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

Waking from the Dark

Sin groaned out in a mix of annoyance and pain as he fought against the darkness that was trying its best to keep a hold on his mind and body. Currently, Sin's mind was telling him that he was still under assault by that beast that masquerades as an orc which caused him to start swinging his arms out around him hoping that a stray blow would be able to knock the monster away from him before she was able to tear his throat from his body.

Even though Sin was still shrouded in darkness, he could hear voice blaring at him though he wasn't able to make out the words that the voices were saying. Eventually, Sin felt hands snatch ahold of his arms which were then pinned next too his body.

Now that Sin didn't have control over his appendages; he started struggling even more than he previously was and he may have eventually gained the upper hand on the monster that had pinned him down; this was until he felt a warmth spread throughout his body. Though Sin wasn't sure what the warmth's purpose was; he felt his mind as well as heart start to calm and within moments he was falling back into the black that had been fighting to free himself from.

*

Once more, Sin began to stir though unlike his previous attempt to free himself from the darkness that surrounded him; when his eyes opened to the world, he was no longer plagued by the shadowy world that had taken hold of him. Immediately, Sin was concerned with waking in a location that his mind didn't immediately recognize though after a few moments; Sin's mind was able to calm, and he saw that he was in Kanerra's Infirmary.

The reason that Sin was able to pinpoint the location of where he currently was; was from his time exploring the Academy before classes started. What surprised Sin more than finding himself in the infirmary was that he wasn't alone within this place of healing considering that he felt as if he was facing life's challenges on his own.

Standing around his bed, looking at him with concern quite evident within their eyes were none other than the four individuals within the Academy that have been the kindest to him since his arrival here. Castien, Lucius, Sierra as well as the instructor for the school of Black Magic; Sylris stood before him.

"We are all quite pleased that you have woken from the infection that was running rampant through your body; especially since Kanerra is lacking on Dark Mages and we can't afford to lose any." Sylris spoke out and since they were within the infirmary; the elven Mage kept his voice to a lower volume than he normally would have.

Upon hearing this, Sin allowed a small smile to form upon his lips though the smile started to falter as he pushed himself into a sitting position which caused pain once again to flicker into his back where Bolar had slashed him with her claws. The moment that Sin started acting as if he was in pain again, Sierra rushed forward. "Are you alright Sin? Are you in pain..." Sierra cried out in a slightly louder volume than she should have within the infirmary though since he was the only patient that was here; Sin doubted that it truly mattered at the volume of someone's voice?

"...I am alright Miss. Ranam. Just feeling a slight pain radiating in my back." Sin responded as he had finally fully reached a sitting position within the bed.

Sin could tell that his answer did little to ease the concern that was etched across Sierra's brow which was only proved by the next words that she spoke to the injured male. "You are going to need to be careful during the next few weeks since injuries that are caused by Beast Magic are very difficult to heal with magic; though I did what I could which helped clear the infection from your body much sooner than we expected." Sierra explained to the boy that sitting before her.

Hearing that Sierra had been the one to help clear the infection that was keeping his mind soaked in darkness; Sin assumed that she must have studied in the school of White Magic since he had learned that healers are the result of studying within that discipline. Though like usual, this wasn't the only thing that went through Sin's mind. "Considering that magic is unable to heal the wounds, then it is more likely than not that I will end up having a new set of scars to forever remind me of Bolar." Sin concluded as he decided that it was time to move onto another subject though this one just like the other wasn't anything that anyone really wanted to speak about since they had almost lost Sin.

"Can one of you explain to me how it is that I am still alive and not residing in a cemetery when Bolar was about to rip my throat out? The last thing I remember is a ball of fire streaming towards me..." Sin spoke out as he looked at the group that stood before him though since the two adults wouldn't be able to give him the information that he wished for; Sin's eyes focused on Castien and Lucius since they were within the class with him.

Neither Castien nor Lucius looked as if they wished to speak about what they had witnessed though thankfully; Lucius soon gathered the courage to do so. "Just when Bolar was about to end your life, Mr. Cusha flung a fireball at her which allowed both Castien and I too reach you before she was able to recover from the heatwave that she was bathed in." Lucius explained and the words that he used were ones that made no sense to Sin.

After a few moments of running scenarios through his mind, Sin was able to find a reason that Sten would have intervened. "I guess that it wouldn't do well for his teaching career to allow another student to murder another within the middle of class." Sin muttered out as he flung his legs over the bed. The moment he did so, Sierra and his two classmates rushed to intervene though before they were able to force him back in bed; Sin's voice echoed out around them once more. "I would like to go back to my room and if any of you wish to help me get there than I will welcome that though if you plan on stopping me; then I will just go on my own!" Sin informed the three beings that had moved to stop his movements.

Seeing that there wasn't a hint of deception within Sin's eyes and fearing what could happen to him if he make the journey on his own; they decided that they would have to relent and bring him back to his dorm.