The fire engulfing her heart split becoming part water part fire.
A smile formed on her face as she channeled them through her veins, but instead of gathering at her fingertips they erupted from her back. Three spears of water and two spears of fire targeted at the dummy.
Everyone's jaw dropped even Darko's. He had never seen such spell nor did he saw anyone use more than on element. But Star was unaware of this. As she swiped her hand the spears launched at the dummy leaving nothing behind, as if there wasn't anything there to began with.
Star opened her eyes, tilting her head. "Huh?! Did I miss or something? Where is the dummy?"
She turned towards the other's, they're still stunned. "Hey! Why isn't anyone talking? What happened to my spell did it worked or not?"
Nita jumped at Star, spinning in a circle with her. "Star! What was that? It was so awesome it felt like I was in an anime or something."
Star tilted her head, confused. "What are you talking about?"
Nita explained what had happened just now. "Y-you just summoned spears of water and fire that came out of your back. Then, then they launched like rockets— boom! And next thing I knew the dummy was gone."
Star had confused look on her face. "Wait, I didn't feel or hear anything. Are you lying to make me feel better or something?"
J grabbed his head and let out a small laugh. "You idiot, how dense can you be? After incinerating that dummy, you're saying you didn't feel a thing?"
Star placed her on her waist, frowning. "Ugh… nobody asked you. I'll just ask Darko instead. Darko, can you please tell me if my spell or not ."
Darko coughed, steading himself. "Yes, it worked your spell— it completely erased that dummy from existence. And I must say, in my fifteen years as a mage, I've never seen anything quite like it."
Star practically jumped at the confirmation. "So what J and Nita told me was true? and you aren't joking with me?"
Darko nodded. "Yes, and it was an incredible spectacle. But you must be drained after using such spell."
Star grind, "Nope! I'm perfectly fine."
Darko crossed his arms. "A piece of advice don't use such spell during team-combat or else you'll endanger your comrades. Now then—"
He turned to J. "Sir J, please come forward it's your turn."
J scratch his head, sighing. "Okay, okay, but don't you think the spell casting is way too slow? By the time we cast a spell the demon will probably kill us."
Darko smiled, "You're as observant as your sister, aren't you? But there's no need for that as with training you can cast spells almost instantly."
J squinted his eyes gazing at the last dummy. "Welp, I'll give it a try. But doesn't my dark magic only allows me to summon shadow creatures?"
Darko paused for a second before speaking. "Yes, that's true, and I have to admit — I have little knowledge about it."
He raised his hand, his voice firm.
"But I'll ask you to follow the same steps as Mrs. Star, but instead of choosing an elemental affinity… focus on a creature you want to summon."
A bead of sweat formed on J's forehead.
"Geez! It sounds like a lot of work. But what'll happen if it doesn't work?"
Darko said hesitantly, "If it doesn't work, we'll have to find another way."
J rolled his eyes. "How convincing. Well, I'm going — so pray for me, guys."
"Sure, I'll be praying for your downfall," Star said jokingly.
"J, give it your all, okay?" Nita said excitedly.
Then J, crouched on the ground, putting his hands in front of him.
Should I copy Magumy? Yeah, why not — let's go with it, J thought.
J shaped his hands like a dog's head — his thumbs acting as the ears and his middle fingers as the snout.
He closed his eyes, and an empty void filled his heart… there wasn't anything — no heart, no fire, no light — only emptiness. He squinted, searching for the heart, desperately but failed.
And then all of a sudden, he found himself in an open plain beneath a white sky, whispers echoing in the air.
"Is this my mana core? And what's up with all these whispers?" he said aloud.
"J, the fourth successor. You… you aren't ready yet, are you? Nonetheless, you'll be given a starter," a faint voice echoed.
J looked around, confused. "Successor? Starter? What are you talking about? Who are you? Are you the demon?"
"No… I see. A wolf — not a bad choice for a starter. Now, go back. Prepare. Fulfill your mission… and don't end up like the third."
J found himself back at the training ground, though everything moved in slow motion.
Then black smoke burst out from his feet, swirling like a hurricane, climbing up his body and gathering at his hands. It took the shape of a wolf. It had silky black fur, a fluffy tail, dark blue stripes around its neck, and red eyes.
J could move again as the world returned to normal. Star and Nita were speechless, stunned by what happened. As for Haruto, he stood motionless, trying to master his stance— only moving when Aldic instructed him, now his body surrounded by a faint red aura.
Darko, he stepped back, narrowing his eyes intrigued by J's magic. "So, this is dark magic… it's no different from the demon." He murmured.
Darko stepped forward, a satisfied smile on his face. "Congratulation sir J. You did it— you've summoned your first creature. So, can you control him?"
J stood up, breathing heavily. "I… I don't know, I'll try."
Nita walks up to J, pulling his black coat. "Hey J, you should name the wolf before you give any orders."
J nodded, a smile formed on his face. "Yeah, you're right. How about Eclipse?"
The wolf turned towards J then it jumped and spun. It seems like the wolf liked his name. Now we wait for it to—
Star said mockingly, "Eclipse, really? You couldn't come up of with a better name?"
J rolled his eyes, "Like you've a better suggestion. My Eclipse here seems to like his name so, what is it to you, huh?! Or you jealous because you don't have a cool wolf like mine."
A sudden cough interrupted.
"Sir J and Mrs. Star didn't I told you, that no chitchat will be tolerated during training?" Darko said raising his voice.
"Yeah, sorry about that." Star said apologetically.
J placed his hand behind his head. "Geez! Give me a break."
He yawned and said, "Well, whatever let's finish this training already. I'm tired."
Then he looked at Eclipse, he gulped before crouching down. He slid his hand across Eclipse's neck, pressing his head against Eclipse as a sweat drop ran down his cheek.
J's hand glowed in a dim white light as a moon-like symbol formed on the back of his hand and in the middle of Eclipse's head.
J stood up, without saying a word or making a sound, he pointed towards the dummy. The next moment Eclipse took a battle stance, he gritted his teeth, growling, his eyes looked at the dummy. Then suddenly he lugged forward, after reaching appropriate distance he jumped biting the dummies neck, as the wood cracked under his jaw. With a powerful spin, Eclipse severed the dummies from it's body.
Eclipse slowly walked up to J handing over the head as present. Eclipse stuck his tongue and wriggled his tail.
Star covered her mouth, eyes widened. "Damn, that was brutal."
Nita sat down and petted Eclipse. "Who is a good boy? You're and really cuteee!"
J smiled nervously. "Cute? He is scary and intimidating."
Nita pouted. "No, he isn't, he is cute. Look at his eyes and fur they so beautiful and he is an airhead."
J narrowed his eyes. "Airhead? How?"
Nita stood up and pointed at Eclipse. "Look he is trying to catch his own tail…"
She continued. "Now he is playing with the head."
J sighed. "Maybe he is— an airhead."
Darko clapped his hands. "Amazing work sir J."
With a hopeful smile he continued. "Having heroes like you, fighting with us its really comforting and fills us with hope."
J shook his head. "No, you're wrong. We aren't heroes, we're people who want to survive that's all. We want to return to our world and if that means we've to defeat a demon then we will."
J raised his hand. "So… Darko do you know how to unsummon Eclipse? And also do I've to train with Aldric too?"
Darko looked at Eclipse, then said. "I've no idea. And as for your training with Aldric, yes, you've to but you can rest for half an hour if you want."
"Geez! More work well, I at least get to rest right?" J said lazily. "So, do you want to rest or move on to training?"
Nita and Star said that they'll continue there training. After saying that they walked up to Ariel.
"Darko… can I ask you something?" J asked.
With a calm smile, Darko said. "Yes, what is it that you want to know?"
Then J explained everything that had happened when he tried to cast the spell— how his moved on own when he tried to order Eclipse, and how a moon-like marking to appear on the back of his hand.
Darko crossed his arms and thought for few seconds. "Sorry, but I have never heard of such things in my life as a mage. But don't worry— I will look into it. Until then keep it a secret. Your friends may get worried."
J looked down, his voice quite and disappointed. "So, even you don't know what it means huh?!"
The next moment a simile formed on his face. "Well, there's no point thinking about it."
J sat in the shade accompanied by Eclipse, he saw Nita and Star train with Ariel and Haruto swinging his sword.