NOVEL NEXT [Arc I] Chapter 32.1 End of the dream
[Guerorps PoV continued]
The assistant headmaster started his explanations.
“All of you here, have learned how to spread mana around your body through your blood. You can feel it. You can use it. Using the forbidden soul arts is very similar, as nearly all living beings already have soul cores inside them.”“But you see, unlike mana, which is but an ambient energy, (at least to those of us who are not mana-bodied) the soul embers are.. you. When they flare up, they burn down. Even as the fire rekindles and grows even larger with time, what has burned down, shall remain lost. Purified by the flame, now a clean slate”
“But what does that mean?” - asked one of the senior students, a musclehead that liked to bully younger pupils - “You forget. Your life experiences, your loved ones, skills, wants, dreams. Your character might change so much even your family won’t be able to recognise you.. Assuming you can recognise them”
“But why would you ever use this power when you can use mana instead?!” - someone objected
“Soul techniques increase your power 10, sometimes 100 times as much as even the most apt mana strengthening. It is an open secret that nearly all heroic fights, where a weaker creature defeated a stronger one, were a result of a complete soul exhaustion.”
“Can’t you just… not expel any soul energy outside your body? Like with the strengthening techniques! Just make it circulate inside, giving strength!” - asked one of the more experienced senior pupils
“Indeed, you can try” - we all felt a sense of relief, there might still be hope “But when you do so.. Soul embers will flow through your blood, and even with the smallest cut, you risk losing the first ember, the core of your being. Each slap of the fin, now strong enough to hurt your own scales due to water pressure, might end up with you becoming like a seaweed, alive, yet lifeless, a puppet, just moving with the sea currents”
“Enough chatter” - the grandmaster spoke again. “I shall be with you on the battlefield! You have my word, I won’t let you all die. I have no plans of being the last grandmaster of the mighty Reflective Fin. But now, practice! And practice hard! As the founder said, through hard work all fish can reach enlightenment”
***
“How naive I was! Trusting that piece of plankton! Why didn’t I realize then, that sly barnacle stuck to our school, raising to the top in his lust of power! He always said that he thought the founders' words were too soft!“
“Where I come from they say you can never trust those in power!” - added the ugly eel
“Indeed! I should have trashed him more before killing him! But it is important that you learn this story and share it with the world! Our mistakes shall not be repeated! For I failed to do so… blinded by the station and career prospects given to me for keeping my mouth shut… Never before revealing the betrayal..”
***
The treachery! In the reef caves of the royal palace, surrounded by burning steam of hydrothermal vents, enraged even more than usual by the use of magic. The black and white smoke, forming a seemingly impregnable wall, defended by us, the proud students of reflective fin!
“Oh, brave younglings! How my heart is moved by seeing you come to help save the kingdom in its moment of need! So gallant! And so brave!” - even the king came to see us before the battle! Together with a host of princesses. How beautiful they were! Long veiltails, blue and green! Scales that radiantly reflected light, even in the water darkened by fumes! Adorned in jewelry of most precious pearls, fins carefully treated with most precious oils... All of us were captivated by their sight. Even the tired and bored expressions on their faces, seemed mysterious and noble, to the country bumpkin we were! Alas, the visit was brief, for we were only one of the sects sent as emergency reinforcements, and the king wanted to visit them all. He left, after saying a simple word to each recruit, and the brilliant princesses with him. One of the kingsguard, however, remained.
He came to the duplicitous headmaster, and they firmly booped their snouts, seemingly old friends. After a short exchange, they came to us.
“Noble students! Great news! As per the royal decree all that participate in the battle, and survive, shall be granted knighthood!” Cheer arose!
“But Sir, those not yet of age are not allowed to be granted noble titles!” Blopliob objected.
“Worry not, young fish.. No, young Sir! For all of you, are now, also per decree, adults!” - after saying so, he presented an information pearl with royal insignia attached to his whisker. Cheers arose around us.
“But why would they do that?” Blopliob wondered, too quiet for most to hear among the excited blooping “it’s nearly unprecedented! And to give it to hundreds of people?” Grandmasters face soured at those comments “Silence! Don’t you dare question the will of the Greatest fish of the 55 seas!”
“Now, now, honorable Head! As customary, to celebrate your passage into adulthood, eat! These fermented sea grapes, straight from the castle's cellar! They fermented for over 40 years, they shall lit a fire in you and give you some bravery!”
***
The perfidious fruit! To be young and innocent again! Intoxicants still fresh, forbidden… exciting! I might have snuck into my fathers cellar before, and eaten a fermented this or that, but even then it was an event! If found out, I would receive quite a spanking.
“What happened to the royal fruit?” - asked the eel
“Ah yes… I hoped we could talk about something more pleasant... But yes… maybe it’s better to continue”
***
Most immediately ate the fruit they were given, encouraged by the knight, taken by the flow. I took a mouthbite and peeked at Blopliob, wanting to make fun of him if he got obviously drunk! Instead.. I saw the grandmaster stopping him and a few other students from eating their grapes. The knight “accidentally” dropped the net with the fruit… but I saw his, and the damn treacherous bastards face. That was no accident…
Wary, I looked back at the fruit. Most have already finished, were now merrily chatting, didn’t notice what happened next to the master whom they were now avoiding, not wanting to have their fun spoiled by a nagging. Instinctively… I let it go.
I saw it falling.. Seductively red.. Glistening... Like the eye. The eye of the monster we soon had to face