Ch.21Chapter 21: New Friend.

In response to Arias’s question, Valt answers as if there’s no need to even think about it.

What is there to consider when magic also suits the earth attribute well?

Moreover, Valt even has items that enhance the earth attribute.

“Hmm, I think an earth spirit would be good.”

Arias nods at his predictable choice.

“Alright, that suits you well.”

Then she begins gathering magical power.

“Finema zographi mia econa.”

After Arias spoke these incomprehensible words, the spirit Undi leapt from her and began drawing a pattern on the ground with sparkling water.

Arias points to the glowing pattern and says to Valt:

“Go sit there.”

“Mm.”

As Valt’s massive frame settles onto the pattern, Arias begins her explanation.

“This is a magic circle that helps summon spirits. Place your hands on the ground and concentrate on calling an earth spirit. I should warn you that success isn’t guaranteed. Even with spirit affinity, spirit summoning can take some people just hours while others might try for years without success.”

Valt expresses doubt at Arias’s words.

“If we have the same spirit affinity, why would that happen?”

“Because spirits are free-spirited and capricious. They won’t go to people they don’t want.”

That explanation makes sense.

In other words, one needs to be chosen.

Valt will try, but he’s not getting his hopes up too high.

“What does it mean to call a spirit?”

At Valt’s question, Arias begins to ponder.

“Hmm… that varies from person to person, so it’s difficult to explain precisely… Even when using the same magic, everyone imagines it differently, right? It’s similar to that. Just keep calling whatever you think of as a spirit, Valt.”

Though the concept is abstract, Valt understands well.

It’s like how when someone says “dog,” one person might think of a Jindo dog, another a Maltese, and yet another a Welsh Corgi.

Valt places his thick hands on the ground and says:

“I’m ready.”

Arias gathers her magical power again and says:

“It’s better to close your eyes. It makes it easier to visualize. Then I’ll begin. Finema emphaniste edou.”

The magic circle on the ground begins to glow more brightly, and Valt closes his eyes and starts imagining an earth spirit.

Surely, an earth spirit would be… a body made of soil or stone with a bit of moss growing on it, and unlike other spirits, it would have a somewhat heavy, taciturn nature…

Perhaps due to the elven specialty of assisting with spirit summoning, the image of the earth spirit in Valt’s mind begins to become clearer.

‘Oh, so it’s you.’

Though not exactly as he imagined, it’s quite similar to what Valt had in mind.

Being a lesser spirit, it’s tiny in size with bright, beady black dots for eyes.

However, its inverted triangular upper body is more developed compared to its round, pebble-like lower body.

In a way, its appearance resembles the muscular Valt.

Whether it’s just his imagination or a real spirit that appeared in his mind, Valt tries speaking to it.

‘Nice to meet you. I am Valt.’

Surprisingly, the spirit in his imagination responds cheerfully.

‘I am… No…um… Nice… to meet… you….’

Despite its cute appearance, its voice is a deep bass befitting an earth spirit.

It has no mouth, so it’s unclear how it’s speaking.

Valt makes an offer to the spirit.

‘Will you come with me?’

The spirit, Noum, who seems to be considering, rolls its black eyes around before answering.

‘You… good scent… scent of vast earth… I’ll go with you.’

‘Welcome, Noum. My first spirit.’

***

Lisa, who had been watching Valt while swinging her sword, puts it down and asks Arias:

“Phew! Hey Arias, does this usually take so long?”

Two hours have already passed.

The two had been watching over Valt, who occasionally smirked with his eyes closed.

“Yes, even elves take about a day when contracting with spirits. It’s probably not going to happen today.”

Even for elves, spirit contracting is like a coming-of-age ceremony, a major family event.

Only by having a spirit can one truly become a genuine elf.

In truth, Arias didn’t think Valt would be able to contract a spirit right away either.

She was just repaying a life debt…

No, actually, Arias was curious too.

She wondered if a barbarian with spirit affinity could actually summon a spirit.

“Shouldn’t we wake him up? He keeps making that scary grin.”

“That shouldn’t be necessary… He might be communing with a spirit…”

Communing with a spirit first during a contract indicates extraordinary affinity.

As the two were conversing, Valt’s eyes opened, and Lisa noticed:

“Oh? Valt, are you back with us?”

But Valt doesn’t even look at Lisa and utters in a low voice:

“Noum.”

Then mana begins to gather around Valt’s chest.

Piririririk-

Pop!

Seeing the earth spirit that appeared before Valt, Arias is astonished.

“I-impossible!!”

Valt looks at Noum in front of him with a warm expression.

“Hmm, cute. Like a tiny Gerungtus made of stone and soil.”

Noum floats up and settles on top of Valt’s head.

‘Noum… high place… good.’

Valt chuckles and says:

“Yes, that’s your spot.”

Lisa, who had been carefully observing Valt’s behavior, asks:

“Um, did a spirit really appear? For real?”

At that moment, Valt remembered the prank Undi had played on Lisa.

As if reading his mind, Noum creates a tiny pebble and throws it at Lisa.

Thwack!

“Ouch!!”

‘Oh!? I only thought about it! Can it read my mind?’

Lisa and Arias are startled when a pebble flies from seemingly nowhere above Valt’s head and hits Lisa.

“I-is there a spirit?!”

Valt smirks at Lisa, who’s rubbing her forehead, and says:

“Yes, it’s Noum, the earth spirit.”

Arias is surprised for a different reason.

“Without even a command? You’ve achieved spirit harmony already?”

“I don’t know what that is, but it does seem to act similarly to my thoughts.”

“M-my goodness…”

Even elves find it difficult to achieve such spirit harmony immediately.

She herself found it easy only because she was the daughter of the Elf Queen…

Arias’s interest in Valt grows even more upon witnessing his extraordinary potential as a spirit master.

Valt asks Arias a question:

“What can spirits do? How should I receive their help?”

Yes, that’s it.

He expresses it as receiving help from spirits, not using them.

Many people treat spirits as mere tools, but the barbarian before her naturally acknowledges spirits as independent beings.

‘Perhaps elves have misunderstood barbarians…’

Though thought to be of opposite natures and thus incompatible, the barbarian before Arias seems closer to elves than any other race in her mind.

“With that mindset, it should be easy. Ask Noum what it can do. And request, not command. Request.”

Following Arias’s advice, Valt asks Noum:

‘Noum, what can you do?’

Then, a strange sensation flows into Valt’s mind as information about what Noum can do naturally enters his consciousness.

“I request, Noum.”

As magical power flows out from Valt’s body, a large, pointed stone forms near his right shoulder.

And it launches!

Swoosh!

Splash!

The stone shot toward the distant lake creates a column of water.

It’s said that elemental magic in the world was originally modeled after the actions of elemental spirits.

What Noum just cast was undoubtedly a perfect Stone Bullet.

However, its power is much weaker than Valt’s own.

After confirming this, Valt makes another request to Noum.

Another stone forms in front of Valt.

Valt picks it up to examine it.

‘It’s hard! Is this spirit power? If so…’

Valt casts an enhancement spell on the stone Noum created and infuses it with magical power.

Then he grips it tightly.

Crack, crackle!

The stone shows small cracks under Valt’s strength, but if it were an ordinary stone, it would have turned to powder instantly when Valt squeezed it.

Of course, he could break it if he applied more force.

But the stone, imbued with spirit power, enhancement magic, and magical energy, is able to withstand Valt’s tremendous grip to some extent.

‘This is amazing! With this!’

The harder the stone, the more destructive it becomes.

What if he throws it instead of having Noum shoot it?

This was the moment Valt’s physical magic became even more powerful.

Valt knows his throwing ability is strong.

He had considered carrying throwing daggers, axes, or javelins, but such items are one-time consumables and don’t feel magical.

Stones can be justified as magic since he has earth magic.

Moreover, the stone Noum just created feels stronger than a cheap dagger when Valt applies his enhancement magic and magical power.

Of course, metal would be harder than stone, but with Noum around, Valt’s stone supply is virtually unlimited as long as he has magical power.

Valt has gained many benefits from obtaining a spirit.

“Haha, this is much more helpful than I thought! Thank you, Noum.”

At Valt’s words, Noum’s black eyes roll around.

‘It’s… nothing…’

It seems to be an expression of joy. Somehow, even its speech pattern resembles Valt’s.

By now, Undi has also climbed onto Valt’s head and is playing with the newly met spirit friend.

Water cannot exist without earth to flow on.

Even the sea has earth supporting it deep below.

It makes sense that they became friends so quickly.

Even in the five elements theory, earth is strong against water, isn’t it? Whether that applies here is unknown.

Arias’s mouth is still agape.

“A-amazing…”

Lisa, watching the delighted Valt, says:

“Valt, you really look like a mage now! I-I’m jealous!”

This is an unexpected outcome for Valt as well.

Who would have thought a barbarian could handle spirits… But in a way, it makes sense.

Barbarians may lack magical power, but they are closer to the earth and love it more than anyone.

They even worship Gerungtus, the god of earth.

It might be natural for them to contract with earth spirits.

Spirit affinity itself is influenced by magical power, so barbarians lacked it only because they had no magic; with magic, they might be no less capable than elves.

A new possibility emerges once again.

If given the chance, Valt should learn how to create spirit summoning magic circles from Arias.

With that in mind, Valt asks Arias:

“Is it possible to learn that spirit summoning magic circle?”

The spirit summoning magic circle is an elven secret.

She might be willing to use it for him, but even though Valt saved her life, she cannot divulge it.

“I’m sorry, but that’s an elven secret…”

It’s disappointing, but he can’t insist on being taught a secret art.

For now, he should be content with what he has.

There are human spirit masters too, so there must be other methods.

“No, I was being rude. In any case, thank you. Thanks to you, Arias, I’ve gained a good friend.”

Arias can’t help but smile at Valt, who refers to the spirit as a friend.

With her incredible elven beauty and radiant smile, the surroundings seem to brighten.

“I just provided a little help. It’s because of your affinity.”

***

After that, Valt spent each day at the training ground, experimenting with various things.

The entrance exam for class placement will be held the day after tomorrow.

This is why they had to arrive at the academy early.

The entrance exam begins a week before the official admission date.

As Valt returns to his dormitory after another repetitive day…

He discovers someone in his room.

‘Huh? Who could it be?’