𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐥
Albero has been taking 『lessons』 from Damocles for three days now.
Having been roughly handled and embedded into the wall, Albero crawls out and says,
ㅤ
“Thank you, very. . . . . .much.”
“Haha! Only three days, but your movement has improved! If you follow my teachings, the path to becoming the strongest is near!”
“. . . . . .Heh.”
ㅤ
Damocles was more Spartan than Albero had imagined.
Firstly, 80% of the training was real combat with the Summoned beast, Titan, and the remaining 20% was physical technique instruction.
Moreover, Titan would demonstrate these physical techniques personally. . . . . .meaning, it was almost entirely real combat with Titan.
Albero wasn’t eager to get used to battling one of the most powerful Summoned beasts, Titan.
Albero dusts off his uniform, which is full of splinters.
ㅤ
“You’re doing it.”
“Ah, Garnet! Listen. Albero’s doing quite well!”
“You’re too loud. And stop destroying the school building. Because you keep slamming Albero into it, they can’t start repairing it.”
“Sorry, sorry!!”
ㅤ
Damocles’ loud voice was clearly heard by the carpenters. Albero feels a bit sorry for the carpenters who can only give a wry smile.
Lapis, who was near Garnet, approaches Albero.
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“Are you alright?”
“Yeah. When I activate my Summoned beast, I seem to become more resilient. I was slammed into a huge rock before but wasn’t injured.”
“I, I see. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Lapis tried to wipe Albero’s face with a handkerchief, but Albero gently refused. . . . . .having a classmate do that was a bit embarrassing.
So, he decided to change the topic.
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“By the way, Teacher Garnet, do you have some business?”
“I don’t have anything for you. From today, Lapis will also start combat training using her Summoned beast. Come on, Lapis.”
“Yes, grandmother.”
ㅤ
When Lapis gently waved her hand over the ground, a cold white mist rose.
Then, next to Lapis, a beast appeared. . . . . .a massive 『blue wolf』.
It wasn’t just blue; it was a shade close to light blue or pale aqua.
Lapis gently strokes its beautiful fur and caresses the tip of the wolf’s nose.
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“『Marcosias』 . . . . . .I’m sorry for not being able to summon you often.”
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Lapis looked apologetic, but the wolf named Marcosias narrowed its eyes and snuggled up to her.
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“Wow. . . . . .it’s so magnificent and beautiful!”
“Marcosias. A high-ranking Summoned beast that governs 『ice』. However, its immense power and Lapis’ illness make it hard to summon often. It’s a high-ranking beast but not one that can be used frequently.”
“Oh, what’s this illness of Lapis you mentioned?”
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Albero asked Garnet.
Garnet stared intently at Albero before exhaling.
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“. . . . . .Physically, she’s perfectly healthy, but she has a unique constitution where she absorbs the 『life force』 emitted by Summoned beasts from birth. It’s eating away at her body. She won’t face any problems in daily life if she doesn’t summon the beast. . . . . .but that’s not a viable option, right?”
“. . . . . .The Duke family, you say?”
“Exactly. Her Marcosias is A-class. . . . . .no, it wouldn’t be surprising if it reached special A-class in the future. However, due to her unique constitution, she can’t summon the beast satisfactorily and has lived carrying the weight of others’ expectations. If she pushes herself too hard, who knows what will happen…”
“Is there a treatment. . . . . .?”
“. . . . . .All you can do is expel the accumulated 『life force』 from the body.”
“. . . . . .”
ㅤ
In other words, a complete recovery is difficult in the current situation.
Suddenly, Albero’s right arm began to throb intensely.
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“Ugh. . . . . .?! W, What’s happening?. . . . . .Mog?”
“Hmm, what’s wrong?”
“No, it’s just my right arm. . . . . .what? What’s happening?”
ㅤ
His right arm began to move on its own.
His right hand changed, Albero’s form transformed, and the moment his right eye changed color, his world shifted.
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“Gah?! . . . . . .What is this. . . . . .?”
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Only the vision in his right eye altered.
The world turned sepia-toned, but only the people retained their original colors.
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“What’s the matter? Hey, what are you doing?”
“Huh? Aren’t you training or something?”
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There’s a light shining in Garnet, Damocles’ heart. And one could see through their body, tiny thread-like things racing throughout.
The sudden turn of events almost made Albero lose his mind.
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“Hey?. . . . . .Albero, what’s wrong?”
“Ah, um━━”
“You look distressed. Are you injured somewhere?”
“. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Lapis seemed to be in a similar state. . . . . .but different from Garnet and Damocles.
Threads ran throughout their body just like the others, but compared to the two, the number of threads was more than double. Moreover, threads were extending outside the body, absorbing something like a black haze from the monochrome world.
And near the heart, the haze concentrated on a light. . . . . .which was flickering.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Could it be?”
『You. . . . . .can you see?』
“Huh. . . . . .?”
ㅤ
The Summoned beast 『Marcosias』 behind Lapis spoke.
Am I losing my sanity?
ㅤ
『That eye, that right arm. . . . . .could it be? Well, it doesn’t matter. You, with that arm, cut the 『meridian thread』 outside Lapis’ body. With your right arm, you should be able to.』
“What?. . . . . .No, wait.”
『Just do it!! If you overuse that eye, your mind will shatter. 『Dark Eye Barol』 was the eye possessed by that person. You, being human, can’t overuse it for long.』
“Um. . . . . .okay.”
ㅤ
Albero reached out to Lapis.
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“Huh?. . . . . .What are you doing, Albero?”
“Stay still. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Albero grabbed the so-called 『meridian thread』 as Marcosias mentioned and tore it off.
To Garnet and the others, it merely looked like Albero was reaching around Lapis and doing something with his right arm. But the world Albero saw was different.
ㅤ
“I did it. Is this okay?”
『Yes, well done. . . . . .Now she’s safe. I’m relieved.』
“What’s with this eye. . . . . .and this arm? Mog is. . . . . .Jabberwock?”
『Don’t worry. That person trusts you. And don’t overuse that eye. . . . . . it’ll shorten your life.』
“Wha…?!”
ㅤ
The moment he felt a sharp headache, both his eye and right arm returned to their original state.
And then───Albero collapsed.
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“A, Albero?! Are you alright?!”
“Tch. . . . . .Damocles, carry him.”
“Hmm? Did I push him too hard in training. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Hearing those voices───Albero lost consciousness.
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