Chapter 145 145 Familiar summoning Crystals
[Eva's POV ]
(A while before the end of the second test.)
[ "Haha, yes. It seems like we will have to part ways now. It was fun being with you though. Let's see each other soon." ]
"Gruuuuuuuk~."
She was tall, had green feathers that were even more beatific than the others of her kind around her, the ends of her light green feathers were golden and her eyes were as green as the great rainforests.
Her three bird tails, that beak that seemed strong enough to rip apart anything she wanted, the strong mana around her that made others of her kind submit to her naturally, the colorful pattern all over her feathers that looked so unique from any other Spectral Crowned Threetails in the area, and lastly, the crown like feathers on her head, so unique and colorful that I could hardly look away from them… everything about her appliance was pretty and distinct.
She looked majestic but that wasn't all. She was pretty, and though she was harsh with the others she was a gentle one. And, she was my friend now so she liked me quite a bit.
"Seenyaing her making a friend after such a lonyag time makes me feel happya."
"She doesn't have any friends?"
"Nyo. She is special among the others and has been by herself sinyace her only friend passed away. I should thanyank you. It's heartwarming seeinyg her smile like that."
There was a bitter smile on the examiner's face but, she looked happy. And this friend of mine was happy as well, so it was fine.
"Okeya. Everyone, listen up! We will be enyading the test nyaow. Please say your goodbyes to your birdies!"
This brown cat instructor sure was more professional when he was working. Even though he was almost tearful, he continued with his duty and announced that, telling others to finish up, which also meant I had to part ways with my friend as well.
[ "It was fun. We will see each other again, certainly. My Lu and El will also be with me. And, I have no doubt you will like those two." ]
I smiled at her, warmly, and though a little sad, she nodded her long head with a smile as well.
"Gruuuuuuuuuuk."
And then, she picked out one of her tail feathers and asked for my hands to hand me that gift.
"Ohhhhnya. Looks like she really likes you a lot."
Receiving a feather from a Spectral Crowned Threetails meant they were considering you as their true friends, I had heard that much from El. But, I didn't know much about this tradition of theirs.
'However, seeing as how the other birds in the area looked at us with surprised and shocked expressions after she did that, it must mean something special. '
I was honored she thought so highly of me for giving me such a precious gift. She was the best…
[ "Alright then. See you soon." ]
"Gruuuuuuk~!"
We hugged for a moment and then, she vanished from this garden along with all the other beautiful and colorful members of her kind.
Some people who had bonded with their friends during this time were sad to part ways with their friends, some who had dominated the creatures with force had no reaction to this, and those who had still not managed to make any of the creatures appear before them, well… they also vanished with the creatures since they had failed the test.
Many people failed this energy beast Handel in the test. So, around a third of the people had vanished from the garden now, only leaving those who had managed to make the Spectral Crowned Threetails reveal their true forms.
'Haaa… and then, for some reason, without even a second of break, we were transported to the summoning area in the beautiful spring area of this garden of six seasons.'
This place looked really pretty actually. Everyone else with me was relieved to be in this pretty and cozy place rather than that killing heat of the 'summer' zone.
"We will be beginning the familiar summoning tests in three minutes. Prepare yourself!"
The lizardman instructor shouted this, and everyone else was alerted by that thundering voice. He certainly was the most serious among the other instructors we have seen until now.
'It's a pity that the cute chubby-dubby instructors aren't with us anymore. Haaa. I hope I can see those cuties soon.'
Anyway, the first part of the test was done. And, only the summonings remained.
'I don't know why but, it seems like things are being rushed a little.'
Perhaps something had happened with the tests of the students. Perhaps not. Perhaps I'm just imagining things. But, still…
'This strange feeling that the two of them were in some kind of trouble until a while ago doesn't seem to be my imagination though.'
Perhaps they were actually in some kind of trouble, but, well, that feeling is gone now. Which perhaps means that whatever they were going through, has been resolved.
"Alright! Gather around the summoning circles with your Summoning crystals! Those who do not have it can purchase or loan one through the windows that's opened before you!"
Summoning crystals, these square translucent crystals that looked just like a cube made out of glass were essentials that one has to have to summon the creatures through any kind of 'major' summoning circles.
They were Worldline essentials, as El called them, and everyone in the Worldline needed them to summon either the families, the higher beings, the demons, or even the high-ranking spirits and creatures from beyond.
Summoning without the summoning crystal is certainly possible but it is only in the case when we are trying to summon the creatures that exist in the same plain as us.
If one wants to summon the creatures of other plains, or in the case of families, the creatures of some other land, these summoning crystals are a must.
And, El said they are pretty costly so, the academy loves it to those who do not have one in exchange for their lifespans… not in a literal way actually. It means that they would have to work for the academy for the mentioned period without any payment.
The helpers would have to work to repay this debt while the students would have to pay these debts through their efforts and the 'points' that they receive during their time in the school.
Well, I didn't have to worry about these loans. I already had mine that they gave me a while ago. In fact, I had three. They suggested keeping extras in case I will ever need them.
'Hmmm, should I give the extra ones to someone else? Hmmm…'
I looked around the place but most of the people remaining here already had their own summoning crystals, at least most of the people whom I had been acquainted with until now.
Those who didn't have them were mostly either staring at the screen or had already purchased the crystal or had loaned it.
They were mostly done so, even before I could extend my helping hand to someone… most of them were prepared for the summonings.
Everyone except a certain person caught my eye.
"Excuse me? Do you need a summoning crystal?"
"Hmmm? The cookie swordsman. What business do you have with me, miss?"
It was the elf mercenary person who was looking around with a displeased gaze as if he found something disgusting. Well, I didn't have anything to do with that.
His gaze only contained acceptance and curiosity when he looked at me.
"I was asking if you need the summoning crystal, sir. I saw you didn't have one and you also closed the system window without looking at it. I thought you were planning to just forfeit the test. So… if you need it, I have an extra-"
"Ah, no need. I don't want to be indebted to anyone."
"Hmmm? Indented?"
What does he mean indented? Is accepting help from someone else being indebted to them?
"No, I wouldn't ask anything in return so-"
"No need. There is nothing like free help in this world. Even this 'great' academy asks for free labor in return for basic things like this summoning crystal. I do not like this. If I had known we would be asked something like this, I wouldn't even have come here."
"Hmmmm…"
So, this person was saying that he would just let go of the great chance of working in this academy as a helper, which didn't even require that great of effort?
And he was even one of the greatest people present here. He could finish any task assigned to him faster than anyone else. And still, he wanted to refuse the good chance to earn good money in exchange for a great experience like this? Didn't he know one person could only apply to be an official helper once in the academy?
He wouldn't have the chance to be part of every great thing that would happen afterward. But he still wanted to refuse this?
'I don't think El and Lu would like that. He seems to be a great person with the most potential among most other people present here.'
Hmmm…
"Alright. Then, how about you consider continuing as the helper with this test in exchange for this crystal?"
"I said I do not want to be indebted to anyone-"
"It is not being indebted to anyone, mister. It's just a fair trade, don't you see? In exchange for you joining as the official helper, you would have a chance to perform a familiar summoning that you could not do at any other place. You would get the salary and you won't have to be indebted to anyone."
El taught me how to change the will of people through these simple means. I knew how to pursue someone especially someone like like this elf mister here. He was just like Lu, not wanting to accept any unnecessary help from anyone.
El mostly tricked him this way, and I knew for a fact that he would accept my genuine help this way.
"Hmmm… sounds too good to me though. What will you even get by wasting a precious crystal like this on me? I don't see any way you would be benefitting from this 'deal'."
He really was just like Lu, a little dumb about these common things, haha.
"I am profiting a lot, sir. Even if you don't see it, your presence would be a lot more helpful to me, the academy, and my masters than you could think. As for these 'precious' crystals, well, I have three of them. My masters have more and they say it isn't that costly if you have the right channels to buy them."
"…"
He was speechless, just like a few other people around us.
They had been listening to us and my words came as a heart-stopping shock to them… well, it wasn't the first time I had seen this reaction today, so, I just ignored this.
"Alright, everyone! Prepare yourself! I will call six names and they will step forward and activate their summoning crystals. The rest will be taken care of by the summoning circle!"
"Here. Let's go."
I just handed him the summoning crystal and went to the other side. I had asked nicely so he would accept the deal anyway, it was natural. And, I was happy since I was able to help someone. It felt nice~.
'Sadly though… this happy feeling that stayed with me for quite a while after this vanished completely when I summoned my familiar.'
I was looking forward to meeting my partner, my eternal companion, my bond, and my soulmate that would stay with me forever.
I was excited to meet them, but, I didn't think the familiar that I imagined to be a small cute being like the two of them… would turn out to be the exact opposite of what I had imagined my soulmate to be...
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