Upon arriving home, he enjoyed a warm bath and a light dinner. Though it was already dark, he wasn't ready for bed just yet. Instead, he retrieved the book titled "Basics of Summoning Rituals" and began to read.
Summoning rituals, as their name implies, enable practitioners to call forth monsters and creatures from other dimensions to fight on their behalf or enter into contracts with them. Certain traits make summonings highly valued, leading some awakeners to rely exclusively on these entities and provide them with auxiliary support.
Awakeners are aware of numerous dimensions, with the most powerful ones being Abyss, Mystic Faerun, the Elemental Realms, Draconis Keep, and Arthropoda's Realm. Additionally, there are lower-tier realms, often remnants of once-great dimensions that have been shattered.
A popular theory among scholars posits that dungeons are fragments of these realms, trapped by the will of Zephyra. According to this belief, Zephyra created dungeons to nourish itself and aid the world's inhabitants in strengthening their power to resist invasions from other realms. While this theory remains unproven, it continues to be widely accepted among many.
As Asher delved into the fundamentals of summoning, his curiosity about the dimensions grew. He pondered how powerful he would need to become to explore these realms.
The book outlined three types of summoning arts: Transient Summoning, Anchored Summoning and Spiritual Summoning.
Transient Summoning is the art of temporarily calling creatures from another dimension. Once the summoning is canceled or if the summoned being is too severely injured, it returns to its original realm. This type of summoning often involves controlling these creatures without their consent or by offering them specific materials. The number of creatures a summoner can bring forth depends on their Aether and mental capacity. A common example is the summoning of low-level elemental creatures, typically achieved using elemental crystals.
Anchored Summoning involves calling creatures from other dimensions and forming a permanent contract with them. Once bound, these creatures cannot return to their home realms but can grow in power as the summoner's strength increases. Contracts can vary in nature: they may be forceful, akin to a slave contract; equitable, resembling a mutual agreement; or superior, involving a soul-binding contract. The number of such permanent summons a summoner can maintain depends on their soul capacity. Soul power is considered a higher form of intelligence, and major families with connections to high-level dimensions often allow their prodigies to enter into these powerful contracts.
Spiritual Summoning is a high-level summoning art that involves invoking the spiritual projections of powerful beings through elaborate rituals or sacrifices. These sacrifices can include ordinary materials, the summoner's own lifespan, or even the lives of monsters or humans. There have been instances where dark organizations used this form of summoning to unleash devastating creatures from the Abyss to destroy cities. Due to its dangerous nature, spiritual summoning is closely monitored, and some forms of it are outright forbidden by the government.
Summoning can be achieved through various methods. The most common approach involves performing a ritual to establish a connection with another dimension. These rituals require precise formations, which include designs and runes that represent the necessary patterns, as well as materials for sacrifices or as part of the formation.
Another method of summoning involves the use of specific skills, such as undead summoning, among others. However, since Asher lacked these specialized skills, he could only hope to succeed through ritualistic means or by acquiring a summoning skill book or skill stone—both of which are extremely rare and prohibitively expensive.
As Asher continued reading the book, he realized that the ritual formations heavily relied on runes. His knowledge of runes was limited to basic ones taught in school or available in the school library. He noted that some runes in the book corresponded to specific dimensions, though he couldn't identify which runes related to which dimension.
Recognizing that further reading might not yield immediate answers, Asher skimmed through the pages. He observed that most ritual formations featured large, circular ring patterns filled with interconnected runes. Some formations included shapes like pentagons or triangles, and others had various projections and complex elements. According to the book, these runes could be drawn using special ink, aether, or, in extreme cases, even blood.
After thoroughly examining the book, Asher realized that mastering the basics of runes was essential before he could advance in his understanding of summoning. Just as he was about to close the book, a note on the last page caught his eye, written in bold, bright letters:
"For those eager to excel in the art of summoning and delve deeper into the mysteries of other dimensions, consider joining the government Department of Arcane Summoning. Entrance is granted after passing the exams conducted monthly."
Intrigued, Asher researched the Department of Arcane Summoning and discovered it was a relatively obscure branch with only a few members, mostly individuals with summoner traits and some dedicated scholars. Unfortunately, he learned that this month's exams had already taken place, with the next session scheduled for mid-September. The exams were known to consist of a theoretical test and a practical component, which required summoning at least a Fledgling-level creature from a known dimension. Recognizing that his intelligence and dedication would allow him to prepare effectively, Asher resolved to study diligently and take the exam when it next became available.
He closed the book and glanced at the clock, surprised to find it was already well past midnight. Immersed in his reading, he had completely lost track of time. After carefully placing the book back on the shelf, he headed to bed, feeling the fatigue of the long night settling in as he drifted off to sleep.
As Asher slept, his mind remained preoccupied with thoughts of the runes used in summoning ritual formations. Despite his limited knowledge, he couldn't shake the image of a peculiar symbol he had glimpsed during the manifestation ceremony. Though the details were hazy, he remembered it as a circular disc divided into two halves, each filled with various segments. The more he focused on the symbol, the more elusive it became, slipping further from his grasp. As he strained to recall the precise runes or their meanings, his efforts grew increasingly frustrating. Eventually, exhausted from the mental strain, Asher surrendered to sleep, the enigmatic symbol lingering in his thoughts.