They say you’re wilting,” I said.
“Yes, that’s right. I am fading. I will never again resurrect.”
“Does that mean your lore has ceased to exist?”
A gentle chuckle echoed through the forest. “It seems there is something I can teach you besides the ways of war,” Migelonov said happily. “If a rumor or legend comes to an end, the spirit born from that lore will pass away. But one more situation can result in a spirit’s death: when that spirit turns against their own lore.”
Spirits lived according to the rumors and legends from which they were born. Just like how Gennul was the Wolf of Hiding and Ennunien was the Great Tree of Learning, all spirits lived their lives accordingly.
“As the Great War Tree, I am the spirit who imparts knowledge for humans to survive the Great War. In other words, knowledge to defeat demons. But instead, I gave a demon, the Demon King of Tyranny, my assistance. I used my wisdom to come up with a way for demons and humans to coexist in peace.”
Migelonov, a spirit born to defeat demonkind, had gone against her lore by assisting them.
[…]
“I’m afraid I cannot allow you to bring harm to the child of the Mother of Spirits,” he replied in his hoarse voice. “You shall all remain here in Aharthern.”
I attempted to cast Gatom but found myself unable to connect to any other space.
“Unfortunately, there is no way out of the remedial cocoon. It is my last resort for failing students who refuse to study. You cannot leave without completing supplementary lessons.”
All spirits were allies of the Great Spirit Reno. It was only natural for them to take the side of her child, Avos Dilhevia, as well.
“I understand how you feel, but that doesn’t mean I shall comply.”
I drew a magic circle in front of me and poured my magic into it. A black sun soared out of the circle and struck the wall of the cocoon.
“It’s no use. Violence is not permitted within this cocoon of learning.”
Sure enough, the wall was slightly charred but had taken no significant damage.
“Oh? But this isn’t the extent of my brutality.”
I drew another magic circle, this time forming one hundred shots of Jio Graze. The jet-black suns struck the exact same spot on the wall with a single deafening boom, fiercely shaking the cocoon.
“I said it’s no use!” Ennunien called. “Using force is pointless!”
Black flames rose with a mighty roar, consuming the entire cocoon.
“What?!”
The bursts of Jio Grazes had broken through the wall, leaving behind a huge hole.
“You power may be great when it comes to education—so great as to trap even those with more magic than you,” I said. New branches reached out to cover the hole, but the black flames spread to consume those as well. The exit was growing wider before our eyes. “But understand this, Ennunien: forcing a passing student to take supplementary lessons isn’t education—it’s corporal punishment. And in a match of violence, I won’t lose.”
“Urgh...”
With that, I’d turned his own legend against him. Even for the sake of the Great Spirit Reno, spirits couldn’t act against their own lore. As Ennunien faltered, I stepped past the now unmoving branches.
