Echoes of the Lost Elf

Friday (Finally!!!)

Historias' POV

Damn it.

I quickened my pace through the academy halls, my boots barely making a sound against the polished marble floor. It wasn't my fault that I had lost track of time. The academy library was just too engrossing, and I might have spent a little longer than intended skimming through an old book on mana theory.

Okay. Maybe a lot longer.

By the time I realized what time it was, most of the students had already made their way to class. I had two choices—walk in fashionably late or use a teleportation spell ( finally figured out how to get past the wards without making anyone think that the academy was under an attack) to get there immediately. The former was tempting, but it would be too much of a hassle to explain myself.

So, with a flick of my wrist, I invoked a silent teleportation spell—

—only for my surroundings to shift mid-cast.

Instead of arriving gracefully near my seat, I materialized a little too high above the classroom floor.

I landed on my feet, but not without an unceremonious thud. A few students jumped in their seats, startled. Someone gasped.

Fortunately, no one saw me teleport

Well. That could have gone better.

I straightened my uniform and casually took my seat, completely ignoring the questioning looks thrown my way. No one spoke, though I could already hear the whispers forming. I glanced up at the professor, who had just entered the classroom.

Professor Cedric Thornfield looked like a man who had fought one too many battles against sleep and lost every single one. Dark circles framed his eyes, and his coffee cup was filled to the brim with what was probably his lifeblood at this point.

"Good morning," he greeted, his voice hoarse as if he had spent the night arguing with his own exhaustion. "I'm Professor Cedric Thornfield, and I will be your guide through the grand, fascinating, and sometimes incredibly tragic history of Eldara and its magical civilizations."

He took a sip of coffee, looking as though it was the only thing keeping him tethered to reality. Then, he shuffled some papers and nodded to himself.

"Let's start with something relevant—the history of Castellas Academy itself," he announced.

The Founder of Castellas Academy

"The academy was founded 1,100 years ago by none other than Historias Everglen—a High Elf of unparalleled magical prowess, widely considered the greatest mage to have ever lived."

The moment the name was spoken, every single student in the room turned to stare at me.

I blinked.

…Why are you all looking at me?

I resisted the urge to sigh and instead kept my expression as neutral as possible. Historias Everglen was just a name to them. A figure of legend. A founder who had mysteriously vanished after the war against the Void Creatures.

They had no reason to connect me—Historias Vaelcrest—to him.

And yet, they were still staring.

Professor Thornfield, oblivious to the silent exchange, continued, "Historias Everglen disappeared a thousand years ago, shortly after the great war against the Void Creatures. Some believe he perished. Others claim he still lives, as High Elves possess incredibly long lifespans."

Not dead. Just bored and on an indefinite vacation.

I leaned back in my seat, idly tapping my fingers against the desk as the professor moved on.

The Heroes of the Void War

Professor Thornfield listed the names of those who played the greatest role in the war:

Aldren Vaelthorn (Elf – Aura Warrior)

Still alive. Probably still nagging people. The only person who knows I'm alive. He'd kill me if I revealed myself too soon.

Seraphine Ashford (Human – Spirit Mage)

Still alive. And probably still as terrifying as ever when she's mad.

Baldric Ironveil (Dwarf – Master Mage)

Probably inventing some absurdly dangerous magical device right now.

Regis Vald (Vampire – Healer)

The only vampire I've ever seen scold someone for not taking care of their health.

Valak Allgera (Demon – Holy Power Wielder)

Ah, Valak. The demon who wields holy magic just to mess with people's expectations.

Pretty sure got his powers by worshipping some random 'god of pillows' for a hundred years.

"And, of course, Historias Everglen—the greatest mage and warrior to ever live."

The students turned to look at me. Again.

I gave them the most unimpressed stare I could muster.

Seriously. Do I look like a legendary figure to you?

"As I mentioned," the professor continued, "his fate remains unknown. While some consider him deceased, the majority believe he is still alive, given his High Elf heritage."

Correct. Alive, well, and currently listening to a lecture about myself.

The class continued for a while, covering the Void Creatures and their origins. Thornfield explained how the corruption spread and how the war had nearly brought Eldara to its knees. A few students asked questions, but nothing that wasn't already covered in textbooks.

At last, the professor drained his coffee, looking like he was contemplating a nap.

"And with that, class is dismissed."

I exhaled, stretching slightly.

One class down. Many more to go.

.............

After lunch, the students dispersed for their first elective classes. For Historias, that meant Spirit Arts & Combat—a course that delved into summoning, contracting, and wielding spirits in battle.

The afternoon sun cast dappled light through the leaves of the Everglen Tree, its ancient branches swaying gently in the mana-rich air. Historias arrived at the training grounds, resisting the overwhelming urge to nap beneath the sacred tree. He leaned against the trunk instead, observing his surroundings.

The class was noticeably small—perhaps a dozen students. Spirit magic was not for everyone. Unlike elemental magic, where skill and knowledge could lead to mastery, spirit summoning required a natural connection to the spiritual realm. Without talent, all the effort in the world meant little.

A deep, commanding voice cut through the idle chatter.

"Alright, settle down."

All heads turned as Instructor Azriel Blake strode onto the field.

The first thing anyone noticed about him? His muscles.

The man looked like he could wrestle a bear and win. Dressed in a sleeveless combat vest, his half-elven heritage was evident in his pointed ears and sharp features, but his sheer physical presence was far from the typical scholarly mage.

"I'm Azriel Blake. Your instructor for Spirit Arts. If you're here, it means you think you have what it takes to form a contract with a spirit. Most of you are wrong."

Some students exchanged nervous glances. Historias smirked.

"First, what are spirits?" Azriel began, pacing before them.

"Spirits are mana-born entities, each aligned with different elements. They exist in many forms, some sentient, some instinctual, and others purely destructive."

He raised a hand, and a faint glow surrounded it.

"There are four general classifications of spirits:"

1. Lesser Spirits (Low-tier)Small, often animal-like beings made of elemental energy.Can be summoned easily but lack combat strength.

Examples: Ignis (Fire Sprite), Undine (Water Droplet Spirit).

2. Greater Spirits (Intermediate-tier)Intelligent entities capable of communication.Stronger and require a formal contract to wield effectively.

Examples: Sylph (Wind Spirit), Salamander (Fire Guardian).

3. High Spirits (Advanced-tier)Powerful beings, often humanoid in appearance.Summoning one without proper preparation can drain the summoner's mana dry.

Examples: Tempest (Storm Spirit), Ifrit (Fire Warlord).

4. Primordial Spirits (Legendary-tier)Beings of immense power, rumored to be ancient forces of nature itself. Only the most accomplished summoners can form pacts with them.

Examples: Leviathan (Ocean Deity), Zephyrion (Wind King)

Azriel continued. "Spirit magic isn't just about summoning pretty little creatures to do your bidding. A spirit is a living being, and a contract is a mutual agreement. They aren't pets. They have their own will. If you fail to prove yourself, at best, the summoning fails. At worst?" He glanced at the students. "You become their snack."

A few students gulped.

Azriel smirked. "Good. Fear is healthy. It keeps you alive. Now, let's get started."

He pulled out a parchment inscribed with a summoning circle and placed it on the ground. As his mana flowed into it, the ink shimmered, forming an intricate glowing pattern on the soil. A moment later, a ripple of magic spread outward, and in a flash of blue light—

A small, elegant Undine materialized.

The water spirit swirled gracefully before settling beside him. Unlike a full contract, which required blood and mana, this was a temporary summon—a demonstration. Azriel tossed a mana stone to the Undine, which accepted the offering before vanishing in a blink.

"Your turn," he said, tossing each student a parchment.

Historias examined his paper, amused. Summoning had certainly evolved over the past millennium. In the past, summoners had to painstakingly carve their circles into stone platforms—a process that took hours. Now, pre-made circles made it ridiculously easy.

'Convenient,' he thought, though part of him found it almost too easy.

"You'll be working in pairs," Azriel continued. "That way, if your partner screws up, you can at least call for help before they die."

An awkward laugh passed through the students—none entirely sure if he was joking.

A shadow loomed beside Historias. He turned to see his assigned partner.

His partner was a demon—an unusual sight in a class focused on spirit summoning. Demons rarely possessed affinity for spirit magic, as their mana was often too chaotic to form stable contracts. But there were always exceptions.

The demon stood tall, with ash-gray skin and crimson eyes that flickered like embers. Two short, curved horns protruded from his forehead, and his black tail twitched slightly as he examined Historias.

"Name's Zephyr Nightshade," the demon introduced himself. His voice was calm, his gaze sharp.

"Historias Vaelcrest," he responded, offering a polite nod.

Zephyr raised an eyebrow. "Vaelcrest? '', as if trying to place it somewhere

Zephyr didn't question it further. "Never expected to see a demon in this class," Historias remarked.

Zephyr gave a half-smirk. "Neither did I. But I like proving people wrong."

Interesting.

.............

Zephyr went first.

He placed the summoning parchment on the ground, taking a steady breath. Mana flowed into the inked symbols, igniting the spell. The circle shone brilliant red, and after a few moments—

A small fire spirit emerged.

Ignis.

It hovered, crackling with tiny flames. Then it bit Zephyr's finger.

A faint glowing mark appeared on Zephyr's forehead—a contract seal. The moment it formed, his mana drained rapidly, and he stumbled back, panting.

Ignis flared once, then disappeared.

Azriel appeared beside him, nodding in approval. "Quick contract. That's rare. You've got talent, demon."

Zephyr, still catching his breath, smirked. "Would've been nice if it didn't bite me."

Azriel chuckled. "Spirits have personalities. That one thought you were tasty."

Zephyr rolled his eyes. Historias, amused, took his turn.

..........

Historias examined the summoning parchment once more.

With a bit of modification, he could tweak it to summon an Intermediate-tier spirit instead of a low-tier one. But then he could already hear Aldren lecturing him about keeping a low profile and not increasing his problems.

No. Best to keep things simple.

Placing his parchment down, Historias channeled his mana into the summoning circle.

Immediately, something felt off.

The lines of the circle shifted, expanded—morphing into something else entirely.

Historias blinked. That wasn't supposed to happen.

'…Oh.'

Realization struck a second too late.

A powerful gust of wind erupted from the summoning circle, sending dust and leaves flying. The atmosphere changed—charged with raw, untamed energy. The mana in the air thickened as a towering, humanoid figure emerged.

Its form was wrapped in howling winds, translucent yet solid. Its eyes were swirling voids, brimming with power. The mere pressure of its presence sent shivers through the field.

Whispers carried on the wind.

"…You."

Historias's lips twitched.

'Great. Just great.'

The Advanced-Tier Spirit: Tempest stood before him.

For a brief moment, nobody moved.

Then, just as suddenly as it came—Tempest vanished.

The wind settled. The sky cleared.

Silence.

Azriel ran a hand through his hair, exhaling.

"…Well." He glanced at Historias. "That was unexpected."

Historias remained kneeling, trying to figure out how he was going to explain this.

Zephyr, still recovering from his own summoning, squinted at him. "What the hell did you do?"

Historias sighed. "I wish I knew."

The rest of the class was too dazed or exhausted to react, but Azriel?

Azriel understood exactly what had just happened.

A first-year, with no preparation, had summoned an Advanced-Tier Spirit—something that even seasoned summoners struggled to do with extensive rituals and preparation.

His gaze lingered on Historias. Who the hell was this kid?

Historias, meanwhile, was already bracing himself for Aldren's inevitable lecture about keeping a low profile.

.............

Elemental Spirits of EldaraSpirit Categories

The elemental spirits are divided into four main categories:

Fire Spirits 🔥 – Spirits of flame, heat, and destruction.

Water Spirits 🌊 – Spirits of rivers, oceans, and healing.

Earth Spirits 🌿 – Spirits of stone, nature, and stability.

Wind Spirits 🌬 – Spirits of air, storms, and speed.

Each element is further divided into four ranks based on power:

Low-Tier – Basic spirits with minor abilities.

Intermediate-Tier – Stronger, capable of larger-scale magic.

Advanced-Tier – Highly intelligent and powerful.

Spirit King – The supreme ruler of their elemental domain.

Examples of Elemental Spirits🔥

Fire SpiritsLow-Tier: Ignis – A tiny wisp of fire, often used for basic magic.

Intermediate-Tier: Salamander – A serpent-like fire spirit capable of generating intense heat.

Advanced-Tier: Ifrit – A humanoid fire spirit wreathed in flames, skilled in combat.

Spirit King: Solrath, the Infernal Sovereign – A mighty being of pure fire, said to rival dragons.

🌊 Water SpiritsLow-Tier: Undine – A small, playful water nymph that controls minor currents.

Intermediate-Tier: Naiad – A spirit of lakes and rivers, skilled in water healing magic.

Advanced-Tier: Leviathan – A colossal spirit that rules the deep oceans, capable of summoning tsunamis.

Spirit King: Tethys, Empress of the Tides – The ruler of all water spirits, able to control the entire sea.

🌿 Earth SpiritsLow-Tier: Gnome – A small, mischievous spirit that lives underground, controlling dirt and stone.

Intermediate-Tier: Dryad – A guardian of forests, able to command trees and plants.

Advanced-Tier: Behemoth – A massive, slow-moving titan of earth, nearly indestructible.

Spirit King: Gaelthar, Titan of the Land – The lord of all earth spirits, said to shape mountains.

🌬 Wind SpiritsLow-Tier: Sylph – A small, invisible breeze spirit that can manipulate gentle winds.

Intermediate-Tier: Zelda – A swift, bird-like wind spirit that controls strong gusts.

Advanced-Tier: Tempest – A storm-bringing spirit capable of summoning hurricanes.

Spirit King: Aerozar, Sovereign of Storms – The ruler of wind, said to race across the skies at impossible speeds.