Chapter 73 - Kassandra Farrow Aegis'sur

A silhouette loomed tall over Hawthorn, casting an ominous shadow over his wretched figure. His wait had been excruciatingly slow, yet at the same time painfully brief. He closed his eyes and held his breath, gritting his teeth against the inevitable blow. It seemed ironic that this was to be how his end found him: cringing in fear, not even able to summon enough courage to beg for his own life.

“You will not die this day, worm.”

The voice was the chilling whisper clawing its way from beyond the confines of an icy tomb. That it came from a little girl only made it all the more horrifying, not less.

“Though I would gladly bathe in your blood and grind your every last bone to dust, there are two reasons I will spare your pathetic life.”

Hawthorn’s chest exploded with renewed agony as a crushing weight pressed down upon his prone figure. There was no physical contact though, so Hawthorn knew this could only be raw elemental power so dense that it had manifested into a physically tangible mass that was pressing his shattered ribs and squeezing the breath out of his punctured lungs. Hawthorn coughed out blood and moaned feebly.

“First, I will not give those old fools pulling the strings from behind the scenes the pleasure. They think they have won, but they don’t realize how empty their victory is. I intend to teach them of this grim truth, and you are only the first lesson among many more to come.”

The words were clipped but unhurried, the tone grave and emotionless. The sense of purpose and strength of will infused into each word would have been enough to crush any normal person under their weight, yet incongruously the voice was still that of a little girl. Hawthorn couldn’t help but crack his eyes open, gingerly peering up at the shadow looming over him.

Only a vague silhouette was distinguishable from the wild halo of incandescent light that burned a circle of painful fire in his eyes. He knew this to be the afterglow of a colossal storm of elemental power barely held back by the grip of an iron will. Hawthorn couldn’t imagine being able to withstand such intense power, let alone forcefully suppress it.

What kind of monster had he awakened?

“Second, and most important of all, my brother will return and demand his pound of flesh. The old fools, they’re as blind as you are. You think I’m a monster? You will learn - just as they will - who the true freak of the Farrow family is. You will live only to regret this day. Until then, hide if you will and run if you can. Better yet, live well and enjoy your last days.”

Abruptly, the pressure was lifted from him. It left him shaking uncontrollably in its wake, his fingers digging bloody furrows on the palms of his hands. His ragged breaths fueled only a weak sputtering in his heart, as though a gaping hole had been left in the bellows of his lungs.

All the while, his unblinking eyes stared at the shrinking figure of the little girl who walked away from him with slow, deliberate steps that left her final words hanging in the air like giant icicles looming ominously over his fate.

“You don’t have many remaining.”

Kassandra had barely set foot outside the barrier, when she was met by two magisters of the academy. They inclined their heads to her in a respectful greeting.

“Hail, Summoner Kassandra Farrow Aegis’sur. May the elements illuminate your path and forever guide your steps,” the shorter mage called out in a quietly exultant tone. His robes of office were the verdant green of the wind element. The slightly pudgy mage with frazzled brown hair was an exalted Mortal stage mage who presided over the Wind Faction of the academy.

“Hail, Summoner Kassandra Farrow Aegis’sur. May the elements nurture you in their wisdom and enfold you within their embrace,” a tall, broad-shouldered man with a heavy beard flecked with copper said while smiling approvingly at Kassandra. His crimson robes indicated that he belonged to the fire faction, where he also held the chair as the head instructor.

Kassandra’s steps did not pause at all yet her eyes grew colder still, not even acknowledging their greeting. It seemed as though she intended to brush past them without a word, but at the last moment she stopped right as she was brushing past the Mortal stage mages.

“You did all this.” Kassandra’s cold, clipped words were not an accusation, but rather a mere statement of fact.

“Of course we did. Though you may be upset at the manner of our conduct, at times small sacrifices must be made for the greater good. The academy will, of course, deal with any unpleasant consequences from this incident on your behalf. I don’t expect there will be much protest even from the Westeria family, however. Old noble families understand better than most the reason one should not offend a summoner, especially one blessed with your talent. As for your brother’s unfortunate injuries, we tried our best to protect him and he should recover shortly.” Karlo, the fire mage instructor, smiled dotingly upon the new summoner.

“Indeed, I expect the whole incident should be long over by the time the boy recovers.” Wind mage Alderweiss chimed in with a bright smile. “Truly unfortunate, these circumstances. We are, of course, more than willing to provide full healing services for you and your family. Let us not fuss over the past and instead focus on the brilliant future that lies ahead of you, Kassandra Farrow Aegis’sur. You are now an exalted Aegis'sur, and thus part of our Institute's legacy. Let bygones be bygones, shall we?”

“Oh, this is not over,” Kassandra whispered in slow, even tones. She did not even turn her head, her gaze staring into the distance in the direction Reikard had left in. “Not by far. I don’t care why you did it and what you hope to gain from this. You hurt him, and I will make you pay for it a hundred times over. This, I promise you.”

The smiles upon the elder mages’ eyes did not so much as flicker, and if anything they seemed to grow deeper still as they turned their heads and nodded indulgently to the little girl bristling with imperious fury right next to them.

“As you say, Kassandra. We understand you’re upset at the moment. Just take some time to digest the recent events. Do take all the time you need. We will be right here waiting for you when you are ready,” Karlo said in a placating tone, with Alderweiss nodding along.

Kassandra didn’t seem to hear any of this, however. Instead, her fierce gaze was directed straight ahead, piercing through empty air as though at a hateful target only her eyes could see while her brow formed a stormcloud upon her forehead.

“I don’t know who you are, and I don’t care. Just know this: Touch my brother again, and I will kill you,” Kassandra spat, her face a mask of ice that suddenly cracked with a tinkling sound. Through the fissures could be glimpsed the depths of an implacable fury that burned in hellish flames.

Without waiting for a response, she walked away through the wide path that the crowd had wordlessly opened for her, leaving only the stunned stares of every student upon the valley.

“Is she truly only nine years old?” Karlo wondered out loud after Kassandra had walked off into the distance.

“Indeed, such a remarkable prodigy. She must absolutely be nurtured by our Aegis Institution,” Alderweiss quickly agreed.

“Impressive,” a third voice said. It was soft and throaty, with the charming sing-song lilt characteristic of an Islander woman. “Truly impressive.”

“I hope we did not disappoint your expectations, exalted magister.” Karlo said obsequiously.

“Not at all. I still can’t quite believe she was able to detect my presence. Her water element affinity is simply incredible. I never imagined there would be an Initiate or even an Adept able to pierce my Mist of Illusion with such ease. And she’s still so young!”

Shimmering waves of light flickered in the air next to Alderweiss. They quickly dissolved into azure mists that drifted airily into the wind, revealing the figure of a woman. She bore astoundingly youthful looks for the flowing blue robes that marked her as an exalted Sage level elementalist. She looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties at most, though her eyes shone with wisdom that far surpassed her years. Shimmering cascades of jet black hair fell to the middle of her back, where they flowed around a slim, shapely waist that contrasted sharply with the generous curves of her hips and breasts.

“Truly, she’s the blessing of our Aegis Academy. Today marks the birth of another Aegis’sur! I believe you were the last summoner to awaken within the ranks of our Aegis, Magister Syrene? Ah, a new summoner, a new Aegis’sur! Our names will be marked down for posterity, and only heaven knows what other heights we will reach in time.” Alderweiss rubbed his hands together with an eager, expectant smile upon his lips.

“Is something the matter, Magister Syrene?” Karlo asked with a lift of his heavy, bushy eyebrows.

“That boy. I tried to use my healing spell on him, yet a disturbance in the elemental resonance prevented me from being able to reach him,” the water mage furrowed her brow in thought.

“With all due respect, it must have been the Eye of the Storm caused by young Kassandra’s imminent breakthrough,” Alderweiss commented absently, his eyes still distant with visions of glory and fame.

“Perhaps so,” was the reply Syrene gave, though the thoughtful look in her eyes still lingered. “Such an interesting family, the Farrows. You’re sure there is no further information on Kendric and Adrienne Farrow?”

Karlo shrugged helplessly. “We pulled their records from the Bureau of Civil Registry at Glory Peak, and everything seemed to check out. A few files had been restricted under a Department of the Military seal, but that’s not that unusual among even low tier officers retired from the army.”

“I heard Kendric Farrow was a young father. Is he old enough to be a retired veteran from the Army?” Syrene asked.

“The Shadow War of fifteen years ago left many disillusioned soldiers in its wake. Many injured young officers were granted the opportunity to take early retirement as part of a settlement package, and most took up a plow in exchange for the sword as a result. Not that unusual at all,” Alderweiss offered.

“A veteran of the Shadow War? I see,” Syrene said thoughtfully, cupping her chin in thought. “A gifted young officer might explain some of the talent running through the veins of those twins. What of the elder son, however?”

“A cripple. The gods are fair, after all. All the talent must have been sucked right out of that poor lad and funneled into his younger siblings.” Karlo shook his head.

“That’s a cripple who took down one high level Initiate mage and another high level Adept while armed with nothing but a bow, a few arrows, and cold courage.” Syrene raised an eloquent eyebrow.

“Indeed, I was so surprised I was nearly too late in summoning the barrier spell around student Hawthorn. A few moments longer and he might have been even beyond the regrowth spell’s remarkable abilities. That could have disrupted our whole plan. Truly, a vicious little creature,” Karlo muttered under his breath.

“Yes, one wonders how fearsome a spellcaster he might have become, if only he weren’t a cripple,” Alderweiss mused.

“The boy hardly looked like he needed any elemental talent at all,” Syrene smiled humorlessly. “The girl’s parting words to Adept Hawthorn were rather interesting, wouldn’t you say?”

“Magister Syrene, surely you jest. A freak surpassing the monstrous talent of Kassandra Farrow? Clearly, she was merely distraught by the rampant aftereffects of her first summoning ritual,” the stocky Karlo chuckled.

“And such a grand first summoning! She was clearly a class three spirit at the very least. Clearly humanoid and even with a spark of sentient thought! She might grow into a class six or even seven spirit!” Alderweiss cried out, his voice shaking with excitement.

“Yes, such a powerful first summoning - it was clearly fueled by potent talent along with an incredible will and profound emotions. After all, though the power unleashed during the awakening ritual is indicative of the summoner’s latent talent, the degree of sentience possessed by the summoned spirit is dependent solely upon the strength of will of the summoner herself. It is this point, more than anything, that truly impressed me,” Karlo tugged at his beard with barely contained enthusiasm.

"But she didn't give in to her baser instincts! The girl was obviously overwrought by her own emotions and she was teetering on the verge of slaughtering that Hawthorn boy on the spot - helpless like a lamb before a dragon. Yet, she stopped herself and mastered her own emotions. Why, the fluctuations of pent up elemental essence were terrifying. Such incredible focus and will!" Alderweiss praised, his eyes glowing.

“And yet, such a strong-willed girl defers blindly to her older brother, who in his own talentless way is just as impressive, if not more,” Syrene pondered absently.

Karlo and Alderweiss exchanged strange looks with one another, but did not dare to contradict the younger magister. After all, they were both far past their prime and had stagnated at the peak of the Mortal Stage. On the other hand, the gorgeous magister who looked to be half their age was already an exalted Sage level summoner!

Syrene Le Sueur was practically a living legend, and one of the highest regarded young magisters of the entire Aegis Academy. Only the imminent awakening of a budding talent such as Kassandra Farrow could bring such an exalted personage to a mere branch location.

“Skyle Farrow,” Syrene whispered, her eyes growing distant. She simply could not shake off the image of the bitter smile on the small boy’s lips as he faced the wave of fire about to completely engulf him.

It had been Karlo’s job to manipulate the arena’s barrier spell while it was Syrene’s to ensure that no disaster would befall. As such, she had watched in fascination as Karlo’s barrier spell somehow failed to latch onto the small, talentless’ boy not once, but twice. The first time had been right before he jumped through the barrier, and only Syrene’s quick intervention had prevented a terrible injury on the boy’s back as he escaped through the arena's barrier.

Karlo was growing old and his talent was obviously withering, as he either failed to notice or otherwise did not seem overly concerned over the fact that his spells had failed to protect the boy from Adept Hawthorn’s fire. After all, in his eyes the boy was just a worthless cripple, only useful to facilitate the awakening of his sister’s powers.

The second time Karlo's barrier was needed, Syrene had been ready. She had seamlessly taken over his duties and wove an invisible barrier around the boy when the Adept student had fired his final spell.

"No, not around the boy," Syrene noted wryly in her own head. "My barrier spell slid right off like water from a smooth rock, and with just as much effect. It was a good thing I was prepared and managed to anchor the barrier spell on the air in front of the boy."

One of Syrene’s talents included a high sensitivity to elemental energy, which is why she still puzzled over the barrier spell’s apparent inability to lock onto the little boy. This could be explained by many factors, such as Karlo’s own carelessness or Kassandra’s imminent awakening.

Still, a quiet whisper told Syrene that there was more than met the eye with this young boy.

Syrene had learned to listen to such whispers, for her keen instinct had often been her most valuable asset.

It was curious that such a whisper would call out a young boy’s name this time.

Perhaps, the exalted water element summoner mused to herself, it was time to pay the Farrow farm a personal visit.

"Skyle," Syrene Le Sueur Aegis'sur mouthed, as her lips stretched into a mysterious smile.