4 Morgan's gift

Three years had passed since Jame started training.

He had grown up since then and became an adolescent. He became taller. His chest and arms became muscular and his voice became hoarse. His face became more manly.

During those years, Jame had been training hard with the help of Joe. He had learned about martial arts, swordsmanship and other combat styles but since he couldn't use magic, he was still weak compared with others. But he didn't give up as he promised Bam. He needed to become stronger, a lot stronger than now.

This morning, Joe told him to come to the armory. He didn't know the reason but he walked toward the armory.

The armory was a large building with three floors. At the bottom floor, there were armors. In the middle, melee weapons were placed and range weapons were at the top floor.

When he reached the armory, he saw two guards guarding the door. "Stop, you can't enter this armory without captain's permission." One of the guards stopped him and said.

"Is captain in there? Tell him Jame is here." Jame told him with a glance at the armory.

"Are you Jame? Sorry, we didn't know. Come in. The captain has already told us." The guard said and saluted him. Then Jame opened the door and went in.

There were many shining armors in this floor but he didn't see Joe. So he went up to the second floor.

There, Joe was waving a sword in the air and doing some moves. When he saw Jame coming, he threw the sword at him.

Jame caught the sword in air and he felt the sword was quite light.

"A nice sword. So this is why you called me here, Joe."

"Yes, try some moves with that sword." Joe insisted him.

Jame played some moves and found out that the sword fitted him quite well.

"So you like? I am planning to give that sword to you." Joe told him with a smile.

"I didn't know you are that quite generous."

"It's time, Jame. I have taught you as much as I can. Although you don't have magic, you are the hardest working among all my soldiers. I feel proud of you kid. You have really grown up." Joe told him with a kind tone. After all these years, their relationship had become more than just a teacher-student relationship.

Jame hugged him tightly and told him, "Thank you for everything. You took care of me the whole three years. I don't know how to repay your kindness. You are...you are like a father to me, Joe."

The tears of joy were starting to fall but Joe stopped immediately. "Your journey just starts now kid. Be strong. I have one more thing to show you. Come. Take the sword and follow me kid." Joe went down to the first floor and Jame followed him.

Joe stopped in front of a human statue. It looked like a general holding his sword. "Help me to push this." Joe said and pushed the statue. Jame helped him pushing and he knew it was quite heavy.

When Joe finished pushing, he sat down as he was tired. "See! Come down with me." Joe said. Jame noticed there was a door. He didn't know there would be a basement under the statue. Joe opened the door and went down the stairs. Jame sighed and followed him.

It was quite a large basement filled with many small statues. Jame was wondering about the statues. He had never seen those kinds of statues.

"Give me the sword." Joe said and took the sword from Jame. He whispered something to the sword and put it to the ground.

Then he sat down beside the sword and asked, "Do you know the legend about upper realm?"

Jame sat down and answered, "Of course. My mother used to tell me that legend every night. It is a well known legend after all."

"Well, it is true. At least, a part of it is true."

"What do you mean?" Jame frowned and asked.

"I don't know about the god or the great three races but there is really upper realm above us. Have you ever heard of magic weapons and armors?"

"Yes, they are very rare even for rankers. I heard there are not many magic items. Why do you ask?" Jame asked with a curious tone.

"Those are rewarded by the king. No one knows exactly how they are made. Only some people know."

"You mean_" Jame was surprised.

"Yes, I know how. Sir Morgan told me." Joe said with a proud face.

"Isn't it top secret? Why did he tell you?" Jame asked with a confusing face.

"Well, we have known each other for a long time and he trusts me. But he told me this for you, to give you a magic weapon since you can't use magic. It is his gift for you. You have grown up. So I can give you now but he said whether you get a magic weapon or not is depending upon you. Listen, this is a top secret. You must not tell anyone. Get it?" Joe asked with a serious tone. Jame nodded with excitement.

"Those weapons are made by spirit's magic. Spirits are a kind of race from the upper realm. They have no physical form. We summon them and make contracts with them to create magic weapons. As those magic weapons are enhanced by the upper realm's magic, those weapons are so powerful." Joe said and rested for a moment as he was tired.

Then he continued, "A spirit's power depends on the believer's strength. The more you believe in spirit existence, the more powerful the spirit becomes. Depending on the believers' strength, the summoned spirit gives portion of its magic power to the weapon. This is what making contracts means. You get the spirit's magic power to enhance your weapon and the spirit gets your believing to increase their power. It is mutually beneficial. So if you want a magic weapon, you just need to believe that spirits really exist."

"That's all? That's all to make a magic weapon? I thought it would be much harder and more complicated. But it is kinda weird." Jame complained.

"Yes, it is weird for me too but Sir Morgan told me like that. He even reminded me to tell you that you must believe them no matter what. He also told me about some kind of power, ki and aura_something like that but I don't remember quite well since I have no clue about them. While creating a magic weapon, the problem is not the process, I guess." Joe said. Jame frowned. Then Joe looked him with a serious look and said, " The problem is how to contact and summon the spirit from the upper realm."

"Oh...yes, I didn't think about it. So how?" Jame asked with a surprised face.

"With this." Joe took out a stone from his pocket and showed him. The stone was round and its surface was smooth with a faint glowing light.

Jame looked at the stone carefully and asked, "What is this stone?"

"They call it summoning stones. I don't know how it was made since Sir Morgan didn't tell me in detail about this stone. But I think this must be the reason why there are not many magic weapons since these stones are rare. He just told me to summon a spirit and give you a magic weapon. To tell the truth, I am quite jealous. Even I as a captain don't have a magic weapon. But it is ok since it is for you." Joe said and gave him the stone.

Jame took the stone and  smashed it to the ground. "What the fuck are you doing?" Joe yelled and took back the stone.

"If I smashed it, spirit will come out, right?" Jame said with a poker face as he thought it will work.

"No, you idiot, really country bumpkin. Don't do it again. Listen to me carefully." Joe scolded with a serious tone and gave back the stone.

"First, grab the stone in your hand. Then hold the handle of the sword."

Jame grabbed the stone and came near the sword to grab its handle. Joe continued, "Now, focus your mind on stone and feel the power inside it. And wish that you want to make contract with a spirit. That's all Sir Morgan told me."

After hearing Joe's words, Jame closed his eyes and focused. He felt his soul was warming and a surge of power was coming from the stone. Then he mumbled, "I want to make contract with you, spirit."

At the end of his words, he felt dizzy and fainted. When he regained consciousness, there was nothing except black space.

"So are you the one who want to make contract?" Suddenly a fearsome loud voice appeared in his head. He thought it may be a spirit.

"Yes." He answered with confidence.

"So do you believe spirits exist?"

"Hmm_it is weird. Aren't you a spirit? And you are asking me that question. Of course, I believe. I am talking to a spirit now." Jame answered with a confused face.

"We don't want a fake believer who has a weak mind. You are saying you believe but in your deep mind, you are uncertain and refusing to believe about the upper realm, spirits and everything. Isn't it?" Its voice was tempting him like a magic spell.

"No, I believe you exist." Jame mumbled.

"Really? Your family was killed last three years but you are still hoping that someone might survive. Aren't you? You can't even accept the fact that your family is dead. You have no magic. You are weak. You are useless." Its voice became louder.

"No, they are de__Yes, they are not dead. I didn't see with my eyes. I don't believe they are dead." Jame shouted and held his head as he started feeling some pressure on his head. It was like something bigger than him was crushing him.

"So you don't accept that truth because you didn't see with your own eyes? Then how about us? You haven't seen us before and maybe the one talking now is not a spirit. Hmm_" That voice became louder and louder.

Jame couldn't think of anything anymore and started to see illusions.

"Yes, I don't believe you. You are just telling me nonsense. Liars."

He shouted with pain as he couldn't handle the pressure anymore.

"Poor child! Your ki is not bad but your aura is so weak. You don't deserve our power for now."

The voice gradually became quieter. Jame yelled loudly and realized that he was still sitting in the basement with Joe.

"Jame, are you ok?" Joe asked him with a worried tone.

Jame was covered in sweat and the stone in his hand evaporated slowly. The sword was still there unchanging anything. He took a deep breathe and rested for a moment. Joe sighed.

"You are wrong. The real reason_" Jame mumbled him. "The real reason is not because of that stone. It was because of the spirit's power. It deceives our minds. It was not magic. I am not even sure if a white cape ranker will manage to handle that kind of pressure. That is why there are not many magic weapons."

"Relax. At least, you tried." Joe comforted him.

"I am not even sure if I tried."

"Even without magic power, that sword is a good one. Come. We shouldn't waste time here. You will be stronger in the future." Joe said and prepared to leave the basement.

"In future? But when?" Jame groaned himself and took the sword from the ground. Then they left the basement and pushed the statue to its original place.

"So it doesn't have to do anything with that basement. I thought that statues there were concerned with making a magic weapon. Ahaha_" Jame laughed and asked.

"Yes, but still, if you want to make a magic weapon, you will need to go to a safe place first. Isn't it? Only I know about that place. I found that place when I became the captain." Joe explained. They chatted for a while and left the armory.

When they left the armory, the two guards guarding the door saluted them and spoke quickly. "Captain, we had a report a while ago. The scouts say there is an army of elves coming in this direction."

"What the fuck?" Jame blurted with a surprised face.

The guards and Joe stared at him for a second. Then Joe ordered the two guards to confirm the news and they left immediately.

"Strange__if there was an army like that, rankers will immediately spot them. But it seems no one of them knows about it. What are they doing?" Joe whispered himself.

"Jame, report that news to them and gather them at the gate. I will be there waiting for you." Joe ordered him.

Jame nodded and left. He knew something was about to happen.

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(Thanks for reading.😇)

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