The Summoner's Mark (First Draft) (Book One)

Emotional Turmoil

Now that Sin had nothing keeping him from exploring the new environment that surrounded him, he made his way from Sierra's office and towards the exit of the Academy and as he was doing this; he was quite thankful that he had learned how to reenter the building on his first and hopefully only encounter with Sten.

From his meeting with Sierra, Sin was able to learn that he was needing to procure items for his studies at Kanerra and even though he had almost two full weeks before classes start; he didn't want to push off collecting the items to the last moment. Determining that shopping for what he needed would be his first place he goes within this new city; Sin started making his way from the Academy gates and out into the city to search for any sort of area that was designed to hold stores.

Just like he had done when he first arrived in Athesa, Sin started to look for any signs that could point him in the right direction though at first, he didn't find any, so he ended up trekking around the area he was in like a lost lamb. Thankfully, Sin was eventually able to sight a sign that pointed him towards the Athesa Markets though he was unsure how long he would have to walk before he arrived in that area.

Due to this, Sin was extremely focused on looking out for more signs which is what caused him not to pay attention to others who were heading in the same direction which would soon prove to be quite an event.

A few moments into trekking his way down the path that the first sign he noticed brought him onto, Sin collided with another which sent both himself and the stranger sprawling onto the ground.

"Damnit! Can you watch where you are going?" a male voice snarled out as Sin laid upon the ground and though the voice sounded as if it was slightly familiar; Sin wasn't quite for sure where he had heard the voice before.

From the collision with both the stranger as well as the ground; Sin was feeling pain radiating in both his chest and back and though he wished to lay upon the ground for a moment longer so he could recuperate, he didn't know if this would be a wise use of his time since he still wasn't sure on the hours that the shops within Athesa held and if he missed them today then he would have to make the trip once again tomorrow.

Considering the thoughts that were rummaging through his mind, Sin started to push himself from the ground which allowed him to start to shake from sighting the crimson hair that was alight with flame due to the sun's rays that descended upon the other male. "Castien!" Sin cried to himself as he felt embarrassment spread throughout his body for the second time that day. "How could I be that much of a fool that I crashed directly into him? Is this going to cause Castien to despise me like all the others?" Sin contemplated as he felt fear ripple through him that he could have possibly ruined something with the handsome elf before him; before anything was even able to start.

Wanting to get a chance to apologize to the elf before he vanished, Sin rushed to his feet and as soon as he did; his voice began to tumble around them. "Castien, I am quite sorry for running into you. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings all that well since I was hunting for the signs that would lead me to the market." Sin explained as he patted at his clothes to try and make them less tattered in front of the other male that he was finding himself quite attracted to.

Upon hearing his name, Castien turned to look at Sin and it was clear that the half-breed wasn't someone that Castien recognized. "Do I know you?" Castien inquired as he stopped his movement mid-step.

Feeling slightly downtrodden that he could be forgettable to the crimson haired elf, Sin almost decided that he was going to turn back and seek refugee in his dorm room though due to an unknown voice telling him that he needed to push past this feeling; Sin decided that he would respond to the other male. When Sin gathered the courage that he needed to do so, his voice flitted out around him. "My name is Sin Estiri. We were accepted in the Kanerra, Academy for the Arcane together." Sin explained to the other male in hopes that he would become more rememberable the next time that they met.

Once hearing Sin's name, recognition flickered into his eyes as a match was lit around inside Castien's brain that stored memories of those around him. "I remember you now. You are the half-breed that frightened everyone within the class that no one wished to stay in the same dorm as you." Castien responded and though they might not have sounded as harsh to those who were passing by; to Sin it felt as if Castien was slamming a dagger directly into his chest which once again made Sin's hand reach for the blade hidden within the small of his back in a way to comfort the young male.

Now in Sin's mind it seemed as if he must have caused the same fear to spiral through Castien when they were performing the Academy tests and now that he believed that there was no hope in believing that Castien and himself could be anything other than classmates; Sin felt that it would be best if he disappeared from the elf's sight and was just about to do this when Castien's voice echoed through the area once more.

"Since I am heading in the same direction as you, then you can follow me to the market in hopes that no one else has to be rammed so early in the afternoon." Castien informed Sin before turning from the other male and walking once more.

Even though Sin was fighting with the mine field that was known as his emotions, he dogged after Castien since he was wishing that to procure the items that he would need for his studies and maybe, just maybe fix what he thought was already burnt to ash between them.

*

By the time that Sin had finished with his shopping thanks to the vouchers that Sierra had given him, the sun was just starting its downfall in the vastness that was the sky. Even though Sin was hopeful that Castien would spend time with him as he shopped, this was something that Sin was quite disappointed that this isn't what transpired since Castien vanished from sight shortly after they arrived at the market.

Now that he was able to accomplish one of the goals that he had in place before starting classes; Sin was within his dorm organizing the items that he had purchased and though it wasn't a lot since he didn't want to blow through the entire voucher amount that he was given; he felt that he had at least had enough to give him an edge when it came to studying.

When Sin was at the market, he had visited a bookstore which had allowed him to be able to buy the first volume of each magic type that is taught within institutes like the one that he was about to be learning at. Taking these books out of the bag, Sin brought each volume over to the bookshelf that was within the room that he had chosen to be his domain. After placing each volume upon the shelf, Sin could see that there was room for more than the five tomes that he had purchased which made him feel the urge to go out and purchase more so he could fully fill the bookshelf.

With nothing else to place upon the shelf, Sin moved away so he could put the few remaining items where they needed to go. Grabbing the clothing that he had bought which had taken up a lot of the voucher amount; Sin brought it to the wardrobe that was placed inside the room.

Now that Sin had placed everything where it needed to be, he felt as if he were ready for classes to begin besides the overwhelming fear that his teachers all would be like Sten and try their best to end his life. Knowing that thinking about his fear would only make things worse; Sin felt that it was time to head to bed in hopes that a good night's sleep would calm his mind.