Chapter 925: Arc 9-36
The Summoning Hall is just how I remember it; an unassuming building with less character than a fourth son. It’s gray and blocky, a place of purpose. As it should be. There should be no delusions when it comes to summoning; that’s the heart of the problems with the Grand Summoners. There are beautiful rewards at the end of that road but it’s long and full of tedious, boring work. A boring summoner is a good summoner.
It’s only expected that it won’t have the same level of activity as the Casting Hall. Still, a part of me is offended at the silence surrounding the building.
It does mean that the counter at the front of the building is empty, meaning there’s someone to see to me immediately. Not that the young woman seems happy to do so. My best smile makes her flinch and she refuses to meet my eyes, no matter how much I soften my tone. Saints, her handles tremble despite the wide surface between us until she balls her hands into fists.
To her credit, she remains professional. When I ask for records of intelligent elementals with the earth affinity, she immediately points me to a section of the first floor that can help me. She even offers to have a member of staff assist me for the not-so-meagre fee of five silver. Outrageous for the usual, crown-pinching acolyte but a pittance for me and absolutely worth it. In a room full of thousands of records, someone who can point you to the single volume you need is worth their weight in gold.
“That’s a familiar face I haven’t seen in a long time."
A young man in a silver robe is sent to help me. His greeting and his friendly smile suggest we know each other, but I can’t place the face, despite the rather distinctive combination of coal back hair and bright blue eyes. Something he realizes as his smile turns into a wince.
“Don’t remember me, huh?”
“I’m not good with faces.”
{Only the ones you don’t care to remember.}
Hush you.
“Don’t worry about it. We only had the one conversation. Kristoff. I was working the desk when you asked the newbie questions.”
“Yeah, that’s it.” I have no idea what he’s talking about. “Good to see you.”
“The feeling’s mutual. Thought we’d see more of you.”
“Never got the chance.”
“No kidding. Two duels and one with a royal at that. For a while there, we were wondering how you were still alive, but it all makes sense now.”
Cheerful guy winks at me. “We?”
“Summoners. We were watching, you know? Are watching. Hoped you’d spend your acolyte years advancing the art, like your father. It’s a bit harder with the Hall having a hard-on for you, but power opens doors, huh? You’ll find a way.”
“Sounds good to me.” If the world would quit throwing shitstorms in my general direction.
“But hey! You’re here with a goal, right?” He claps his hands, rubbing his palms together. “Who we courting, my lady?”
A smile unconsciously arcs my lips as I follow Kristoff through the shelves while describing what I’m looking for. A friend for a wanderer. Someone with wanderlust to match a man that can disappear for months on end without a single point of contact. Someone sturdy enough to survive wild and treacherous terrain. Someone that can help him explore the world and find new meaning after such a colossal failure.
Of course, while minimizing negative qualities. The last thing he needs is a Geneva in his head.
Kristoff takes to his task with admirable enthusiasm, racing through the shelves and bringing back prizes. I arrange myself at a table and skim through the records; while each is unique, most follow a predictable pattern which includes a short description of the elemental at the beginning. There are a lot more options then I was expecting, but between Geneva and I, we sort through them efficiently. Once we have three possibles, I tell Kristoff to stop; sometimes, too many options can be as problematic as two few.
I expect my guide to take off once he has his money. Instead, he sits across from me, blue eyes bright with interest. I’m about to send him away but Geneva stops me.
{I can memorize the records while you speak to him.}
Does he have something interesting to say?
{Very interesting.}
“You needed something?”
He chuckles with long overdue nerves; guess he’s not immune to my reputation after all. “I had a question. There’s a group in the city. Calls themselves the Grand Summoners. For a lot of reasons that includes that pretentious name, they’re rubbing people here the wrong way. Problem is, people aren’t sure if they’re connected…to you.”
Saints’ blessed asses. “They think I’m connected to that mess?”
“It’s happening in your city and we all know you have the power to stop it.”
“That’s something you’re right about. I do have the power to stop it. And I have.”
He sighs in relief, his nerves calming. “That’s a relief. They were into some trouble, but no one wanted to get on the bad side of the city’s lady.”
“How’d you know about them?”
“Rumors. Few of them tried to recruit our people. Tried to convince us they were the future of summoning. If we joined them, we could help summoning take center stage in the Hall, ensuring each acolyte contracts an elemental before they leave.” Kristoff scoffs. “As if our goal is to flood the world with simple-minded, mana-hungry buffoons looking to mooch off us. Or worse, sacrifice the world to drakkons.”
How does a young man with no traditions in the art understand how terrible the tyrannical lizards are but my own family who’ve been doing this for centuries didn’t think better of it?
“I take it they didn’t get any traction?”
“None at all. The members we could identify were banned from the Hall.”
“They walk up and introduce themselves?”
“They tried to steal records.”
“Disgusting.” Though I do approve of them trying to learn. Maybe there were a few of them with a genuine interest in summoning. Too late now.
“It’s a good idea though.” His voice is quiet, the ends of his words drawn out, the long moments taken to check my reaction to each syllable. “Not the crap about perfect bodies and mindlessly obedient servants those idiots were peddling. I’m talking about a group of summoners with the backing of a high noble. Something like that could be a force. Could make a difference.”
I eye him, judging his sincerity. Is the same mistake staring me in the face?
{It’d be different. They are not purposeless souls, but those already dedicated to the art. Those who already understand the dangers.}
What can they offer me? Abyss, what can I offer them? Besides a name.
{Structure. Legitimacy. Legacy. At the very least, a building to work out of, room and board. In return…}
If they’re summoners, they’re educated. I suppose they can help with the tedious processes of government. Suppose a few of them might spend a few hours at the Cosmian, maybe offering summoning classes at the end of the week along with the rest of the trades.
{Yes. But I was thinking they could help you with a quest you’ve been putting off.}
You’re going to have to be more specific.
{The mystery of your origins. Who better to help you investigate than fellow summoners with access to the largest collection of summoning records in the kingdom?}
That’s…amazing. It could take me decades going through this library searching for clues by myself, if I ever have the time. The only reason I didn’t think of asking for help is a lingering paranoia of people discovering my secrets. What if there is a record of Cosmo, detailing exactly what I am? I’m not the first of his agents, as Little Water calls me; the dragon her people are keeping prisoner is proof of that. What if they discover a secret weakness and leverage against me?
{That’s not your true concern?}
…what if Cosmo takes an interest in someone else?
{Given it took five centuries to pick a second agent, I doubt that will happen. Giving a piece of itself is not easy for any creature.}
Sigh. If only her logic could ease an illogical worry.
{Would you live in ignorance forever?}
It might be preferable to having another me running around…is what I want to say. Truth is, after my rampage, I’m sure the summoners of the Hall are already investigating the magic-resistant purple ooze that single-handedly decimated an army. This way, at least a fraction of them will be inclined to report what they find.
“I think we can work something out.”