Soulwielder Book Two: Corruption

The Art of Soulcasting

I started to descend from the sky as I neared the Soulwielder Corporation. Transporters surrounded the massive building that took anyone to the four other realms with the swipe of a card.

The bronze building reflected sunlight and was a sight to behold. Even in such an architecturally beautiful city, something about the corporation always stunned Avian.

He entered the building and Soulwielders, Government Officials, and all kinds of other people were bustling about in the building.

Lily was working up at the front desk and Avian strolled across the marble floor over to her. "Heya Lily!"

My friend waved to me and her oversized glasses fell down her nose. "Heya Avian! I heard you caught the crooks! Good work!"

Lily and I had become good friends over the last six months. We were the only people around the other's age and fortunately, our personalities meshed well.

I had finally grown to be about as tall as her and when I turned 14 two months ago she wasn't able to tease me as much about how much older she was.

I gave her a thumbs up. "No sweat, it was easy," I recalled what I was going to ask her. "Any word on where I'm getting assigned?"

"Beats me," Lily said with a shrug. "You keep forgetting I'm just a secretary so I know as much as you know."

I looked around. "Either way, I'm excited to finally get to go somewhere instead of being stuck dealing with minor crimes every day. Especially when my suspension was ridiculous anyway, I'll take anything."

I was still irritated about being suspended for stopping a murderous enemy general who was coordinating monster attacks on vulnerable areas.

At first, it was fun, but a month in I began to get incredibly antsy and tired of what must've been the most boring Soulwielder assignment in the world.

At the very least, I had Seltzer training me and helping advance my Soulwielding. Which reminded me. "I've got to get to my lesson with Seltzer, it'll be my last one before my suspension ends," I told Lily.

"Alright, have fun." She said semi-distantly. I wanted to ask what was wrong but didn't have any time to.

I ran through the halls and to the training room that Seltzer and I used for our lessons. I pushed open the door to the room and the man was already inside, waiting for me.

Seltzer gestured me over and smiled warmly. "Avian! Right on time for our final lesson!" I stepped further into the room.

The training room had a dummy set up for practicing attacks on and the entire room was made up of white tiles that seemed resistant to any type of magical damage.

"What'll we be learning today, Mr. Seltzer?" I asked.

Seltzer gestured to my staff. "I've explained to you before how to create your own spells, but today I want you to do it."

I wasn't too unnerved by the proposition. Soulwielding had come naturally to me and I had come up with plenty of spells during my first Expedition but after one lesson with Seltzer, I found my approach to all of it was completely wrong.

My spells weren't nearly as effective or powerful as they could've been and I had spent months honing my form and learning how to properly Soulcast.

"This will be an interesting test, Mr. Avian." Unity chimed in. "Remember what we've studied."

I didn't respond to her as nobody else seemed to be able to hear her and I didn't want to get locked in a looney bin. "Alright, I'm ready."

Seltzer smiled and pointed his staff at the dummy. "Soulwielding is all about the mind. Wield the energy from the soul you draw power from, focus it, shape it, and you can create anything. Our ability to Soulwield is a gift but to master it requires great focus."