“You lost again” Eleven said after checkmating Adiel.

  “Just how much chess have you played? How are you so damn hard to beat?” He asked the owl in frustration.

  “Less then you that’s for sure”

  “Adiel! Come here for a moment” Delsa’s voice came from outside the house, Adiel stood up and went off.

  “How long do you think before they announce that they are dating?”

  “I think the question would be how long till they first propose to one other.”

  We reset the chess board and started our match.

  It has been 3 months since Farion took me in, and my life had barely changed, not that I was complaining.

  I still lived here, and still did all the stuff I used to do before, though sometimes I would be called for theoretical classes on the formation of stars and the physics involved.

  “Eric! Master is calling”

  Like right now.

  “I have to go”

  “No problem, I will just play with nine, or thirteen”

  I stood up and exited the house.

  “Hello Laven”

  “No time for greetings, lets go” The kid whom Farion brought with him here, the current eldest disciple and a Tier-2 mage, said after which he started running.

  *Sigh*

  I started running after him.

  We ran towards Theo’s place, a building shared between the 7 people of Theo’s team.

  He repeated the same thing after we stopped, and we gained another runner.

  After 5 minutes of huffing and puffing we reached the school building. Farion was standing near the door.

  “You are late Laven, you said you would bring them all in 5 minutes but you took more than double that time”

  “Sorry sir!”

  Farion laughed lightly and mentioned us to follow him. He took us towards the administrative buildings, and after reaching a specific one he stopped.

  “You both have been my students for the past 3 months, excellent students if I say so myself, and I have decided that both of you has mastered mana control enough to finally bond with spirits.”

  “Really” Theo asked wide eyed, he wants a earth doll type spirit and I am sure of it.

  “Yes, You can choose from any of these!” Saying this he opened the door, and a really big classroom type structure came into view, though lots of small creatures were sitting on desks usually meant for students.

  From floating clouds to snakes to a 7 foot earth golem, all sorts of bizarre spirits were sitting on the desks.

  Theo immediately ran towards the Earth golem and after shaking hands with him came up to Farion with shinning eyes that said he wanted it.

  “Do you not like the choices? Though you can wait to become a Quasi-mage like the rest before receiving a spirit you wouldn’t have a choice in that, it would be the spirits choosing you.” Farion asked me seeing that I didn’t go forward to look around.

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  And he wasn’t lying, being able to choose, that too before becoming a Quasi-mage was a privilege very few were given.

  Though I didn’t really want any of these spirits.

  “I wanted to bond with Eleven” I told him after a deep thought, I didn’t want him to think I didn’t appreciate the opportunity so speaking the truth was the best policy.

  “The one you play chess with?” Laven asked with a ludicrous expression.

  “Yes”

  “But he is from the Owl family is he not? While you would be able use wind mana after contracting him it would be better to contract a fire spirit to strengthen your mana control. Also, the sole method of strengthening the owl is to give it your own mana! If your want wind mana you can just form a contract with any other wind spirit! Atleast most other spirits can supplement your growth! Owl spirits slightly slow down your mana gathering speed instead of increasing it and tha-”

  Laven shut up after Farion raised his hand.

  “Eleven has become a good friend huh?”

  “You could say that, He feels more like a smart grandkid to be honest.”

  He chuckled.

  “Eric Evelyn” He stopped laughing and so did I.

  “You have lived long enough to not make any decision that would make you regretful, But still, it is my responsibility as your teacher to ask you this, You can only choose a single spirit in your life, the spirit’s death would leave you half-dead at best, do you still choose to form a bond with the owl spirit Eleven”

  “Yes”

  “Then talk with him now about the same” He tapped his staff and Eleven suddenly appeared on my shoulder with a monster core about to float into his mouth.

  As it did he looked around with his wide green eyes.

  “Why was I teleported here good sir?” He asked Farion.

  “Ask your friend” He said and started shooing away the spirits that were not chosen, basically every single one except the tall earth golem.

  “What happened Eric? Did one of the first years complain about my waking methods?”

  “Nope, Even if they did its not like anyone would care?”

  “Why was teleported here in the middle of the snack if I may add?”

  “Well, Teach said that we are ready for bonding with spirits, and I decided to ask you”

  “What spirit would suit you?”

  “Not that, I want to contract you”

  His eyes widened in surprise, perhaps not having expected anything similar.

  “Don’t joke around like this Eric, you know how much I want to be free and joking around something like that is wrong.”

  “But I am not joking”

  “Really?” His voice sounded hopeful now.

  “You want me to Swear?” I asked jokingly.

  “No… I just can’t believe it to be honest, you do know how much better it would be to contract a normal spirit right?”

  “I do, I would have to meditate less and that’s all to be honest, but a friend being happy should be worth more than that should it not?”

  Eleven froze a little, and then suddenly jumped up from my head and flew towards my chest.

  “Thank you so so much buddy” he said while awkwardly hugging me.

  “No problem, though I would prefer you just standing on my head”

  “Not gonna lie I would prefer that too” saying this he flew back on top of my head again.

  “Both of you ready?” Farion asked me and Theo, who was busy talking with the earth golem who looked as though it didn’t understand a single word but was just happy being talked to.

  We both nodded and a chalk started to float around on the ground, making a magic circle.

  “What’s your spirit laven?”

  He closed his eyes, and a bunch of mana exited from his forehead, which soon assumed the shape of a small blue bird curiously staring at Eleven.

  “So cool” Theo said while trying to pet the bird, though it managed to avoid the touch by flying around.

  “What’s the name?”

  “Rose”

  “A good name” Eleven commented.

  As far as I am aware only the owl spirits can talk, and are conscious like humans are, other spirits only gain this ability after becoming grand-mage level creatures at the very least.

  “The circle is ready now, Theo you go first.” Farion said.

  The spirit and Theo stood in front of each other on the circle, and then with a flash of light the spirit disappeared.

  “You can summon him now”

  Theo closed his eyes, and soon the golem stood in front of him again.

  I slowly walked towards the circle too, when I reached the place I was supposed to stand on Eleven flew down and stood on his place.

  The same light flashed again, as Eleven disappeared.

  I felt the presence of Eleven in my soul space,

  And I gained a partner for life.

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  Dear parents,

  I hope this letter finds you both in great health.

  I received the parcel of cookies and they were delicious, so thanks mom. Also no need to parcel me money, there is no use of money in the academy or outside of it. You will the rest of money Uncle Aubrey gave me in this parcel along with the money you sent me.

  I am in great health and was even chosen as a personal disciple by a legendary rank person so no need to worry about me.

  With lots of love

  Your son,

  Eric Evelyn