Chapter 8 - The Master behind the Mentor’

Little Eu entered the empty halls and went straight to Elder Teacher Levi's study. The burly green-robed man with round glasses is deeply immersed in his research that he failed to notice the little girl's arrival.

Little Eu knocks and called out to get his attention a few times but no accord. She can only sigh as watch her Elder struggles from the pile of doc.u.ments and recalls a memory.

"Elder, Little Eu has arrived..." she called out, raising her voice a bit, hoping to get his attention.

Upon hearing her name and familiar voice, the Elder almost knocks out the doc.u.ments in front of him. He can't help himself feeling relieved of her unexpected arrival. For a while, he thought that he is having a hallucination out of desperation.

"Little Eu, thank goodness you are here. I am total loss regarding this new array formation…" the middle age elder exclaims as he welcomes her.

Days ago, his colleagues raised this specific problem regarding the reinforcement of their defenses. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, he can't come to any conclusions that put him to this predicament. He is already doing everything beyond his potential.

The young girl sighs as she listens to her mentor's predicament. Sometimes, she can't help question, which is among them is the student as she grabs a nearby parchment and a quill.

The truth is, the Elder already solved the whole problem himself. He just messed up the placement that is causing it to fail, as Little Eu explains. She also gave out a few suggestions to improve his array formation.

Master Teacher Levi is competent and reliable in his field of expertise. The problem is, he sometimes overthinks and ends up messing the whole formation. He needs someone to correct him occasionally, and it just happens that its Little Eu.

Array Formations are a series of defensive wall arrangements creating a labyrinth or mirror or world illusion. The most simple is the loop formation, which traps the guest into an endless, repetitive loop, as the name suggests.

The Creator has all the power over his formation as he sets the rules for his guests. An array formation is a Creator's domain, and his ability is dependent on its complexity.

After correcting his formation, the Elder excitedly took the parchment and studied it intently. He totally disregarded her as she watches him in disbelief.

"Elder teacher, You have done a wonderful job on the formation array by the gates. You are improving on creating the Clans' defensive walls. Should I start grading your efforts?" Little Eu finally spoke up with a tinge of sarcasm on her tone.

Elder froze as he looks at the little girl standing beside him with her arms cross. She is glowering at him and unamused. For some reason, this eight-year-old girl's aura is so oppressive.

"Little Eu. I was just checking this intently before we could proceed. This is really unimportant." he starts stuttering and coaxing the little girl. While he kept the scroll in his drawer for safekeeping, he continues, "I expect you to come later this month. What is the reason you are here, little one?"

"I brought some medical and alchemy scrolls. Not everyone is gifted to cast seals and understands how array formation works. Stop forcing them and let them learn something different." she straightforwardly said.

The Elder was surprised at her suggestion. He checked the scrolls she brought in as his eyes sparkle in amazement. It is almost impossible to acquire such materials unless they have written it themselves. Clans ensure their knowledge is well guarded like their Seals and Array Formations, which is exclusive to the Oracle Clan.

Medicine and Alchemy are excellent subjects for anyone's clan. Anyone can easily have an affinity with them if they put time and effort into learning the subject.

"Where did you get these scrolls? You didn't steal these from another clan, right?" the elder nervously inquired.

"How else can I attain them? Of course, I learned it from my other master. It is a novice scroll, so I suggest that you find the time or assign someone suitable..." she responded casually. Then she remembered his accusation as she looked daggers at him.

"I apologize for accusing you. I forgot you are a truly gifted child. You always help this Elder, and yet forget 'the Master behind the Mentor.' I am merely proud and ashamed at the same time." Elder Teacher Levi admitted.

He is almost watering his eyes or having invisible tears as he thought, 'Why is Grand Elder's granddaughter extremely gifted? Can't he have a normal one like everyone else?'

Little Eu is a more capable teacher than he is. Still, Elder Levi is proud of his young student. She is his closest confidant despite the peculiarity.

He was in deep disheartening contemplation when he recalled about the new technique she suggested to him. He doesn't want to continue pondering on irrelevant matters. This girl is a blessing to them, after all.

"I proposed and presented the Soul Gem Formation to The High Council and Grand Elder Enoch. I could say the odds are in our favor." he changes the subject as he reports the progress of their little agreement.

'The Grand Elder will sure burn me on a stake once he discovers the truth behind my achievements.' he thought as his invisible tears once again overflow.

**********

Many years ago, Great Elder Eitellia foretold the annihilation of their Clan. They are proud and thought their capabilities to defend themselves was sufficient enough until that fateful night two hundred years ago. The wielder of the Forgotten arts passed away.

They barely remember how they escaped the onslaught as this mysterious entity broke through their defenses. They left their abundant city and moved secretly to Mystic Spirit Realm.

That night they manage to escape the prophecy. They are living in peace for now, but the threats remain. They continue to be cautious as their assailants remain at large and seek their annihilation.

Hence, the High Council ordered the revival of the Lost Arts. Elder Levi is responsible for this mission as he gathered all the surviving parchment and studies them carefully. Unfortunately, only fragments survive and current in their possession.

Over the years, they have disregarded the importance of this Ancient arts and started opting for the more straightforward, less complicated methods, hence the forgotten arts.

Also, since they have no use of sophisticated techniques during peaceful times, they started neglecting to learn it entirely. Only a handful endure these changes. Until one day, its existence is completely forgotten.

They truly regretted, but they have to face the consequences of their actions. If they can't recover the Forgotten Arts, they can create an entirely new Arts that can be as formidable.

The weight of responsibility, on Elder Levi's shoulder, is heavy indeed. It's driving him insane as he murmurs his grievances, "He is a scholar and not a genius. How can they expect him to figure out something from mere fragments?"

Little Eu watches his troubled face as he throws another scrap of paper. His expression changes several times while he is working, and he will throw the crumpled paper as if it is nothing important.

She finished answering her workbook and has been idling in his study to past time. She can't help watching her mentor, who inevitably forgets her existence.

Her Elder has been acting crazy and distressed for three months now, and this little girl is curious as she gathers the crumpled papers around them. She looks at her Mentor's disheveled appearance as she sighs.

She picks up the parchment and a quill as she finally spoke up and said, "Elder Teacher, let Little Eu help you out…"

He just stared at her as he didn't object. At that moment, he doesn't care anymore who will help him escape his predicament.

Meanwhile, she started presenting his crumpled works as she began her very detailed and organized explanations. She is writing everything on the parchment as he stares at the little girl in disbelief.

She just assembled something from his scraps! It is put together like a puzzle before him. He is in a daze as he stares at the little girl, and he thought, 'No wonder this child is uninterested coming to class.'

He felt embarrassed that a child had corrected him. Still, he understood his mistakes very clearly as she carefully explains everything to him. As much as he hates to admit it, this child is more capable than he is, and she was five years old then.

That was the first time this little girl helped him out, and she has been helping him ever since. They decided to conceal this fact and avoid the High Council's pressure on taking care of problems that they merely understood themselves.

**********

"Don't worry, little one. I know those old bags. If you present this now, it will truly stir trouble. Even if you have the clan's best interest in mind, they will surely find a way to discredit your intentions. Besides, I won't be reprimanded too harshly even if it fails."

"Thank you, Elder Teacher. I know, someday, I need to reveal this fact, but for now, let us keep things as it is. Besides, I assure you it won't fail. As long as the formation stands united, and it won't face any mishaps. I believe in each capability, so I suggested this method." she responded.

The Soul Gem Formation consists of a three-layer defense arrangement.

The first group is the primary casters consisting of younger gifted Oracles. Since younger people have more stamina, she suggests putting them up as primary casters.

The second group is the experienced clan elders for fortifications. Since they are more experienced, they can easily manipulate and fortify the first layer. They will mainly use their experience on the barriers as they use what is deemed fit and necessary. This may help with power conservation.

The central group is the four Head Elders in command. Mostly, their job is ordering the two groups. They are powerful and experienced as they command both groups using their knowledge. They could also cast counters as a last resort.

With this, they are obliged to work together and can even cast powerful counteroffensive spells. It doesn't matter how weak they can cast an offensive spell. If they do it together, it will still be as powerful.

Most importantly, they can also store energy used against them in the Soul Gem and return it a hundredfold without exhausting too much of their power.