A Crow's Dream of Clear Skies Chapter 3

A Crow’s Dream of Clear Skies -- Chapter 3

[Phase Two of Testing, Nine Gates Ceremonial Hall]

Xia Yuning instructed each student to sit in front of a desk.

They were plain cherry wood Chabudai that stood twenty centimeters tall with gilded Zabutan cus.h.i.+oned floor chairs.

Atop it lay a scroll with silver ceremonial rollers and an inkwell with dip-pen.

“Before you lay the informational test.”  Xia Yuning rallied their attention.

An uneasiness s.h.i.+fted through the room. The students seemed reluctant to test their knowledge of anything, let alone something they came to learn of.

“Rest a.s.sured. You’ve already been guaranteed a place at this academy by walking through those gates. This is purely an academic placement test. You may begin.”

A sigh of relief flowed like a gentle breeze as the students unrolled the scroll, beginning the exam.

Jasper took his pen, dipped it and looked at the first question.

What is the process to distribute one’s mana throughout the body?

This is gonna be easy.

‘By focusing one’s mind within the abdomen, one will begin to feel the presence of their mana at its origin, the [Well of Internal Spirit]. From here, one can begin to inhale and exhale, moving one’s mana from the [Well] into the upper torso… (Omit 300 words).’

One down… ninety-nine to go… wonderful!

Jasper studiously scribbled away – crossing his t’s and dotting his I’s – frequently dipping his pen in the inkwell.

An hour pa.s.sed and Jasper set down the pen, rolling up the scroll.

He looked around to see everyone still working with vexed expressions.

It wasn't that hard, but I guess my previous life helps quite a bit. There was no sense in holding back now.

Instructor Xia Yuning walked up next to my desk and sat down on the opposite side of me – since the table was only 20cm tall it wasn't worth squatting.

“Is there a problem? Or is it that you are forfeiting the placement test?” She whispered.

A few ears turned with those words.

“Hmm? Why would I?” Jasper crossed his arms and leaned back in the cus.h.i.+oned Zabutan.

“Well, you couldn't possibly be done and there's another two hours left for the testing period.”

Jasper glanced at the scroll, enticing Xia Yuning to look.

With great hesitation, she clasped the scroll in her hand and unrolled it. Her lips moved slightly, mouthing the words on the page. Simple, lip reading was followed by frantic, eye movements as she began to roll through question after question. As she arrived at the final question, she set the scroll on the Chabudai with wide eyes.

She began mumbling to herself as she stood from the Zabutan, swiping the scroll.

“Is something wrong, Teach?”

No answer as she continued mumbling down the aisle towards another instructor, handing him the scroll.

He flipped through it, skeptically reading every carefully constructed answer, glancing at Jasper from time to time.

“Jasper Crowley.” He called out. “Would you please accompany me?”

Oops, did I do too much?

“Yes, sir.” He stood walked up to the man.

He was elderly, but not fragile in any way. A long proud gray accompanied a zealous demeanor.

“This way.”

Jasper studied the old man, for he showed no signs of the [Demon Spirit Fusion]. It's possible he’s not a Spiritualist, but why would Xia Yuning answer to him.

That’s who he is. I feel it now – he’s using a suppression skill.

The man opened and closed a door behind Jasper, leading into a long hall.

“To what do I owe the pleasure, Director Weiss?”

He stopped dead in his tracks. “So, you can even tell that much? My suppression is useless on you?”

“You may be able to suppress your [Demon Spirit Fusion], but it's useless if your target or targets can sense your spirit pressure.”

“This year is gonna be an interesting one with you here, huh?”

“I hope so.”

“Well, I can already guarantee you'll get into an advanced cla.s.s, along with Shen Fei and Satori Minna.”

That’s the name of the gnome girl – so she’ll be in cla.s.s with me?

“Okay. But, I have a feeling you have questions?”

“Too many to count, I might say. But between the eight gates and the flawless knowledge; it's not natural, is it?”

“You know we Crowley’s are too poor for elixirs, right? I just read a lot, and the eight gates surprised me too.” Jasper smirked, withholding it all from the Director.

“Very well.” He frowned. “Let’s head back.”

The two of them walked into the hall and he motioned Jasper to take his seat, keeping the scroll in his hand.

GONG! Xia Yuning signaled the end of the test with the ornate piece.

“Put your tests in the basket to my right then be back by 0800 for you cla.s.s rosters. You may also use the door on my left. Turn the corner and you'll arrive in front of the nine gates.” She concluded the day.

Jasper headed back to the stables and found Tucker facing the Ehecatl, talking back and forth with caws and hisses.

“Sorry to interrupt bud.”

Tucker looked over and sluggishly stood, cawing a goodbye to the Ehecatl.

The two headed out of the stables and gleefully trotted through city streets as Jasper told Tucker of his day with a mouth full of skewered beef.

The enigmatic reptile drew the cautious eyes of many as they made their way past vendors and pedestrians – eventually out the east gate and back home.

After he removed the saddle from Tucker – placing it on the mount in the stable – he let his companion roam the pasture at his leisure.

After he tended to his evening ch.o.r.es he leaned against the pasture fence for what seemed like only a moment, watching as Tucker pranced about the field and rolled in the foliage like an innocent pup.

When day turned to dusk, he decided it was time to head in for dinner.

At the front door, he was greeted by Mrs. Fauna Who ushered him on into the dining room to sit at the decedent Victorian table that spanned four meters and would seat twenty with ease.

“Just in time as always.” Martha sat in her chair, all prim and proper – waiting for supper.

Olivia poured him a cup of tea and he nodded, accepting it.

“It’s almost scary how on time you are. Not once do I recall having to send for you – even when you were a toddler.”

“It’s a gift I suppose.” Jasper took a sip, enjoying the flavors of the lady gray blend.         

“So, how did it go?” Martha’s tone turned almost ecstatic.

“Eight.” He kept a bland face.

“Eight what?” Martha asked before taking a swig of tea.

“Eight of the nine gates.” He smiled with glee.

Tea spewed halfway across the table, covering the rose centerpiece.

“E-eight? I heard even the best of prodigies only get four at the extreme most, but eight?” She fell silent for a moment, putting her head down – her greying red bangs covered her face.

Why does she look p.i.s.sed?

She carefully moved her teacup and saucer to the side of the table then slammed down her palms.

“Hey mom? What’s wrong?”

She stood up, hopping on top of the table – wedges closing on the surface as she stepped closer until she was but four feet away.

“Mom?”

She looked up with tears of joy yelling, “I'm so happy!”, as she jumped him – taking Jasper and chair alike to the ground.

He took a sigh of relief before prying his clingy mother from him.

After she ceased and stood, Mrs. Fauna came over to pick up the chair and return the two to their seats.

Now firmly seated back on her side of the table, Martha looked rather shameful. “S-so, what about the written test?”

“Aced it.” The words rolled of his tongue as if it was a natural thing to do.

Visibly restraining her excitement, she choked out some words, “Well, you do read a lot. Don’t you? Some things lil ‘Ol me probably wouldn’t even understand.”

“Reading is indeed a favored past time, and I do recall a book about magic theory and enigma that you attempted to read after me. It was absolutely hilarious trying to explain a perpetual water spell constructed from fire and ice affinity magics.”

“Please don’t bring up that nonsense, it still gives me a headache to this day.” She rested her forehead in her palm, shaking with unwanted memories.

Ding. Ding. Olivia carted out two dishes on an ornate tea trolley trailing with a heavenly scent that filled the room.

She placed a dish afore Martha first, then presented Jasper with the a.s.sortment of smoked meats.

When Jasper had had his fill, he bid his mother a goodnight and she wished him luck on his first day of cla.s.s.

After was.h.i.+ng up for the night and a.s.suring Mrs. Fauna that he was good for the night, he sat on the bamboo mat he had requested – this mat was for his meditation.

Time to train for the evening.

He crossed his legs and rested his arms in his lap, beginning the process of focusing on his mana.

He pooled it all into one grand vortex – though for his age it would normally only be the size of a needle.

Jasper’s training was restrained to the simple distribution of mana throughout the body till contracting of an affinity – of which will occur tomorrow in cla.s.s.

Like a flood, he pushes his mana throughout his body with ever increasing volumes and pressures, forcing his mana paths to widen and adapt.

With energy now pumping through him, he was now fully awake. Contrary, he decides it’s time for some sleep, so he stood, stripped to his skivvies, then lied under satin sheets.

Using a technique – he learned in his previous life after the fall of Stardew when sleep began to become a demanding thing – Jasper moved a ma.s.s of mana into his head and began to spin it clockwise at a fast speed. When the rush hit him, he reversed the direction at such a sudden pace that it knocked him out cold – sending him into the abyss known as slumber.

…

Morning came like a flash as he woke and rushed off to the academy in his Lavender waistcoat and espresso trousers – freshly laundered by manner staff the previous night.

On his companion’s saddle back, he rode through country side like the morning before.

Much like the previous morning, he met Shen Fei on the road – except this time, the long-winded snake was silent.

Shen Fei kept his distance, trotting behind Jasper. Watching with eyes of contempt.

A steady ride through crowded streets, a simple farewell to Tucker, and he headed to the commons to see his cla.s.s roster.

A ma.s.sive billboard in the middle of the well-kept landscaped courtyard was surrounded by a cloud of students; Each a partic.i.p.ant in the testing yesterday.

He moved through the group, b.u.mping a few shoulders; getting close enough to read his results.

Jasper Crowley – Advanced Placement Program, Building C, Cla.s.s A.

“Hey it’s the kid that opened eight doors!” Someone shouted from the amidst the group.

Ah, h.e.l.l…

A s.p.a.ce cleared around Jasper, between him, the board and the crowd – large enough to extend one’s arms, with room.

“Why isn’t it Mr. Crowley, the prodigy.” The Gnome girl emerged from behind two others, shoving them out of her way.

This was the first time Jasper had gotten a good look at her. She was short, like really short. Four-foot-five, maybe four-foot-seven. Her hair was a periwinkle drawn in pigtails with childish bangs framing a childish face.

Bright condescending eyes seemed to shatter this innocent image as she frowned at Jasper.

He sighed looking to the ground then picked up his head and looked her deep in the eyes with a heavy gaze. “And what might be the name of this pretty little lotus?” He said it with a whimsical smile in toe.

“My name?” She was thrown off, skin crawling.

It worked. I don’t think I ever would have been this daring in my previous life – at this age at least.

“You do have one, don’t you?”

“I- Ye-”

“What? Beast got your tongue?”

The crowd was in awe; a bunch preteens basking in the glory of his remark.

Oh G.o.d, they actually go for this stuff?

“My name I-”

“Nope.” Jasper placed a single finger on her lip and she let out a distraught gasp. “Took you too long. I’ll inform you know when I want to know a petty leprechaun’s name.”

Without giving her time to process the words, he turned about and a path immediately cleared for him. He walked to the end, looked over his shoulder to smirk at her horrified look, then proceeded to cla.s.s.

As he walked away, he heard hoots and hollers, shouts of disbelief.

Preteens are easy to impress.

His pleased expression turned to regret as he walked down the paved steps to building C.

I’ll make it up to you later, Mimi. I’ll see you in cla.s.s.

…

[Building C, Cla.s.s A]

The Room was set up like your average lecture hall – a teacher’s desk at the front with a wall of chalkboards and four rows of curved, leveled student seating. Two to a desk, three desks to a row; twenty-four student maximum capacity seating.

A few others already occupied some of the seats.

Diva Lunacaster, sat front and center with her heels propped on the desk. She was a first-rate ice mage at the fall of Stardew – with a personality just as cold and the matching white hair.

Jing John, hunched over his desk on the third row, furthest to the left and against the wall – where the large boy lightly dozed off. One of very few non-Orientals to make it into the advanced cla.s.s, this dark-skinned kid was a force to be reckoned with in Jaspers previous life. They nicknamed him the behemoth for his unG.o.dly like strength – sadly currently he was seen as but a mere overweight oddity.

Fallen Tiger, a close comrade during the fight for Stardew was a first-rate martial artist – He sat in the second row on the right by the window. Jasper made a double take; his skin, it was grey like ash and his ears came to a slight point. A slight chuckle came to him as he recalled learning what he truly was.

These three were in the AP cla.s.s, huh?

Jasper took another moment to scan the room then walked up the aisle to an empty seat in the back row, on the far right by the window.

He made himself at home in the chair, leaning back in the soft cus.h.i.+on and propping his feet on the desk, pointing towards the door as he looked out the window to his left.

Outside the window lay the sports field. Uppercla.s.smen whom had already chosen their specializations were sparing in morning practice.

His eyes focused on an interesting display where a knight with s.h.i.+eld and sword fought a monk with staff. The battle was both heated and equal.

It’s rather impressive how they're this intense using martial arts alone.

“Out of my seat.” A stern voice interrupted Jasper’s entertainment.

He turned to look at the skin head Shen Lao – Shen Fei’s obnoxious older brother.

I forgot they held him back because he was so unruly.

“My apologies Shen Lao.” Jasper stood and pulled out the seat, offering it with a subjugated tone.

“Very good, peasant.” Shen Lao turned about and fell flat on his rear.

Diva Let out a hysterical laugh at the sight, before she was silenced by Shen Lao’s furious gaze as he stood.

“Alright peasant. You wanna dance?” Shen Lao jabbed without notice.

Jasper leaned left, narrowly dodging his fist, then stepped forward pus.h.i.+ng all his weight behind a single blow to the stomach.

Shen Lao’s body went limp and Jasper grabbed him before he fell. He dragged him to the center desk on the third row and tossed Shen Lao in a chair, leaning his head over the desk so he looked as if he was sleeping.

He looked up to see an aroused Diva and the baffled expressions of Jing John and Fallen Tiger. With a finger pressed softly over his lips he made a soft hush and returned to his seat just as Mimi and Shen Fei entered the cla.s.s.

Shen Fei sat on the right of his brother and looked at his unsightly brother with an air of disgust – and to Jaspers surprise, it was followed by an accepting sigh.

Usually a Carnitine would be disgraced by the sight. Yet, Shen Fei is used to it. Almost as if he’s given up?

Jasper then watched as Mimi took her seat in the first row at the left desk.

Just then, he felt a presence search the room – attempting to scope out the strength of his soul force. In response, he quickly suppressed it to the best of his immature body’s ability.

“An impressive roster we have here.” The presence appeared at the back of the cla.s.sroom as none other than the esteemed ‘h.e.l.l Hound’ Sir Galle. His spiked auburn hair complimented his golden gaze. He wore a slick red and orange trench coat with black slacks and a white collared s.h.i.+rt underneath – unb.u.t.toned in a messy but somehow collected fas.h.i.+on.

He slammed the roster book closed in one hand and walked forward, down the steps. Tap. Tap. Black leather boots met the untreated redwood with the occasional creak.

When he reached the podium, he presented himself to the cla.s.s. “My name is Galle Ignius. Some may know me by my Hunter’s name, h.e.l.l Hound. My [Demon Spirit Fusion] is with the Cerberus, a rank A Demon.”

Why tell us this much? Why tell students this? Oh, I see. Everyone is wondering why he’s disfeatured.

“Sir Galle, can I see your hands?”

“Jasper Crowley, was it? I was just about to clear up that suspicion, how did you know?”

“You’re wearing gloves and nervously rubbing your hands together.”

Galle sighed, then took of his gloves, revealing thick black fur climbing his fore arms. When he flipped his hands over, they revealed cracks of molten lava in his palms.

“These gloves are specially made to seal the heat of my spirit fusion, I wanted this to be a slight warning of what could come.” He looked discontent with himself, as if he regretted ever becoming a hunter. “Enough of that, it’s time begin the first day of cla.s.s…”

After a couple hours of standard instruction, Galle declared it was time to find out each student’s affinity.

He reached beneath the podium and removed a large rough shaped white crystal and placed it on the small desk next to the podium.

“Who’s first?” He looked about.

Shen Lao leaned back in his chair and played with a small light at his fingertip – he obviously already had his affinity from the previous year.

“I’ll go.” Mimi was the first to speak up again.

“Alright miss Satori, the floor is yours. Channel your mana and let it happen naturally.” Galle stepped back and stood to the side.

Mimi placed her hand atop the crystal, took a breath and it began to glow a moderate orange.

“Earth affinity, well done Miss Satori.”

Shen Fei came next and procured a dim red – fire affinity.

Diva Lunacaster gained a luminous light blue – ice affinity. She gloated with a joyous cheer afterwards.

Fallen Tiger gained a moderate green – wind affinity.

Jing John got a bright orange – another earth affinity.

“You’re up Jasper.”

He stood and walked down the steps and placed his hand on the crystal.

It’s been a while. How’s this feel again. It’s gonna be wind affinity, right?

He felt his consciousness be sucked into a void as he was surrounded by swirling galaxies. Each galaxy bore varying colors, like a sea of rainbows.

I get it. Each galaxy represents an affinity. Why didn’t I see this last time?

Something pulled on his chest, like anchors in his heart strings he felt a defining weight draw him in. It forced him to turn around and look to a single galaxy in the sea of chaos.

What affinity is that? Is it really that affinity? I thought that affinity was dead!

His eyes opened to his cla.s.smates surrounding him and the crystal.

“What affinity is this Sir Galle?” Diva asked.

“Why, it can’t be. It’s Lightning Affinity!”

They looked at the blinding luminous violet crystal with expressions of awe and disbelief.

An affinity determines one’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to picking a specialization after the first year. Earth excels at defense and is only moderate at offensive techniques. Fire excels at offense but has little defense. Light is good at support but lacks elsewhere. And so on. Yet, lightning is different. It is the rarest of affinities only seen once in a generation and is proficient in all areas.

So, a new life means a new path. I look forward to the coming years. Here I come Ragnarok!