On a small family farm near the edge of the Plane known as Erythia, was a young girl living alone with her grandmother. This girl was born with a rare affinity for water magic, which she used to help her grandmother with the farm. Her name was Elise. She had no family name as they were only common farmers in a rather small, self-sustaining village.
She had the same routine every day. Help with the farm by watering crops with her magic and reaping at harvest time. During harvest season, she would help take their haul and trade with other villagers or the plane-wandering merchants and adventurers passing through the village.
On a rare occasion, one of the adventurers would happen to be a mage. They would always tell her that she was skilled with her water magic for her age. They would always try to convince her to come with them on their adventures. She would always refuse. After all, she had her grandmother to take care of. All in all, Elise was perfectly content with her life as it stood. Like all else in life, this was bound to change.
One fateful morning, Elise woke to find a woman sitting next to her in her bed. Elise let out a small scream and tried to jump back. She was still caught in the blankets and fell off the bed landing on her back. She tried to crawl away as the woman opened her mouth trying to speak. Before she could utter a word, the door to Elise's room banged open.
"What is it? I heard a scream." her grandmother exclaimed through panted breaths, standing in the doorway.
Elise just pointed at the strange woman, whose inhuman features she only now began to take notice of. She had silvery skin and thick green hair. There was no white to her eyes either, just a bright glowing blue. They almost appeared to be rippling. Elise's grandmother looked at where Elise was pointing. No, she looked past the woman to the wall. How could she miss this woman? She was the most out-of-place thing in the room.
"It's rude to point," The woman said in a matter-of-fact tone. Elise's grandmother didn't hear her at all.
"Dear, there is nothing there. Did you hit your head?" Elise could hear the concern in her grandmother's voice but didn't understand how she couldn't see the woman in front of her.
"Uhm," Elise stammered, confused at her grandmother's ignorance to the silver woman, "It must have just been a dream, I'm.. I'm fine, Gran."
Her grandmother stared at her for a moment, concern plain on her face, before saying, "Well, alright. As long as you're okay dear," then walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
"My, what a scene." Elise looked over at the strange woman. Her voice made Elise feel as if she was under a sudden, intense pressure.
"Wh.. Who are you, if I might ask, and why are you here?"
"Well, now we can finally get to my introduction." The woman stood, revealing her full figure. She didn't appear fully solid, and her body seemed to cut off at her knees and there was nothing underneath. The woman was floating. "I am the Spirit of Water, and you are my new partner."
Elise was confused, she had heard of spirits, but they were always creatures in other realms that mages could conjure to aid them in battle. No one had conjured this spirit before her. How did it get here?
The spirit must have noticed the confusion on Elise's face because she quickly added, "I am not a normal spirit, I am one of the Four Great Elemental Spirits. I am now living with you, intertwined with your soul."
What? Elise didn't want anything attached to her soul. What if she didn't remain herself?
"I'm sorry but what do you mean intertwined with my soul? Are you going to take over my body?"
"First, I mean your soul and mine are now connected and shall be until your death. Second, I am not going to take over your body, unless you are unconscious and in danger."
Why didn't she get a choice in the matter, Elise thought. She didn't want to have her soul mixed with someone else's, not like a soulmate, although she had nobody who she would want to fill that position either.
"I apologize that I didn't ask, but most humans are delighted to become Spirit Possessed. As for soulmates, you are young and still have plenty of time for that."
Wait, Elise didn't say those words out loud, did she? She had only thought them, right.
"You are correct, we are now linked, and I can hear your thoughts."
Elise had so many questions running through her head. All interrupted by another thought that wasn't hers.
I can also speak to you like this, but I do ask you slow down. I may be one of the Great Spirits, but only humans have such a penchant for thought.
"I would prefer to speak to you like normal if that's alright?"
"Very well."
Elise wanted to go over some of the most important questions first. She wasn't normally an inquisitive person, accepting things as they were, but this was an extremely unnatural case, and she wanted to ask as many questions as possible. She looked down trying to figure out how she would ask her first question and was immediately distracted by one particular thing. She was still in her night gown, in front of a stranger.
She jumped to a standing position faster than she would have thought herself capable of. She felt embarrassed to let anybody who wasn't Gran see her like this. "Ah.. Uhm, can you go away for a minute so I can get dressed?" She had looked back up to find the spirit missing.
I'm afraid I can't fully go away, to separate a spirit from their host would kill the host. I can leave your vision though if it would make you feel better, child.
"DON'T CALL ME A CHILD!" Elise yelled, "I AM 16 YEARS OLD AND ABOUT TO BE 17 IN A FEW DAYS!"
"Elise, dear. Who are you yelling at?" Her grandmother had barged into the room again, appearing slightly exasperated when she walked in.
Elise quickly asked herself if she thought her grandmother would believe her. She resolved to tell the truth, after all, she had never lied to her before.
What a faithful grandchild.
"I was talking to this Spirit Lady, Gran." Elise said, shyly looking at her feet. She waited a few seconds for her grandmother's response, but it didn't come. She slowly began looking up at her.
When their eyes met, her grandmother finally spoke, with a hint of hesitation to her voice, "Oh... and what spirit would that be?"
"She called herself The Spirit of Water."
To Others, you should say, Great Spirit of Water. This spirit seemed to have an arrogant self-image.
Shut up, Elise thought to the newly added voice in her head. She was desperately looking at her grandmother hoping that she would be understanding somehow. Elise was worried that gran would think she was insane or something. But this was HER gran, the woman who had raised her since before she could even remember. Elise didn't know what to do if her grandmother called her crazy and kicked her out for it. She wished that she had thought about all this before she had blurted the truth out, moments before.
She realized that her grandmother had a smile on her face, "Is that true?" Elise nodded her head slowly. "My Elise... My Elise is a Spirit Holder" tears were falling down her grandmother's face. "My granddaughter is going to be an important mage." She ran up and hugged Elise. "I didn't want you to be stuck in a place like this forever, like me."
At those words, Elise felt tears welling up under her own eyes. Those words hurt her, "What's wrong with me wanting to stay here with you, Gran?" she asked, defensively.
"Nothing Dear, I just want better for you, and now you have it." She ran her hand over Elise's hair. "Take your time getting ready today, we don't have too much work to do. And I have to go into town as well."
Her grandmother released her hold on Elise and quickly left the room. Elise stood there in a shocked silence, staring after her. Elise proceeded to get dressed and left her house, ignoring the breakfast waiting for her. Once out on the cobbled pathway leading up to her house, Elise heard a strange, high-pitched whistle. There was now an envelope floating in the air only a few feet from her. Upon it was a black wax seal with the shape of an owl pressed into it. She opened the envelope and unfolded the letter within.
To One Miss Elise of Erythia,
We of the Owlhaven Academy of Magic would like to cordially invite you to attend as a student of our prestigious academy. As you are a Spirit Holder of the Great Spirit of Water, all tuition and fees shall be waived for you. You will also be personally escorted to the Academy by Headmistress Risanna d'Lumiere. Should you refuse attendance, please burn this letter. However, should you accept, please rip the paper in two. Please make us aware of your decision within ten days of receiving this letter.
In hopes of meeting with you,
First Term Coordinator - Geoffrey Aresmith
Elise had read the letter several times before her grandmother exited the cottage behind her. "Oh, what is this." She then snatched the letter from Elise's hands before she could react. "I see," she beamed, "This is cause for celebration!"
Elise panicked slightly, "But I don't know if I am even going to accept, yet."
As soon as Elise had gotten the words out of her mouth, her grandmother smiled and ripped the paper in half. "Very well then, I decided for you. You should have a bit of time to get ready. She proceeded to walk into town, leaving Elise shocked, yet again.
"I like her," said the silver spirit that was now sitting on the edge of the nearby well smiling at Elise.
In Revana:
Risanna sat in her office reading applications for the upcoming term. It was one of the busiest times for her, she had the final say in every applicant. This year, the crop of students didn't seem like it could possibly be better than the previous term. As she was despairing about the future prospects of her school, a knock came from her door. "Enter."
In walked a stocky man with grey hair paired with grey mutton chops. His name was Geoffrey Aresmith.
"Headmistress," he started, "They both have accepted." a smile clear on his face.
Risanna felt a smile lighting her own face. For the first time in six hundred years, all four would be together. "Get a ship ready, I will get ready to escort them here."