It had been a few hours since I started reading and I just finished the books.
I looked up at the clock and saw the time was 5:27 PM.
Enough time had passed and I decided to get up.
I walked past a few people sitting at tables, reading stories for fun or catching up so they wouldn't be behind when classes started.
As I got to the door, I felt a tug on my pants.
I looked down and saw Zek standing there.
"Is everything ok?" I whispered as we were in a library.
Zek looked around at the other people here, grabbed my hand, and dragged me to a secluded corner of the library.
"Can you set up a soundproof barrier?" Zek asked me.
Curious, I did so.
Zek sighed, looked up at me, and asked in a normal voice, "Why did you tell Orin about the Mountain of Stars?"
My face darkened instantly and became serious.
"I'm sorry if I worried you, but Orin was stepping into something he shouldn't," I said.
He stared at me and said, "What could be so serious that you had to lead him to World Powers?"
I stared back at him, surprised. "I didn't think you knew about them," I said bluntly.
"My master taught me enough about the world and its secrets. You know more than me, I won't deny that, but I do know of things on that level," Zek explained.
I sighed and sat down on the ground so I was at eye-level with Zek.
We stayed silent for a bit, looking at the floor, before I said, "I don't want him to die."
Zek, shocked, asked, "What do you mean?!"
I lowered my head further and asked, "Do you want to know? If I tell you, you can't say anything to Orin, Ark, or anyone else, or else we could seal Orin's fate or even extend it to the rest of you."
Zek paused, his expression tightening. His ears twitched slightly, and his tail stilled—a rare moment of hesitation from him. He looked away, biting his lip as if weighing the consequences.
Finally, he exhaled through his nose and looked back at me.
"...Alright," he said, his voice quieter than before. "I won't say anything. Just tell me what I need to know."
I closed my eyes for a moment before speaking. "It is no secret I have knowledge I shouldn't. One of those is a prophecy foretelling of Orin's death... If he climbs the mountain before he is ready, he will die."
Zek stared at me in shock and worry.
"I am working on stopping it, but oracles are tricky. The more outside interference, the harder it is to predict."
I looked up to the ceiling and pictured the night sky hidden behind the mountain. "I am already climbing the mountain, and I fear I am going to drag you all with me before you are all ready."
Zek stared at me in disbelief as he thought about it and realized the consistencies I had talked about.
When he seemed to calm down and his attention returned to me, I said, "The only way I can prepare you all is to train you, so... now that you know, can you help me?"
Zek frowned, staring at the floor. His tail twitched slightly as he mulled it over. "...Alright," he said finally. "I won't say anything. Just tell me what I need to know."
I nodded and said "I will. but you clearly have other questions, so ask away and I will get to them all."
Zek looked at me, nodded and said, "Why would you climb the mountain? Were you already on your way up when you learned about it?"
I smiled. "I have been on it for a few years now... although I didn't fully comprehend the full scale at first, I chose this path, and I don't regret it... Though I am only slightly above the treetops right now, so who knows how it will be as I climb further."
Zek nodded and asked, "Where are the rest of us?"
I paused to think.
"You are a few branches up, Aaron, I'm not sure, and the others haven't left the ground yet, though Orin almost took the first step."
Zek nodded and said, "I can help you, but you should tell the others. Orin is terrified now after I told him the story, and the others should know before we drag them into danger."
I nodded and said, "I will when the time comes, but for now, let's settle into school life, as that takes priority right now."
Zek smiled and nodded.
I got up, cancelled the barrier, and we started walking out of the library.
As we walked, Zek's stomach growled and I said, "Want to head to the cafeteria and grab something to eat?"
Zek nodded.
As we walked, I remembered something I should have asked earlier.
I checked the surrounding area for any shadow magic, found none, and, once out of earshot of other people, asked Zek, "Has Orin told you anything about Aaron?"
Zek looked at me and said, "No, I don't think so. Why?"
I sighed and said, "Aaron has almost led Orin up the mountain... or rather, something inside Aaron."
Zek stopped walking and just stared in shock and confusion.
Seeing his shock and confusion, I elaborated.
"It's a type of Shadow Spirit, I think, a strong one too. Aaron is definitely aware of it, but it doesn't seem like he wants others to know about it. Thankfully, it doesn't seem hostile to anyone, but I don't want to test it. I do have a plan, but I need more information about the shadow before I can do something."
Zek took a few minutes to process what I said and started to try and understand it all.
"Okay, so... Aaron has some kind of shadow spirit inside of him and you think it's dangerous?" Zek asked finally.
I nodded. "I know it is dangerous. You can't sense it, but I can... it's eating away at Aaron's Life Force."
Zek paled hearing that.
Life force was something most people can understand. It is the energy that gives you life and keeps you alive. If the shadow is eating Aaron's Life Force, then that means Aaron is dying.
"What, but... that doesn't make sense..." he paused to think. "Aaron may be skinny for a Leonin, but he doesn't seem sickly or weak compared to how that normally works," Zek said.
I nodded. "That's because it's replacing the life force with something else, but I'm not sure what. My best guess is that it's trying to take over Aaron's body or turn Aaron into a vessel capable of handling it."
Zek was wide-eyed. "That's possible?!"
I nodded. "Spirits of Rank 5 or lower don't need one as that can manifest normally, but Rank 6 and above need either a tether or a vessel to manifest, thats what I think is happening with Aaron."
"Tether and Vessel?" Zek asked.
I proceeded to explain. "A tether is a connection to a person or item. Basically, it means that they need to have a contract with someone or be bound to an item, though that can limit their powers based on the strength of whatever the matter is tied to.
It means that if I summoned a spirit stronger than me, it could only use the magic of equal power to what I can do, not factoring in mana limits.
A vessel gives them a body they can inhabit and control. Essentially, they need a body or they can't do anything. This method allows for more freedom to move around and, so long as the body holds, has the ability to use their full power rather than the limit placed on them by tethers."
Zek nodded after listening to my explanation.
"So you think this spirit is trying to make Aaron into a vessel, why though? No offence to Aaron, but there were probably better options, like a mage. Plus, I thought Spirits like being free; if it got a body, wouldn't that trap and weaken it?"
I nodded. "It would be more constrained but would have a larger power output if it finished creating a vessel."
Zek nodded and asked, "How long does he have?"
I shook my head. "I'm not sure. Aaron's shadow magic is definitely from the spirit, and since he is very good with it, I would assume it started a few years ago. As for his Life Force... It's weak, and I don't know how long this has been going on for or how strong it was at the beginning, so I can't calculate. But if I had to guess, I would say he has a few months at least."
"A few months?!" Zek said, surprised.
I shook my head. "That is a guess based on unknown information. I rounded down and assumed it would speed up the conversion as Aaron was getting close to us. If I am wrong, though, he could have a few years... maybe. Spirits have a lot of patience, so I won't be surprised if it's going for the long game."
Zek nodded and asked, "What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to keep an eye on him. While I am gone over the weekend, I am going to gather some supplies that should help, along with something that can give me more information on whatever this thing is.
I need as much information about this thing as I can get before I try anything. If I fail or get something wrong, it will realize what I am doing and could lash out, so I have to get it right on the first try," I explained.
Zek nodded and said, "I will do my best, but please be careful. I will let you know if Aaron gets worse."
I nodded. "Thanks. It's nice to get someone who can help with this and not cower in fear," I said somewhat jokingly.
Zek smiled, and we arrived at the cafeteria and were about to get in line when Zek asked, "Should I tell Orin?"
I paused for a second before saying, "You can choose what to say, but I would recommend only saying the bare minimum. You know Orin is the kind of person who will rush in to help someone before thinking about anything else."
Zek shrugged and said, "True... I will let him know I am helping you, but not what it is. I will make something up to calm him down, but you should still tell him the truth at some point."
I nodded. "I know, and I will... I just don't want any of you to get dragged into something you aren't able to handle yet."
Zek nodded, and we ended the conversation, letting our minds rest for a bit.