The Summoner's Vendetta (First Draft) (Book Two)

A Shadow of his Former Self

He used to be so full of life though as the last month passed, he began to isolate himself from those that surrounded him. Friendships that he had worked so hard to obtain became something that he barely thought of as he makes his way through the halls of Kanerra and though those who were connected to him through these friendships tried to pull him through the darkness that had shrouded his life; with each rejection that he gave them, they too began to pull away from him.

While it could be understandable to those who weren't inside of Sin's head, the distance between those who he once called friends; only added to the betrayal that was festering inside of him.

On one such occasion, as Sin was making his way towards the Arena; a group of older students who were getting ready to leave decided that they would put their own input into the horror that Sin had endured. After this last month, Sin would have chosen to ignore the comments; this was made impossible upon hearing one of the names that fell out around the group.

"Can you believe that the mutt has cost us not only our Battle-Master, but two of the first-year students..." the voice of an older female student muttered out.

If this were where they decided to stop their words, Sin would have continued passed them considering that he wasn't the biggest fan of the three that this student had commented on. Since this wasn't the path that fate had in store for him, a furious storm began to brew within the depths of his soul.

"...not only that, but he also managed to drive the boy he loved to betray him though Nohki vanished along with the others before the mongrel was able to get his vengeance upon them. How pathetic is that?" another female voice cackled.

By this point in time, the group of older students noticed Sin's arrival and while a few of them returned the glare that he gave them; most reddened from embarrassment at being caught speaking ill of him.

Immediately, Sin reached for the bond that he shared with his Familiars and since Inari was the only one that was currently called out into this world; the Kitsune was the one who answered the call that his Summoner gave him. With this, Inari shimmied up to Sin's shoulder and began to snarl at those who caused the fury that was rolling throughout his Summoner's body.

Upon reaching for the bond, Sin began to shift a portion of the elemental energy that was stored within the Kitsune's body into his own. As the frost slid throughout his body, he allowed it to mix with his rage and while most would have thought that this would have cold down the anger that was raging within him; this was not the case.

While these students might not be familiar with the spells that are used within the discipline of Black Magic, they did however know how to spot a spell being used especially considering that Sin's eyes were now the color of freshly fallen snow. Most present thought that it would be beneficial of them to put as much distance between themselves and Sin especially since they have heard the whispers of how he had killed a full-fledged Mage during the battle for the village of Caso.

As these students fled from him, those who thought that they could handle anything that Sin threw at them; started bringing out their own mana to defend themselves.

One student who had decided to stay and fight stepped forward and whether they were filled with bravery or ignorance, their voice soon fluttered around them. "If a fight is what you want then we will gladly fight you and that little monster of yours..." a male voice snarled.

Though it seemed that this boy had more to say, he was unable to do so when Sin flung out a shard of ice that would have surely ended this boy's life if it wasn't for the sudden appearance of a sword that deflected the shard towards the ground.

Anger once more flared within him as he watched the sword deflect his attack away from its target. Instantly, another shard began to form within his hand though this time around his anger was directed towards the stranger who had decided that intervening in this matter would be wise of them.

Even as his eyes were moving towards the newcomer, Sin was preparing to fling the shard at them and as his arm was readying send the shard blasting towards the individual; another voice came barreling throughout the area.

"Lord Remir! I have been looking everywhere for you. You were supposed to meet me within my office before taking on your new duties as Battle-Master..." the familiar voice of the Grand Magus cried out and as he came upon those that were gathered around the man he was speaking to, he cut his words off when he noticed that every student that was gathered had their mana spilling out into the world around them. "...what is the meaning of this?"

Upon hearing the tone within the Grand Magus's voice, the older students turned a shade of red as they allowed their bodies to absorb the mana that they had forced out. When none of the students present immediately gave the Grand Magus the answers that he was wishing for, the older Mage became visibly irritated which only caused the older students to become a darker shade of crimson as their embarrassment furthered.

Seeing at how none of the others were going to give an explanation on what was transpiring, Sin turned towards the Grand Magus to do just that though before he was able to spill out any of the words that were on the tip of his tongue; the man known as Lord Remir started speaking.

"Grand Magus. I know that I was supposed to meet you within your office, but I wished to meet the students that I retired from the army to teach..." Lord Remir called out as he stepped forward and from the way that he placed himself between the Grand Magus and the students; it looked as if he was trying to guard them from the fury that was etched upon the Grand Magus's expression. "...plus, from the looks of it, these students are in need of getting their pent-up aggression out and considering that I am already here; that will be my first priority and after, I will meet you in your office."

Even though the Grand Magus was the individual who controlled the school, something about how he interacts with Lord Remir told Sin as well as the other students that their new Battle-Master was someone of great importance in this world.

With nothing left to say between them, both the Grand Magus and Lord Remir turned away from each other and made their ways towards their destinations.

No longer feeling the wish to skewer the students who had so rudely brought up the greatest betrayal that he has ever endured, Sin allowed the elemental energy that he pushed into the to shard to dissipate as he followed Lord Remir through the main gates of the Arena.

*

Even though Lord Remir seemed different than their previous Battle-Master, there were some aspects of the two men that seemed the same. One such aspect was that had a powerful aura that caused all around them to listen intently to the words that fell out of them. As soon as Sin and Lord Remir came through the gates of the Arena, the first years that were already gathered immediately fell into the lines that they were used to doing with their previous Battle-Master.

Knowing that Lord Remir would expect him to do the same, Sin made his own way towards the lines that the first years had formed into and once he did so; Lord Remir started speaking.

"My name is Lord Ruben Remir and I expect you to address me as either Lord Remir or Battle-Master Remir..." the man called out as he looked upon the students that were gathered before him. While his voice was stern, so far, he hadn't given Sin any cause to think that he was going to be as cruel as their last teacher. "...since this is my first day within the Academy as your Battle-Master, I am going to pair each of you up too review what you know and learn which aspects that I will need to help you get a better grasp on."

Once Lord Remir finished with his explanation of who he was and how their first class together would go, he motioned towards two of the students that were before him and as both made their way towards the pit where they practice their bouts together; Sin noticed that the students that Lord Remir called out were none other than Castien and Enmoria.