Chương 15: [BL] 15. The Bright light [2]

"Humanity could no longer access the world of mana because of the War of Primal thousands of years ago. Our bodies could no longer contain the depthless magic, so strict restrictions were put upon us. First, to possess a spirit in a world of mana, you need to consume a Class Stone. A class is a limit of power, a gathering of strength shaped for a certain ability. Added to that, we have rune, which is a suggestion to our class, further limiting our power." Mistress Alyn continued.

"However, there are means to access the world of mana, like how you can kindle a flame by bringing rocks together. What you need is access. A connection. Just like our connection forged with Class Stones, we can use a monster's body without absorbing its class, and it shall hold a connection to Mana." Sitting on a chair in the room's corner, Willow eyed the circles.

She had been taken here so she could calm down, and Mistress Alyn explained about what apparently was basic stuff to access magic outside of class stones.

"So those white pearl—""Its eyes are from Star Toad. In Ashar—my previous academy—we had a Rift farm full of them. It's perfect, since they grant fifty eyes, and each can be used for rituals that result in various researches. When night comes, Curiosity will give you a concoction of his and, with the help of my students, channel the star eyes, allowing you to reach the world of mana. You will be a pseudo-spirit that I will maintain.

Please keep in mind that even I, with my Rune and Class support, cannot guide you, so you need to reach for the Bright Star inside your very own soul."

"I'll keep that in mind," Willow said, taking a sip of the warm tea Sister Elvere had just given her.

"Why couldn't I just wait until this bright starshoot?" She asked loudly so Alfred, who stood beside the witch doctor, could hear.

"Well, there's no harm in doing it early. The faster you gain levels, child, the safer the village will be. If you can prove you're indeed a bright star early on, I can even guarantee you better accommodation before it's all shared among the incoming mercenaries and the noble army who will live inside our villages alongside their families as well. Besides…" His eyes went to Sister Elvere, who smiled as if daring Alfred to say something.

"Someone with Oracle class has a foresight of good fortune for you if you do this."

"Foresight? Like predicting the future?" She asked.

"No, dear," The sister said.

"Foresight is anticipation. It's not reliable, but Sister Iris's Foresight rarely misses. I trust her, and you should too." That was a bit of a hard ask when she did not know who this Iris was. Regardless, Willow did not see a way out of here. Besides, she was dying to know if she possessed this Bright Rune everyone kept talking about. The girls each stood on the circles surrounding Curiosity, who craned his neck at Willow. Seeing him made Willow stutter a step.

Behind them, Tela leaned against the door and gave her a small wave. Willow opened her mouth to say she would not do this. The memory of the Liches still lingered. But the word did not come out. She remembered Josha, who, despite having the skills to be a warrior, denied the chance. Shera, too, wanted to make her family proud, but was denied as well. And Mera, who wanted to fight with her father, ended up leading her friends to their deaths. They were willing to risk death over power, and here she was, hesitating.

"You can still walk away from this child," Sister Elvere said.

"As you said, you can still wait until the cycle starts naturally." The Sister leaned in, her breath against Willow's ear.

"Truthfully? We don't want to appear weak to the incoming outsider and the noble. It's a common theme throughout history where those who show might end up with control over the settlement and even establish himself as king." Her eyes widened for a bit, and she said in a whisper, "That's why Mera hated the idea of outsiders being brought in at the cost of selling class stones." Sister Elvere nodded, "I don't know her, but I can sympathize with the poor girl.

By having you on our side as a holder of the Bright Rune, we will solidify our authority. But instead, if you awaken at fresh early levels, most will still look down on you or even try to get you on their side." Would that really happen? It seemed like a stretch.

"It's real, Willow," Mistress Alyn said.

"Let me tell you about me. I'm a teacher. A magic school teacher. Alongside ten of my fellow teachers, I seek refuge in Sheran with a promise to build a proper mage school for mage-based classes, where you can learn your magic. Should you join our school and be loyal to us, can you imagine what kind of pull we would have here if you awaken the Bright Rune? We can monopolize your experience boost enhancement, quest call, and hold the weapon against the Cycle.

This is your decision, child, but I can tell from personal experience…" She continued in a chillingly low voice.

"Power is heavy as it is dazzling." Willow stayed silent. She bit her lips and let out a breath through pursed lips.

"What do I need to do?" The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Perfect!" Curiosity cheered.

"All you need to do is sleep here—inside this circle." They waited until night fully came, and through the single window, moonlight beamed its silver radiance inside into the middle of the room where Willow lay face-up. She closed her hands above her chest and breathed in and out. The girls, all of whom were fifteen—the age at which they could absorb a class—glowed with white light, and each suddenly donned a Witch outfit similar to Shera's, with a different color for each.

It seemed the mage-based class had further limitations. Like her class was Wind Mage, not just Mage. Willow's theory was that the World of Mana was too overwhelming, so magic needed to be guarded further.

"Here, this concoction will help you pass as a Pseudo Spirit," Curiosity said, as she swished a glass vial above her eyes. Willow stared at it, dumbfounded.

"What is it?" The Doctor tilted his beaked mask.

"It's green."

"Why shouldn't it be green?"

"Well, it's—No, I'm just not used to it, I guess. Give it to me." She reached, grabbed it, and uncorked it. Willow raised it to drink it, and she had to chug the whole thing down. It was bitter. So bitter that she had to wipe her tongue.

"That's disgusting. How could you just drink it all in one go?" Flo said with a horrified face.

"Shut up, Flo! Don't ruin our concentration." Another girl said. Each of them carried a tall staff in one hand and an orb in the other. Willow closed her eyes and lay back down again.

"We're about to start Willow," Sister Elvere said.

"Just relax, child. Should you be destined to have the bright Rune, then all you need to do is follow your Instinct. Follow your heart, dear, and you will be fine." She'd have liked more concrete instructions on what to do, but perhaps that was asking too much in this world of magic.

"I'm ready," Willow said.

"Hello?" She blinked. Nothing answers her. Well, this felt familiar. Willow called once again to no avail, but she heard her voice echo five times. The darkness was all she saw. Her body stilled and her senses draped in void. Yet, eerily, Willow felt calm. Like this place was where she was meant to be. She stared wonderingly as a blink in the darkness turned into a watching star. At first, just one, then the sky blinked again—like an eyelid.

The second star watched her; this one was bright compared to the first one that swirled with spinning darkness. Then another lid opened; this one did not even have a brightness to it—it looked like a mere empty dimension of space that had not been filled.

"Follow my heart," Willow muttered to herself. Cresting a cliff of nebula light, Willow sensed her body began to materialize in a similar purple color. Her feet touched the ground, and it was cold, sending a chill up her body to her shoulders. Someone was here. Seated with her legs dangling was Mera's spirit, still unmoving from the position she had found herself in a day ago. Willow pointed at her, trying to call Ravenous Wind, but there was no response.

Instead, what she got was Mera staring at her with those lifeless, blank eyes. The spirit reached out to her, and Willow took her hand. They closed their eyes together. Willow knelt, and Mera put her forehead against her. A ripple ruffled through when they made contact. The spirit of Mera asked her for something. It begged. I want to see it. Will you let me before I disappear?

"Why would I want you to disappear?" Willow asked. Strangely, talking to her felt natural… like part of her was inside of Willow. A small smile crept around the spirit's mouth. She's a fool. That's your first reaction to me, wasn't it? Well, I cannot disagree with you. You know, I watched you decapitating my love. At least let me have this.

"You watch everything?" She nodded. The reason your Guard class doesn't have a rune yet. Is because my Spirit still lingers. I'll be gone if you wish me to. But I really want to watch it, The Bright Star.

"Well, I don't see why not. So, do you know how you pulled me here? How do I have two classes?" The first one, I'm not sure how. I just did what the ritual chamber wanted me to do. As for the second… It's the Lich's nature. I can sense them. They seek immortality and commit to a ritual to make a second heart, which they can store elsewhere. That Lantern is perhaps the result of their work. Also, let me correct you.

Mera opened her eyes and raised her finger, pointing to the bright eyes which still did not have their light. You're getting a third class.

"Huh." Okay! Screw you! Why are you not surprised? Do you know how badly I want Classes?

"Oh, I can guess." She smiled, a solemn expression wryly marring her lips. I'm glad you chose to go forward. I—I don't know what I should do if I pull someone who doesn't want to be here. I watch your past life—"You what?" I did. And boy, it's so boring. No wonder you seek adventure. Willow's mouth gaped open in mock offense, and Mera smiled and sputtered a laugh.

"Well, what do we do then? How do I make Bright Star fall?" You don't. I don't know why those outsiders—what? Why are you furrowing your brow?

"Based on what I know so far, it's clear you guys need them. And I'm an outsider technically." We do, we do. As much as I hated to admit it. Still, I will worry about my village's future. Ugh—" Mera tipped her head up, making them almost lose their means to communicate.

"Let's not talk about that. I'm about to pass to the next life, and I shall not argue with you about it. Anyway, can you tell my father I'm sorry? That I'm—""A bad girl?" Don't say that to him, please.

"I don't know." Willow gave her a sly smirk.

"I got slapped because of you." Mera chewed her lips and avoided eye contact for a brief second. Shera's affection for me is sweet. I don't know if she still has lingering feelings after everything. Sorry about that. Also, thank you for helping her and Josha; you went as far as to even get them a Class Stone.

"It's nothing. There's an old saying in my old world.

'You bring a donut to your new workplace. Also, what do we do now? Should I go back out? The Bright Starshoot only happened in three days, right? Can you even see it from here?" I can, if anything, I will be able to see them much more clearly. You can leave if you want. All you need to do is wish for it. But there's something you can do here. I watched your duel with Raven.

"All of them?" In all twenty bouts, I would win at least one or two, I think. My point is, over here, time passes the same, but you can't feel tiredness or hunger. So… Mera closed her eyes and stood, opening her palm. Two swords of nebula appeared above them, and she handed one to Willow. After putting a finger on Willow's forehead, she proceeded to ramble. I want someone to talk to if you are willing. It's been lonely. Also, I want to swing a sword. I will drill everything I know, at least the basics, into you.

How about it? Of course, I don't mind if you leave; it's just that it will be a bit too, well, suck for me, but if you stay, I have so many things you can learn. Well, maybe that is a lie. Still, you don't know what your next class is! Also, you have a guard class! So swordsmanship will be invaluable and—"Mera, I'll stay with you. Teach me everything. Others can wait. Now, is there a way to send a signal outside?"