Heat and Soul: A Soul Eater Love Story (xKid)

~Chapter Four~

“I’ll infiltrate Shibusen and help you punish the person who wronged you,” I declare, “Teach me the spell. I’m ready!”

Auntie Io leads me into the basement. I notice that there are jars of strange things lining the shelves. I ignore them. Iodama draws a complex circle with markings all over it on the floor using charcoal and leads me onto it.

“Stand here and close your eyes. Imagine yourself with waves radiating off of you. When you’re ready, nod your head; don’t speak yet.”

I do as I am told, envisioning purplish-red waves expanding onto a black background. When the image is clear in my mind, I nod.

“Good. Now, imagine a bubble- not a 2D circle, but a 3D bubble- around yourself, holding those waves in. When you’ve done that, speak the following loudly and clearly: Soul Protection, on!”

“Soul Protection, on!”

Instantly, a tingle runs across all of my body. Startled, I open my eyes and stumble back, smudging the circle. Auntie Io merely picks up the charcoal and redraws the part I’ve ruined.

“Pretty good for a first try. Do it again, but don’t panic this time. Try to relax.”

I take a deep, calming breath and slowly let it out. Then, I close my eyes and reform the image: myself, the waves, and the bubble.

“Soul Protection, on!”

The tingle returns, running up and down all my limbs and circling around my torso. I squeeze my eyes shut tighter and keep the image. The tingle becomes a slight burning feeling. My breath hitches and I lose the image. The feeling disappears.

I open my eyes, “I’m sorry, Auntie Io. I can’t do it right.”

“Nonsense,” she smiles gently at me, “You’re doing well. Spells are hard to learn. No matter how powerful a witch I may be, I still have to practice with new spells before I can use them. You actually seem to have a talent for this. Try one more time?”

I nod and repeat the process, holding my focus even when the burning feeling returns. It slowly intensifies then relaxes into a pins-and-needles feeling all over my body. It’s uncomfortable. I shudder.

“Good, that’s it!” Auntie Io cheers. “Hold it as long as you can. When you don’t think you can take it anymore, envision that bubble expanding past your field of vision and fading away and say ‘Soul Protection, off!’ That will release it.”

My legs are already starting to shake and my head is pounding, but I wait until I feel dizzy before obeying.

“S-Soul Protection… Off!”

The feeling dissipates once more. I breathe a sigh of relief and slump my shoulders. I feel tired; I want to go to bed. I open my eyes to see Iodama simply beaming at me.

“See? I knew you could do it! But you should rest now. We’ll try again tomorrow, okay? Sleep well!”

I stumble wordlessly up the stairs, shuffle into my room, and fall on the bed without bothering to change clothes or brush my teeth. I fall asleep from exhaustion almost instantly. My sleep is unusually dream-free.

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“Are you okay? You look tired…”

I stretch and crack my back, “No, I’m okay, Daemon. I just wore myself out yesterday and I’m paying for it now.”

We’ve gone out for lunch as promised, but I’m still sore from practicing that spell last night. My head feels clogged, like congestion from a cold and an ear infection at the same time.

“What did you do that took it out of you like this?”

I take a bite of lunch and chew slowly while I decide what to tell him.

“I was learning magic spells,” I was aiming at sarcastic, but I missed by a mile.

Daemon freezes and gives me a hard look. I wave a hand feebly at him.

“That was a joke… It just didn’t sound like it ‘cause I’m so friggin’ tired…”

He rubs my back, “Are you sure you’re okay? We don’t have to stay out.”

I shake my head, “The sooner I go home, the sooner I have to start again.”

“Start what again?” he frowns.

“Magic lessons, remember?”

I give him a ridiculously exaggerated wink to make it seem more sarcastic this time. He sighs.

“I feel bad, keeping you here when you’re dog tired.”

I nibble at my salad, “It’s fine, really. The break is nice. We should make this a regular thing.”

He stares at me as if trying to read into my words, “Are you saying that out of delirium or is it an actual wish?”

“It’s an actual wish,” I bump him with my shoulder. “You aren’t that horrible.”

“Whaddya’ mean, not that horrible?”

I flick a piece of carrot at him; it hits him in the chest and bounces to the ground.

“My humor is completely flat while I’m tired, huh? Note to self…”

He picks up my piece of carrot and frowns at me again.

I point my fork at him, “Don’t give me that look, buster. I am funny any other day and you know it.”

I finish my salad and before I know it, we’re saying goodbye again. My hug isn’t as tight due to my fatigue. I return to Auntie Io’s house and go straight to the basement. She told me this morning that I’ll eventually be able to do this for long stretches of time, and the more I practice, the easier it will get. I wonder how long it will take to get to the level she’s at. She told me that she constantly has Soul Protection on, and she doesn’t need a circle to replace it. I shake the thoughts out of my mind and focus.