Chapter 10

For the past few weeks, they've become busy with their schedules. Their hunting game changes their targets from time to time like crows, fish and insects.

News of Seiran being able to heal spread fast and so many students started being friendly to her after finding out she's really easy to approach.

"Have you been doing well?" Reymund asked Seiran. It's a weekend where they both have free time so they set a meeting for each other outside the school to catch up. After all they don't see each other much in school. He is currently treating Seiran in the pub.

"Yup! Learning about things and do some hard trainings is really fun especially the hunting game!" She said excitedly.

"Glad you're having fun then." He said. His worries faded when he heard her having fun in school instead of having a hard time and feeling pressured.

"I always hear your name from every corner of the school I go to you know."

"Really?"

"Mhm, they say things like they want to be close to you. Some even idolize you since you're a good archer and healer." Seiran blushed at the sudden compliment. Reymund chuckled then continued eating.

Reymund also bought her new set of uniforms. Her old ones are wrecked because of the hunting game. They stroll down the small capital first before returning back to the school.

"Your goal is to kill the giant spiders." The teacher said then the hunt began. Dani put the markers behind their back again in case they have to split up. They already spotted one and Finn reacted quickly then kill it it one shot. Luke whistled at his fast movement.

"That's some nice improvement you had for the past week." Dina said.

"I wouldn't be this good without Seiran's help." He said. Seiran just gave him a small smile, feeling proud that she could help her friend.

"What luck!" Seiran whispered when she saw 3 spiders not far from them. She pointed their directions then they split up. Dina and Finn chase the spider to the right. Luke in the middle and Seiran to the left. They didn't have to worry about being separated since Dina can locate where they are.

Seiran killed the spider and was about to return back, when she saw a small fox beside her. She sat down so they're at the same level. She tried to move closer but the fox stood up in it's four legs and back away one step so Seiran stopped moving too. She noticed that it has 9 fluffy tails. She stood up and smiled down the fox thinking that she scared it. She turned her back and walked away. The forest became quiet, not even the sound of an insect. It made Seiran feel scared so she hummed a few song to distract herself.

She continued to walk but the fox is following her from the distance. She turned around and just looked at the fox. It has a golden eyes. The way it walks was so elegant that Seiran almost thought the fox is a queen. It also has white thick fur around it's neck up to the chest part.

"You're really beautiful." Seiran said in soft voice.

"Thank you." Seiran's eyes grew big and stepped back when the fox answered. Though the mouth didn't move, Seiran could tell it's the fox that spoke.

The fox came closer to her and sat. Seiran did too so they have the same height. The fox's chest lit up and a small ball of light came out. It floated upward then Seiran could see the light getting dimmer. A small creature appeared.

"Wow, a fairy!" She said. The fairy though, had no wings. Her hair reach her feet. She was slightly glowing with green light around her.

"I'm not." She spoke then chuckled. Her voice was so soothing that Seiran felt relaxed by hearing it.

"I'm the elemental being of nature. My name is Rye." She introduced. Seiran was surprised to hear this.

"I-I'm Seiran Villamonde." She said, telling her real name. She wouldn't dare lie in front of the elemental being. Rye motioned for Seiran to follow her. She stood up and Rye snapped her fingers. A flat stone suddenly appeared and told Seiran to sit there.

"Your mother," Seiran quickly look at her, "did everything to save you when you were still in her womb." She started.

"Save me?" Seiran felt the longing in her heart. All her life she wanted to meet her mother.

"Yes, Seiran, you have too much mana within you. For an unborn baby to have that much mana is very deadly for you and your mother." Rye said.

"But I have little mana within me right now. A friend of mine said the amount of mana is already fixed the moment we are born." Seiran looked completely confused. Rye just shake her head then continued talking.

"It's impossible to reduce the mana you have so your mother had to do some research if there's a way to save you both. Then she learned that a mana can be sealed away by the elemental beings. She summoned me first. I sealed the mana in your heart but it was still too much. Your mother waited for her mana to restore and summoned the other beings and helped seal your mana. She repeatedly overused her mana so her body self distruct naturally."

"So it's true that she really did die because of me." Even though Sei has been told over and over again that she's the reason of her mother's demise, somewhere in her heart tried so hard to deny it. A tear escaped from her eye from that thought.

"Andrea loved you so much that's why she sacrificed herself and she's very proud to have you as her daughter. She believed that there's a reason you were born as a very powerful mage so when that time comes, she pleaded to each one of us to take care of you." Rye continued. Now Seiran couldn't help the tears flowing endlessly down her face.

After crying her heart out, Rye continued.

"The seal can be broken by the one who casted it so I could only release the one I made in your heart. When your body is ready, another elemental being will come to undo the seal too. All of the seals connot be broken at the same time. Your body cannot handle it yet." She said.

"How come my father or anyone in my family never told me about this?" Seiran asked.

"Andrea told no one about your condition. She wanted you to have a quiet life. She doesn't want to have dangerous people who are envious or scared of your power, plotting to end your life anytime and anywhere." Rye answered. Seiran did have a quiet life but it was a horrible experience for her. Staying at the quiet and cold dungeon ever since she was a baby.

"Your mother told me to tell you two things." Seiran listened closely. "Always be kind. Only then you will have peace in your heart. Another one is, do not abuse your power."

Seiran nodded at her. It's a simple advice but it could greatly affect Seiran as a person who has so much power that had to make the elemental beings help seal some of those powers.

"Andrea, your daughter's eyes tells me she didn't have a good life before but nonetheless, she grew up as a good person." Rye thought to herself.

Rye placed her small hand in Seiran's chest. A white magic circle with a lot of complicated design in the middle appeared.

"Release." She mumbled. It felt like a lock was broken in Seiran's heart. There was a cold aura surrounding her. After a while it disappeared but she could still feel the cold mana flowing around her body.

"Goodbye." Rye said.

"Thank you for telling me about my mom." Seiran sincerely said. Rye gave her a soft smile then disappeared too. The fox walked up to Seiran and held up it's paw to touch her knee.

"Now that I have a large amount of mana, how am I going to use it if I keep it a secret? Or should I not use it?" Seiran asked.

"Your mom said she doesn't want to endanger your life so I think with the mana you have right now you can protect yourself if people find out you suddenly have a lot of mana." The fox suggested.

"I should get going too." The fox said the walked away from her. Just as the fox exit the scene, her friends suddenly popped out.

"Seiran!!!" The three of them shouted. Dina and Finn hugged her real tight. Luke had to tell them to let go seeing as Seiran couldn't breathe.

"Where did you go?" Finn asked worriedly.

"We split up and I we couldn't locate you at all!" Dina said, tears are starting to form at the corner of her eyes.

"I was just here talking to the fox." Seiran said.

"Fox?" Luke asked.

"Yeah, didn't you see the fox pass you by? You came from the same direction." She pointed beside them. Luke said they didn't see one at all.

"A fox talked to you?" Finn asked then the three looked at each other. "How many tails does it have?" Dina asked, wiping the tears away.

"9." Their jaw dropped when Seiran answered, even the always calm Luke.

"I can't believe you just met a legendary creature!" Finn said breathlessly.