Authors Note: Hola! Here is a fun fact about this fiction, as of this chapter it is at 57,952 words. pretty neat right? No? Well, I thought it was cool.

Anyway nothing really to say this time except that I really appreciate those of you who take the time to post in the comments. I really enjoy seeing that people like this fiction and are reading it, it's not an exaggeration to say that it really gets me motivated to keep writing.

Welp, here is your chapter. Enjoy!

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Chapter 19

Callen and Brett were moving boxes of supplies off the convoy and into a storehouse. Callen let out a heavy sigh as he lowered the box to the floor.

Brett did the same and asked Callen. “Still worried about Yumi? I’m telling you man, she will be fine.”

“What if she isn’t though? They say war can change people.”

“But she hasn’t even participated yet.”

Callen looked around and pointed at their classmates. “Look Brett, other students haven’t participated either, but it has already affected them.”

The students he mentioned were the ones who had witnessed the massacre of the enemy army. Some were still able to perform simple tasks, but far more had become paralyzed with fear. General Velcose had order for them to be placed inside a reinforced building that was being used as a makeshift medical bay.

Callen continued. “She’s a delicate girl. It could have affected her more than you think.”

“Wow, I didn’t realize that’s how you viewed her. Listen Callen, I think you’re underestimating her. She’s tougher than she looks.”

“Maybe…”

A small commotion caught the boys’ attention. Wondering what was going on, they headed over. What they saw was the general talking to the Principal. Behind the general were four soldiers surrounding Yumi. Her hands were bound together in front of her with steel manacles.

The sight made Callen’s blood boil. Without thinking he ran forward and confronted the men.

“What is going on here?!”

A soldier put his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist. “Stand down Delgado. This doesn’t concern you.”

He retorted. “Like hell it doesn’t!”

Brett came up from behind him and tried to calm Callen down. “You can’t just do that Callen. I’m sure there is a reason for it.”

Callen ignored him. “Why is she being treated like a criminal?”

The general answered him. “Relax kid. It’s more for appearances. She isn’t formally being charged with anything, however she will be sent back to Beista and answer to the King.”

“What for?”

Logan answered him. “It’s about Calgar, her spirit. You guys missed it, since you were helping the other soldiers within the wall, but he single-handedly wiped out a division of Nerim’s troops.”

Callen was confused. “Isn’t that a good thing then?”

Logan shook his head. “Normally I’d agree, but after that battle Calgar has disappeared. We asked Yumi for details, but all she says is that he is gone.”

Callen and Brett were shocked. They looked at Yumi for an explanation, but she just blankly stared at the ground.

Callen turned back to Velcose. “Allow me to accompany her.”

“Request denied.”

“Why? I know Calgar fairly well too. I spent almost one month training with him after all.”

Brett chimed in. “I as well.”

Velcose raised his eyebrows and looked to Logan for confirmation. Logan nodded and said. “It’s true. They were a team in the second year’s tournament. I’ve watched them fight together.”

“Hmm, then that changes things. Alright, I’ll allow you two to go as well. Grab your gear and be ready in thirty minutes or they’ll leave without you.”

Callen and Brett saluted. “Yes Sir!” And then ran off.

Logan turned back to the general. “Velcose, I know it’s out of my hands at this point, but she still is one of my students, and my friend’s granddaughter. I want you to give it to me straight. How bad does it look?”

Velcose lit up a cigar and took a puff before answering. “I’m not sure. At worst, she should only be confined at her home for a while. At best it will be seen as a young summoner losing control, and a slight reprimand. The main problem is what you have told me, how the spirit can always be manifested.”

“Yes, normally a summoner can recall a spirit or after the spirit uses too much magic, be forcefully recalled. However Yumi says he is ‘gone’. Does that mean the contract has been broken and he has returned to the ether? Or does it mean that he now has free reign?”

Velcose asked. “Can a spirit really stay materialized by itself?”

“According to ancient records, the answer is yes. Back then, it seems powerful spirits inhabited the physical world. It was after the War of the Gods that they chose to migrate to the ether.”

“So he is one of those powerful spirits…”

Logan nodded. “I believe so. The only other one I know of is the spirit her father has possession of.”

Velcose took another puff. “Hah, if he stayed an ally, that’d be great, but as an enemy… I only heard it secondhand from the troops, but it sounded like hell.”

Logan could only agree to his statement as he too didn’t see it directly.

Callen and Brett had returned with both of them carrying a small duffel bag on their shoulders.

Velcose called to the soldiers behind him. “Alright, load up and ship out. Upon turning the three kids over to Beista’s security force, you are to return immediately. No delays either, head straight there and back without stopping. Switch drivers when you’re tired.”

Everyone saluted. “Understood!”

Yumi, Callen, Brett and the four soldiers climbed into the military carriage and left through the south gate, heading back to the Capital city.

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Three days later, in the throne room of the Castle, The seven ruling Lords, a representative of the church, and the King sat waiting. They had all been gathered to hear the disturbing reports of the rogue spirit.

In a loud voice the King said. “Bring in the subjects.”

The grand double doors opened and led inside the room was Callen, Brett and Yumi. Callen was on the King’s right side and Brett was on the left. Yumi was in the middle and was flanked by two guards.

They stopped about 15 meters from the throne. All three of them kneeled.

The King continued to speak. “I have summoned you here in regards to the mysterious spirit known as Calgar. I have received reports of his immense strength shown during the defense of Astrid City. However it was also reported that said spirit is now missing, and that the summoner in question has no idea to his whereabouts. The main focus of this meeting is to determine if this ‘rogue spirit’ has the potential to be a threat to this kingdom.”

Callen spoke up while still kneeling. “Your Majesty, if I may speak?”

“Callen Delgado. You may speak.”

“Thank you.” Callen stood up. “I have been in contact with Calgar one month before, and during the tournament held at the Military Academy.”

The King nodded. “Indeed. Your battles were excellent to watch.”

“Thank you, what I’m trying to say is that Calgar is a very kind and responsible spirit. He looked after us and taught us things that we didn’t know. He helped us grow in both body and mind.”

The Lords talked amongst themselves at his statement. The King closed his eyes and nodded.

“So you are vouching that his character is good?”

“That’s correct.”

“I see. You’re opinion has been heard.”

Callen kneeled once more. The King turned to Brett. “Mr. Trevino, do you have anything you would like to say?”

Brett stood and shook his head. “Everything Callen has already stated is almost parallel to my own thoughts. I’ve nothing more to add, other than I don’t think Calgar will be a threat.”

“I see. Then that leaves only one person left. Yumi Nishka, you were there when the battle occurred. Tell us first-hand what happened.”

As her hands were still bound, the guards helped her up. Yumi looked straight ahead, as if looking through the King. In a soft voice she recalled the events of the battle.

“I was on the wall. We were to fill the cannons with magic. But before I could do it, the enemy had launched another attack. Just before we were hit, Calgar had saved us. I was so glad that he protected me, but the look he had was different. It was like he was a predator sizing up his prey.”

The Lords grew concerned with what she was saying.

She clenched her hands into fists. “Then he jumped off the wall. It happened so fast, I couldn’t stop him. Then the blood started to flow, and following that, the screams of the enemy. I could only watch as he cut his way through their ranks. It was like he was taking a stroll.”

Tears began to spill as she continued. “Then I could feel his emotions. He was enjoying it. Every time blood was spilt his smile grew wider. The soldiers tried to run… but he wouldn’t let them escape.”

Their concerns grew to worry the longer they kept listening to her story.

Yumi wiped her tears and took a deep breath. “At some point I fell unconscious. I don’t know if it was a dream, but I saw Calgar again in a black world. He told me the truth that he was a God and that he could no longer stay by my side. It was then I woke up and he was already gone.”

As she finished, the Lords immediately began discussing the potential dangers. However one person scoffed at Yumi. It was a priest belonging to the church.

“What nonsense is this? There are only five Gods, not six. Were you perhaps brainwashed by those impudent heretics?”

Yumi’s expression didn’t change. “Believe me or not, but I know what I heard. It was arrogant of me to think we could be partners.”

The priest scowled. “Perhaps this was not a spirit gone rogue, but a plot of terrorism devised by heretics.”

Fredrick Nishka stood up to defend his daughter. “Yumi is not a heretic! She believes in the Five Gods just like the rest of us.”

But Yumi herself denied him. “No Father, there have always been six, Nighorum, Auromi, Laanex, Raylen, Measha, and Calgar. I can’t show proof, but I know it to be true.”

Fredrick was stunned at what she was saying. The priest turned to the King and proposed. “Your Majesty, listen to this drivel! I advise you to imprison this girl and conduct a full investigation into this! Her ‘God’ may not be as uncontrollable as she’d like us to believe. It may strike again.”

Callen couldn’t listen anymore. “What are you basing that on? You’re just making wild assumptions!”

The throne room had grown noisy. The King had reached his limit of patience and shouted. “Enough!”

Everyone quieted down. The King had reached a decision. “Yumi Nishka, I hereby announce that you will be detained as a complete investigation into these events is conducted. If after the investigation, it's shown you have committed criminal offenses, then you will at that time be tried and either convicted or acquitted. If it is shown that you are innocent of any wrong doing, you will be released back into the custody of the Nishkas.”

The King had spoken. Callen, Brett and Yumi were led out of the room. As soon as they left, Fredrick voiced his complaint.

“Your Majesty, I’m against your decision.”

“It’s been noted.”

The priest mocked Fredrick. “She should be thankful she isn’t executed for such blasphemy.”

John Delgado, who had been silent until now, spoke. “What if we look at it another way?”

The King questioned him. “How do you mean?”

“She said this Calgar was the sixth God, and while we can’t just believe her, could it relate to the fact that five Champions have appeared?”

The other Lords and King were startled as they realized this fact. King Michael asked the priest. “What do you think?”

The priest eyes were closed as he was in deep thought. “Yes… Perhaps this ‘Calgar’ is a false God who has come to bring chaos and destruction. Meaning the appearance of the five Champions is to combat this threat.”

John nodded. “I was thinking something similar. Can we count on the church to look into this for us?”

The priest readily agreed. “Of course! I knew this day would come, that those infidels who worshipped their sixth God would be cleansed in a holy war by the Five Gods.”

The King rebuked him. “It better not come to that. We don’t need any more bloodshed. Let us end the meeting here for today. Tomorrow we will gather personnel for the investigation team. Remember to keep the contents of this meeting an absolute secret until we know what we are dealing with.”

The men got up from their seats and left the room.

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Callen and Brett had been given a room to borrow inside the castle, and currently Callen was pacing back and forth in it. Brett was sitting on one of the two beds in the room and watched him. From the lone window, entered the light from the setting sun.

Callen grumbled in complaint. “That damn priest. It was like he was out for Yumi’s blood.”

“Well, she did basically say his religion is wrong. You can’t blame him for being angry.”

Callen stopped and looked at Brett. “…Is that really what happened?”

“I’m assuming your referring to the battle Calgar was in? I don’t know. But if what Yumi said was true, I’m glad I didn’t see it.”

Callen was silent, and then asked. “Hey Brett, have you ever killed anyone?”

Brett flopped over on his back and stared at the ceiling. “Nope. What about you?”

Callen shook his head. “Me neither.”

“While I’ve never killed anyone, if the circumstances were right, I would probably be able to do it.”

“You think so?”

“Yup. I may seem laidback, but my mom always taught me to do whatever it takes to protect the things I deem important.”

“So you would kill for the right reasons… I wonder about myself…”

Callen looked down at his hand. What would it take for him to stain his hands with blood? An order? Jealousy? Revenge? Could he live with the consequences? The weight of a life, could he bear those burdens?

His mind then wandered to Yumi. What was she feeling? What was she thinking? He was curious to know. She had witnessed death, was she scared? Afraid?

He closed his eyes and sighed. “I’m worried about her…”

Brett propped his head up with his arm. “I am too you know, but we can’t do anything about it.”

“Can’t we at least go talk to her?”

Brett shook his head. “No can do. She will be isolated for the duration of the investigation.”

Callen slammed his fist into the wall. “Dammit! If only Calgar didn’t do that, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”

“Callen you can’t blame Calgar. We may not know him very well, but I don’t think he would have done what he did without a good reason.”

Callen rubbed his eyes. “…Yeah, you’re right. Calgar would put Yumi’s well-being first.” He then stopped and looked up. “Wait, if that’s true, then did he leave to protect her somehow?”

Brett shrugged. “Could be? But without asking him, we’ll never know.”

Callen put his hands on his head and begun pacing again. “Ugh, why can’t things just be simple?”

Brett chuckled. “Think of it as the spice, in the great meal we call ‘life’.”

“I’d rather eat dessert instead.”

“Really? You do realize that in this analogy, dessert would be the afterlife.”

“Oh… then I’ll just fill up on the side dish.”

“What are you even talking about…?”

Callen shrugged. “I don’t know you started this!”

“…”

“…”

The two of them burst into laughter. After they calmed down, they changed into night wear and entered their separate beds.

Callen turned off the light. “Let’s just sleep. We can think about the complicated things tomorrow.”

Brett pulled up the covers. “Sounds good to me. Night Callen.”

“Night Brett.”

Not long after, the two were fast asleep.