Seal

Click!

Kyle pressed the top of the pocketwatch to flip open the cover. There, he saw the well-made timepiece with a simple gold pattern. It looks the same according to Kyle's previous memories…

'Everything seems to be normal…' Kyle thought as he checked the time.

However, he didn't stop inspecting since according to the books he read, there are many mystical items in this world but almost all of them are dormant.

They needed to fulfill certain requirements in order to awaken them. Furthermore, there are mystical items that are truly evil so he has to be careful in case he got affected by them.

Kyle took a deep breath before entering his Phantasm State.

"Enter…"

The moment he said this, his vision immediately focused on the pocketwatch…

"It's really mystical…" Kyle mused after noticing a tiny black flame inside the pocketwatch… According to that book, the black flame represents the mystical properties of the item.

However, it was quite small than what he was expecting. The size wasn't even half of his fingernail. Furthermore, as Kyle placed it down on the desk, the tiny flame disappeared from his vision. It means that the item can only be activated while being held or it has certain properties that would make it unnoticeable unless it was held.

Kyle then picked it up again to continue his inspection.

Even if it has mystical prowess, it seems to be quite useless… According to the books he read, this tiny flame can probably attract weak ghosts or minor bad luck to the wearer.

Of course, he wasn't sure about its specific effects yet so he can only make a guess. Anyway, it should be in a very negligible state so as long as he doesn't deliberately trigger the black flame, there shouldn't be a problem.

Once he learned more about mystical items, that the time he will try to experiment with them.

'However… This also means that it's not a dormant item…' Kyle mused as he decided to learn the sealing method he found in one of the books in the small library.

This is to ensure his safety and those in his surroundings.

This sealing method isn't a secret method and it can be learned in the first three years inside the academy so it wasn't surprising that Mr. Heinz has a book for it.

With this in mind, Kyle began his study… He decided not to bother his master to seal it for him since he believes that there is no immediate danger from it.

***

Two months had quickly passed and during this time, he tried sealing the pocketwatch only to fail all the time.

Today, the 14th of August, year 893, would be his 4th attempt to seal the pocketwatch.

He has been using the Animus Haven Hall to complete the sealing process since the location meets one of the conditions in making the ritual.

It is a place that is filled with the essence of Darkness. Well, he wasn't sure what the essence of Darkness was, but Mr. Heinz mentioned that this hall has plenty of it so he decided to just use the place with his permission.

Currently, Kyle is wearing his white shirt and light brown trousers while on his barefoot. He's crouching on the ground as he ensures the condition of his magic circle.

"I hope everything goes well this time…" Kyle muttered with a sigh while holding a bottle filled with liquid mercury.

The magic circle he made is very small compared to the one on the floor of the hall. Furthermore, this isn't an engraved magic circle but one that is made with silver powder.

The circle has the pattern of an eight-angled star with two overlapping circles inside and a crescent moon shape at the center.

Beside this crescent moon is his golden pocketwatch.

Just with all of this, he can already start his sealing process. He simply has to call the 'Eternal Darkness' to seal it for him… However, the problem with this is the fact that he has barely started his Arcane Path so according to Mr. Heinz, his connection with the Darkness isn't that deep yet.

This is probably the reason for his failure during his first attempt. The second attempt was to request the sealing process to be done by the Eternal Darkness' Hallowed Spirit. It seems to be part of the Eternal Darkness that is tasked with this kind of request.

It was successful but the sealing was too weak!

It only lasted for five days and it was broken immediately. At this point, Kyle had no choice but to ask Mr. Heinz for his guidance. In exchange, he would have to practice his Spell Dispersion with him for 6 hours every day in two sessions. It was hell for Kyle since dispersing this expert's attack would be deadly for him if he failed even once.

In any case, the third attempt was to make some changes to the magic circle. It had failed as well but it was a mistake on his part during his prayer.

He simply can't restart the ritual since he has to purchase the silver powder every time he failed and procuring them isn't easy.

Today's fourth attempt is similar to the third attempt, he will add the liquid mercury so the Hallowed Spirit can channel stronger power to seal the pocketwatch…

'I can do this…'

Kyle took a deep breath as he started the ritual.

He poured the liquid mercury into the outer circle of the silver powder.

Then, without wasting any of his time, he started his prayer.

"Hallowed Spirit, the ruler below the Eternal Darkness, hear my voice in my time of need.

Lead me so I can bring darkness into my encumbrance…

I request this of you with true devotion... Empower me with your glorious soul.

Seal this Mystical Item with your unlighted flame…"

After finishing his prayer, he entered his Phantasm State and felt the power of the Darkness.

Soon, the silver and the mercury "melted" together and disappeared leaving a burn mark on the floor. At this time, Kyle saw the tiny flame of the pocketwatch and became still like it was frozen…

"Success…" Kyle muttered as he heaved a sigh of relief.

Then, he heard another voice behind him.

"Congratulations…"

It was Mr. Heinz who has been watching him from the darkness all this time.