The afternoon was well advanced when Qiris left his house, Little Idiot hopping by his side and Ralls walking proudly, his collar adorned with a shining tutor identification tag. The cobblestone streets of Astral came alive around them, offering a spectacle worthy of a medieval tale.
Wooden shops with thatched roofs lined the narrow streets, their colorful storefronts displaying magical artifacts and rare herbs. Blacksmiths hammered enchanted weapons, their rhythmic blows mingling with the cries of merchants praising their wares. The air was charged with the scents of spices and magic, an intoxicating mixture that made Qiris's head spin.
As he walked, the young half-elf recalled the contents of the book he had bought the day before. "The Astral Tower" he remembered "is considered a small-scale tower, filled with monsters below rank 2." He couldn't help but smile ironically as he looked up at the immense structure dominating the city. "Small scale, huh? I'd like to see what they consider large."
As they approached the entrance, Qiris paused for a moment to admire the tower up close. Its deep astral blue surface was covered with ancient inscriptions of exquisite shapes, which seemed to dance and change subtly under his gaze. It was both beautiful and intimidating.
"Hey, you there!" A female voice pulled him from his contemplation. A young girl with auburn hair was calling out to him from a nearby counter, proudly displaying the emblem of the Summoners' Guild. "New summoner? You need to register!"
Qiris approached the counter, Little Idiot and Ralls on his heels. "Yes, it's my first time" he admitted with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
The young girl smiled and began filling out a form. "Name?"
"Qiris Valsan."
"Type of summon?"
"A frog" Qiris replied, feeling his cheeks redden slightly.
The young girl raised an eyebrow but did no comment. "Name of the summon?"
"Little Idiot" Qiris mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
She stifled a laugh. "Element?"
"Water."
The young girl nodded. "Good. Now, regarding your summoner talent..." She paused, seeing Qiris tense up. "Don't worry, the guild doesn't seek to know this information. It's the most crucial for a summoner, and I advise you to keep it to yourself. Unless you want to attract the attention of powerful sponsors, of course."
Qiris nodded, relieved. "Thanks for the advice."
She continued asking questions about his age, place of residence, and other administrative details. Suddenly, Ralls, apparently tired of being ignored, stood up and placed his front paws on the counter.
The young girl's eyes widened. "Oh, a tutor! And not just any..." She quickly composed herself.
"I must inform you that the tower forbids tutors above rank 1 from interfering. However, since the Astral Tower is small-scale, it allows their entry. But be careful, under no circumstances can he save you in case of danger."
To Qiris's surprise, Ralls responded to the warning. His blood-red eyes fixed on the young woman with a mixture of disdain and disappointment. The message was clear this information was trivial to him, and the impossibility of intervening bothered him. Yet, when he turned his gaze to Qiris, his expression returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
The young girl, visibly uncomfortable, quickly handed Qiris his new summoner ID card and wished them good luck in a slightly shaky voice.
As Qiris walked away towards the tower entrance, the young girl watched him leave, her gaze lingering on Ralls. An expression of fear fleetingly passed over her face. She knew that the strongest person in the city, the director of the Summoners' Guild, only had a low rank 4 summon. And this demonic dog... it was one of the most powerful rank 2 summons, even capable of defeating some low rank 3s.
"This kid," she whispered to herself, "he has no idea what he has on his side." she remembered something then shook her head and sighed "A frog as if it was him, I pray every minute to find him and become rich"
Qiris, unaware of the young girl's thoughts and Ralls' unusual behavior, headed towards the main entrance of the Astral Tower. Ralls followed them, his gaze fixed on the ground, deep in thought. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed and a mischievous smile appeared on his canine face.
Qiris, too absorbed by the impressive view of the tower, noticed nothing.
Before them stood an imposing gate, guarded by two men in armor. Beside them stood their summons: a sylvan cat and a singing sparrow, both rank 2.
The sylvan cat was a magnificent creature, almost twice the size of a domestic cat. Its deep green fur was streaked with leaf-like patterns, allowing it to blend perfectly into vegetation. Its eyes, a bright yellow, scrutinized the arrivals with keen intelligence. Its paws, equipped with sharp claws, left luminescent traces on the ground with each step.
The singing sparrow, perched on the other guard's shoulder, was just as impressive despite its small size. Its iridescent plumage changed color depending on the angle of the light, shifting from blue to purple in a single wing beat. A soft melody seemed to emanate from it, creating an aura of calm around the guards.
Qiris approached Little Idiot on his shoulder and Ralls by his side. He handed his pass to the guards, a special document his parents had left him before their departure.
The guards examined the pass carefully, their eyes going from the document to Qiris, then to Ralls. They exchanged a perplexed look.
"A non-human tutor? And a demonic dog at that" one of them whispered to his colleague.
"That's unusual."
The other shrugged. "The pass is authentic. And besides, tutors can't intervene in the tower anyway. They're just there to advise young talents."
After a moment of hesitation, they returned the pass to Qiris. "You may pass"
One of the guards said. "But remember, your tutor won't be able to help you inside. You'll have to rely only on yourself and your summon."
Qiris nodded, feeling a lump form in his throat. He glanced at Ralls, who looked at him with his usual, unreadable expression.
They crossed the gate and entered the Astral Tower. Qiris was immediately struck by the sight before him. They were in a huge plaza on the ground floor of the tower, a vast circular space with walls covered in glowing runes. The ceiling, so high it was lost in darkness, was dotted with floating crystals that emitted a soft bluish light.
Dozens of young men and women were already gathered there, waiting in front of a second gate even more imposing than the first. This gate, made of shimmering blue metal and covered with complex symbols, seemed to vibrate with contained energy.
The atmosphere was charged with excitement and apprehension. Some summoners were quietly discussing with their creatures, others were frantically reviewing notes or grimoires. Qiris could see all sorts of summons: winged creatures, furry beasts, elemental beings... but no frog other than Little Idiot.
"We're here" Qiris whispered, as much to himself as to his companions. Little Idiot let out an enthusiastic "Rabbit!" while Ralls remained silent, his red eyes scanning the crowd with troubling intensity.
As they took their place among the other waiting summoners, Qiris couldn't help but wonder what awaited them behind this giant gate. The "small" Astral Tower already seemed much more impressive and mysterious than he had imagined.