4 Chapter 3

✡Nyx:

"Your bangs are white." I felt Van pull my bangs which have been annoying me for a while.

"Do you want it? Should I dye yours for you?" I slapped her hands away.

"No thanks. I'd prefer not look like the great Black Mage. That shit is scary." She let out between giggle. I simply let out a sigh.

"You sound like you're enjoying yourself." I said putting my book down. 

"Why wouldn't it be? Every damn one of them thought you were some kind of defect or something which was weird with how good your spells or potion magic was. Now, it all makes sense. Your a Black Mage. Of course your good at them. Their faces were seen worthy after you're outburst." She laughed before falling in the bed.

Let me recap a bit.

After than incident, I found out that my mother, Eiriane was a Holy Soul Bender or more commonly known as Soul Mage. She could summon souls as old as time. She could control spirits and any living creature's soul like it was nothing. As to why its holy is because, normal spirit bender can only use spiritual animal or creatures and necromancers can only use dead souls that died recently. But not always at will, they always have to pay a price for such powers. They can use them as a help or call them for assistance.

But my mother was different. If need be she could use them as an army. Her ability to hold onto so many souls at once allowed her to use thousands at once. She could use them to even control other living creatures as per her will and even use living soul to follow her bidding. It's impossible to control a living soul. Even harder to use dead soul to control one. As Miss Noir said, there's only been few cases of evidence regarding holy abilities.

Holy abilities are even rarer than dual or triple elemental. They don't depend on just elements. Holy abilities requires exceptional abilities that falls out of the normal line of elemental. Just as how Soul bending is impossible normally, my ability to bend both light and dark element to turn into a void is impossible. The reason is such abilities bring catastrophic result since they can break the balance that the elemental keep. But they are still holy because such abilities are a gift if used correctly. Or so they said.

Even in my life I only saw two duel elemental, one was my dad and other was Vanessa. I heard that Miss Noir is actually a Triple Elemental but no one knows for sure. When I say multiple elemental is rare, I meant there's only 10 of them in the entire Hades domain. With my dad and Vanessa, the only other I am sure of is our headmaster is a triple elemental. I do not know who the other two are. Miss Noir would be one of them. And there's about a few thousands Members of the Underworld domain.

And far as I know, Atlantis have seven with only two triple elemental. And Olympic has about 15 maybe with four triple elemental. In total there's only 32 multi- elemental out of hundred thousands. And only three Holy abilities have been recorded so far. Not sure who they are though. It's a kept in secret with how powerful and risky they are.

My mother's case was in the last era, which had four Holy abilities including her. As far as I got hang of it, three of them are gone or passed away. No one knows for sure.

Additional trouble, my bangs have turned silver. For what reason, I'm not sure of. Now I have red, black and silver hair. I look like a disco-ball gone bad.

"Nyx?" I flinched when I heard my name called. Looking behind, I saw dad standing by my door.

I was too deep in thoughts to notice that Vanessa was passed out on my bed and since it's already evening, she  had gone to her beauty sleep. She's staying over I guess, so no harm's done.

"Yea, dad?" I asked turning. I can see how he's been on edge ever since the incident. 

"Meet me in the library?" He asked slowly and I nodded as he left.

Closing my stuff, I went after him. Our library or more like our entire mansion would look like a haunted castle to most. But for those of us who grew up here, it's out natural inhabitant. Although being a so called nerd I guess, library is my most favorite place to be. It's lonesome, silent and peaceful.

Being one of the oldest house in Underworld. We have one of the biggest library too. Although nothing compares to the academy's. That place is dangerous than a maze. Yet, many people come to our library too for different reasons too since we also own our own variations of collection. It's a beautiful view once you step inside. Sometimes this is my most favorite spot to hide. Even dad fails to find me here with how many turns this place has.

But as to why ours are biggest is because no library in any household contains a three floored library with such huge collections. Some of these books go as back as when our founders were alive. Some are even from the ancient Olympic library too. That's rare even for us. The underground layer is the most confusing place in the whole library. Even those who maintain the place gets lost in there. There's an actually map in ever corner for finding a way out. Me and my friends used to play around there sometime to ditch the adults.

"Dad?" I asked knowing to find him calling would be easier in this labyrinth of a place.

"Over here!" I heard from toward the other end of the library window. Towards his office.

"Hey,"

He looked up and smiled slowly ushering me to get closer. Dad is the only one who actually ever understood me. Yes, he can be quiet strict and is terrifying during training but at the end of the day he understands me. Rena maybe my step mother in name by she'll never be anything close to a mother to me. She's always been jealous of me for who knows why. And gets on everyone's nerve because dad steps up for me. Although I'd prefer if he doesn't. It only causes more drama than necessary when he does. Better be ignorant than repulsive.

"How are you?" He asked which I already guessed he would. He was very worried since the incident. I was very much wobbly after the power outrage.

"I'm honestly fine, except for my disco ball of a hair and my uncontrollable power." I shrugged answering honestly. No use pretending I'm okay with everything.

"I can guess. Do you have any questions? You know, regarding this?" He said as I got closer.

"I mean if it's about my power, probably many. Too many and too stupid. I won't bore you with them." I laughed a little.

"Well, you've always been a smart kid. You'll figure everything out all on your own soon enough. I have no doubt. But since handling such a dangerous power is quiet a hassle. I thought many a helping hand or two would help." He patted me.

"And?" I asked curiously.

"I got you admitted in Miss Noir's class. If that's okay with you." He said genuinely asking. He's never been really the asking your opinion type so this is new. 

And with how calm he sounds, it's almost unreal to me. He's never this soft or calm. 

"I mean she seems to know more than anyone I knew. I guess it's a good thing." I don't know what to say other than this.

"Good. Have you tried to use your powers after that?" He asked the question I've been avoiding. Looking out on the large moon which seems to be the only bright thing here, I felt corners to answer the question. 

"I didn't dare. No one needs a dark oblivion around them out of no where. And since my powers are completely out of control, I dare not try and make a sink hole in space." I shrugged. I actually do fear creating some black hole or something.

"Reasonable. But you still have to practice even a little if you plan on training in them. And since you found it so late, it's more important to try every possibility to use them to understand them better." He really is too calm considering the topic, isn't he?

"Yes, but its not like I can call a shadow and that's it. Dad, when I call a shadow, every fiber of magic with equivalent force comes to me too. Like as if they're calling me, asking me pull them. I can feel them, hear them. And I lose control. I still do not know the balance in them and when I let go, explosion of Oblivion happens. I'll get someone killed in the process." I let out in frustration.

"You cannot ignore it either. The understanding between one's power and skill is very important. One must understand the limit and reaction to their power. If not, they will have trouble managing them later on and that is more dangerous. If it was possible to hide and ignore one's own power, many of those who have dangerous passive skill would've chosen that path. But, that only causes catastrophic result to both their surrounding and themselves." He said then asked me to sit down by the window with him. I followed and sat down sighing.

"Think of your body as a jar. And your power as regenerating gas. Since birth, the jar starts filling, as you grow up, you let those power out in different forms, sometime in training, in skills. If you stop doing it, the power that keeps flowing inside you feels pressured. The end result is terrifying and dangerous. Think of it like how a pressure cooker would erupt if you don't let lose the pressure inside them. No one can hide their flowing power. If it were possible, your mother would've chosen to do that too." He let out and sighed. I was taken back because he never talks about mom at all.

My mother, Eirian Melinoe is actually his first wife. But they were cousins even before that and were very close like how I am with Vanessa. There parents were siblings. I don't remember much about her since an accident took her away when I was only five. But I do know she loved me like crazy. Dad married Len's mother Verena or Rena as they call her, just after I was born because she claimed she was pregnant with Len. Some might call my dad a cheater but matching timeline, he was still unmarried when Len was conceived. And weirdest part is dad doesn't remember ever getting her pregnant to begin with. I never cared since as far as I know my mother's relation was good with everyone. I do not care what happened between them, their relation or how any of this occurred. But he is my brother, half or not.

My mom and dad were married in a very weird circumstance, despite that their relationship was perfect in my eye but I know my dad loved my mom, a lot. It's obvious when he talks about her even if rarely so. I'm not sure about her since she was way more obsessed with me and as far as I remember or heard, she never minded Rena either. And most surprisingly she still had an amazing relationship with dad and loved Len like her own. I guess in that sense I can understand why Rena hates me. Any woman would be by seeing her competitor being ignorant of her while she's seething with jealousy. I guess saying my family tree is complicated is an understatement.

But since mom passed away, dad rarely ever spoke about her. And when he does it's only when we're alone like now. Sometime he does even when Len is there. But seeing how Rena reacts, I can see why he doesn't anywhere else. No one wants a screaming woman going around pissed over a dead woman. Especially when that that woman happens to be quiet famous. I never knew why mom was famous until now though. I'm not sure if I should be happy or sad about it anymore.

"How did mom deal with this?" I asked slowly.

He let out a deep chuckle before looking out the window.

"Your mother was another being. She was nothing like anyone. She was wild and extremely advantageous. Maybe saying she was nothing like you would be wrong. In some ways she was. She was very smart and understood her surroundings better than anyone. Her powers unlike yours were found out much earlier in her life. And she embraced in like it was her shield and blood. It really was a part of her like no other. She talked with ghosts and souls more than actual people and it used to scare many coward away. Her skills were exceptional and that made her quiet demanded." Hearing him somewhat made me feel inferior.

My mother was amazing, too much in fact. If it were just him saying, I'd say it was his feelings speaking. But I know better. Everyone knew how cool she was. And that was one reason why I was shunned more for being a defect. Or so I thought until my circus show.

"But," I turned to him again as he did to me.

"She wasn't as perfect as she seemed to be. She had insecurities. I remember when she first saw her own soul summoning, she screamed so loud, the entire mansion echoed for it. She didn't come out of her room for days once by hearing a soul's painful story. Being a Holy Soul Bender meant she felt every soul's joy, sorrow and pain. She shared her heart with them. And with that came a price. Her own sanity and feelings. Deamones or not. Every being have a limit for their feelings and sanity. Exceeding it can be quiet painful. And worse if you have to pretend you're fine. She was always afraid one day she'll break over it. Feared one day she'll let all go and destroy everything." Dad's eyes showed how he felt every word he said. It showed he understood it as much as she felt it.

"No one is perfect, Nyx. Even when you didn't have your powers, I knew you were amazing in your own way. But I also knew you had your fears and disappointments which were making you inferior to others. Despite being worried, I never once thought you were failure. Not then, not now. Your you and have always been who you are. Having powers or not doesn't change that. The world in a cruel place. It will scrape off what you are and everything you have like predators. You have to learn to stand up for yourself. And believe me when I say your mother would've said the same if she was here. She believed in you more than anyone in this world. She made me believe in you since the moment you were born." He got up and walked to a shelf then bought a book and sat down.

It was a book I knew. But this one was old. Much older than the one's I've read. A book on the stories of the Guardians and their teachings. Opening he showed me a page where there was a familiar photo. A photo I haven't seen in years. Her white hair coiled around her like liquid silver just as her name Eirian meant. Her bold eyes held meaning in them. As it swirled over the soul crystal. I wonder why I never realized that she was more than just a Necromancer.

"Look behind." I followed turning the photo. And there were quotes.

"When the sky turns grey and everything's screaming. You tell me to hold on but the innocence is gone." I read aloud to understand what they mean.

"My shadow tilts it's head at me, as spirit in the dark awaits me."

"But my peace has always depended on all the ashes in my wake."

These words engrave into me like cursed stone. Somehow I felt like she was telling to me as a guideline.

"And you think you'll be a Star in my Dark sky. I'll swallow you whole." I felt that like as if she knew who I was and knew what to say exactly.

"Who did she mean in these last lines?" I asked dad trying to think.

"I never really understood why she always wrote quotes behind every pictures. She never told me why, only that they held meaning to her only those who knew her heart would understand. I guess I didn't knew it well enough." His words somewhat held sadness in them.

"As far as I've heard, she was a very mysterious person. Rarely anyone knew her. But from what I've learned from you and my memory, I know for a fact you know more than anyone I know." I smiled replying. 

I meant every word I said. I wonder if dad wasn't there, I may have even forgotten the bits I knew of my own mother by now.

"This book was you mothers. She gave it to me before she left. I've kept it hidden and close in fear of losing it. It belongs to you now." He said hand it in my hand. I've never seen my dad look so vulnerable. I doubt anyone have even remotely seen this side of him.

"Maybe I can just simply come here and read it. It's better and safer with you than it is with me." I give the book back knowing there is no safer place for this book to be than in his safety.

"Very well. Go and rest. You've got a big day tomorrow." He said getting up and I followed.

"More like a terrifying one. I guess vacation is all over." I made a bitter chuckle.

"You needed rest after wielding your raging powers. As such you deserved it. Now I believe my girl can face the world without a doubt." He patted me again as I smiled and left.

Although he doesn't have any doubt in me, I'm not so sure if I'm that confident yet. With how everyone's reaction was that day, I'm like a experimental object to them now. Something to show off in a museum. Not sure how I'll be handling this unwanted attention this time. Before I was an absolute defect, now I'm to be too perfect. I should start thinking of buying cloaks now. Might save me from all the dramatic eyes.

The next day, as I had hoped, it was ever the dramatic when I walked into the Academy. All eyes were on me and I had to act like it didn't bother me one bit. This is what so called being infamous to famous happens.

"You're more popular than the popular girls." Van said nudging me.

"Not funny, Van." I mumbled cursing internally.

"Is is since your so famed, you're being shown in all of the broadcasts in Hades." Len said chuckling to himself as I put my head down even lower and kept cursing.

As we checked out scheduled classes, Van was over the moon with us having a same class now. Len was grumbling how I wasn't in the same class with him anymore.

"Ah, Miss Zagreus. If it isn't the Black Mage!" I turned to meet with whoeber shouted my name so loud, I'm sureeveryone in this hallway realized I'm here.

My potion master, Sir Mervyn Minos stalked toward me at full speed. He had the biggest grin I've ever seen on anyone if most on him.

"Here we go," Len said as I elbowed him.

Sir Marvyn have been the only master who's been most discreet about my defects. He rarely mentioned it in class and always complimented my potion skills.

"Sir Mervyn,"

"You have out done yourself this time, I knew you're skills were not completely out of reason. But I never expected a holy bender to be a student of mine. It's an honor to teach you." He said which made me more uncomfortable than happy.

I mean yea, he is complimenting me, but how much of it because I'm actually talented and because they need to be in good favour with me. Maybe I'm just paranoid. 

"Thank you, Sir." I bowed.

"Ah, don't mention it. See you in class." He said and left. Is it just me or did he just ignore both of my companions.

"Is it just me or did he just ignore us?" Van said sounding pissed.

"Oh, he avoided us, alright." Len said as I turned to him, he looked more bored than actually bothered.

"I'm sorry, this is all weird for me." I let out looking at no one at particular.

"Pss, who cares. We don't care what others say, we know you're the same and people are side cutting you. Before it was cause you were so called defect, now cause your great. It doesn't change anything." Len said ruffling my hair before smiling and left. It put a smile on me instantly. Sometimes I winder who is the older one. 

"You know he is right." Van said as I nodded and followed her to our first class.

On the way I learnt from Vanessa that their class were formed of groups. Each team had four people in them with two pairs each. It was to form good bonding and manage the work better. She said she was already part of a group, so their's a chance I'll be given to a new group seperate from her. It was a bit unsettling since I rarely mix with anyone other than my friends.

Walking inside, I was a bit surprised by the setting of the class. I knew Miss Noir's class was one of top, so being a bit extravagant was expected but that's not what surprised me.

It was a fairly dark room as expected with stone wall. The room was set in a sphere shape as were the tables which surrounded the center podium. Each table were set with four seats as Van mentioned. What surprised me was that the podium was filled with the symbols of all major elements of pur world. The floor surrounding them glowed with each prospect colors. And even the walls were marked by them. The tables setting also had different symbols on them which I believe meant to be for each team od different elements. I mean, it does make sense since it's a power class but I didn't expect them to be so vivid. As if all the elements are alive. I'm not sure if it's just me or everyone felt same.

"Your name will be curved on your seat. Just find it. It's easy to spot." Van pointed leaving me to my judgement.

Carefully, I noticed every unoccupied seat to see which one had my name on it. Every seat had a particular name curved on it's front. After a few minutes, I found mine on the second row by the corner most table.

Setting my stuff down I took a seat and noticed Van with her group. There was only one guy in that group with four different girls. One seemed familiar. Maybe I've had class with them. I rarely take notice of anyone if ever.

"Hey," I flinched felling startled by the touch on my shoulder. 

Turning I met with the familiaer emerald eyes I've always found mesmerising. I never understood how they glowed over the dark skin. And they say dark skin isn't beautiful. I'm sure you can laugh at that seeing this masterpiece.

"Seems like we're teammates." He smiled which made me realize why I had a crush on him to begin with.