“O ancient powers that dwell beyond the veil,”

“Hear my call, my voice, my earnest wail!”

‘What a dramatic chant’

Despite holding such sentiments, Zuian earnestly repeated the chants in his heart. After all, the ritual wouldn’t work unless he did. The dramatic chanting came from a voice Zuian was intimately familiar with. High priest Lucian is the most unpriestly priest to ever walk the land. A drunk, smoker, and nun’s playboy. He was the most unqualified for this position.

“From realms unseen, where shadows dance,” (L)

“Bring forth a beast of might and chance.” (L)

Zuian was currently inside a massive cathedral. The centrepiece of the entire church complex. It was where such rituals were usually held. He had been here countless times, yet today he felt strangely exposed. The fact that he couldn't pinpoint his exact location was profoundly disorienting. The cathedral's walls were so distant that it felt as though he was standing in the open. Zuian had briefly considered trying to extend his senses but quickly discarded that idea. Exerting himself just for a little comfort was exceedingly spoiled.

“By the light of the moon and the fire's glow,” (L)

“Through winds that whisper and waters that flow!” (L)

A slight seed of annoyance planted itself in Zuian the longer Lucian spoke. For a man who claimed he disliked overt performances, he was really putting his heart into this speech. But, unfortunately, Zuian would have to swallow that bitter pill. Lucian’s performative act wasn’t really meant for him. It was meant for all the other Arose and their families that were still here for whatever reason. Zuian knew for a fact that he was the last person to get here. The other families should’ve left by now.

“I summon thee from lands unknown,” (L)

“To be my companion, flesh, and bone.” (L)

Silence descended upon the cathedral.

The chant was over. The summoning should begin any second now.

Yep, any second now.

It shouldn’t take longer than a minute really, or maybe even two.

It surely wouldn’t extend to three.

‘Crud! Why is it not working!? Do I really need to say those embarrassing words!’

Zuian had been standing idle for at least five minutes. He could almost feel the collective stares of the crowd touching him. These rituals were supposed to be quick affairs. Ones that don’t last even thirty seconds.

‘Come on, you useless priest! Do something!’

A slight bit of panic found its way into Zuian. For him to come all this way and leave with absolutely nothing would be beyond embarrassing. It would be downright shameful. Maybe, maybe this was punishment? Zuian had dodged the last three ceremonies. Maybe this was punishment for dodging. Public humiliation.

‘Now way!’

Just as Zuian was about to lose hope, the sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the cathedral. The crisp and clean noise signalled the start of the ritual.

‘Finally!’

Suddenly, an ominous, low rumble rang. It slowly built up into a thundering crackle that seemed to replicate itself around Zuian.

‘A storm now? Really?’

If the bright flashes of light that managed to penetrate his blinds were anything to go by, quite the terrible thunderstorm had descended. Storms were not the most uncommon thing in this kingdom, though for them to occur now was plain bad luck. Especially considering Zuian was pretty sure it was a clear, bright day a moment ago.

‘Whatever, hopeful, I can still head directly back… but knowing Rose….’

Despite the worsening weather, Zuian felt very relaxed. The ritual was already taking place. Poor weather wasn’t going to stop it. As soon as he collected his new companion, he would be on his way.

‘Hopeful it is something small’

It would be easier to manage. Zuian didn’t like taking things under his care.

The weather appeared to worsen as the ritual carried on. Cackling booms continued to bombard the cathedral. Zuian's new companion was supposed to appear directly underneath Alter. In front of the unpriestly priest, but it was again taking longer than it should’ve. It was like someone was actively trying to waste Zuian’s time.

‘I guess this is what procrastination gets-‘

An intense tearing noise sounded like that of paper.

It died as quickly as it came. Replaced by scraping noise that could only originate from something digging into the marble floor. The noise whined and whistled until it came to a stop.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

A stop in front of Zuian.

The hairs on Zuian’s body stood with artificial glee to a static’s force command.

A presence loomed large in front of Zuian.

‘I was a little late… This can’t be a justifiable punishment!’

Zuian had missed just a few of these ceremonies, and sure, he did arrive late on the day he did finally show, but! That was no reason for all this drama!

‘So troublesome…! I should’ve never come here.’

Besides Rose matter-of-factly stating today is the ceremony in the morning, nobody was really bothering him to come. He could’ve just stayed home. Doing nothing. It was quite a terrible day to start pretending to care. What was he even doing out here?

‘Ah, you must be jesting. Surely you don’t find me troublesome.

A deep, ancient, and unyielding voice sounded in Zuian’s mind.

Truly troublesome.

‘You did it again…. How amusing’

The presence around Zuian started to move. It’s shifting shining form circling him. Even without hearing its voice, Zuian could feel its displeasure radiate. Raw emotions were flowing into his brain. All courtesy of the pact forming between them. Any hope that this wasn’t his companion stilled immediately.

This was his problem.

Mustering up all the charm he could manage, Zuian became a suck up. With sweet words and a submissive reproach, he spoke in mind only.

‘Greetings. O’, great creature. I would like to humbly apologise for my earlier rudeness’

He had a small inkling of which beast this was, and, unfortunately, that didn’t bode too well for him.

‘I, a mere human, would like to modestly request-‘

‘Cut the crap…. I don’t have the patience or the mood.

Zuian… Zuian was a little taken aback. Sure, his words may have been overly flowery, but surely that was no way for an ancient beast to talk. It was quite uncouth.

‘I would be correct to assume you were the one calling?’

Zuian tried to refrain from having any unpleasant feelings. No one had told or warned him, he would be forced to speak with his companion. But then again, his feelings were misplaced. No one expected such a creature to appear.

‘Yes, I am Zuian Najisi. Princess of-‘

‘Alright, so where are we? Is the Earth? Hm… you said you were a princess, correct? What nation is this?’

Zuian felt his heart race.

He hadn’t heard mention of that name in a long, long time.

‘What’s wrong, little girl? Cat got your tongue?’

A pause descended between them before….

‘Out with it already!!’

The creature rapidly took a circle before bringing its face what felt like an inch away from Zuian’s own.

That was the last straw.

‘Quiet you foul-mouthed beast!’

This wasn’t how the day was supposed to go. Zuian was meant to have already left this damn place with some tiny, cuddly creature. But, no, like always, things weren’t moving at their correct pace. They were moving too fast, too extra. Zuian wasn’t allowed to travel at the same pace as everyone else. He wasn’t allowed to just be normal. Never, not even once.

It was so, so sickening.

‘I… I didn’t come all this way just so you could mess up my plans!!’

Zuian was over it. He was no longer going to be the unwilling subject of whatever fate held for him. He yearned to be different through a simple, single choice. A choice that would guarantee change. He would take life slow. No matter what, he would take life slow.

‘Now, this will head one of two ways. Either you complete the ritual and become my docile companion… or you head back to your home and do whatever beasts like to do’

The ritual being held here today was one of mutual nature. Both parties involved must consent. Either party reserved the right to refuse, which, in the beast’s case, would be demonstrated by them leaving to their world, and, in the human’s case, would be demonstrated by their refusal to touch the beast. It was not unheard of, but generally, it was rare for rituals to end in such disaster. Mainly, because people rarely rejected the summoned beasts due to superstition of bad luck. They would also bring gifts to offer the beast, which seemed to dramatically reduce its chances of rejection.

Hm… maybe that’s why the beast was behaving in such a manner. Zuian hadn’t thought to bring it anything. Most gifts given were highly personalised, which was believed to show sincerity. Zuian didn’t really have anything like that.

‘Whatever…’

This summoning was abnormal already. Lacking a gift wasn’t going to change that.

The beast did not respond immediately to Zuian's short outburst.

A quiet invaded the room. Besides a few low murmurs here and there, the only real sound left heard was the thundering booms produced by the lightening outside. But, even that slowly fell silent.

The beast was thinking.

That much was obvious. Emotions wild and chaotic flooded into Zuian. They were filled with madness and ardent commitment. None of the emotions, though, lasted for more than a mere moment before their space was occupied by a conflicting, contradictory contender. This process happened in rapid succession without rest.

Then, as suddenly as it started.

It stopped.

A single emotion remained.

‘Every well, little girl, let us become companions’

It read like joy, but to call it that felt fundamentally wrong. No, the emotion expressed went beyond simple joy. It felt… It felt like contentment.

‘Crud’

An unexpected outcome.

Beasts as mighty as these weren’t supposed to take kindly to such talk.

Zuian hands curled into a fist.

It really left him no choice. Especially when the words spoken were riddled with such genuineness.

Zuian raised his hands to the back of his head and grabbed at the knot of the tied cloth. The cloth that made up his covering was truly special. It should suffice as a gift. If the beast was going to take this seriously, Zuian couldn’t afford not to.

With the beast having distanced itself a little away, Zuian began the arduously slow process of unwinding.

The third layer came undone, and alongside it, an insidious temptation muttered.

Familiar.

The second layer came undone, and alongside it, an insidious temptation spoke.

Connected.

The first, final layer came undone, and alongside it, an insidious temptation roared.

Present.

Zuian took a step forward towards the beast. It, likely sensing his intentions, lowered its head. Carefully, he gently wrapped the cloth around it. After finishing, Zuian took a step back and pretended to admire his efforts. Eyes closed, he resisted the burning desire within until he could finally string a coherent sentence together.

‘I… I never got your name’

The beast let out a noise from its mouth that Zuian interpreted as a laugh before answering.

‘My name? For my name… you can call me Lord’

Lord brought his towering body closer.

‘Does… he want a hug or something?’

It made sense. Everyone wants affection, and it was customary for summoners to bestow it.

‘A hug is really too much for the first time…’

Nevertheless, Zuian didn’t attempt to move his body.

A grave mistake.

A fact that became readily apparent the moment he felt like tugging on his dress’ collar. Without much warning, he was thrown into the air and landed on Lord’s back. The soft, hard feathers caressed his skin. While in the air, Zuian had concocted various plans that would enable him to land somewhere other than on his back, but unfortunately, all of them involved using some type of power.

‘Hm, what a lacking place’

Devoid of even a warning, Lord lowered his body in what could only be an obvious move. Zuian quickly scrambled to grab the cloth around his neck as Lord took off. Lord flew through the wide-open gates of the cathedral.

A small boom and shattered glass left in his wake.