CHAPTER 91.5 — PATHFINDER

Classes at the academy were over.

But six people hadn't gone home.

Percy stood in the middle of the study hall.

Clara faced him.

Arthur leaned against the wall.

Charlotte sat on the edge of a table.

William had opened his notebook.

Marcus stood waiting quietly.

Nathaniel wasn't there.

For once, no one questioned it.

This meeting was for the team.

For First Spark of Hope.

William lifted his pen.

“Current status.”

Arthur sighed.

“Are we measuring again?”

“How will we know without measuring?”

Arthur looked at Percy.

“Why did you pick this guy?”

Percy shrugged.

“I didn't.”

William adjusted his glasses.

“You all picked me.”

Charlotte laughed.

“True.”

William looked at the page.

“Clara?”

“Twenty-five percent.”

William wrote it down.

“Arthur?”

“Twenty-three.”

“Charlotte?”

“Twenty-one.”

William looked at his own line.

“I'm at twenty-two.”

Then turned to Marcus.

“Marcus?”

Marcus didn't answer.

Percy looked at him.

“How much?”

Marcus sighed softly.

“Nineteen.”

Silence settled.

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“One to go.”

Marcus nodded.

“I know.”

Clara smiled.

“You'll do it today.”

Marcus looked at her.

“How can you be so sure?”

Clara pointed at Percy.

“Because he's looking.”

Marcus turned to Percy.

Percy raised his hands innocently.

“I didn't say anything.”

William looked at him.

“Yet.”

Percy laughed.

Marcus moved to the center of the hall.

A shadow stretched beneath his feet.

The shadow element...

Wasn't like the other elements.

Fire came outward.

Light filled everything.

Earth took shape.

Ice slowed movement.

Nature supported life.

But shadow...

Had always been there already.

Marcus looked at his feet.

His own shadow watched him.

Percy didn't come closer.

He simply spoke from a distance.

“What are you trying to do?”

Marcus answered.

“Extend the shadow.”

“Why?”

Marcus stopped.

“I don't know.”

Percy smiled.

“Good answer.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“How is that a good answer?”

William understood at once.

“Because he noticed his habit.”

Percy nodded.

“Marcus always looks outward.”

“A lookout.”

“Expands his field.”

“Senses other shadows.”

Marcus looked at Percy.

Percy pointed at his feet.

“But there's one you've never examined.”

Marcus looked down.

His own shadow.

Charlotte leaned forward slightly.

Marcus knelt.

Brought his hand toward the shadow.

His fingers didn't touch the surface.

But the Orin changed.

Marcus frowned.

“Deep.”

William raised his head.

“What?”

Marcus touched it again.

“The shadow isn't flat.”

Arthur looked at the ground.

“Looks flat to me.”

Percy laughed.

“Even stone looks flat to you.”

Arthur looked at him.

“Don't start.”

Charlotte whispered.

“Stone Man.”

Arthur closed his eyes.

“Is now really the time?”

Charlotte smiled.

“Always.”

Marcus wasn't hearing them.

He lowered his hand into the shadow.

This time, his fingers disappeared.

Clara's eyes widened.

“Marcus.”

Marcus was surprised too.

He pulled his hand back.

Nothing was wrong.

He tried again.

His hand went in up to the wrist.

William stood up.

“He's not passing through matter.”

Percy looked at him.

William continued.

“The Orin layer is carrying him.”

Marcus closed his eyes.

Felt inside the shadow.

It wasn't cold.

Wasn't warm either.

It didn't feel like empty space.

More like...

The back of a place.

The unseen side of a wall.

Marcus stepped forward.

His leg vanished up to the knee.

This page shows an unapproved copy of the author's NovelPhoenix chapter; reading the published chapter supports its creator.

Charlotte stood up.

So did Arthur.

Marcus took a second step.

His entire body sank into the shadow.

And disappeared.

Silence.

Arthur opened his mouth.

“Marcus?”

No answer came.

William looked around.

Clara spread her light a little.

Percy didn't move.

One second passed.

Then two.

The shadow of the lamp on the table trembled.

A hand emerged.

Charlotte flinched.

Then Marcus rose.

He stepped out of the shadow beside the table.

Arthur's mouth hung open.

William's pen fell to the floor.

Clara smiled.

Percy's grin widened.

Marcus looked at his own hands.

A voice echoed.

[SHADOW ELEMENT DEEPENING.]

Marcus raised his head.

[ELEMENTAL UNDERSTANDING: TWENTY PERCENT.]

Silence.

Arthur spoke first.

“Okay.”

“That was pretty damn good.”

For the first time, Marcus smiled broadly.

Charlotte looked at him.

“You can come out of other shadows.”

Marcus nodded.

“I think so.”

William picked up his pen.

“Distance limit?”

“Don't know.”

“Connection required?”

“Don't know.”

“Shadows of living things?”

“Don't know.”

William stopped writing.

Marcus looked at him.

“I just learned it.”

William considered that.

“Fair.”

Percy clapped Marcus on the shoulder.

“Twenty.”

Marcus looked at Percy.

“Twenty.”

Percy's expression changed.

The joking disappeared.

Seriousness took its place.

“All right.”

Clara noticed immediately.

“Where are we going?”

Percy looked at her.

“To see my grandpa.”

The door to Holar's study opened.

Holar raised his head.

Eleanor sat in the opposite armchair.

They both saw the six of them.

Percy was in front.

Clara beside him.

Arthur and Charlotte behind them.

William had closed his notebook.

Marcus was last.

Holar raised an eyebrow.

“What happened?”

Percy entered.

The others followed.

All six stood in a line.

Percy took a breath.

Then said it clearly.

“First Spark of Hope is ready for duty.”

Silence.

Eleanor's eyebrows rose.

Holar didn't move.

He looked at Percy for a while.

Then at the others.

“No.”

Percy had expected that.

“Grandpa.”

“No.”

“You haven't even listened.”

“I know what you want.”

Percy took a step forward.

“I listened to you.”

“I waited.”

Holar's expression shifted slightly.

Percy continued.

“The elemental requirement was twenty percent.”

“Then you made the age limit fourteen.”

“I didn't object.”

“I waited.”

Eleanor watched Percy quietly.

Percy gestured at his friends.

“But we're already ready.”

“Marcus reached twenty percent today.”

“The others passed the threshold long ago.”

Percy touched his chest.

“Mine's already further along.”

Holar knew that.

Everyone knew.

Percy's understanding of fire...

Was far beyond that discussion now.

Percy met Holar's eyes.

“We're in good shape.”

A voice came from behind.

“Yes.”

Everyone turned.

Galahad stood beside the door.

No one had seen him arrive.

Percy's face brightened.

“Big brother.”

Galahad folded his arms.

Holar looked at him.

Galahad nodded.

“They are.”

Holar frowned.

“Galahad.”

“They really are.”

Galahad looked at Percy.

“I saw it in the simulations.”

“They think.”

“They make use of each other.”

“They protect each other.”

“And they're not just strong anymore.”

“They've become a team.”

Percy turned back to Holar.

“Let us, Grandpa.”

Holar remained silent.

Percy's voice lowered.

“Even easy missions are fine.”

“The weakest areas are fine.”

“Don't misunderstand me.”

“I don't want to show off my power.”

“I don't want to feel like I've waited too long.”

Something changed in Holar's eyes.

Percy continued.

“We've been preparing since we were seven.”

“I don't want to keep preparing anymore...”

“I want to begin.”

Holar was about to answer.

Eleanor stood up.

“Then begin.”

Everyone turned to her.

Holar's expression changed.

“Eleanor.”

Eleanor stepped in front of Percy.

Drew her shoulders back.

She was no longer Clara's mother.

Nor Percy's auntie.

Her voice carried the tone of the Council.

“As the Second Pillar...”

“And the second-strongest person in the world...”

“I am assigning your mission.”

Holar looked at her.

Eleanor held his gaze.

Percy's breathing quickened.

Arthur straightened.

William took out his pen.

Charlotte listened intently.

Marcus didn't take his eyes off Eleanor.

Eleanor spoke.

“Your mission.”

“Thirty-five Advanced green wolves.”

Arthur's eyebrow rose.

“Thirty-five?”

Eleanor continued.

“Twelve Nevr.”

William wrote it down.

Clara's expression grew serious.

Eleanor gave the final name.

“And one Halmea.”

The smile left Galahad's face.

Percy noticed.

Holar turned to Eleanor.

“Eleanor.”

Eleanor stayed calm.

“The reward...”

“A team total of seventy-five thousand...”

“AWE dollars.”

Arthur slowly exhaled.

Charlotte looked at him.

Percy was still thinking about the Halmea.

Holar stood up.

“Let me explain that part.”

Eleanor took a step back.

Holar stood before the children.

“The Halmea...”

“Is among the stronger Advanced Monsters.”

Percy listened carefully.

“And it has elemental immunity.”

Arthur's expression changed.

“Earth too?”

“Yes.”

William asked.

“Ice?”

“Yes.”

Clara:

“Light?”

“Yes.”

Percy:

“Fire?”

Holar looked at him.

“Yes, Percy.”

Percy smiled faintly.

“Great.”

Holar raised an eyebrow.

“Not great.”

Percy corrected himself.

“Interesting.”

“Better.”

Holar continued.

“You can't defeat it with an element.”

“You'll use pure Orin power.”

“Physical strength.”

“Raw magic.”

“Pure Core pressure.”

“And coordination.”

William wrote every word.

Holar continued.

“Also...”

“This mission is worth fifty thousand...”

“Awakening contribution points.”

William's pen stopped.

Arthur:

“Contribution points?”

Holar nodded.

“Awakening contribution points...”

“Are separate from ordinary money.”

“They're used at the Mages' Specialty Store.”

Charlotte looked curious.

“What do they sell?”

Holar shrugged.

“Things you'll find useful.”

Arthur:

“Like what?”

“Armor.”

“Special Orin tools.”

“Field equipment.”

“Protective items.”

“And other things you need to learn about.”

Percy grinned.

“Shopping points.”

William turned immediately.

“No.”

Percy:

“Technically.”

“No.”

Percy went quiet.

Holar continued.

“One more condition.”

“For every monster you kill...”

“You'll bring back a part of it.”

Arthur frowned.

“All of them?”

“All of them.”

“Thirty-five wolves.”

“Yes.”

“Twelve Nevr.”

“Yes.”

“The Halmea.”

“Yes.”

Arthur sighed.

“The carriage will collapse.”

Eleanor smiled slightly.

Raised her hand.

Moved her fingers.

Space in the air bent.

A ring formed in her palm.

Percy's eyes widened.

Eleanor tossed him the ring.

“Catch.”

Percy held out his hand.

The ring landed in his palm.

Percy's arm was dragged down.

“YOU MOTHER—”

His knees buckled.

The ring nearly fell to the floor.

Percy caught it with both hands.

Arthur started laughing.

Clara's mouth fell open.

Percy looked at Eleanor.

“How many kilos does this weigh?!”

Eleanor answered calmly.

“Never mind.”

“HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO NEVER MIND?”

Eleanor extended her hand.

“Put your blood on it.”

Percy stopped.

“What?”

“One drop.”

“So it recognizes you.”

Percy looked at the ring.

Then at Eleanor.

“Will it bite?”

Eleanor rolled her eyes.

“Percy.”

“Okay.”

Percy lightly nicked his finger.

A drop of blood touched the ring.

The ring suddenly became light.

Percy's arm shot upward.

“SHIT.”

Galahad burst out laughing.

Holar closed his eyes.

Eleanor grinned.

“It recognizes you now.”

Percy slipped the ring onto his finger.

“A spatial ring.”

Eleanor nodded.

“You can put the monster parts inside.”

William approached immediately.

“Internal capacity?”

Eleanor looked at him.

“Enough.”

William waited.

Eleanor waited.

William understood.

“All right.”

Percy turned the ring.

“It's really nice.”

Clara looked at him.

“Don't lose it.”

Percy immediately:

“I won't.”

Clara raised an eyebrow.

Percy looked at the ring again.

“Probably.”

Clara covered her face.

Holar grew serious again.

“About the Halmea...”

“One more thing.”

Marcus raised his head.

Holar looked directly at him.

“Attacks from behind work.”

Marcus's eyes changed.

“Shadow.”

Holar nodded.

“Your shadow...”

“Will help you with that.”

Eleanor looked at Marcus.

Then at Holar.

Holar continued.

“You don't have to strike from the front.”

“Honor in battle...”

“Isn't standing in front of your opponent.”

“It's bringing your team home.”

Percy's expression grew serious.

Galahad was watching him.

Percy nodded.

“Understood.”

An hour later...

The preparation room was full.

Bags.

Water.

Bandages.

Spare uniforms.

Orin stones.

Maps.

Monster illustrations.

William's three separate notebooks.

Arthur's two pairs of gloves.

Charlotte's healing supplies.

Marcus's field cloak.

Clara's light-colored wand.

And Percy's Blaze.

All six looked ready.

But no one was at ease.

Clara looked at Percy.

Percy noticed.

“What?”

Clara didn't answer immediately.

Percy came closer.

“Are you scared?”

Clara stayed quiet.

Then nodded.

“Yes.”

Percy's expression softened.

“Me too.”

Arthur heard it.

“Me too.”

Charlotte lowered her head.

“Me too.”

William took off his glasses.

“Me too.”

Marcus spoke last.

“Yes.”

A silence settled.

It wasn't a bad silence.

No one was trying to look brave.

No one was hiding their fear.

Percy looked at all of them.

Then took a few steps forward.

Turned his back to them.

Looked at the door.

Then turned back to his friends.

“I want to ask you something.”

No one spoke.

Percy looked at Arthur.

“When you were seven...”

“What did you suffer for?”

Arthur's expression changed.

The old arena.

The old wounds.

The old fight.

Percy looked at William.

“How many times did you lose?”

William smiled faintly.

Percy looked at Charlotte.

“How many times were you afraid?”

Charlotte's eyes softened.

He turned to Marcus.

“How many times did you stand watch alone?”

Marcus quietly raised his head.

Finally, he looked at Clara.

Clara was already looking at him.

Percy's voice grew stronger.

“What did you fight yesterday?”

“How many times did you fall?”

“How many times did you get back up?”

No one answered.

There was no need.

Percy touched his chest.

“All of us...”

“Prepared for this moment.”

His voice filled the room.

“For the beginning.”

Percy took a step forward.

“First Spark of Hope...”

“Begins today.”

Clara's eyes shone.

Arthur clenched his fist.

William closed his notebook.

Charlotte straightened her shoulders.

Marcus gathered his shadow.

Percy's voice rose.

“And we're going to wipe these damn monsters...”

“Off the face of the earth.”

He paused for a second.

Then shouted.

“ARE YOU WITH ME, DAMMIT?!”

Five voices erupted at once.

“WE'RE WITH YOU!”

Percy fell silent.

Raised an eyebrow.

Arthur laughed.

“You asked.”

Percy laughed too.

“True.”

Percy held his hand out in the middle.

But it wasn't alone.

Clara's hand was already there.

Percy looked at her.

Clara smiled.

“Always, Mr. President.”

Percy's expression shifted slightly.

Then he shook his head.

“Don't call me president anymore.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“What should we call you?”

Clara spoke before Percy could answer.

“We chose that years ago.”

Percy looked at her.

Clara's hand still rested on his.

“The one who opens the way.”

Percy fell silent for a moment.

He remembered fifteen children kneeling before him.

The day they'd promised to stand beside him in life and death.

They had given him that name that day.

Percy looked at the five people around him.

Once, he had chosen his group's name.

First Spark of Hope.

Now he was accepting the name they had chosen years ago.

“In the field...”

He paused.

“Pathfinder.”

Clara smiled.

“The one who opens the way.”

The corner of Arthur's mouth lifted.

William bowed his head.

Charlotte smiled.

Marcus's expression softened.

Clara held Percy's hand tighter.

Arthur placed his hand over theirs.

William's went on top of his.

Charlotte's next.

Marcus's last.

Five voices rose together.

“Understood, Pathfinder.”

Percy's breath stopped for a moment.

Then he grinned.

“That's it.”

Arthur:

“Don't say BOOW YEAH.”

Percy looked at him.

“Why'd you say that?”

Arthur's face fell.

“No.”

Percy took a breath.

Clara covered his mouth immediately.

“MMMPH!”

Charlotte burst out laughing.

William shook his head.

Even Marcus laughed.

Clara removed her hand.

Percy took a breath.

“Betrayal.”

Clara:

“Stay alive.”

Percy went quiet.

Then smiled.

“Okay.”

A carriage waited in front of the academy.

Six people came outside.

An armed driver stood beside the carriage.

Percy climbed in first.

Then reached back.

Clara took his hand.

Climbed up.

Arthur got in on his own.

Charlotte followed him.

William arranged his belongings.

Marcus closed the door last.

Percy sat by the window.

Clara beside him.

Arthur across from them.

Charlotte beside him.

William had already unfolded his map.

Marcus was looking outside.

The horses started moving.

The wheels began turning over the stone road.

The academy slowly fell behind.

Percy looked outside.

For the first time...

They weren't leaving the academy as students.

They were going on a mission.

Three people watched them from afar.

Holar.

Eleanor.

Richard Green.

Richard watched the carriage go.

“Arthur's scared.”

Eleanor nodded.

“Good.”

Richard looked at her.

“Good?”

“I wouldn't want a child who felt no fear.”

“They wouldn't know when to run.”

Holar said nothing.

His gaze was still on the carriage.

Eleanor noticed.

“You let them go.”

Holar:

“I didn't.”

Eleanor smiled faintly.

“I did.”

Holar looked at her.

Eleanor shrugged.

“Someone had to.”

Richard spoke quietly.

“Are they ready?”

Holar didn't answer for a long time.

The carriage was growing smaller.

Percy was no longer visible.

Finally, Holar spoke.

“No.”

Richard's expression changed.

Eleanor looked at Holar.

Holar continued.

“No one is ready for their first mission.”

“The first mission...”

“Makes you ready.”

Eleanor's smile disappeared.

Richard nodded slowly.

A voice came from behind.

“They're beginning.”

All three turned.

Rowena was approaching.

Her hands were clasped behind her back.

Her gaze rested on the departing carriage.

Richard:

“You came too?”

Rowena nodded.

“I wouldn't miss this.”

Eleanor smiled.

“The First Pillar got curious.”

Rowena looked at her.

“You assigned the mission.”

“Of course I'm curious.”

Another voice sounded.

“They're late.”

This time, all four turned.

Sylvia was walking behind them.

As though her presence there were perfectly normal.

Eleanor's eyebrow rose.

Holar's eyes narrowed.

Richard asked directly.

“What are you doing here?”

Sylvia stopped.

Looked at them.

Then in the direction the carriage had gone.

“You'll understand soon.”

Holar scowled.

So did Richard.

Rowena folded her arms.

Eleanor, however...

Started laughing.

Sylvia saw it.

“What?”

Eleanor walked over to her.

Without asking permission...

She linked her arm through Sylvia's.

Sylvia's entire body stiffened.

“Eleanor.”

Eleanor looked at her.

Completely serious.

“Yes?”

Sylvia resisted for a few seconds.

Then looked at Eleanor's face.

And lost.

“Fine.”

Eleanor waited.

Sylvia sighed.

“Fine, fine.”

Eleanor's face brightened instantly.

Rowena closed her eyes.

Richard shook his head.

Holar looked down the road into the distance.

Sylvia still hadn't escaped Eleanor.

And far away...

Inside a carriage...

First Spark of Hope...

Was heading to its first mission.

CHAPTER 91.5 — THE ONE WHO OPENS THE WAY

END