Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 345: An eerie green fog

Chapter 345: An eerie green fog

What was mysticism?

Some said mysticism could be likened to having supernatural powers, others said it was the learning of arcane knowledge while some others made do with saying that mysticism was an art filled with mystery allowing one to interact with strange and esoteric forces.

All were correct in a sense and once upon a time, was what Alex considered mysticism to be about but after everything he’d learned, despite how minuscule the knowledge was compared to the giant that was the supernatural world, Alex had ended up making a bold guess.

That mysticism was...

"Now before I start, I want to let you all know that no one is wrong, however, I would like our class to be an interactive class and for that reason, I shall also give an answer to my question," Alex remarked as he swept his gaze through the classroom, his demeanor poised even as an unnatural chill caressed his skin.

None spoke as they looked back, awaiting his answer and so, to not keep them waiting, Alex remarked.

"I consider mysticism to be a world within a world, a world that remains hidden while also being quite visible, depending on how hard you look. Let me explain."

Turning, he moved over to the chalkboard and picked out a chalk stick with which he used to draw a perfect circle in one fluid motion... It felt good.

He faced the class yet again and pointing at the circle, calmly intoned. "Let’s assume this was Eventide."

Just then, a student in the back raised her hand, drawing Alex’s attention over.

"Yes, Ms. Alice."

Adjusting her skirt, Alice replied. "Eventide is not circular, it’s flat."

Alex’s brows furrowed as he pondered her words.

Eventide was flat?

That meant the whole planet experienced night and day at the same time.

Suppressing the urge to reply with a ’is it?’, Alex awkwardly coughed as he replied. "I knew that."

Then he added, "Imagine that instead of standing, the circle is laying flat."

Seeing the girl drop her hand while glaring at him, Alex couldn’t help but wonder if he or rather, Lucius had done something to offend her.

However, that wasn’t his focus right now and so, shaking his head to get rid of the unnecessary thoughts, Alex glanced at the circle he’d drawn on the board and promptly drew a perfect line through it... it also felt good.

"Imagine this circle is Eventide and this line through it represents the divide between the natural and the supernatural, the mundane from the esoteric."

Retrieving his hand from the board, he glanced at the students as he continued. "In mysticism, we have a term, Breaking the Boundary, it is what happens when a person officially becomes a Mystic. Now, they could have used any other word to describe the process, perhaps awakening or even transformation but they didn’t. Isn’t it peculiar?"

Seeing as how some of the students had begun to take notes, taken in by his teachings, Alex felt vaguely fulfilled but knowing that there was more to teach, he kept going.

"Breaking the Boundary can be seen as akin to stepping away from one nation and taking residence in another, or in this context, stepping away from one world to become a part of another. This is why I say that mysticism is not just gaining powers or learning the mysteries of the world. No, it’s much more than that, all that can be considered components of a larger whole and that whole is the fact that mysticism is a world within a world, a world in which the mundane is replaced by the esoteric and the natural, by the supernatural.

"So tell me, does that make sense?"

***

The class went better than he expected, in fact, it was a resounding success.

Alex hadn’t really put much thought into it but perhaps his curiosity served as the driving force to ensure that as he taught them, he also learned as well.

Mysticism was an exciting topic and to be given a chance to learn more about it... it was an incredibly novel experience.

In any case, time slowly inched toward the end of the class and so, Alex had to stop his lecture.

"Before we leave, I would like to give an assignment, do not worry, it has nothing to do with your grade so you can decide not to do it and yes, I won’t go back on my words." Alex addressed the students, noting how most had let go of their bias to learn.

Despite them being nobles, it was clear their desire to gain knowledge was not a joke.

It felt good knowing he would be teaching such brilliant students.

Poised to give the assignment with several already prepared to pen it down, Alex sought to speak only for a sudden turbulence in the distance causing him to pause.

He glanced toward the right where the class was bordered by roof-to-floor glass windows covered with metal bars.

Several students seemed to have noticed the disturbance as well but were unsure what to make of it with some even contemplating getting out of their seats to check it out.

Gesturing with his hand, Alex motioned for them to remain seated as he moved to the window and subtly activated his spirituality to inspect the situation.

Gazing into the distance, he couldn’t help but notice tendrils of smoke rising to the sky causing him to wonder if something untoward had taken place.

But before he could begin to ponder the situation further, his senses finally registered another anomaly, one that he had not deemed present until this moment and could very much explain the unnatural chill permeating the entire Imperial Academy even when he was outside under the Lightbringer, wearing a coat.

It was a fog, a faint thin fog but it wasn’t the natural white color he was familiar with... no, on the contrary, it was an eerie green and it pulsed as though it were alive.