XIV. It Takes A Genius To Know One

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***

Evangelyn had been a shaman of their clan, long before she became a soldier of the Alliance. She was a child prodigy who exorcised her first demon at the age of five, which was before any formal training had been given to her. Six years ago, when she enlisted as a Hunter at 17, she didn't finish the rest of the Trials.

The examiners were so awestruck with her spiritual proficiency, that they passed her immediately, and was given the rank of a Ranger, entirely skipping two ranks. Something that had only happened thrice before. Genius was the only word that could perfectly describe her talent with spiritual energy.

This meant Evangelyn had a keen eye for the gifted. That night when she tried to "kill" Irina, she instantly felt something unique about her, that she even thought Irina wasn't human. This was why she's certain Irina could pass the Trials, she's confident of the latter's good aptitude.

But this time, she was wrong. Irina wasn't good at all, she was freaking exceptional! For someone who had only been exposed to the reality of spirit energy and Nightmare, she was doing a tremendous job. To be able to commune with your soul and channel the flow of spirit energy to your whole being, it was something that she thought was unattainable in mere three days. But here she was, looking at Irina who's doing it flawlessly like breathing.

However, that's not what astonished her. Evangelyn had seen demons and other entities since the day she had her consciousness. She's a woman of unbending will, but sitting in front of her, meditating, was a woman two years younger than her, with an immense spiritual energy, and its core's depth was impossible to measure. You would have to be a demi human descent proficient in magic like elves, druids, or vampires.

"Just what kind of hell did this girl have to go through to have all this spirit in her?", Eve pondered. "Does she even know about it?"

Eve smiled with certainty. Her heartbeat raced to the thought of having another reliable friend and ally. She was dead sure, after all she's a genius, and "it takes one to know one".

The clock struck six. "How did I do?", Irina asked, finishing her meditation. She felt very relaxed. In fact, too relaxed that she could no longer feel the heavy stress on her shoulders. I should do this as an everyday routine even after training, she thought.

"If you're doing this well on your combat training, you'll surely ace the Trials", Eve replied as she reached a towel to Irina.

They were training in the Mikofujo Lodge. Although it was named after their clan, Evangelyn personally owned this place. Its front was a few rooms of spa, and two hot springs. But a person with keen sense for spirit energy would know that this would be the place to go if they required exorcism.

The Mikofujo Clan was a clan of ancient shaman in Japan for centuries. With the modern world updating its technology everyday, the need for shamans had declined. People began to think of shamans as con artists. You couldn't blame them, there were a lot of fakes out there who used shamanism to scheme for money. But just like how the world developed, so did the shadow world. Fewer demons may be walking the earth today, but those who maintain the safety and balance only knew that the real threat were the Nightmares.

"Haaays", Irina sighed. "I don't want to think about that. My stomach aches with the thought of having to train with Lucian again. Can I just dip in this hot spring forever, please?", she pleaded like a child.

Eve laughed at how she acted. "Haha! That won't do. Even if I spoil you, your security detail would storm the lodge if you're not out here in an hour.", she said and even laughed harder seeing Irina blow bubbles. "How about we call it a day for your spiritual training and enjoy the remaining time to relax?", Eve suggested.

"Really?", Irina said with wide eyes. "You're the best, Eve!" It was the first time Irina experienced a hot spring with someone else. Her father and his absurd security just wouldn't allow her. Save for the training, she would absolutely add this to her happy memories.

"So, tell me about this Arthur guy?", Eve casually asked her. She was surprised at the question. For the past three days, they never talked about anything personal and unrelated to her training. She did mention her predicament to Eve, but the latter just shrugged it. Eve was strict that way when it came to her training. Now, she's thinking Eve let her take the rest of the training to just relax because she would bug her about this.

"There's nothing to tell. I mean, we grew up together so we're practically relatives.", she said defensively.

"I got relatives in Japan which I grew up with but I don't miss those idiots in that way.", Eve replied as she started dipping to the spring. "I'm sure there's more to your relationship than just practical."

She thought for a moment before responding, "You're right. But it's just platonic." she explained. "We did play on getting married when we were kids, so we're jokingly engaged on our teens. But mainly, our relationship is like that of partners in crime-"

"Wait!", Eve interrupted, "so you have got a vow, you two?"

"I wouldn't call it that. It was just a joke-"

"That should never be taken as a joke." Eve said with a serious tone. She was surprised with how Eve reacted. Judging on her sassy behavior, she would not have expected Eve to be so stiff in such trivial matter.

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend.", she could only apologize for the lack of words.

"It's all right. No offense taken. We only perceive things differently because we've had different experiences.", Irina could tell that Eve was bitterly forcing a smile.

"Did you, by any chance?", she presumed.

"Yes... I mean.. No. No, no! Certainly not. Please. Let's just not talk about it.", Eve concluded. "But seriously, if the two of you have something going on, why stop at the joke?"

Irina pondered at the thought. They exchanged smiles, indicating that she understood what Eve meant. And she thought maybe she's right. Then they both bathed in comfortable silence.

***

That was a great 30 minute bath. It's still half an hour early for her time to go home, but she already got out of the water before she fell asleep. Eve told her that the spring had healing runes encircling it, which was only enough to take off stress and muscle pain, but not powerful enough to cure terminal diseases.

The last thing the Mikofujo clan needed was unwanted attention. If people claimed they were miraculously healed by the spa or the springs, it would be difficult to control the surge of people visiting the lodge. It could expose shamanism to a bad light.

Sure, the family was striving to keep shamanism alive, but the ancient clan would rather preserve their principles than their arts. Sticking into the old tradition was what made Eve annex herself from the conservative main family in Japan, and start anew in the Philippines.

"Focus on channeling your spirit energy to a physical item that has deep meaning for you.", Eve said.

Irina almost jumped for getting surprised. She was getting dressed when she heard Eve spoke. "Come again?"

"I take it you still haven't called on your spirit artifact", Eve said while helping her zip the back of her dress.

She didn't want to talk about it. For the past two days of her combat training, she performed well. However, she hadn't had any luck with calling on her spirit artifact. Lucian was convinced that it was a bow, given that she shot an arrow to the elf prince.

"How did you know?", she asked.

"Your spirit core is still unrefined. How do I explain it? Hmm,", Eve thought while started to help her with fixing her hair. "It's like a diamond that was just dug from the mines. It's pure and has great value. But it wasn't cut yet. Once it's given form to a jewelry, it will have greater value."

"Okay?.." she said unconvinced.

"A spirit artifact is an extension of your soul, powered by your spirit energy, and given a physical form. Looks like we were quick to assume that you already called it, but apparently, that's not the case."

"That's what Lucian told me, too. But he didn't tell me what I should be doing."

Eve gestured for her to sit down. Now that she thought about it, there's another training session with Lucian later. It's not her favorite time of the day.

"Nightmares are spirit energies given physical form through assimilation of a living body. The same concept applies to summoning a spirit artifact. You must channel your spirit energy to a physical item, infusing it with part of your soul, for the artifact to materialize.

"Basically, it's the reverse of what Nightmares are doing. If they feed off the soul of its host, then we, to create our artifacts, we feed our soul to the item. Of course, you can't just do it on a random item, just like you won't trust just some random person feed you.", Eve paused, making sure she was following. She nodded as affirmation.

"You have to focus your spirit to something that has meaning to you. It has to have a deep connection. Like a memoir. I know you're trying to do it with your locket, that's what I thought too, seeing how you held that when you shot the arrow. I'm sure that meant a lot to you as you never take it off, but I assure you, there's something else that holds deeper sentimental meaning to you. Something that you've had far longer than your locket. Look deep in your soul, feel it in your heart if you must. Focus your spirit to it to materialize your artifact."

She was hoping to hear more, a different way perhaps, but Eve concluded the conversation and she could already hear the security detail outside, ready to pick her up. The only thing she could do was take a deep breath.