212 Chapter 212: Infirmary (1/2)

”Ouch, ouch, ouch…!”

The first thing that hit Shun Yin when he woke up was the throbbing pain from the bruises all over his battered body. He felt as if he had been hit by a damned truck. Groaning, he tried to sit up in the bed he found himself in, trying to remember what had happened.

Oh, right. The enormous White Tiger taking him out with a single swipe…

Shun Yin cringed at that. He still remembered how overconfident he had been, thinking the White Tiger would be just like any other monster and thus easily slain by his fire magic and sword. He had paid the price for underestimating his foe.

”Seems like I need to train more…” Shun Yin grumbled as he slapped his forehead. Bad mistake. Wincing at the stinging pain and trying not to tear up, Shun Yin bent over and held his head with a grimace.

Calming down, he went over the battle once more.

”A summoned beast is so powerful,” he muttered. ”How am I supposed to beat something like that? No wonder it takes so long to summon one…”

It struck him as odd that someone as practical as Glen Porter would learn summoning magic, but then again, perhaps it wasn't all too strange. After all, Glen's father was providing such massive support for research on summoning magic. Glen must have been influenced by his father's passion in summoning or perhaps it was Henry who delved into methods of improving summoning magic precisely because he saw his son learning it.

Whatever the case, it was undeniable that summoning magic was a real force to be reckoned with.

”Even so, he took quite the huge risk,” Shun Yin murmured to himself as he analyzed the battle in his mind. ”While he was struggling to cast his summoning spell, he was slowly but surely being overpowered by me. If I had been a bit more forceful, I could have finished him off before he completed his summoning spell.”

That was the one weakness of summoning magic. That a summoning spell took too long to cast. Often the summoner would be defeated or killed before he could complete the summoning of his Soul Beast. It had been a struggle for Glen to try and survive until he could summon his White Tiger, his lightning spells and magic being inferior and weaker to Shun Yin's fire magic and swordsmanship, but the payoff had been enormous.

After all, Shun Yin got defeated by a single attack from the White Tiger.

”Impressive. Very impressive.”

Rather than be disheartened by the loss, Shun Yin's combative spirit had been ignited. His heart glowed warmly as he began thinking of countermeasures against Glen's White Tiger. More powerful magic, perhaps? Did his master know any techniques that could deliver a certain-kill strike against summoned Soul Beasts? Or maybe he should take this chance and delve into summoning magic as well?

”Ah…”

That was right. He was involved in that research project with Tenshi and the others, wasn't he? He should go visit them after school today. He was now far more invested in the success of their project than before, especially after experiencing the strength of a summoned Soul Beast firsthand. He now wanted a summoned spirit of his own.

Would I have won if I could summon a contracted spirit? Would it have been on par with Glen's White Tiger? Shun Yin wondered.

It might. No, it had to be. Otherwise why would Henry Porter and Vermillion University spend so much resources and invest so much money in this summoning project? It had to be superior to the current summoning magic, or it would all be for naught.

He had to believe.

I want a summoned spirit of my own now…

Chucking, Shun Yin tried to rise from his bed, only to wince and double over from the pain. With a moan, he crashed back onto the soft mattress.

”You shouldn't be getting up so soon. Lie down and rest.”

”…eh?” Shun Yin blinked at the somewhat familiar voice, dumbfounded. He tried to raise his head and caught sight of a beautiful girl with crimson hair standing at the entrance of the infirmary.

The girl shut the door and approached him, stopping at the side of his bed. For a moment, Shun Yin froze, his eyes going wide when he recognized her.

Time seemed to stop for eternity, the two of them staring at each other. Shun Yin swallowed, and shook his head, trying to break free of the spell that had enraptured him.

”Lady Angelica?” he closed his eyes briefly and lowered his head formally. ”It has been a while.”

”…eh?”

Angelica looked a little taken back by his response. Then she lowered her eyes slightly and smiled sadly.

”Ah…so that's how it is…”

As she closed her eyes, a brief, fleeting memory of them as kids from nine years ago passed through her mind.

”You no longer speak to me in the manner that you used to before.”

”People change. The circumstances are different.” Shun Yin kept his head slightly lowered. Angelica bit her lip, looking hurt.

Even so, she made to sit on his bed.

Shun Yin narrowed his eyes.

”If you get too close to an outsider like me, your father will be angry.”

”Only if he finds out,” Angelica replied indifferently with a shrug. Her gaze was firm…strong. ”I'm also no longer the same person I was in the past. I can make my own decisions now.”

”…I see.”

Shun Yin glanced at her for a moment, and then lowered his gaze, staring at the covers on the bed. Angelica waited wistfully, clasping her hands tightly.

”As you said, it's been a while, hasn't it? How have you been, all these years?”

”I've been great. Thank you for your concern.” Shun Yin forced a smile. ”How about you, my lady?”

”The years haven't been kind to me, I suppose. You know how the Porter family is. With the exception of Uncle Henry, none of the adults are…understanding or gentle. They only see us as tools with which the Porter family will ascend to greatness. Weapons to fight against the monsters. The usual bullshit.”

”Even so…Lady Angelica.” Shun Yin's smile was genuine this time. ”You have become so strong and beautiful over these nine years.”

Angelica blushed, completely caught off guard. She tried to reach for his hand, but Shun Yin pulled away, aware that such intimate contact would spell trouble for the both of them. Angelica withdrew her hand, and Shun Yin tried not to notice the expression of pain on her face.

”I'm still hurt,” he reminded her, trying to soften the blow.

”Ah…that's right. How is your injury?” Angelica tilted her head to study him. ”I heard Teacher Emres had cast the basic healing spells on you after that sparring session, but evidently it isn't enough to restore you to perfect condition.”

”It won't be a problem. I'll be fully healed by the end of this afternoon.” Shun Yin flexed an arm to test it out, doing his best to suppress a flinch. He bowed his head. ”I'm sorry for worrying you.”