The Extra's Reincarnation-Chapter 153: Summoning And Taming Arts (3)

The landing was nothing short of spectacular.

The Silver-Crested Imperial Talon's massive wings created powerful downdrafts as it descended, forcing many students to shield their eyes against the swirling grass and dust.

The rider guided the enormous creature to land just thirty feet from our group, its talons digging into the earth with surprising gentleness for a beast of its size.

I nervously chuckled to myself, glancing around at the assembled students.

No Kaelen, but practically every royal or noble first-year was present.

This wasn't coincidence, after all the specialized classes like this were often stacked with influential students.

Politics extended everywhere, even into course scheduling.

The rider dismounted with fluid grace, sliding from the Talon's back and landing lightly on the grass.

She was tall and striking, with fiery red hair cascading down her back in waves that caught the sunlight.

When she turned to face us, I noticed her eyes—a vivid orange that seemed to glow with inner fire.

"Good morning, students," she called, her voice carrying effortlessly across the field.

"I am Professor Vivienne Sinclair, and I will be instructing you in Summoning and Taming Arts this term."

The Silver-Crested Imperial Talon folded its wings and settled behind her, its intelligent eyes surveying our class with evident curiosity.

"This," Professor Sinclair gestured to the magnificent creature, "is Declan, my bonded familiar. He is a Silver-Crested Imperial Talon, one of fewer than fifty remaining in the world."

Several students gasped or murmured appreciatively. Even Aziel, normally unimpressed by anything, was staring with fascination.

"Today's lesson, may surprise you. We will not be focusing on taming techniques or familiar bonds as you might expect."

"Instead, we will explore something more fundamental—your innate connection to the spirit world."

Ezekiel nudged my side. "Spirit world? That wasn't in the syllabus."

I shushed him, focusing on the professor's words.

"Each of you, will be venturing into the grasslands to find and connect with a spirit manifestation orb. These orbs are physical representations of your spiritual affinity—the essence that resonates most strongly with your inner nature."

From a leather pouch at her belt, Professor Sinclair withdrew a sphere approximately the size of an apple. It pulsed with a brilliant purple light, casting violet shadows across her face.

"This is my own manifestation orb, which I discovered during my first year at the academy. The color indicates its rarity and power."

"The orbs you'll be seeking today come in five distinct colors. Each color represents a different level of rarity and potential."

She held up her free hand, extending one finger at a time as she listed them off.

"Grey orbs are common, found by approximately seventy percent of students. Green orbs are uncommon, discovered by perhaps twenty percent. Blue orbs are genuinely rare—only about eight percent of mages ever connect with one."

Professor Sinclair paused, holding up her own orb so that its violet light cast strange shadows across her face.

"Purple orbs, like mine, are extremely rare. Less than two percent of all mages across the continent possess one."

The students whispered excitedly amongst themselves.

"And the fifth color?" a boy with blonde hair stepped up asking with a smirk on his face.

Professor Sinclair smiled—a sharp, knowing expression.

"Golden orbs are legendary. In the entire recorded history of Aethel Academy, only three students have ever manifested one."

The whispering intensified. I could hear Aziel murmuring something about her family archives mentioning a distant ancestor who'd possessed such an orb.

"These orbs, aren't mere status symbols. They serve as anchors—connection points between you and whatever spirit eventually chooses to bond with you."

She gestured, and her purple orb floated upward, hovering above her palm.

"Once you find your orb and learn to control it, it becomes a constant companion. The spirit that eventually chooses to bond with you will reside within it, allowing you to summon them at will."

Declan, the massive Talon, made a soft chirping sound. Professor Sinclair reached back to stroke his feathered neck without looking. freēnovelkiss.com

"Declan's essence resides within my orb when he's not physically manifested. It's a bond that transcends mere summoning—it's a partnership that has lasted for over fifteen years now."

-This could be problematic.

I frowned slightly. Having a spirit constantly with me would make maintaining my façade significantly more difficult.

Spirits were perceptive, often seeing beyond physical appearances to the essence of their summoner.

A powerful one might even sense Vykekard's presence.

"Now, for something that may surprise you," Professor Sinclair's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"This training ground is not a generated pocket dimension like most of our practice areas."

"We are actually standing on the Whispering Isle, one of the oldest territories owned by Aethel Academy,"

"This island lies at the far eastern coast of the Aethel continent, where the magical currents from the Eterna Sea converge with mainland energies."

"The academy has maintained this sanctuary since its founding over many centuries ago," she explained, running her fingers through Declan's silver-crested feathers.

"What makes this place unique is its extraordinary capacity to attract spirits of all classifications and powers."

Ezekiel leaned closer to me.

"Did you know about this place?" he whispered.

I gave a slight shake of my head, genuinely surprised.

The Whispering Isle hadn't been mentioned in any of the academy literature I'd studied—or in the novel I remembered from my previous life.

This was new information, which made me both curious and cautious.

"I tell you this not to excite you, but to prepare you. There have been instances—rare but documented—where legendary spirits have manifested on these grounds, seeking worthy successors among particularly gifted students."

"A legendary spirit?" a voice carried across the group, and it was the same blonde boy who now had the aristocratic tone unable to disguise his eagerness.

"Like the Aspect Of Eurus that bonded with the Grand Wind Mage Avila?"

Professor Sinclair nodded.

"Precisely. Though I should temper your expectations—such occurrences happen perhaps once in a generation, if that."

I frowned slightly. This was beginning to sound suspiciously like a plot hook—the kind of extraordinary circumstance that typically surrounded protagonists like Kaelen or Francine.

Yet neither was present. Instead, the class consisted primarily of secondary characters and nobles.

Professor Sinclair cleared her throat, bringing our attention back to the task at hand.

"Now, for today's assignment. Each of you will venture alone into either the grasslands or the forest surrounding us. Your objective is simple - find your spirit manifestation orb."