Art Book

Ethan looked at the book while kissing his lips to suppress his smile. He can tell it is related to shadow element.

What is it? It is Sword Art? Or is it Magic Art? He can't believe he will also be able control his shadow around and kill monsters with it. How cool it will be?!

"…What type of Art is this?"

"…It's Movement Art."

His expression turned stiffs and his body froze at the spot. He slowly fell backward and sat on the couch. It's not movement Arts are bad if anything being a shadow art it will eventually ended up being cool but…

Movement Art are different than other Arts. There are literally no Celestial Movement Arts in Human Domain. There are only Advance and Greater Arts for movement.

The Arts are not just divided by names but their names actually held meaning of it. It starts with Advance Art. Advance are like regular elements that taken too peak.

If there is an Intermediate Art, then it can provide strongest element that can be produced naturally.

If there is an Advance Fire Magic Art then it is strongest fire with some other accompanying effects.

Accompanying effects can be numerous as it can create a flame that grew stronger in presence of other flames or it can create ice that cause frost bite or stun mana and etc.

If there is a Greater Fire Magic Art then it is flames which have special properties of its own. It can be anything with mixture of two elements with one more dominant than other.

Its example will be Holy Flame. It is Fire Magic Art that provides fire with light properties that is highly effective against demons. It will be, of course, stronger than elements provide by Advance Arts.

Last one in the list, it will be Celestial Arts. It provide strongest and purest of their element. Best Example will be Celestial Light Magic Art possessed by Sun Temple. It can literally resurrect dead! It is the purest form of light magic possible. Even Elves were at awe at this magic as even their Light Spirit King was unable to copy it. That's the Celestial Art!

There are even ranking list for all the Arts. There are four different lists in total. Celestial Arts take the top 20 spots of all except Movement Arts. There are no Celestial Arts for movement that means this Art is most likely an Advance or Greater Art. It's just high ranking means high potential but…

"You seem to be disappointed…"

"I am not disappointed it's just I was expecting a mean to fight back but…"

"Spare me your lies, I can tell why you are disappointment."

Ethan just turned silent. He is disappointed but he doesn't want to hurt her. She is giving it to him as a reward but feeling disappointed about it is like throwing mud to her goodwill.

"…You're thinking too much."

Ethan raised his head with apologetic look. Raven smiled at his look. She rested her elbow on her cross leg and bend forward.

"Do you want to know the grade of the Art?"

"…Don't give me the suspense."

"…It is Celestial Art."

Ethan turned silent at her answer.

"…Why silence?"

"…Are you doing that thing where a boy imagine the mud as rice and eat it to satisfy his hunger?"

"You got time to read those books?"

"…I was just interested… So, what is it?"

"I told you already. It is Celestial Art."

"There is no Celestial Movement Art in entire Human Domain!"

"…I always told you to look at the things from all sides."

Ethan stared hard at her with skepticism. He can't tell if she is playing with him or not. He can't actually believe that something exist just because of she told him.

"It seems you still don't believe me. I remembered when you asked me about my Movement Art. Didn't you think that was impossible too?"

Ethan remembered about her Art. Her Art have its unique aspect as he never read about any Art being able to carry other people.

"It's still not enough to make me believe. Even if it's true, there is no way, you will give it to me of all."

"…I am giving you a chance, Ethan."

"…"

Her tone and expression become serious. It was aloof and uncaring until now. Her sudden change of attitude turned him silent.

"…You can take it and become someone who can make his own choices or you can leave through that door right now and returns to your pathetic life with no hopes at all…"

Raven pointed at the elevator with her thumb. Ethan was unable to say anything for some time.

"…What do you actually want from me?"

"What I want from you right now is, you keep doing what you are doing. I will help on my own way and you will become stronger…I can promise you that…"

"…I won't help you if you want to harm my academy."

A thought flashed through his mind. What if she was bidding her time every day for today? She might be treating him nicely until now just so that she can use him. It is last day of summer vacation and he will return to academy after today. If it's her plan then he might need to confirm it in the end.

"Your Academy doesn't have what I need before so if you are thinking what I know you are thinking then no. I have no interest in your academy anymore,"

"…What do you mean by that?"

"…"

Raven just stares at him silently with tilted-head and one eyebrow raised.

"…Fine! I won't ask but you still haven't told me what you want from me. You said that there are many people like me who can easily do the same thing then what do you want from me?"

"…You ask too many questions! Just decide if you want to do it or not. I already told you what I need to. I won't waste any more of my words."

Raven has a rare look of annoyance. Ethan turns silent and agreed with her in the end. It's not like he doesn't want to. He thought back to when he meet her. He come to work under her because he wanted to protect his academy but he actually starts liking his job before he even knew it. There is another fact that he won't be useless anymore.

"…I will… I will do it."

Ethan pushed his hand toward the Art Book lying on the table.

"…Wait."

Ethan looked up and a page flew in front of him and landed on the table. He looked down at the page and raised his head to look at Raven with a questioning expression.

"…It's a contract."

"…What it says?"

"…Read it."

Ethan picked up the page and read it. There are lot of formal words and obligatory words that a normal contract has. According to contract, Person B won't be able to betray Person A and will faithfully work for her. He also can't do anything that will harm her in anyway. There are all sorts of condition that ensure that he won't be able to break the directive above and if he did it anyway, it will result in losing the blessing of mana…

"…If I signed this, you won't control my life, right?"

"…I will have authority to order you all my errands and you will be obliged to do it but I won't ask you do something that will be unbecoming of you."

"…For ten years?"

"…Hmm…"

"…Is there a reason for such an accurate time?"

"…"

Raven just looked at him silently. Ethan looks down and picks up page. He pushes his mana in it, showing his agreement to the contract. The contract shines and makes a buzz sound. Ethan felt a thread-like connection to it for a second and it vanishes right away.

"…It's done."

He handed the contract to her and sits down. He took a deep breath as he reflects his decision. He took a big step today in his life. He doesn't know how it will work out but he will admit that he is slightly excited for the future that is waiting for him.

"…So, Can I?"

Ethan pointed toward Art Book.

"Go ahead…"

"…Is it really a Celestial Art?"

"You can just check it…"

"…"

Ethan just prayed to whoever God listened to him for last time and push his mana inside it. Art Book reacted to his mana and released its darkness around and darkens the whole area around him. He can't see anything and feel anything around!

Ethan looked around but all he saw is darkness that seems to be staring at him with tunnel vision. He is feeling scared and panic in the darkness. This is the true darkness!

Unending… unlimited depth… insensible… immeasurable… all those words can't even define the feeling Ethan is feeling from this darkness right now.

Colour returns to his vision as curtains of darkness peel itself of his surroundings. Ethan was too shocked by what happened.

"…You feel it…the true darkness. It was actually a glimpse of it though. If it was real one, you would have commit suicide right away."

Raven's voice jolted him out of his shock. He looks around while blinking furiously. It felt like a long time had passed since he accepted the Art book but a second had passed barely.

He found out he was standing on his feet before he even knew it. He sunk back on couch and closes his eyes. There are lots of information in his mind related to his new Art but he doesn't understand any of it for now…

"…Status."

Name- ----

Rank- G

Strength: G

Agility: G

Stamina: G

Mana: G

Luck: G-

Charm: ???

Art :- Movement Art:-

Darkness Weaver (Celestial Art)

Skill:-

It really is a Celestial Art! He can't believe it! There are literally no records of any Celestial Movement Art until now! How is this possible? He doesn't even know if he should be happy or shock now…

"…How did you get this?"

"…I put a sock on my Christmas tree."

"…Is Santa real?"

"It's sarcasm."

Raven rolled her eyes at his amazement. He can't even think things straight anymore. Ethan was just too surprised today. He hurried looked for beginner proficiency information.

"…Night Stealth."

"…It seems it is same."

Ethan looked at Raven who spoke just now.

"…What do you mean?"

"It is same as mine aspect."

"…Does that mean I would also be able to use Dark Travel?"

Ethan asked her with excitement. He would be just sunk in darkness and move around like a ghost…undetectable, unpredictable and untouchable!

"…No."

"…Why!?"

"…Our Arts are indeed in same rank but mine is significantly better than yours… In nutshell, My Art is more versatile as it gave me more control over darkness."

His expression fell down instantly. Does that mean his one is not as cooler as her? He wants to be called Dark Prince of the Dark Night but it seems there is already a Dark Queen of the Dark Night…

"It's lower than me but it has its own specialty."

"…What is that?"

"Figure out it yourself."

Ethan turned silent and looked at the details of his Art and its aspects.

Darkness Weaver (Celestial Art)

It is Art of Darkness that solely focuses on improving the movement of the user. It is created by one of the strongest dark mage in Human History for his pitiful descendant by downgrading the Celestial Darkness Art to a Movement Art.

The first aspect of this Art is Night Stealth. Simply put, it hides presence of user completely. If master this aspect completely, User can't be detected unless the one who cast detection skill or use his sense is at the least a rank above.

"…I thought it will be more like a spell."

"…It's a Movement Art, not a Magic Art but I can assure you that it will be better than any magic art you will see in your academy."

"…It says that it is created by strongest dark mage. Was there such a person in the past?"

Ethan had never heard about any Celestial Darkness Art or any famous Dark Mage, just where the hell did she find it in the first place? Did she transmigrate or something?

"…I told you already there is lot of things you don't know and you will found it out as you grew stronger. The Daylight of Human Domain…

Sun at the horizon had just gone down completely and clouds of night sky have covered the whole city with curtain of darkness. Raven looked outside with a lost and cold expression.

"…might be darkest shade of black to ever exist…"