163. Binding

The Storm Sovereign unleashed a lightning bolt that tore through the clearing, lighting everything up in a mili-second. Everyone including Kai was blinded for some time. But soon, their shock recovered when the ground shook as a shockwave rippled outward, sending elves scrambling for cover. Some cried out in alarm, while others quickly called upon their spirits in a desperate bid to defend themselves. Kai didn’t hesitate. He threw up his hands, channelling his mana into a massive wall of ice. He needed distance from the Storm Sovereign to do anything at all. The barrier rose swiftly, glittering in the storm’s eerie light. The lightning struck it with a deafening crash, shattering the wall into sharp fragments that rained down like shards of glass. The impact forced Kai back a few steps, his boots dragging against the dirt as he steadied himself. "Get behind me!" he shouted, pushing his mana outward to form another shield. But before he could finish, energy flared around him as the elves began to act. Elders called forth their spirits, summoning power to counter the rampaging deer. From Caelith’s palm emerged a giant hawk-like wind spirit. Its feathers were completely silver, similar to the elder’s hair. Beside him, Flossbor summoned a massive earth spirit, similar to a buffalo, its rocky form shaking the ground with each step. Another elder from behind, who Kai didn’t know the name of, brought forth a storm spirit, a spirit that looked similar to a falcon, its crackling body mirroring the deer’s lightning. “Hold it back!” Elder V’aleirith commanded. The spirits surged forward, their power clashing against the deer spirit. But the creature was relentless. It roared, the sound echoing like thunder, and stomped its hooves. Cracks split the ground, snaking toward the elves. Lightning leapt from its antlers, striking the advancing spirits with deadly precision. Kai spun around and saw Claire frozen in fear, her hands trembling. With a sharp motion, he raised another wall of ice between her and the battle. "Stay down!" he barked. She nodded, pale. She was visibly shivering as she looked at the horror with wide eyes. Turning back to the fight, Kai hurled a volley of fire spells at the deer. Explosions rocked the clearing as fireballs hit their mark, shattering the creature’s mana. But it quickly reformed, shaking off the attacks like they were nothing. The Storm Sovereign’s laughter came mocking. Lightning crackled around its body, lashing out randomly and scorching the ground. “It’s feeding on the mana in the air!” Kai muttered, realization dawning. The creature wasn’t just powerful—it was pulling energy from the dense mana in the air, making it almost impossible to weaken. But Kai wasn’t ready to give up. Not yet. The elder spirits fought eye-to-eye, all of them focused on a different aspect of the Storm Sovereign’s attacks. The wind hawk darted through the air, intercepting the lightning bolts, while the buffalo charged forward, its massive horns slamming into the deer’s legs to disrupt its balance. The falcon mirrored the deer’s own nature, unleashing bursts of lightning that clashed with its opponent’s attacks. But the deer wasn’t done. It roared again, and clouds spilt from its body, climbing into the sky. The atmosphere darkened as the clouds thickened, swirling into a massive storm. "Protect yourselves!" Elder V’aleirith yelled as the first lances of lightning rained down, accompanied by a torrential downpour. Kai gritted his teeth, reinforcing the ice barrier around Claire as lightning struck dangerously close. She crouched down, clutching her knees as the chaos intensified. “Lord Arzan!” she called out, her voice shaking. “I’m so sorry! It’s all my fault. I didn’t mean—” “It’s not your fault,” he said firmly, his eyes locked on hers. “According to the rules of summoning, it wouldn’t have answered your call if it wasn’t interested in making a bond with you. This spirit has anger issues, that’s all. We need to beat it into submission, and it will respect you.” Claire swallowed hard, her trembling hands clutching her knees. “But how can I—” “You can,” Kai interrupted. “When I create an opening, you move in and try to form a bond. I’ll make sure you’re safe, no matter what.” She hesitated, the fear still clear in her eyes, but soon, she nodded. “I’ll try.” Kai inhaled deeply and gave her a quick nod before standing and stepping out from behind the ice wall. His voice rang out above the storm, commanding and unyielding. “I’m going to create a spell to bind it. Distract its attention until I’m ready!” Caelith sneered. “You reckless human! Because of you, we’re facing the wrath of a rare grade three spirit!” Despite his words, he raised his hand, directing his giant hawk spirit to shield the others from the relentless lightning strikes and torrential rain. Flossbor and the other elder with the falcon exchanged a glance before unleashing their offensive attacks. Flossbor’s spirit charged at the deer, its horns still focusing on the spirit’s legs. The falcon coiled through the air, sending extremely sharp gusts slicing toward the deer’s glowing form. Elder V’aleirith stood further back, her fingers drawing patterns in the air as her star spirit hovered above her, its shimmering, celestial form casting a faint glow. Every time it touched the spirits, any damage they had taken healed. Even Gareth and his mercenaries joined the fight. Lightning danced around them as they closed in, their weapons gleaming with the seals Kai ebbed as they struck at the spirit. But no matter how many blows landed, the deer’s form regenerated almost instantly, its haughty laughter echoing through the clearing. Kai clenched his fists, his mind racing as he observed the battle. The elders and mercenaries were giving it their all, but the spirit’s ability to draw mana from the environment made it nearly invincible. But it wasn't as if he knew no spells to control it. A plan began to take shape in his mind, and he retreated to the back, his hands glowing as he began drawing a fourth-circle fire spell. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he chanted, the air around him growing hotter with each passing moment. Flames flickered to life, spiraling into the spell structure he was creating. The mana in the area seemed to shift, drawn toward his spell like a moth to a flame. “Hold it off just a little longer!” Kai shouted in a strained voice. The elders redoubled their efforts, their spirits clashing with the deer, keeping it off from attacking innocent elves who were still around but far, far away. Claire peeked over the ice wall and watched the chaotic scene. The storm sovereign let out another furious wheeze, clouds gathering thicker above it as lightning arced in all directions. Kai gritted his teeth, the spell structure beneath him glowing with fiery intensity. , he thought, his gaze flicking toward Claire. “Be ready,” he murmured. “It’s now or never.” The storm intensified, the deer spirit growing more agitated as Kai’s chanting filled the air. Its roars shook the ground, lightning flashing wildly in response to its anger. The elders struggled to keep it contained, their spirits pushing themselves to the brink. Elder V’aleirith’s voice rang out above the chaos. “Arzan! Hurry, or it might retreat to its plane!” “I’m almost there!” Kai shouted back, sweat dripping down his brow as he poured the last of his focus into the spell. The spell structure flared to life, glowing with an intense white heat. With a final chant, he released the magic, chains of white flames erupting from his palms and streaking toward the deer. The fiery chains wrapped around the deer’s legs, torso, and antlers, locking it in place. It struggled and thrashed, but the chains tightened, forcing it to halt its rampage. Lightning flickered around its body, but the chains absorbed the strikes, glowing even brighter in defiance. “Claire, go now!” Kai shouted. Through the driving rain, Claire hesitated for a moment, her eyes wide as she stared at the bound creature. Its glowing eyes turned to her, filled with disdain and challenge. “You aren’t strong enough to bind me, human,” it said with a wheeze. Claire faltered but quickly steeled herself, her steps slow but deliberate as she moved toward it. “Maybe not right now. But I have the conviction to become stronger. I need to be a Spirit Trainer worthy of your power.” The Storm Sovereign snorted, its form shimmering as it shook against the chains in an attempt to intimidate her. “Conviction?” it mocked and laughed. “Conviction alone won’t take you far. Power is coveted, fragile. It attracts danger. You will die.” Claire stopped in front of it, rain dripping from her hair as she raised her gaze to meet its eyes. “If I die, so be it. I’m prepared for that. Nothing will stop me.” For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath as the two locked eyes, a silent battle of wills. The deer studied her intently, its glowing gaze piercing, as though it could see into the depths of her soul. It tilted its head to sides, while keeping their eyes locked, slowly, another laugh echoed through the clearing. “If your conviction is truly that strong,” it said, “then so be it. I will bind with you.” Claire’s lips curved into a small, hopeful smile, but the spirit wasn’t finished. “But only for one year,” it added.“This is your trial. If I find you unworthy, I will break free of the contract. Show me your conviction, girl. Prove to me you can hold power without faltering.” Claire turned to Kai, her eyes seeking reassurance. He gave her a firm nod. “You can do this,” he said. She faced the spirit again and nodded. “I’m prepared.” The deer spirit let out a low rumble of approval. Slowly, the white chains binding it began to dissolve, the spell releasing its hold. The creature’s form shifted, its mana swirling as it began to shrink. It lowered its head toward Claire, glowing sigils appearing around her wrist as the contract began to take shape. The next few moments stretched and visibly their bond grew. Finally, the storm began to clear, the skies grew calmer. The deer spirit’s voice echoed one last time. “Prove yourself, Claire.” She nodded and placed her hand on her heart, breathing heavily. After all, the whole process wasn’t easy. Her adrenaline must’ve spiked. When the sigils faded, the deer spirit disappeared, its presence now residing within her. Before she could say anything, Kai stepped forward. “Congratulations,” he said. “You are now a Grade 3 Spirit Trainer.” He couldn’t help the pride that swelled his heart. Claire did it. It had taken a lot from her, but she had done it. Claire blinked. “Grade 3?” Kai nodded, folding his arms. “Spirit Trainers are as strong as the level of the spirit they’re bound to. It doesn’t work like a Mage’s progression. Just by forming a bond with a Grade 3 spirit, you’ve gained immense strength. Even if it’s temporary. I believe you’ll prove your worth.” Her eyes filled with gratitude as she turned to him and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Lord Arzan. I know all of this happened because of you. I’m eternally grateful.” Kai simply nodded, his gaze shifting to Elder V’aleirith, who stepped forward. Her voice carried across the clearing, strong and clear. “Everyone, this year’s Rite of Binding has been an overwhelming success! Not only have our young ones forged bonds with rare spirits, thanks to Fatebreaker’s aid, but for the first time in centuries, we have a human Spirit Trainer among us!” She gestured toward Claire with a proud smile. “And one who has bonded with a Grade 3 spirit, no less! This is a momentous occasion, one that deserves to be celebrated. Let us thank the Elder Tree for its blessings and rejoice tonight!” The clearing erupted into cheers, the elves raising their voices in celebration. Spirits danced in the air, their glowing forms adding to the festivity as laughter and joy spread like wildfire. Claire looked around, her cheeks flushed as the weight of her achievement settled in. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Kai giving her a small nod. “Enjoy the celebration,” he said simply before stepping back into the crowd, leaving her to soak in the moment. The night turned lively with music, dancing, and feasting. And for just a little while, Kai felt like he could take a step back from thinking about how to save the world. *** After the celebrations of the Rite of Binding, Kai put Claire in the hands of Flossbor who agreed to teach her the basics of being a Spirit Trainer and turned his attention to a far graver matter—How to save the Elder Tree. It was an ancient anchor of life and magic that connected everything. It wasn’t just the forest’s heart but the wellspring of ambient mana that made spells and cultivation thrive. Without the tree, the mana would stagnate, and dead mana zones would spread like a blight. The implications of its death stretched far beyond the forest, threatening the balance. The elves had poured centuries of wisdom and effort into saving the tree, but their theories and attempts had all failed. If they had found even the smallest success, they would have already acted. The weight of this realization gnawed at Kai as he buried himself in their ancient tomes, searching for something—anything—they might have overlooked. S~eaʀᴄh the Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Days blurred together in a haze of reading and frustration. The ancient script of elven texts, once so captivating, now felt like an endless maze with no way out. Kai’s mind raced as he cross-referenced theories, his fingers tracing over faded diagrams of mana flows and roots. But nothing worked. Each path he explored led to a dead end, another failure to add to the pile of failed attempts by those who came before him. His frustration grew into desperation. The future he had glimpses of offered some reassurance. In the history he knew of, the Elder Tree hadn't died so early. But by now, he knew that his knowledge about historical events was fragmented and unreliable. Could he trust them? Could he afford to? And then, when he had been about to give up, a thought sparked. A small, fragile idea nestled in the back of his mind. It wasn’t anything the elves had documented, nor was it part of the knowledge they shared. No, it was something that came from —his memories, his understanding of arcane knowledge. It felt audacious, borderline impossible. But it was also their only hope. He poured all his time, trying to work on the idea until finally he felt like he had a definite way to do what the elves have failed to do in his previous life. Two days later, Kai stood before the council of elders. Their faces bore the lines of age and worry, their anticipation tangible. He took a steadying breath before speaking. “I’ve thought of a way to save the Elder Tree,” he began. “It isn’t a guarantee, and I can’t promise success. But it’s the only chance we have left.” “What is it?” “Well, actually, there's not one way. I have found two ways through which we can try to save the Elder Tree,” he said and prepared himself for the barrage of questions that was about to come. - Patreon for 15 chaps: /extra26 Discord: invite/nc3hVSCP2n