20 Spirit of the Fallen; Always a Calm After the Storm

Silently, Rentaro exited his tent and wandered off towards the crystal pillar in order to see what was going on.

[In all honesty, your current stealth isn't enough to fool the others. Don't bother trying to be too stealthy, or you'll make yourself appear suspicious, possibly causing misunderstandings to arise.]

Rentaro rubbed his nose, 'Fair enough, just keep me up to date on whatever you know. As a matter of fact, I'd love to hear your personal thoughts and theories about the situation.'

[Previously, I thought I picked something up when the crystal pillar repulsed Icrin. It was as if the pillar had an intelligence of its own, or more specifically, there was a spirit sealed within it. Perhaps it felt Icrin was annoying, or maybe it was merely killing boredom. I didn't sense any hostility in the repulsion.]

'Hoh? With what happened with Icrin and after sensing the aura cast its senses across the village, you firmly believe there's a spirit within?'

[I'm about 99% confident! As for whether my theory is correct, we'll find out soon enough.]

As Rentaro closed in on the pillar's location, he noticed dozens of small animals kneeling down and praying in the direction of the pillar. The small animals didn't even seem to take notice of Rentaro, though he took caution as to avoid disturbing any of them, silently and carefully tiptoeing past them.

Thankfully, none of the animals attacked Rentaro for blasphemy as he approached the location of the apparent 'sacred' crystal pillar.

In the night, the pillar emanated an even brighter purple light, a dazzling sight as moonlight reached through the openings of the trees, highlighting the hazy covering of mist formed from the atmospheric energy in the surroundings.

The forest clearing alongside the pure, crystal lake was beautiful in the day time, let alone at night paired with all these natural qualities. Rentaro found himself mesmerized.

What stuck out the most however, was the phantom-like figure of a squirrel standing atop the pillar. Its fur was of a natural light green and sky-blue color, it had a long tail, long pointy ears, and its body was around the size of an average squirrel. Its hazel eyes seemed to carry much more than the wisp of intelligence shown by the other animals and it seemed that the animals were praying to it, not the pillar itself, though Wilhelm speculated the pillar was the cause of their intelligence.

The squirrel directed its glare towards Rentaro's direction, causing Rentaro's body to tremble unconsciously as the suffocating atmosphere from earlier descended upon him.

Rentaro felt as if the spirit was able to see through all of his secrets, viewing into the depth of his soul. While such thoughts were exaggerated, the aura that the spirit emitted carried a frightening pressure for Rentaro, who only reached the third stage of Elemental Establishment.

Thankfully, the spirit stopped pressuring Rentaro with its aura, though its glare seemed to carry slight disdain in place of the pressure.

[System Notification]

[Investigate the Strange Anomaly] [Uncommon]—[Step 1]—[Complete]

Discovered a strange spirit.

[Investigate the Strange Anomaly] [Uncommon]—[Incomplete] [Chain-Quest: Step 2] Investigate the cause behind the animal's evolved intelligence. Find out the story of the spirit.

[Rewards] [3.0 credits of one credit type or 1.5 of each] [Sub-Mission Function—Research and Investigations]

'Looks like we've found the right trail and achieved some progress, huh?'

[Naturally! And don't forget about your Spirit Whispering skill. Try establishing a mental conversation with the spirit, whether it accepts or not is another story though. However, if it attacks the mental energy you transmit to initiate a conversation, there could be a slight backlash towards your soul.]

Rentaro glared back at the small spirit, focusing all his concentration on the spirit as he willed a small bit of his mental energy to initiate a conversation with it. This was only the second time he used this skill, the first being with the three Grimoire spirits: Auron, Eremic, and Anu. It took a little bit of effort to manage, but thanks to accessing the system, he was slowly, but consciously, comprehending the concept of controlling mental energy.

In response, the spirit's glare now seemed to carry a slight intent of interest, as he sent out a little of his own energy towards Rentaro's.

'Hello, Little Spirit?' Rentaro spoke timidly.

'Oh? A human who seems to be rather low in cultivation, yet dares to call me "Little Spirit"? While I admit that it's interesting that you know an ability to spark a transmission between us with your puny cultivation level, you're too weak to undermine my title like that!"

The spirit declared into Rentaro's mind with a voice that seemed to have been through many ages and clearly distinguished the squirrel as a male. It took a standing posture, one of indescribable pride and dignity, as his gaze remained locked with Rentaro's.

'Huh? I didn't mean to undermine your title or anything! What should I refer to you as?'

'What should you refer to me as? I'll answer you after you first answer my questions! Hmph!'

Rentaro pika-faced speechlessly. He asked, 'Al-alright... What questions do you have?'

'What questions do I have?! You even dare to ask that?! Do you not know who I am?! Let me tell you this, kid, I wouldn't have any luck finding answers to any questions I ask you! In fact, I would have answers to any questions you ask me! Go ahead, ask away and find out for yourself!'

Wilhelm uttered, [Rentaro, this—thing—seems to be insane. Try not to upset it too much. In fact, the best way to talk with it would be goading its self-esteem, giving it a crown if you will.]

Though Rentaro agreed with Wilhelm, he couldn't help but feel like coughing out blood. This spirit was just too unreasonable! It seemed as if it desired to constantly push someone even deeper into a corner with its egotistical attitude.

There was nothing to do except concede against the formidable spirit, as Rentaro gave a slight bow and replied in a respectful tone, 'Mighty Spirit, please tell me of your exalted identity.'

'Bahaha, No need for such formalities, kid! Believe it or not, I'm actually a descendant of the Ratatoskr Clan! Well, I mean, I should be part of it! If not for those damnable direct branch members!'

'The Ratatoskr Clan?' Rentaro's facial expression being of confusion and lacking respectfulness stirred the spirit's emotions.

'Huh? Kid, your ignorance knows no bounds! Ai, I guess I offered to light your way out of the tunnel, so I might as well not abandon you half-way. The Ratatoskr Clan is a noble Clan, you should be able to see that just from looking at me!' The spirit's voice was even louder than it was previously, as he pointed his pudgy arm towards himself.

'I-I should be happy about my noble birth! But alas, I'm afraid that my poor little self was kicked out of the clan. My bloodline wasn't pure enough, that's what they say at least, and I was even insulted as a bastard! I was different from those born with an affinity with our clan's innate elements of nature, like earth, wood, and life. Instead, I was born with the wind element.'

Rentaro couldn't help but empathize with the little spirit as he listened to its sorrowful voice, sensing a strong loneliness from his tone which pushed him to try and cheer the spirit up.

'Oh, come on, it's not that bad! In fact, why not look at it this way: They represent earth with their elemental affinities, but with your wind elemental affinity, you represent the sky! The earth has its own limits, whereas the sky is boundless!'

'Ha... Haha... Hahahaha! I should've thought of that sooner! Those damnable direct descendents can represent the earth all they want! But I-I'll rise into the sky one day! I'll grow a pair of wings, whereas they'll be stuck climbing a tree their entire lives! Haha, Kid, you've got me feeling good! Just call me Kyon! What's your name, kid?' Kyon asked with his hazel eyes now seemingly burning red in madness, as if his mind was evaluating plans of retribution.

'My name's Rentaro.' Rentaro smiled as he befriended the "little-mighty" spirit, Kyon.

Although Kyon seemed to have an eccentric attitude, Rentaro thought Kyon was rather cute and perceived his eccentric mannerism as an act in order to hide his loneliness.

[Hey, here's some extra information that he didn't bother going over, as the information wouldn't really help you with anything at the moment. The ancestors of the Ratatoskr Clan are the ones who deliver messages along the World Trees. They were originally a small clan, but their devotion to the World Trees and those Beyond allowed their clan to rise to power.]

[As they rose to power, their population increased greatly with the birth of newer generations, who were given the freedom and ability to descend into other realms through the World Trees. It's not very surprising that the elders of the clan would sit around as the direct descendents and pure-blooded members chased those with impure bloodlines into different realms.]

Rentaro asked, 'Are impure bloodlines really that bad though? Wouldn't their differences provide more growth to the clan?'

[They would provide potential growth, not guaranteed growth. And this potential growth would pose many problems towards a clan's hierarchy, disrupting the social statuses of the clan; many clans would sooner maintain stability over growth.] Wilhelm patiently explained.

'I see,' Rentaro continued with Kyon, 'So, Kyon, how did you get here exactly? And well, what's with your current form? You seem to be in the form of a phantom, appearing more illusionary than existing in reality, like a ghost.'

Kyon replied ominously, 'I'm not dead, if that's what you're implying. I'm afraid I was sealed in this crystal pillar by some direct descendents who held strong hatred towards me, thus forcing me to take on a spiritual form when I exit the crystal. Perhaps, they had the same outlook you came up with—one of me soaring into the sky, leaving them restrained to earth, and they found themselves consumed with jealousy.'

'As you may have guessed, this pillar is quite the treasure! A treasure in these realms that is, as my clan would find such an item trivial and useless. You may have already guessed its ability—it is what has blessed the little animals here with more intelligence.'

'You see, the crystal pillar is made up of a special material, it's known as Twinkling Lanaoite. It's a crystal that is often formed in locations of slaughter and death, as it is composed of the condensation of remnants of memories. Twinkling refers to the last inkling of hope, as memories are stored within to be passed to the future generations.'

'Many powerful beings try to maintain their clarity, but it is inevitable that their consciousnesses will dwindle as time continues after their passing in wars, with their memories eventually forming into the crystal. On the other side of the spectrum, plenty of powerful beings allowed their memories to form into crystals, hoping to pass on their inheritances through their memories.'

'Sorry for going off subject, kid. Back to the story, it was many years ago that I wound up here, around 1,100 years ago actually. The exact area I had wound up in was actually an ocean, which sucked as I was sealed in the crystal pillar. The pillar sunk deep beneath the ocean's surface, where I was trapped in solitude below the surface for a hundred or so years, as if I were a fallen spirit sealed away from the light.'

'One day, a young gentleman with grey eyes and donning a grey robe happened to be passing by, he was being pursued by people who wore the same grey robes as him, their eyes flashing with the same grey. Ai, Their strength was about half of my own when I was at my peak.' Kyon bragged as his tale continued.

'Such a situation, it reminded me of my own—those damnable bunch who chase after their own clan member, they should all pay! I couldn't steel my own urge of fury at the time as my flashbacks blinded my senses and I ended up utilizing some of the little energy that I managed to hold onto when I was sealed, scaring his pursuers away.'

'With our common story, the two of us became friends with one another. I requested that he move the crystal pillar to a more spirited location with him and together, we journeyed off! It wasn't until later that I found out he belonged to the Krose demon clan when the young man told me his name was Nento Krose.'

'A little less than 200 years or so after, he decided to set up his own village here and leave off on his own. As for where he left to and what he did to attract his clan's pursuit, I'm not entirely sure myself; I don't really care about the specifics. I've already accepted him as a friend, regardless of what he may have done in the past.'

'After he left, I experienced a long period of loneliness. I couldn't blame him for leaving though. I didn't want to be the burden that held him back, for he was a good friend whom I had traveled with for so long. If only I could break this seal and leave, then maybe one day I could find out what happened to him. I wonder, is he still in the world of the living? Perhaps he already perished, perhaps he fled to another realm, or maybe, just maybe, he managed to surpass everyone else and reach beyond their grasps.' Kyon's eyes sparkled with hope.

'Seems like the situation behind Krose Village is a lot more complex than it looks. Kyon, do you know of any methods to break the seal?' Rentaro asked.

'Of course! Brute strength, overriding the seal with someone who is even more skilled in sealing than the one who cast the seal to begin with, and items which counter sealing. Forget about the items that can break the seal, the chance of coming across someone who happened to stumble upon such miraculous items and would be willing to use them on me is practically impossible.'

'As for someone breaking the seal, only the strongest and most skilled in this realm are capable. What's the chance of them ever coming to this forest, which is comparatively small in comparison of the size of this realm? Furthermore, unsealing me means they have to be willing to offend the direct descendents of the Ratatoskr Clan who sealed me, as my clan doesn't mind descending to cause chaos and mischief.'

[System Notification]

[Investigate the Strange Anomaly] [Uncommon]—[Step 2]—[Complete] Learned the spirit's history.

[Investigate the Strange Anomaly] [Uncommon]—[Incomplete] [Chain-Quest: Step 3]

Option 1) Leave the spirit sealed in the pillar.

Option 2) Release the spirit, requires overwriting the seal which can be done through a soul contract.

[Rewards] [3.0 credits of on credit type or 1.5 of each] [Sub-Mission Function—Research and Investigations]

Reading the mission notification and seeing the two possible options, Rentaro paused his conversation with Kyon, transmitting his thoughts to Wilhelm.

'Wilhelm, I have the ability to override the seal?'

[Remember, it's not just a Summoning System, but also a Contracting System! Using the system's soul contracting ability, you are able to do such a thing as the system utilizes the world's laws in a stronger manner than the one who created the seal. After all, the creator is one of those "beyond." However, think carefully before you make your next decision.]

[Both outcomes have their own consequences. Unsealing Kyon means you have another summon, but you might also offend some Ratatoskr Clan members, who enjoy brewing up storms for the fun of it. Furthermore, you haven't had much contact with Kyon, only just meeting him now. The mission doesn't require you to make your decision right away, so ponder everything over carefully before you go through with a decision.] Wilhelm spoke wisely, though he already expected what would happen next.

And sure enough, Rentaro smiled heroically, 'I understand what you're saying, Wilhelm. However, I've already made my decision! Even if a storm brews, I'll hold on until the wind calms and the rain subsides!'