark then what kind of effect will occur? Will I be able to combine life and death together? Or will I be able to turn the death component back to a point where it was life?” Arnin began to think of different ideas revolving around the time component. It was a truly mysterious power that had almost infinite potential.
Suddenly, the time essence began to shake. It moved up and down inside the orb, and then it disappeared into the threads. Arnin tried to make his threads stop the time essence, but it wasn't working. Just as Arnin thought he was about to stop it, the time essence disappeared into his body, becoming completely traceless.
”Hmm, seems like I need to learn more about the time component before trying to use it in any of my experiments. What a pity, however, I can't do anything about it right now. Let's begin the test I wanted to try from before.” Arnin decided that he wasn't strong enough or had enough knowledge on time to continue trying to control it. He began the experiment that he wanted to try since he made his first mark.
The first mark was based on life, however what if he created one through death? The death component was not rare, rather it was just as common as the life component. Since both of the essences were interlocked, then there couldn't be more of one and less of the other. Someone just needed to know where the death essence was located; it was found underground or in dark areas.
Arnin had the orb release the death essence towards the white blades on his fingers. When the white blades were shrouded in a black hue, Arnin began the drawing. He decided that he would begin with 'Z' mark since he had some experience with it.
This time around, Arnin decided that the whole base would be made of the death component, while the circles would be created from the sabers power. Although life was linked with flames because of rebirth through ashes, death was also not an exception. Flames causing destruction or extinguishing were linked to death. Flames were very unique types of powers, they worked with almost anything. They were one of the most flexible elements in the universe.
The base took around twenty minutes to complete, however, the flames were harder to manipulate. Although the flames were being released from his saber, they were much dimmer around death, then around life. The life essence would energize the flames, increasing the heat and chaos, however, the death essence did the opposite. The death essence caused the flame to extinguish, meaning a much higher amount of flames were needed to complete the mark.
An hour passed by, and the mark was completed. This time, there was no blending of the colors, it was a mark that was both black and white. Arnin knew the different levels of marks, so he deemed the trial a failure.
”Maybe I'm missing something? I don't know, lets just rest for now. My energy is completely drained after that trial.” Arnin got off the chair and lifted his arms in the air, causing his body to slightly tremble. He walked towards the bed and instantly fell on top. Since he didn't have any extra clothes, he decided to sleep in what he had on. Arnin closed his eyes slowly and fell into a deep sleep.
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The next day, Arnin got up early. He went to his table, hoping that the mark might have had an overnight change, but there was still nothing. Arnin didn't carry high hopes, so the sight didn't cause him too much of a problem.
He did some small workouts and stretches before walking out the door. When he stepped out, the first person he saw was not Dane or any of the people from Dane's group, rather Fae was the first face he saw.
”Good morning, Arnin. How was your rest?” Fae smiled brightly at Arnin, however, it only caused his mood to lessen.
”Why are you in front of my room so early? Don't you understand that you're a pest?” Arnin was getting really annoyed with Fae. If he wasn't in the academies premises, he would have already killed her.
”Am I not welcomed?” Fae asked with a pout.
”Of course you're not welcomed! Don't you understand that simple fact?” Arnin harshly spoke to Fae, but he wasn't budging. He honestly disliked Fae very much. Her fake smile and fake everything really pissed him off.
Arnin walked by Fae and headed up the stairs; Vilis followed suit. Fae looked at Arnin with some sadness but also some interest. She followed further behind, keeping a good distance between them. Arnin ignored Fae and walked silently up the spiral staircase. He reached the top door and suddenly felt something behind him. He turned his head and found that Fae was gone.
”Hmph. I knew she was hiding something behind that smile of hers.” Arnin turned around and opened the door. He walked into the front lobby once more and found a new person standing at the front desk. He walked over to her.
”Send someone down to the lowest room and have them clean up. It's a mess in there.” Arnin commanded and walked away from the front desk. The woman looked at Arnin with shock. She wasn't able to process who the little kid was. Just as she was about to call out to him, a hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned her head and found that it was Fae.
”Miss Fae?” The woman looked at Fae in confusion.
”Just do as he says, he will be a part of the Moth group soon.” Fae didn't look at the woman, she only glanced at Arnin's departing silhouette with a smile.
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Arnin stepped outside and took in a deep breath. Vilis also excitedly leaped around. Arnin knew that Vilis felt suffocated in the room, mostly because it was a beast that was accustomed to the outside, rather than a room underground. Arnin continued to walk forward and followed the path he came from. He knew that Dane was supposed to be his guide, but he could care less about that. He already understood how to get back to the front gates of the academy. Plus, today was the day that the village elder was supposed to meet him.
As Arnin walked on the path back to the academy, shadows began to appear on the ground. Arnin looked up and found large birds flying in the air. He concentrated his eyes and saw people on top of those birds, heading towards the academy.
”So that's how the old man was going to get to the academy? No wonder he was going to leave late. That sly old man.” Arnin smirked when he saw the many flying birds. He knew that one of them carried the old man because some of the birds were coming from the direction he entered the town.
As Arnin finally got to the academies front gates, he saw hundreds of giant birds landing on the ground. The whole place was filled with children around his age. These were the new students that would attend Lepidoptera academy.
Arnin inspected all the birds, looking for the old man. Suddenly he heard a shout from behind.
”Little Arnin! Little Arnin, behind you!” Arnin turned around and saw the village elder getting off a giant bird. There was a wide smile on his face as he got off the bird. Arnin also saw Lilise and Elidia coming off the bird. He walked towards them with an undisguised smile.
”So, we finally meet again, old man.”