Within the walls of the hospital there wasn’t normally an ideal location to train. It was a heavily foot trafficked location that was easy to see from all angles. At Doctor White’s prompting they had moved to the roof. It was solid concrete with minimal obstruction from the large airconditioning units that were scattered up there. The whole scene of training would be exposed if this was not a Sacred Ground.

  The good doctor had shifted the hospital to enclose the top of the building and rearrange the AC units. He was still limited in what he could change, similar to how at the Tyrants store he didn’t shift the room and their contents but the corridors to arrive there. Strain was the name of the game and it seemed to be near his limit to make such a large structure atop the building.

  He had been moved to the roof so as to maintain the barrier that he coated around the changes. They were being extra cautious even with the Grandmaster present. She did not serve as a true deterrent given Zeus had killed her once within recent memory. A fan moved rhythmically back and forth in his large black hand.

  On their way up the Grandmaster had explained that the differentiation between Sacred Grounds and Spirit houses was a newer invention. She personally detested the separation of the terms but her bias seemed to be wrapped up in having to learn new lingo. A firm hallmark of her not wanting to change was the liberal use of the terms “Dude” and “Totally”. She demanded that they were hip and modern last she knew.

  Renee had come with the two but Teddy opted to stay down below. Having been told what the Grandmaster looked like he couldn't see her right now. The past year had been hard on him and the promise she’d made was still a fresh wound. Nate wouldn’t have fared better but he couldn’t dwell on anything outside of becoming stronger.

  Walking out into the middle of what now looked to be a large gymnasium the three stopped. The Grandmaster had returned to being engulfed by her pounds of robes which served to ease Nate’s mind. From an oversize pocket she pulled out a small porcine house.

  “Let’s start at the basics. This house represents your Spirit House. Which you totally made out of your soul.”

  “It’s still not hip to say but I am following so far.” Nate said.

  “Good, good. Then let’s take the next step, what is Spiritual Energy?”

  Nate and Renee shared a look before looking back at the woman. They had seemed to come to a consensus but that was the furthest thing from the truth. He had made a face saying what did that matter and she was looking at him with a face that said it was easy. The two nodded and spoke at the same time.

  “A source of power for casting spells.” Nate said.

  “The connection between Necromancer and Spirit.” Renee said.

  “FUFUFU. The eldest has the right idea.” The Grandmaster said.

  The small girl's face was pulled up into a look of genuine confusion. What did she mean that he was right? He was anything but right. Nate was the one who could tell what was going on instantly.

  “She is counting your death ages.” He said.

  “Hey, I’m a young girl, ok young I’m not the eldest.”

  “From my point of view you are and it's not even close.” The Grandmaster said.

  “Just call her younger for all out sake please.” Nate asked.

  “Very well, but its tote’s uncool.”

  Seeing neither take to her wording she frowned and decided it wasn’t going to help to be hip and like the cool kids. No reason to get hung up over the matter. She was the bigger person. Looking at Nate she reconsidered and settled on the fact she was the wiser person.

  “Fair the well, it is the power that connects you and your spirits. Though you can use it to cast spells that would be burning up thread whilst trying to sew a kite.” The Grandmaster explained.

  “In plain english please.” Nate deadpanned.

  “Spiritual Energy for you as a Necromancer is used to mold and move the spiritual power of well spirits. We will start with an example, please cast an attack onto this dummy.”

  Around ten paces away a sackfaced straw laden figure appeared upon the ground. It stood motionless as it awaited the attack. Ramshackle parts wavered in the windless room. Nate didn’t make the shape wait long as he summoned out Lupita’s Fang. A sharp singular snap of the jaw twisted the shape of the dummy as it ground through the straw. As the fangs faded the scarecrow dummy slowly reassembled itself.

  With clumsy arms it began picking up each individual strand of straw and hay. The tattered remains of its overalls were thread bare and strewn back across its body. Nate had expected something more graceful when the Grandmaster had called it a dummy.

  “There you have it.” Nate said.

  “And so it is. Did you command Lupita to use the spell?” She asked.

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  “No, I just activated it. The feeling is still strange; it's not like the contract magic I’ve used when using a magic circle. However, it is faster.” Nate Replied.

  “And there is your problem. You are a Necromancer why would you be using this power like a random spirit or monster would. Wayne had informed me of your implanted spell work. I won’t scold you as it is a valid way to gain power. Tell me, does casting this or the spell on your skull have any differences?”

  “Now that you mention it, not really. The location where I call upon the magic from is the same but they act relatively the same.”

  The Grandmaster made a proud face that was partially hidden by her robes. Renee had caught onto what he was doing and was quietly waiting to the side. Her own knowledge was a swamp of different things so having structure might help in the long run.

  “That is what for realsees, is the problem. You aren’t using the spirits, you're using the magic circles. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using your own spirit energy, other than it runs out, and you black out.”

  “Is that why I failed last time?” Nate asked.

  “Not only that but your reckless use of dual casting onto an amplifier without using a composition of spirits of great enough mass.”

  “Ok, so the principle is that I just need to use the spirits in the spell. Kind of like external magic circles but from within myself.”

  “That’s correct. What a wonderful Apprentice. Now on to the next step.” The Grandmaster said.

  “How do I do that?”

  Nate cut her off from saying anymore as her eyes went wide. Them being the only part that was fully visible he could read her expression loud and clear. This was something that was obvious even to Renee as she looked up at him like he was a big idiot.

  “Well, you just order them too. Right, you haven’t had any training what so ever have you? Ok, let me think. Yes, that will work. Summon out your wolf.”

  “Ok, Lupita if you would.” Nate said.

  Lupita formed from motes of light she was in her soft wolf girl form. Fuzzy fur poked out from around the edges of a t-shirt, jeans, and an apron with text across the front. The writing was wrapped around the sides of her chest reading “Love At First Bite”. Her long hair was tied up into a ponytail draping down her back.

  “What can I help with?” Lupita energetically asked.

  Nate wanted to question what she’d been in the middle of but remembered she’d asked for use of the kitchen. Much as Karah had taken charge of the garage and turned it into a gym she was slaving away to break in the decrepit counter tops. Where she had gotten the apron was a mystery in itself he wouldn’t ask.

  “Good day madam wolf, could I ask you to kindly use your bite upon the dummy.”

  Oddly the Grandmaster seemed to be acting nicer to Lupita then to Rennee or Nate. Both took note of it for the future but didn’t want to distract from her teachings. Lupita looked to him for a brief moment of confirmation before performing the spell herself. Visibly a similar jaw to the one before formed, this time it was more shapely following the contours of her snout.

  “Is that satisfactory?” Lupita asked.

  “Yes, thank you for the help.” Nate said.

  The difference wasn’t large but Nate could feel that this time it didn’t zap any of his strength when the spell was cast. Similarly Lupita’s body being present had no effect on what he could feel to be his Spirit Energy. Was this what he was missing? Letting her do the work of casting the spell. But he could see a down side of needing her to be there to cast it.

  “I can see from the look in your eye that you could feel the difference. Ms.Wolf you may leave.” The Grandmaster said.

  Lupita looked worriedly at Nate who simply gave her a reassuring smile. Their connection through the spirit house had been growing stronger since they met. He found that he could in that moment feel some of her emotions. Much as Karah’s contract let them communicate via telepathy and transfer emotions. Lupita’s came through slightly fuzzy.

  Other than the obvious worry in regards to the Grandmaster, there was a desire. The best that Nate could decrypt was a desire of some sort. He thought he might know what exactly it was that she wanted. A small flash of embarrassment came across his face.

  “Uh, Good job Lupita. You were a good girl out there, and thanks before for helping me the other day.”

  Lupita’s face flushed as she heard what he said and bashfully turned away. A long white tail struck his side as it swished uncontrollably back and forth. Without another word she dispersed back into the Spirit house.

  “Right, so now my Apprentice you have some inkling on how it is to be done. Now we shall simulate this, with a basic practice method. Try to summon out a grade one spirit.” The Grandmaster Prompted.

  “Ok, do you have a magic circle I should use or does this mean I should force them through some of the other circles?” Nate asked.

  “That is the sum of the lesson. Using other spirits as the fuel for spells they will be weaker depending on compatibility and grade. But we need you to accelerate your training. So call upon a spirit of Grade one with no magic.”

  “Ok that should be easy.”

  Reaching into his spirit house he found the basement. There hadn’t been any additions as of as the bottles containing the spirits waiting to be contracted. Since he’d prioritized the Blightlings the others had nearly slipped his mind. With few options he picked one at random.

  He focused on the spirit as he reached out his hand. Its body within the Spirit House was indistinct and lacked much of the defining characteristics of any other. It blended deep into the other two non-attributed beings. A long moment passed as he grasped at it and told it to form in the real world.

  “Nothing. Well, I would have been surprised if you got it the first time.” The Grandmaster said with slight disappointment.

  “Why’s that?” Nate asked still with eyes closed.

  “This is the first step to pulling out your spirit house. Of course it’s a difficult thing to accomplish. You have yet to learn much and even less time to squander your efforts. You shall focus solely on this task till you can complete a full manifestation.”

  Opening his eyes he let his outstretched arm fall to his side. A sudden sense of motion sickness crashed over him as he fought the urge to hurl. The Grandmaster clicks her tongue in annoyance. She had planned for him to throw up at least the first time. It was no fun if she didn’t get some pay back for his disrespect.

  “Then I’ll get it done today.” Nate finally said gulping mouthfuls of air.