Chapter 5

The Souls

Despite having been through the town the day prior, Meredith found that leaving the school grounds was an entirely different experience. Perhaps it was the older gentleman at her side, greeting some citizens like an old friend. Or maybe it was that she didn’t rush through, eager to get to the Academy.

More likely, however, it was the confidence in her magic that added the spring to her step.

“You’re using it now, aren’t you?” Matthew asked, the mirth evident by his jiggling beard. Meredith didn’t answer right away, thinking about all the people she wanted to protect in this lovely state. Their souls became sharply visible to her, though each was formless, and she couldn’t quite tell how many there were or what they all looked like. That was far too daunting a task, and when she felt it was close to overwhelming her, she shut the tap off. “Well, what did you glean?”

“The more souls there are, the less I can discern any sort of identity…maybe? It’s hard to tell,” Meredith admitted. Her hands found their way inside her pockets, both blades on her belt clanking around. “Maybe I just can’t perceive actual form yet…or never will. The only time I have so far is when I…hmmm…”

Matthew gazed at her curiously, but Meredith became lost in thought. Now that she thought about it, the only time she was close to perceiving a soul’s identity just from conversing, without knowing the identity, was from one of the Weapons. It may have just been coincidence, or a different property of that soul. The options were endless.

Her thoughts ceased as she bumped into Matthew and then scrambled to stand at his side.

With her musings ended, Meredith could hear the new sounds of the town, immediately identifying just where she was. Clanging, banging and grinding sounded through the sector, while the shimmery haze of sparks and magical flames gave the air a distinct look. A smile graced her face, and she almost jumped up and down.

“The Magical Forge,” Matthew introduced, though it didn’t need it. “From cannons to Emil’s Gravity Blades and all magical weapons, this is the place.”

“So even Emil had his stuff made here…” Interest and passion took over, and Meredith raced ahead of Matthew, to the heart of the forge. Straying from the main road, she could tell why it was called a forge, of all things.

A large furnace was erected in the center, otherwise obscured by the stands and work stations that surrounded it. Closer inspection yielded the sight of colored smoke rising from the top, fueled by different fires. Craftsmen scuttled to and from the furnace, melting down metal or tempering it in the heat. Every corner of the structure served a different purpose, and everyone working in the sector gathered around it at some point, from the craftsmen to the apprentices.

Most looked to work on weapons, taking normal material and turning it magical. Otherwise, they crafted items that served to make constructs like the chocolate fountain. Meredith let her own sights find something more interesting. With a squeal of joy, she dashed for one of the bigger stands. Compared to others, it had triple the workers, hauling large parts back and forth with Gravity Magic. Some cooled the object they were forging with water, while others heated it with Temperature Magic. Yet another, the boss of the stand, was gently cradling the object with wind.

“A Flight Gem!” Meredith expressed with cheer. The boss at the stand looked at her, quirking an eyebrow, but didn’t address her. Matthew’s hand on her shoulder was the reason for that, the older man leaning in. “I never knew they made them in Lacardia! Servicing them is almost impossible, so usually we’re focused on the install. That’s difficult enough. You handle it wrong and poof; everything goes up in your face.”

“You have a delicate touch, then,” Matthew said. Meredith shrugged; she guessed she must have, but there was no reason to mention it. “Perhaps that’s part of the reason you can use your magic the way you have. Tell me, what do you sense here?”

His hand retracted itself, and Meredith breathed in. Her Soul Vision activated once more, the wisps of lights appearing. Now that she focused, she could see more than just the human souls, or even the trees and other “living” things. The very metal worked with in the forge had pinpricks of light and the Flight Gem was no different. A soul was there. More silent, but no less palpable. The inherent magic of it whispered to her in its formless state.

A new realization tickled at her brain, eyes sliding to the broken blade, the tiny pinprick of a soul, unresponsive but present.

“Mera! Fancy seeing you here! Get kicked out of the Academy already?” Raymond’s voice wrenched her focus away, and she breathed to close her magic up. With a grin, she faced the direction she could sense Raymond’s soul from. As expected, there her brother was, a bundle of swords slung over his back, while next to him was his squad-mate, Emily, holding to her own basket of Flight Gems.

“Just because you probably have doesn’t mean I have, Ray,” Meredith said, sticking her tongue out. Raymond laughed, though it ceased when he saw Matthew stepping forward. “Actually, I’m here as part of my magical education.”

“Field work? Was that a thing when you went to the Academy, Em?”

“For some classes. But in your sister’s case, it would appear she has a very different teacher from the standard courses.” Emily completed her words with a bow in Matthew’s direction. “Sir, it’s a rare pleasure to see you outside of your office.”

“Ah…Emily, yes? Well, certain instruction has propelled me to walk the streets with my fine, new pupil.” Once more, Meredith felt Matthew slap her back, followed by a hearty chuckle. She took it and grinned in her brother’s direction, as if daring him to say something.

He did, slipping on a lazy grin with a, “You mean she hasn’t failed yet? Or you didn’t assign her any homework?”

“Hey!” Meredith protested. She would have slapped him across the face when a worker came through, carrying a sword made out of pure flame.

“Stop standing around, guys! You’ll get in someone’s way.” The word of warning was heeded, and Matthew began to steer his student away from the forge, back towards the open road. Raymond and Emily followed suit as they continued to carry their goods.

“Joking aside, Mera, I’m glad you got in,” Raymond continued on once they were on the road. “From the stories Em tells me, it can’t be easy, since she’s one of the best magic-users I know. Good on you.”

“Oh, I’m not that good, captain…” Had Emily’s arms been empty, Meredith was certain she’d be rubbing her hands together in an effort to stop her blushing. “A-and it was Amelia’s suggestion. Congratulations to your sister, though.”

“Yay me. Eddie got in, too, Ray,” Meredith said over her shoulder. Matthew had once more taken the lead, silent but guiding towards a table that sat outside a café. With a light tilt of her head, Meredith wondered why he’d brought her to the forge and left as suddenly, but she abandoned the thought in favor of her brother. “Oh, and I called mom and dad. They were very interested in how I ran into you.”

“Mera!” came the whine. Emily giggled, even as Matthew reached a table and pulled the chairs out. “Why would you do that?! Now mom and dad are going to get on my back about not writing! Some sister you are.”

“Only the best. I bet I’ll even be better than you, at magic and at writing home.”

“Sometimes I hate you.”

“No, you don’t,” Meredith said. She stuck her tongue out again. Matthew cleared his throat.

“Well, fascinating as this conversation is, if you’re not too busy, Miss Emily, care to join me and my student for a mid-morning snack?” Meredith didn’t need telling twice to seat herself next to her instructor. Her eyes turned in the direction of her brother and his subordinate, lighting up with the possibility of them joining. Raymond’s lips wiggled back and forth, and then he sighed.

“Yeah, I don’t, Mera,” came the deciding chuckle. “I think we can afford a break. Jay and the disastrous duo are on guard duty while we run errands.” To emphasize his point, Raymond placed his sack on the ground with care, and then pulled a chair out for Emily. They both sat with precision. “Been a long time since we sat at a table like this.”

“Only because someone never comes home,” Meredith said. She jabbed a finger at her brother, a glare attached to it. “Seriously, you know mom and dad worry while you’re off on adventures. Worried you won’t come home. Worried you won’t find a girlfriend.”

“What?” Raymond seemed to choke on his own spit, offering Meredith laughter of her own. He quickly righted the glasses that had gone askew on his face.

“That last part was a joke.”

“Yeah, well…what about you?! Two boys hanging on your arms, and you’ve gone on plenty of adventures! Tell me about those!” Raymond looked rather triumphant, an attitude only reined in by Emily pulling on his robes and forcing him to settle down.

Meredith sat back in her own seat, glancing over to Matthew. The older man was placing an order, but the focused pupils of his eyes indicated his own interest in her history. She, however, didn’t feel like being nearly so forthcoming. The memory of her previous trial ranks, a D-Rank and B-Rank respectively, felt mortifying to share. “Oh, you know, went places, met people.”

“That’s not much of an explanation, Mera,” Raymond said. He clucked his tongue to scold her, but she didn’t budge on it. “Surprised you wouldn’t want to share it, though. You’ve always been crazy about anything Guardian Corps related.”

“Maybe I’ve matured and I’m not the sister you know anymore.” Raymond blinked, staring across at his sister. She stared right back.

They then burst into laughter, each clutching at their chests. Emily looked shocked.

“Captain, I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you laugh so loudly!”

“Is it? Ha! My sister’s something else!”

“Not nearly as much as you, brother dear.” The two continued with their peals of laughter until their orders arrived. Meredith abandoned her own giggles to look at the biscuits and chocolate that had arrived, each in a different shape with fancy designs. Finding it foreign, Meredith poked at a biscuit, only for it to spring up with an aroma that belied cinnamon. Further intrigued, she took it for eating.

“Speaking of the Guardian Corps,” Matthew grunted out between sips of tea, “what are esteemed members such as yourself doing about the town? I thought you were all focused on the negotiations. Headmistress Unda certainly hasn’t returned yet.”

“Weapons inventory, sir,” Emily said, addressing the matter with precision. “Tempest Squad has been put on hold from missions to serve as security. While our squad-mates handle that, we’ve been assigned with restocking our Flight Gem supply, as well as our weaponry with some made from the forge. Many of our Guardians have forge-made weapons.”

“Though some do come from the west,” Raymond explained, biting into a cookie with a crunch. “The forge there is said to rival the one here, when they’re up to producing things. It’s not often, and we rarely visit when it’s easier to get weapons made here. Something about materials, I think?”

“Which is your weapon made of?” Meredith asked, eyes brighter than before. Raymond leaned forward, their matching grins meeting one another.

“Flexible metal from right here in Lacardia,” he said. “Using metal magic, I can twist the form of it, through high outputs of energy. It’s pretty effective, isn’t it?”

“You’re awesome, Ray.” The siblings reached across the table, hands joining in an odd handshake. Emily was amused, while Matthew finished his tea and proceeded to ask another question.

“I take it that things at the Corps and concerning negotiations are going well, then, yes?”

“Quite,” Raymond answered. “Chief Commander Marcus has some big plans once the negotiations are settled, but we’re waiting for the ink to dry to announce what they are. Your academy might see an influx of students, though. Unfortunate as it is, most Guardians know very rudimentary magic. If I’m the captain of Tempest Squad, it’s simply because I’m more skilled than a crop of Guardians who have overlooked something important.”

“Don’t put yourself down, sir. Imagine how Kenny and Sal would run with it,” Emily chastised her superior. Raymond shrugged. “He is right, though. The Chief Commander is looking for a better kind of Guardian, one that works together without falling behind. I look forward to the events that will happen when negotiations are finalized. Amelia even more so.”

“That woman never passes up a chance for battle.”

“So, what is this mysterious event?” Meredith asked. She had now picked up her biscuit, biting in to taste the cinnamon. Her eyes briefly flitted over to Matthew, seeing the same question in his eyes. “Anything you can tell an aspiring Guardian like myself?”

“When you’ve completed more trials, sure. When’re you heading off for the next?”

“Uh…” Trying to put off answering Raymond’s question, Meredith swiped another biscuit, squeezing it. A new aroma hit her nose; one of chives and dill. She sneezed a little, and then stopped, looking at the weapons the Guardians had laid at their feet.

“If I can make a suggestion, you should skip going back to the Metropolis for the Trial of Power. I think heading west to the usual site of the Trial of Teamwork would take you out of the way, too,” Raymond said. Meredith barely caught words in the sentence, too focused on the biscuits and weapons. “If anything, head north. Ships usually leave from there and can take you near enough to the Trial of Self. From there it’s just a step towards the alchemic forge to the west where the Trial of Enlightenment…Mera, are you even listening?”

She wasn’t, not that she said as much.

Matthew was watching her with a small smile, as though he already understood what was going through her mind. It may have been the reason he’d taken her to the forge, though she suspected that was merely to see just what kinds of souls she could sense. Instead, she’d discovered something much greater. Without deliberation, Meredith grabbed the biscuits from the plate and downed her cup of hot chocolate.

“You’re the best, bro. I’ll consider it. Got some training to do first! Mr. Matthew, I have an idea!”

“Yes, I figured you might,” Matthew said, his mirth evident. He stood alongside his pupil, leaving some money on the table. Emily took that as her cue to stand, dragging Raymond with her. Meredith leaned over, offering her brother a light hug.

“Stop by the Academy some time! Love you, Ray!” Farewells concluded, Meredith spun around and made fast tracks down the road, leaving her perplexed brother behind. Despite his age, Matthew kept up with her, neither exchanging a word. They didn’t speak anything until both were inside Matthew’s office, the door closed behind them. With emphasis, Meredith slapped her biscuits on his desk, followed by the broken sword.

“Is this…?” Matthew’s fingers stretched out, hovering over the blade but hesitating. “Is there magic in this?”

“More than magic. I think there’s a soul. A human soul,” Meredith said, placing enough emphasis to make sure that Matthew understood. He did, his eyes widening and his fingers trembling. With a swallow, her instructor dashed to a bookshelf, pulling out various old tomes. “When I was at the forge, I could see the souls of the other weapons and objects, but that’s all they were: objects. They have their own souls, but they’re more silent, formless. But this sword…

“There was a moment in the Metropolis when I connected with it. It was more than a formless soul, but a human one. And there was another one that told me its soul had grown weak and needed to be ‘re-forged’, so to speak.”

“And the biscuits?” Matthew asked, flipping through his pages until he settled on a passage.

“There are different flavors in each of them. Just like there are different souls.” Meredith began to pace, unable to stop her movement in her excitement. For a moment, her Soul Vision was turned on without prompting, but she quickly shut it off as she looked out the window, to the swirling orb that was the magic core. “So, I was thinking…what if I could connect to each of them? What if, by my soul connecting to other souls, I can use different magic? Metal magic from a sword, wind magic from a Flight Gem. The possibilities would be endless.”

“That’s possible,” Matthew said. She could tell the caveat was coming, and she turned around to face her instructor. “You do know that would require immense concentration and focus. Perhaps it’s power well beyond what you have at the present.”

“I know.” Meredith tore herself away from the window, and back to the sword. She pointed down at it, bringing Matthew’s attention to it as well. “This sword, though. I don’t think I can use it as it is, and like I said, it’s nothing like the other swords I’ve seen. I can only imagine what kind of secrets are unlocked in its soul, and I need to find out what that is. It called to me and I…what?”

“Called to you?” Matthew asked. His eyes had bugged out of his head, and his hands fumbled for the book he was looking at.

“Yeah, why?” The book slammed in front of her, dust rising from its thick surface. Meredith leaned in, perusing the walls of text that were its contents.

“Meredith, there are only a handful of accounts on these things, but there is one agreed-upon observation,” Matthew said. His hands were running through his hair, looking more excited than she’d ever seen him before. “When a weapon calls to a wielder, that weapon is a Legendary Weapon.”

“One of the seven? You’re saying this sword is…” Meredith’s words trailed off and the name she’d heard spoken came to her lips. “The Earth-Splitter.”

“So, it is…” The awe that tumbled from Matthew’s lips was palpable, and he fell back, slumping into his chair. Meredith took her moment to turn the pages, coming upon murky drawings with smudged and faded ink. “Long before this age in the world there were the seven. Weapons of immense power. No one knows why the number seven was chosen, or even what it entails. They don’t even know the names. In all my years researching them, I only came across three names with certainty: the Earth-Splitter, the Violent Staff and the Bow of Torrents.”

Meredith sat now, mulling it all over in her head. They all sounded familiar. Weapons that called out to a wielder. Weapons made for some elusive purpose. Weapons that had human souls inside them. Her path was becoming clearer. A reason for her magic existed inside those Weapons, and the Earth-Splitter was the one who likely had all the answers. “How did you find out the Violent Staff was one?”

“It refused to be used by just anyone,” Matthew said. He wiped some sweat from his brow, relief upon his face, like a long-wished dream had come to pass. “Some could, but not all. After some research I found its design in a book…a book on family history.”

“Your family?”

“Yes,” Matthew confirmed, nodding. “My ancestors formed the Academy in its fledgling stages. At some point, the Violent Staff became as a family heirloom, but given no one in my family knew Soul Magic, its status was the only thing known, not its purpose. The Bow of Torrents was also said to have passed through a family, though that particular detail is lost to history books.”

“And the Earth-Splitter?” Meredith asked. Her fingers stretched out to touch upon the blade, the dimmed soul not reacting.

“That has been a legend in and of itself. Said to possibly be the first Legendary Weapon in existence, it has passed from hand to hand, in and out of history. Never knew it was broken, though.”

“Hmmm…” Meredith sat back in her chair, slipping deep into contemplation. There was no doubt, now: the Earth-Splitter, the soul inside it, could answer the questions she needed answered. How did she come to have Soul Magic? What was their purpose? How many wielders of Soul Magic had there been throughout history?

How did it connect to the Beastmaster that had caused so much havoc?

Only one question remained, and she immediately put it forth. “Matthew, could the magic forge here remake it?”

Silence.

“I’m unsure.” Her body deflated, grabbing at a biscuit and eating it. “They’ve long studied the Violent Staff, but arrived at no answers. Perhaps the forge to the west could, but…” More silence followed. Eventually, Matthew straightened himself. “Well, I think I’ve found a project for the duration of your stay, Meredith.”

“Project?” she asked, swallowing her biscuit.

“You’re already making strides in magic, and you’ll only get better. Perhaps you’ll be skilled enough to speak with the Violent Staff, even! In the meantime, let’s look together. We’ll search for a way through history on how to remake this blade and get those answers. Maybe we’ll even find more Weapons along the way. With your help and ‘soul’, I think we can.”

Meredith watched her instructor a moment and then her blade. Her own soul was crying out, yearning for answers. There was no other response.

“Yes, let’s.” Pupil and instructor then joined hands, united in purpose. Meredith felt confidence in her body yet again. She had another goal; one that would improve her by leaps and bounds, bringing her closer to her dream. All she needed was time and focus.

As if to remind her of both, a bell rang throughout the campus.

“Ah, that’ll be classes done for the morning,” Matthew pointed out, rustling through his papers. “Why don’t you take a lunch break, then we’ll work on reducing your exhaustion. Your discovery of little souls should help in this immensely. Meet back in an hour.”

“Oh…all right.” Meredith realized that Matthew was already much absorbed in his new research, and she felt it was best to leave him to it. She stood and left the room, strolling absentmindedly through the once-more congested halls. It wasn’t until she noticed A-Class up ahead that she recognized her proximity to the courtyard.

“Yo, Mera! How’d your town excursion go?” Conrad yelled, taking off his glasses in an attempt to look suave.

“Well enough. How was class?” Meredith asked, looking directly at Eddie. Her best friend was flushed and grinning as he waved to her, both Summer and Autumn hanging off his arms with expressions of admiration.

“Eddie’s a natural,” Felix said, emerging from the classroom they’d all been in together. “He’s able to switch from one element to the next without fuss. Most multi-element users would kill for that kind of control.”

“It took me years to master heat and cold,” Summer said. Unlike her sister, she was remaining still, but very much looked to have found a kindred spirit in Eddie.

“I’m not that great. I should probably work on using both simultaneously a lot quicker,” Eddie said. Meredith quirked an eyebrow at him, but had no chance to say anything before Autumn intervened.

“He’s humble, too! Better than Vile Vivian.” Meredith snorted without thinking. “Can’t wait for a Magical Matter class. Then I can show my stuff to help you learn more, Eddie!”

“Looking forward to it.” As Eddie bowed to his new classmates, the topic shifted to lunch and where the class would eat it. Seeing her moment to intervene, Meredith stepped up to Eddie and slapped a hand on his back.

“Looks like someone’s popular.” She received a sheepish expression in response before a moment of silence interceded. A gaggle of students passed by the debating A-Class, and Meredith looked over her shoulder, in the direction of the entrance hall. A great opportunity was before them, if lengthy. Knowing it needed to be addressed, Meredith breathed in through her teeth. “Eddie, what do you say we spend some time here…like a few weeks or a month?”

“A month?! Who are you and what have you done with Mera?” Eddie asked, glaring at her playfully. Meredith slapped him, this time behind his head. “Ow! Okay, okay! Any reason?”

“Just…I think there’s something I need to figure out, and I can only do it here.”

Eddie didn’t share his thoughts right away. She knew he had no problem with staying on principle, but his next question revealed his hesitation. “And the trials? Vivian and Emil aren’t just going to stay still.”

“They can wait.” Eddie stepped back, blinking rapidly. “They’re not going anywhere. And Emil and Vivian? I’m not worried about losing to those two, because if I don’t do this, I’ll be further behind than I ever was.”

“If you’re sure…then yeah, all right…” His response was half-hearted, if excited, but Meredith took it as confirmation, regardless.

After another thought of the project before her, Meredith nodded. Things were becoming clearer, her goals sharper than ever. With a flex of her muscles and a decision made by A-Class, Meredith brought a smile to her face. Her tenure in Lacardia was going to fly by in no time. Feeling confident, Meredith walked on.