I lay there, thinking over the message I had just received. Just as my dad had warned, it reported that his death was the result of a terrible accident involving monsters, yet all his phantom beasts had vanished without a trace. This wasn't just an accident; he had been murdered. I glanced at the wristband on my arm, noticing the red beacon glowing ominously. I pressed it, and the light flickered, urging me to turn my arm and follow its path. It was guiding me straight to his secret lab. Now, what was I supposed to do? I had planned to stick around town for a few more years, saving up and capturing some familiars. Should I leave sooner? There wasn't much keeping me here, and fixing up the lab seemed pointless since it was just a decoy. Thank goodness I got this message before I wasted all my coins on repairs; that would have left me feeling foolish and utterly cheated.
I mulled it over for a bit and decided to hang around here for a few more years, saving up for my journey. There was no sense in leaving without being fully equipped, and rushing into things wouldn't do me any favors. The one who took him out probably had their sights set on me too, but if I stayed put for a couple of years, they'd likely lose interest. With that decision made, I felt a wave of relief wash over me and indulged in a quick nap before the ceremony.
I drifted into a deep sleep, exhausted from the day's earlier events, only to be jolted awake by the town horn blaring, calling all villagers to the shrine. It was time for the summoning, where the deities would select those who successfully called forth a familiar to join their ranks. The horn sounded again, and I took a moment to check my reflection in the cracked mirror, taming my wild brown hair and staring into my plain brown eyes. I wrestled with my stubborn hair, trying to tame it, but it had a mind of its own. This was the best I could manage.
Once I felt presentable enough, I stepped out of my tiny studio apartment, carefully navigating the broken glass on the stairs, and made my way to the town center. It was already buzzing with people my age and their families. As I approached, most folks gave me a wide berth, having heard the nasty rumors that I was cursed and responsible for my parents' deaths. I shrugged it off and moved forward, watching them scatter out of my path. The line was ridiculously long, so I didn't mind them clearing the way for me. If they wanted to help me get to the front, who was I to complain?
The folks in line parted as I approached, practically leaping aside as if I were wielding a blazing hot poker. Before I knew it, I was right at the front, standing just behind Megan, who flashed me a grin. "Great to see you! You didn't scare anyone off just to be next to me, did you?"
"Not at all! They just chose to step aside on their own," I replied with a casual shrug.
"Well that's good at least." Megan said and then wrapped her arm around my waist and leaned her head against my side. I'm glad that we can be in line next to each other for this anyway. I've been looking forward to this moment for the longest time. I can't believe it's here now."
A young woman with light brown hair, dressed in a delicate light pink gown adorned with tiny brown flowers, stepped confidently onto the round platform before the shrine, entering the glowing spell circle. The circle radiated a vibrant blue, revealing the intricate runes painted on the surface. Five shrine maidens, clad in their clan robes, united their voices in a powerful chant, casting the spell designed to summon phantom beasts and bridge the gap between their realm and ours. This would allow the spirits to sense her presence and determine if any felt a connection to her.
As the runes blazed with energy, her shadow began to swell, indicating that a phantom had chosen to merge with it. Suddenly, a small white seal emerged from the depths of her shadow. Overjoyed, she scooped it up and made her way to the line of those who had successfully summoned, awaiting the moment when a deity would select them to join their sect.
The line moved forward at a snail's pace, and Megan clutched my arm tightly, her outward calmness betraying her inner turmoil. When her turn finally arrived, I had to gently pry her fingers from my arm and give her a nudge, as she seemed lost in a trance. She stepped into the center of the circle, hugging herself tightly, her eyes wide with surprise. In a flash of light, a magnificent white owl, towering like a person and adorned with two twisted brown horns, slipped out of her shadow beside her. Its eyes, resembling glossy black pearls, held an otherworldly gleam, while its feathers shimmered like a ghostly apparition. It was a breathtaking sight, both awe-inspiring and slightly intimidating, as it seemed to peer right into her soul with its strikingly sharp beak and radiant plumage.
She extended her hand, and the creature pressed its beak against her palm, giving it a gentle lick. Gasps of admiration erupted from the crowd as she affectionately petted her new familiar. It was extraordinary for such a formidable and majestic familiar to respond to a novice beast tamer. With a triumphant grin, she strolled over to join a faction, her Greater Horned Owl dutifully trailing behind her. Next, I stepped onto the platform, watching as Megan's cheeky grin began to fade.
The platform shifted from its usual bright white light to a foreboding black glow that pulsed ominously from its center, devouring all surrounding light. Suddenly, a roar echoed from the center, and my shadow expanded dramatically. Rising from it was a legendary beast, a creature of nightmares rarely seen. It appeared to be sculpted from black obsidian, a towering figure adorned with jagged spikes. Standing as tall as a man and stretching twice as long, it had a mouth wide enough to swallow a person whole, with glowing red eyes that pierced the darkness. This was a rock dragon, its mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth and its body covered in rocky protrusions.
As it advanced, the ground trembled beneath me, causing some onlookers to scream and stumble back. While this breed of dragon was said to be on the smaller side, I had still summoned a dragon! It moved closer, nuzzling its face against mine, exuding the warmth of a summer day. I reached out to touch its head, and it exhaled a wave of heat into my face, sharpening my vision to catch the tiniest movements I had missed moments before. Just then, I turned to see the girl behind me scream directly into my face. I winced and quickly covered her mouth in annoyance.
"What's your deal?" I shot back, irritation creeping into my voice as I pulled my hand away, realizing she'd smeared her face all over it. I quickly wiped my hand on her dress and took a step back; her complexion had turned pale, and she was starting to tremble.
"Your… your eyes! They're all red!"
"Yeah, I've been running on fumes after a night of saving lives, so forgive me if I look a little rough. But come on, a bit of red eye doesn't warrant a freak-out!"
"No! They're bright red! Like a monster! They look like that creature's eyes! It's done something to you!"
"Well, would you look at that! Impressive!" I exclaimed, striding over to the other line with the rock dragon trailing closely behind me.
"You just had to show me up, didn't you."
"It's not my fault that I'm so incredible I catch the eye of a dragon!"
"I know you're joking with me but if I didn't know better I'd say you're conceited.
"Don't feed me those sour grapes; I can see you're just envious."
"Absolutely, I am! Who manages to summon a dragon familiar on their very first attempt? That's just outrageous. You make me sick."
Coming Next Time: Betrayal