Supreme Hunter of Beautiful Souls

"Kael." The soft voice came from above his head. He glanced up and saw Umbra, his small shadow Wyvern, resting there, her glowing eyes watching him.

"Why do you seem so sad?" She blinked slowly, turning her gaze forward.

It wasn't sadness. At least, not exactly. It was more like... longing.

"It's nothing, Umbra," he replied, slipping his hands into his pockets as he continued walking through the vast corridors of the academy.

The feeling of emptiness lingered.

'I'm constantly getting into trouble after trouble, as if that's normal...'

His gaze grew distant. How many people had he nearly killed since stepping foot in this place?

'Have I learned anything from all of this?'

This academy was proving to be more and more useless. He didn't need rules, boring classes, or the hierarchy imposed by a broken system. The real learning was out there, in the world. He should be traveling, exploring, growing for real... or, better yet, forcing his mother to teach him Chaos Magic.

The thought made his lips curl into a bitter smile.

'No more wind magic. I'll focus solely on darkness...'

His fists clenched for a moment before relaxing. He needed to explore the limits of that power, understand how far he could push it.

Kael sighed and kept walking, pushing his reflections aside for later.

The next class wasn't new to him. In fact, it was one of the few that actually sparked his interest.

[Spirit Summoning]

He wasn't interested in collecting spirits like the other students did. His true goal was to understand spiritual energy—how it worked, how it could be used to strengthen Umbra.

As annoying as his little companion could be at times, she was essential to him.

She was the only thing that kept him from feeling... alone.

Kael arrived in the classroom earlier than usual, his footsteps echoing lightly on the empty floor. The classroom was deserted, except for a figure sitting at the desk, apparently lost in thought. Professor Mizuki was there, her gaze fixed on the empty space in front of her, her posture rigid, but her aura revealing a state of introspection.

Kael paused at the door for a moment, watching her in silence. Mizuki seemed so distant, so immersed in her own thoughts, that he wondered what was consuming her. She, who normally radiated controlled and focused energy, now seemed... fragile, in some way. He didn't know what was bothering her, but there was something about it that made him hesitate for a moment.

Without saying a word, Kael walked over to the nearest chair and sat down. He knew the professor had an important role in his learning—or, more precisely, in his search for something deeper. He wasn't there to ask questions, just to wait, as he did with nearly everything. Things always came to him when he least expected them.

Mizuki finally moved, pulling her gaze from the void and looking at him with a tired but kind smile.

"You're early," she commented, her voice soft, but carrying a lightness that seemed different from usual.

Kael nodded, not very enthusiastic.

"I'm not in a hurry," he replied.

She studied him for a moment, as if trying to read something deeper within him.

"You're quieter today."

"Maybe. I just don't feel like thinking much... it feels like nothing here makes sense anymore."

Mizuki sighed, her gaze now more focused, though she didn't rush to ask.

"Yeah, I understand what you mean," she murmured. "Sometimes, everything feels like a hollow game."

The tension between them seemed to break with those words. Kael looked at the professor, now more curious about her attitude. What did she mean by that? He wasn't sure, but he was willing to listen if she wanted to speak...

However, she remained silent, and Kael, with no urgency, walked over to his usual spot in the room. He wasn't one to stand out or draw attention, so, as always, he sat in the chair furthest away, near the wall, where he could observe without being noticed. His posture was relaxed, but his mind was far away, lost in thoughts about what was happening in his life and his next steps.

The minutes passed in silence, until, slowly, the first students began to enter the room. Some were in a rush, others slower, as if still waking up or preparing for the class. The murmur of low conversations and the sound of backpacks being placed on tables filled the space.

Kael watched everyone settle in, but his attention soon shifted to Mizuki, who seemed to have found serenity in her thoughts. When everyone was finally in place, she stood up from her chair and positioned herself at the front of the class with her usual calm.

"Good morning, everyone," she began, her voice soft and controlled. "Today, we will explore more about Spirit Summoning."

The students quickly fell silent, eager for the lesson. They knew that Professor Mizuki was one of the most experienced in this field, and the expectation of seeing a demonstration of her own spirit was something everyone looked forward to.

Mizuki closed her eyes for a moment, as if concentrating. When she opened them again, a soft smile touched her lips. She raised her hand in front of her, and suddenly, a gentle and ethereal aura began to envelop her fingers. The air around her seemed to warm, a calm, inviting energy permeating the room.

In the blink of an eye, something appeared in front of her.

It was a fox—but not a regular fox. It had three luxuriant tails, all a bright pink hue, as though each one was made of pure spiritual energy. Its eyes were large and shining, and its fur seemed to flow as if it were in constant motion, even while still. The creature looked at the class with curiosity, its delicate and mystical presence filling the room in a way that seemed almost too enchanting to be real.

The students began to murmur in excitement, their eyes fixed on the fox. Some even leaned forward, unable to contain their gasps of admiration. It was impossible to deny that the fox was adorable, with its tails swaying gently and its innocent gaze, yet carrying an incomprehensible power.

"Here is my spirit," Mizuki said, her voice calm but full of pride. "My familiar spirit is a three-tailed fox, a spiritual being tied to energy that is both gentle and powerful."

The students were left speechless, and several immediately raised their hands, eager to ask questions.

"She's so cute!" exclaimed a girl, her eyes shining. "How do you manage to keep such a beautiful spirit close to you?"

"Does she really have three tails?" asked another student incredulously, mouth agape.

Mizuki smiled, clearly enjoying their reaction. "Yes, she has three tails, and each one represents a phase of development in the spirit. Over time, they strengthen as the bond between us deepens."

The fox, as if understanding what was happening, gave a small leap into the air and settled next to Mizuki, its tails gently curling around her. Its spiritual energy was immense, but its appearance and behavior were so docile that it seemed more like an enchanted pet than a powerful creature.

Kael observed everything with a more cautious eye. He knew that spirits, even the cutest ones, had latent power that couldn't be underestimated. Mizuki's and the fox's energy radiated a comforting feeling, but he was more interested in how this spiritual bond worked in practice.

While the class was fascinated by the demonstration, Kael felt a slight pressure in his head, the presence of Umbra becoming more noticeable. She wasn't physically there, but he knew she was observing the scene somehow, as if she was sensing the fox's energy.

"It's... interesting," Kael murmured to himself, not taking his eyes off the scene.

Mizuki continued observing the students, allowing the three-tailed fox to settle beside her before speaking again.

"Now, the question I want to ask you," she said with an intriguing tone, "is if any of you already have a spirit."

Some students hesitated, looking at each other. Some raised their hands, while others stayed silent, clearly more hesitant. Kael, however, didn't move. He stayed silent, his expression impassive.

Mizuki noticed his lack of response but didn't mind. She continued, her voice serious, explaining the situation. "For those who already have spirits, summoning a new spirit from the Spirit World will be a very difficult process. It requires an enormous amount of vitality and spiritual energy. Spirits are not just beings that can be summoned easily... They require a deep connection and a considerable sacrifice. Those who already have a familiar spirit know that the bond we have with them is unique, and summoning another requires you to have the energy necessary to maintain it."

Kael, still watching the fox, couldn't help but ask a question that popped into his mind. He tilted his head slightly, somewhat curious but with a hint of uncertainty. It wasn't something he had considered before.

"Umbra," he murmured mentally, so only his spirit companion could hear, "Do you think I could summon another spirit? I didn't know it was so... difficult."

The response came quickly, and Umbra's voice echoed in his mind with a tone that was almost bored.

"You never summoned me, remember?" she replied, the response almost scolding. "I'm a forest spirit, Kael, I don't come from the Spirit World. I can't be summoned like the other spirits you've seen here. You can summon another spirit, but don't ask me to do that for you. It's not my role. I'm... freer than that."

Kael thought for a moment about Umbra's response, reflecting on what she had said. He had never really "summoned" Umbra. She had appeared to him in another way, connecting with him without the formality of a traditional summoning ritual.

"So... does that mean I could, yes, summon another spirit?" Kael asked, still trying to understand the implications.

"Yes," Umbra replied straightforwardly. "But know that summoning a spirit requires more than just your will. If you're able to handle the energy and the necessary requirements, you can have another spirit by your side. But remember, the more spirits you try to control, the harder it will be to maintain your energy balance. They're not toys, Kael. And I won't be by your side to help you with that."

Kael reflected silently, his hands gently gripping the back of the chair as he observed Mizuki. He was beginning to realize that the path ahead would not be easy. Summoning spirits, maintaining control over them, and balancing their energies all seemed more complex than he had initially imagined.

Mizuki, now that the class seemed to have resumed its calm rhythm, looked around, observing the students. She seemed to be waiting for some kind of reaction or maybe even a question, but Kael, lost in his own thoughts, didn't say anything.