Zectas Volume V: The Sequestered Seminary of Sawtorn Page 15

"You're stronger than you look," Xantana said to Smoke.

  "Chouchou, focus on the Earth Elementalist," said Xantana to the tiger Lioumerean.

  'They're partners?' thought a surprised Smoke.

  "You got it, Honey," replied Chouchou.

  With his hands pointed at the charging Lioumerean, Smoke let out several earth-spikes to skewer his body. However, Ouragan's cyclones disrupted his earth attacks from keeping their shape.

  As Chouchou was getting ready to use his fire claw attack, Chrys suddenly swooped down and struck the Lioumerean with a green-colored wind slash.

  Chouchou instantly fell outside the ring.

  TOOOOOT

  Blowed the arena's horns loudly. The Announcer's face displayed on the jumbovision once more.

  "Lady and Gentlemen, you three are now part of the Magi Gagnant Tournament! Congratulations!" exclaimed the Announcer.

  Xantana hurriedly got off the ring and ran towards the grounded Lioumerean. "Chouchou, are you hurt? Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine, I'm fine," replied Chouchou.

  A fireball then came straight towards Chrys' face, but was blocked by an earth-wall.

  "Chrysopelea! I'll get you for this!" threatened Xantana as she helped her man out of the arena.

  "Thank you, Faux," Chrys said to Smoke. "But I could've handled her attack."

  "Just thought I'd return the favor," said Smoke.

  "Don't mention it. After all, we DarkElf Sonstwelters need to stick together," said Chrys.

  Before Smoke could reply, Chrys promptly headed for the exit.

  "But I won't be so kind if we meet in the tournament, Faux!" yelled out Chrys as he left.

  Shortly after, Avilo and Mouche walked over towards Smoke.

  "Congratulations! I thought you would be eliminated for sure!" said an ecstatic Avilo. "Who would have guessed that you'd survive?"

  "Thanks," sarcastically said Smoke.

  "Looks like we had a wrong impression of Chrysopelea," said Avilo to Mouche.

  "Indeed, my Lord," replied Mouche. "And he even has such an interesting sounding name."

  "Really? It is too long if you ask me," said Avilo. "Anyway, Faux, you're part of the tournament now. It will be in six weeks time. I hope you will have improved by then."

  "I know," said Smoke. "Avilo, can you recommend someone who could help me improve my abilities? I really need to withstand against Ouragan's power."

  "Ha! I may have helped you get into the tournament, but I am not a miracle worker," said Avilo. "There is no way you can defeat him, even if you have ten years!"

  "Lord Avilo, please do not be so blunt," said Mouche. "I am sorry, Sir Smoke, but when it comes to Prime Wizard Ouragan, Lord Avilo is extremely biased."

  "Faux, I am sorry if I offended you, but there is simply no way you can defeat him," said Avilo. "You are still free to visit my estate, but I have other matters to attend to. In fact, I have to leave right now."

  "I understand, thank you for all your help," said Smoke, lowering his head before Avilo.

  "I will tell you this, if you're not up against Ouragan, I will cheer for you," said Avilo and left with Mouche.

  Overwhelmed by his upcoming battles, Smoke slumped down next to the ring. He knew that he stood no chance of winning the tournament. Not as Faux that is. He remembered how he cheated in the Swordsman to Knight competition, and that he used his Earth Manipulation to win. Ironically, now it was the reverse, as he was limited to using that one ability and had little hope of winning.

  "Hey, Faux, was it?" suddenly said the young flower girl.

  "Yeah?" said Smoke, looking up.

  "You really did good out there," said the young girl.

  "Listen, I know I sucked, but you don't have to rub it in my face," said Smoke.

  "I'm not. Honest!" said the girl.

  "You do remember that all of the other participants received Tlaltezin's blessing, right?" asked the girl.

  Smoke stared at her. If he was not wearing his mask, she would have seen his confused face.

  "I estimate Xantana's life would have been probably at 250,000 HP at best, if she wasn't blessed," said the girl.

  "Yeah, but it wasn't a battle to the death," said Smoke. "It was just to knock someone out of the ring."

  "You would have done pretty well, if Ouragan had not made the conditions of the ring into Xantana's favor," said the girl.

  "Huh? What do you mean?" asked Smoke.

  The flower girl sighed. "How Gahum illiterate can you be?"

  "Anyway, I overheard that you were looking for a teacher, right?" said the girl.

  "Yeah, do you know of someone?" eagerly asked Smoke.

  The flower girl nodded. "But she lives way up in the boondocks. I haven't been there in a long time, but she might still be there."

  "Who?" asked Smoke.

  "Your future teacher," replied the girl. "And she'll be able to teach you exactly what you need to beat Ouragan."

  "The name is Flora," she said to Smoke, offering her small hands to him.

  "Smo— Faux," said Smoke, shaking Flora's hands.

  "Give me ten minutes, and then we'll go," said Flora.

  "Go where?" asked Smoke.

  "To the boondocks, of course," replied Flora.

  * * * * * *

  "It's almost night fall, Flora," said Smoke, tightly holding on to the reins of his dirus wolf. "You know, I would have reached there faster, if you just provided me with coordinates on the map."

  The two of them were riding on Smoke's rickety cart being pulled by Freifahrt. After a day's travel, they had circumnavigated the red mountain. They were now on the other side, opposite of Votl City.

  "Cheer up, Faux. The tournament isn't until six weeks. Well, five weeks and three days, if you want to be anal about it," said the girl, sitting comfortably in the cart.

  "How much farther is this place?" asked Smoke.

  "Just that cave over there," said Flora, pointing over to a solid wall on the side of mountain.

  "What cave?" asked Smoke. "Is it up the mountain?" He strained his neck looking up.

  Flora got down from the cart, and walked towards the mountain.

  "Come on, Numbskull, it's this way," said Flora. She walked straight into the solid wall and vanished.

  "Don't be afraid, Freifahrt," said Smoke. "I'm sure this is perfectly normal in Vitzytl, right?"

  The dirus wolf would not move towards the wall. Smoke got down, and pulled his mount into the solid wall.

  When they got through, they entered into a huge cavern illuminated with glowing red ember stones.

  "Glad you could finally make it," said Flora. She stood on top of a teleportation circle.

  "That will take us to wherever it is we're going?" asked Smoke, pointing to the circle on the cavern floor.

  "Yes. This will take us to the seminary," said Flora. "Come on, and let your dirus wolf join in as well."

  Smoke dragged Freifahrt into the teleportation circle.

  "Now, you just need to say those words," said Flora, pointing to the runes on the circle. "And hold them while you say it."

  "Doesn't it just teleport us to the target destination?" asked Smoke. "Like those teleportation circles in the city?"

  "Those things are powered by energy crystals and other energy sources," said Flora. "And I'm afraid this thing isn't like that."

  Smoke knelt down and read "Nos ad Florissant Poisse."

  + Teleporting to Florissant's Seminary [3,500 kilometers away]

  - Consumed 300,000 MP

  A total blackout overcame his vision.

  "Flora? Flora?" said Smoke. He tried calling out to her, but he could not even hear his own voice.

  Suddenly, a bright flash of light filled his sight, and a loud ringing in his ear.

  "Ah!" he shouted loudly and found himself sprawled onto the teleportation circle.

  "Relax, Faux," said Flora.

  Smoke squinted his eyes and searched for Freifahrt. Instead, he found the red-haired HighEl
f standing next to him.

  "You're overreacting," said Flora. "Just look at your dirus wolf, he seems fine." She said, pointing to Freifahrt.

  He found his furry mount unconscious next to him. Careful not to let Flora see him, he peeked inside his chest to check on Igniz. He let out a deep sigh when he saw his symbiote give him a wink, engulfed in his energetic purple flames.

  Slowly, Smoke got up and searched his surroundings. Perturbed by the fact that he barely had any mana left, as a result from their instantaneous trip.

  After looking around, he spotted a large building fit enough to be called a small castle, situated on top of a hill. It had one spire, and was surrounded by several dried up trees and large boulders.

  "Is that the seminary?" Smoke asked Flora.

  "Yes, it is," answered Flora. She then patted Freifahrt's fur and said. "On second thought, we better let your dirus wolf rest here for a while."

  "Is it safe here?" asked Smoke. "Aren't there any dangerous monsters nearby?"

  "It is," said Flora. "Well, unless there are flying monsters that I haven't heard of, but I highly doubt that. This place is hidden inside a large crater of a dormant volcano."

  "I'll just take him along, best to be on the safe side," said Smoke, and carried the one-hundred-kilogram dirus wolf on his back. Freifahrt's massive hind legs dragged behind them.

  It took them another fifteen minutes to reach the intimidating wooden doors of the seminary. Flora kept insinuating that it would have been quicker if Smoke had just left his dirus wolf behind, but Smoke would not have it any other way. The seminary doors were dark brown and had two thick iron-rings, which served as its handles.

  Flora stood on her toes to reach the iron-rings. She then used them to knock on the door, hard.

  TOG TOG TOG

  "Be warned, this may take a while," said Flora. "You see, this seminary has at least four-hundred rooms, four mess halls, four infirmaries, and two gardens. At worst, it could probably take us a good hour."

  "Really? How many students do you think are staying here now?" asked Smoke, as he gently dropped down the still sleeping Freifahrt next to the door.

  "To my knowledge, Only Eleve is left," said Flora.

  Before Smoke could respond, the tall wooden doors opened. Two Iron Knights stepped outside with their claymores at the ready.

  "Oh, and these guys," said Flora. "If I recall correctly, there are about four-thousand of them, give or take a few hundred."

  Smoke stood straight and lowered his head at the two Iron Knights.

  "Excuse me, but I think we're here to see someone named Eleve," said Smoke.

  "What are you doing?" asked Flora.

  "What does it look like?" said Smoke. "I'm talking to the guards."

  "Sorry about that," Smoke said to one of the Iron Knights. "Flora, here says she knows this place well. But now, I'm afraid if she was just pulling my leg."

  The Iron Knights then stood on the opposite sides of the door and saluted them, giving way for both of them to enter.

  "They can't talk," said Flora. "They're Automaton Iron Knights made to protect this seminary. That's why I asked what you were doing," she said, and stepped into the seminary.

  "Oh, why didn't you say so," said Smoke, he lifted Freifahrt up and dragged his dirus wolf inside.

  Once inside, Smoke saw hundreds of Automaton Iron Knights lined up in a great hall, leading to several hallways. However, the numerous Iron Knights blocked any of the paths farther inside the seminary.

  "It would be best if we wait here," said Flora.

  Suddenly, a female's high-pitched voice boomed from one of the entrances. "Did you let someone in? I am not expecting any visitors, you bunch of Numbskulls! If Mistress Florissant could see you now, I'm sure she'd be—"

  An elderly HighElf, with the same straight, red hair as Flora, appeared from behind the Iron Knights. She was dressed in long ruby robes, and stopped talking as soon as she saw Smoke and Flora.

  "That was quick, Eleve," said Flora to the old HighElf.

  "You're here! You're back! You're really here!" Eleve said to Flora.

  Eleve ran to Flora and hugged her tightly. Smoke was impressed to see such an old HighElf be as nimble as her.

  "When did you get back?" asked Eleve.

  "I got here about thirty-minutes ago," said Flora. "Oh, and I brought someone along," she said pointing to Smoke.

  "Huh? That's not a girl," said Eleve. "Guards! Take him outside, now!" she ordered the Automaton Iron Knights.

  At once, all of the Knights in the great hall grabbed Smoke and his dirus wolf, and dragged them towards the door.

  Mercilessly, they threw both of them out. Smoke and Freifahrt tumbled on the ground and collided with the large boulders outside.

  TUDUG

  Smoke heard the large wooden doors hurriedly shut tight.

  "Faux, don't worry. I'll be right there!" shouted Flora from behind the door.

  Smoke checked on mount, and sighed out a relief as he was uninjured. He then walked back to the door. There, he heard Flora and Eleve having an argument, but could not comprehend as it was almost inaudible.

  Shortly after, both doors opened. Both Flora and Eleve stepped outside.

  "Sorry about that, Faux," said Flora. "Eleve can get a bit cranky."

  "Well, why do you think I'm like that?" asked Eleve.

  "Anyway, she wants to see your Gahum, before she decides whether to take you in as her disciple," said Flora.

  "My Gahum?" asked Smoke.

  "I mean your powers," explained Flora.

  "What? He doesn't even know what Gahum is?" Eleve asked Flora. "Why are you even bothering with this guy?"

  "Eleve, he gave me the blessings of Tlaltezin's flowers before he faced for the qualifiers in the Magi Gagnant Tournament," said Flora. "In the whole history of the tournament, have you ever heard of anyone do that?"

  "I bet it was because he didn't know what those flowers were for," said Eleve.

  "No! I asked him point blank, whether he wants to give the blessings to me instead of receiving it himself," said Flora.

  "Still, that doesn't really mean anything," said Eleve.

  "Not only that, but he also activated the teleportation circle to get here, all by himself," said Flora.

  The old HighElf scuffed at the young flower girl.

  "Come on, Eleve, do it for me? Please?" begged Flora.

  "Fine, but may I remind you? Who was the one who told me to be strict with taking in disciples, anyway?" Eleve asked Flora.

  "Faux, was it?" Eleve said to Smoke. "You may proceed and show me your Gahum."

  Smoke bowed down before Eleve. He took out his Digger's Wand.

  "Hey, Numbskull, I said your Gahum, not your equipment," reprimanded Eleve.

  Smoke's initial plan was to create a circular trench and build a large sculpture at its center, but that quickly went down the drain.

  "Alright, thank you for clarifying that," said Smoke.

  He opened both his palms and used his Earth Manipulation ability, only to see the nastiest notification windows pop up.

  - Cannot control this Earth with your current level of Earth Manipulation.

  - Cannot control this Earth with your current level of Earth Affinity.

  "Well, Faux? I'm not getting any younger," said Eleve.

  "What are you doing? Do it already," Flora said to Smoke. "Eleve isn't known for her patience."

  "Um. After using the teleportation circle, I don't seem to have enough mana to show all of my powers," said Smoke. "Can I rest for a while?"

  "That's fine," said Eleve. "Take all the time you need. In fact, you can help me out, and not come back at all."

  The elderly HighElf went back inside the seminary and shut the large wooden doors behind her.

  Flora walked over to Smoke. "You can't manipulate the ground here, can you?"

  Smoke shamefully shook his head.

  "Alright, I'll try talking to Eleve again," said Flora. "Come back when
you've increased your ability. I could probably make her wait for another three days."

  "But how am I supposed to improve my Earth Manipulation?" asked Smoke. "That's why I came here in the first place."