Whispers from the Abyss

James was still processing what he saw. Humility noticed this, and his voice roared, “I understand this situation is shocking for you, but I don't have much time before I have to slumber." Even though Jame had not fully processed what he saw, he still gave Humility his full attention. Once Humility noticed James was paying attention, it got back to explaining what it meant by their task: “Ever since the beginning of the multiverse, there have existed two different magical energies that are the exact opposite of each other, called Origin and Abyssal energy. Both energies gave birth to a consciousness capable of controlling that energy. After a few thousand years, they met each other and instantly hated one another, so they started a war that has lasted since they met. Both created many races to fight in the war, with each creating seven generals under them. Those generals went by the names of the Seven virtues for the origin energy’s will and the Seven deadly sins for the abyssal energy’s will. You are the reincarnation of me, Humility, the leader of the Seven Virtues. Our task is to slay the evil seven deadly sins and purify the lands of abyssal energy.” Before James could say anything to Humility, his vision flashed with a bright light, with Humility whispering in James ear. “Our time is up. I must slumber. I hope the next time I wake up you are strong enough to use my power. To help gain the power needed, just imagine yourself appearing in your inner mind.”

James awoke in the informery again with the mage standing right next to him. The mage noticed Jame woke up faster than he should have. Usually the spell he cast would make the target sleep from an hour to a full day, but James woke up in only ten minutes. The mage was fascinated by this and made a note to request a supervisor if he could have this novice as a disciple/test subject. After making the mental note, the mage spoke to James, “Are you going to freak out again or will you stay calm this time?” James knew that this was all real now, so he said, "Yes, I'm willing to stay calm now. How much longer must I stay in this infirmary? I want to get started on my training." The mage was surprised; usually newcomers don’t adapt this fast nor accept joining the organization. Seeing that James was ready to start his training, the mage told him, “I just have to run a few more tests on you to make sure you're all healed up.” After saying that, the mage grabbed a magnifying glass looking tool and hovered over James stomach with it. While the mage was holding the tool, he was also focusing his magical energy into the tool. The magnifying glass-like magical tool started to glow, signaling it was full of energy. The mage then willed the tool to observe the situation inside James.

The mage had never seen anyone with such fast regenerative capabilities at such a low level. The mage was sure of it; now he wanted James as a direct disciple, not just as a test subject/disciple anymore. Not able to hold himself back, he almost commanded James, “My name is Osim. You must take me in as your master. No one else can have you.” If James had been a normal citizen, he would have succumbed to Osim’s pressure to become his disciple, but after everything that James had seen in his talk with Humility, this was nothing. So James instead stood up for himself and told Osim off, "No, I won’t be your disciple. I seem to remember someone already claiming me to be their student anyway." Who dared to steal the disciple of the great Osim thought Osim. Still mad at whoever took James from him, Osim asked, “Who dares take my disciple? Tell me so I can go have a talk with them.” James didn’t know the classification for mages just yet, but his instincts still told him that the little girl was a monster underneath the surface. While Osim still gave James a dangerous feeling, the little girl, Marabel, still gave off a lot more deadly feeling. Almost like you were already in the grasp of a predator unable to escape.

So James told Osim all he knew about his so-called teacher: “When I first woke up, there was this little girl in the corner.” Already Osim had a feeling he knew who this mystery person was. All he could do was pray it was not her. Continuing with his story, James told Osim, “She steeped out of the corner and told me she was to be my teacher and that all I needed to know for now was she was strong. Oh, she also told me her name, Marabel.” Osim was freaking out. Of course he had to be her. Osims body still shuddered at the thought of her training. Osim, stumbling over his words, asked James, “C-C-C-Can yo-you please not mention what I s-s-s-said to her. I don’t want to die just yet.” James didn’t expect this big of a reaction. He just hoped using her name would get Osim off his back and not give him a panic attack. James told Osim, “Of course I will. I just ask in return that if I have any question, I can ask you.” Osim didn’t expect to get off so easily. Osim, almost jumping with joy, almost instantly said yes.

James now had someone he could ask any question. Now that this was all done, James asked Osim, “Now that you have seen me all healed, can I leave?” Osim told James, "Yes, of course there is no reason to stay in here now that you've healed up. You can just step out the door and take a left and keep walking; eventually you will get to the hub and a guide will come over to you.” James said Thanks and got up to walk to the door. Once James opened the door and took a step, he realized that instead of being in the hall, James found himself in a pitch black room. All of a sudden, little floating balls of light appeared, brightening the cave up. In front of James was a book, and he heard the voice of Marabel say, “I see your all healed. Now to start your training, you must learn the magical breathing technique in front of you and become an apprentice mage. Once you complete it, you will become a 1st class mage. Once you become an official mage in less than two years, I will teleport you back and properly start teaching you then.” James wanted to kill Marabel for this. Why was he forced to stay in a cave? Instead of bitching, James grabbed the book and got to reading it, as that was the only way out.

I meant to have a picture of humility in the last chapter, here it is.