“One thing first. Alana.” I turn and gesture for her to approach. She does so nervously, but I only can tell because I can read her stern expressions. There’s no hesitance in her steps as she comes to my side.

“Rolly, this is Alana James, someone I hope for you to guide in the use of the light affinity. Alana, this is…” I consider using Rolly’s full name but quickly discard that idea. “This is Rolly.”

“Hello, hello! You smell a bit like kin. Some light in you?”

After a quick look to me for reassurance, Alana clears her throat and answers. “If you mean my magic, then yes, I have the light affinity.”

“Oh! Then? What’s your story? A misunderstood mercenary who values justice more than gold? Mm, you’re a bit too young for that. A young disavowed noble, fighting to reclaim the honor of her house? Maybe a rebellious daughter happy to flit from one adventure to the next? Huh, what is it?”

“You’re a bit…excitable.”

Rolly becomes silver. “Of course I’m excited! Stories are my reason for living. To see, record, inspire, and mayhap live through the next exciting journey is worth everything. Do you understand that? Do you know what it feels like to be doing exactly what you’re meant to be doing?”

“I…maybe.” She bites her lip, hesitating.

My hand on her shoulder draws her attention to me. “Remember, you could be together for a long time. Best to be honest. If you’re worried about saying something embarrassing to a stranger, there’s a good chance you’ll never see her again.”

“Eh? Don’t set up such an ending!”

With a heavy sigh, Alana drops to the ground, crossing her ankles. Sensing her mood, Rolly calms down, slowly drifting until she is floating at eye-level with the future saint, still a bright silver. I wonder if it’d be rude to outright ask what all the colors mean? But I also think it might be fun to figure it out myself.

“For a long time, I thought I had no use at all. Then I thought I had found my purpose. It’s still something I want to do, something I need to do, but it…doesn’t hold the same weight it used to.”

She sighs again. “I certainly don’t see myself giving my life for it. Or for him.” The last part is grumbled under her breath but she’s kidding herself if she thinks no one heard her.

“Then a sword seeking a cause. Mm, mm. We can work with this.”

“…what does my story have to do with teaching me magic?”

“Everything! Characters in different stories have different skills! The unstoppable soldier with a sword of blinding light, the unseen assassin, the concubine who weaves beguiling illusions.”

“…is there a reason I can’t learn it all?”

“That’d take years and you do smell human.”

“She’s got time,” I state vaguely, dodging Alana’s questioning gaze.

“Hmm. Then, I suppose you can but it’s good to have a focus. Have you learned a trade? Or an art?”

“I practice the sword.”

“Okay! So, by learning a role, you learn skills that complement each other in an order that makes sense. For a sword, you learn to chop, block, then counter. Trying to learn multiple roles would be like learning how to chop, yodel, then breed fish.”

Alana blinks. “Breed fish?”

“Water world stuff. I’ve seen stranger things. Anyway! It’s not just about the skills. It’s about using them. There’s no point in teaching you to hide yourself if you’re the type who likes to run headfirst into danger. No point teaching you illusions if you lack imagination. The same goes for fighting styles. Clothes. Speeches.”

“What do clothes and speeches have to do with it?!”

“A hero needs a proper image!”

“…when did I say I’d be a hero?”

“Eh, you’ve got that look about you. Although, your companions do raise a few questions.” Rolly pointedly looks past us to where Kierra has Miss Talia seated in her lap and is shamelessly fondling her. “Is that it? The only righteous voice in a band of degenerates? An interesting take on the usual story.”

“Are you including me in the degenerates?” I ask. She’s not wrong but I want to know what she’s basing it off, seeing as I haven’t had the opportunity to oust myself.

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“Yeah, you’ve got that smell about you.”

What are you smelling? And what are you using to smell it with?

“Pfft.”

What are you laughing about? You’re the one stuck with the degenerates. I should be laughing as I’ve finally got you in my clutches.

“Lou…I think that’s enough.”

“Oh? Have I met your standards? This humble traveler is honored! I will repay your grace by transforming you into the greatest light this world has ever seen…probably.”

“Uh-huh.” Alana turns toward me, her previous tension replaced by a small smile. “She loves the sound of her own voice—”

“Guilty!”

“—and I think I’m developing a headache but…I’ve got a good feeling. Actually, she, uh…” She pauses, pointedly looking away from me. “Kind of reminds me of you.”

Aww, can she be any cuter?

Rolly flashes yellow. “Ehehe, I’ve got a good feeling about you too, young hero. But you should thank the summoner. A good circle brings two like-minded travelers together. The invitation was irresistible.”

“What’s it like? The…invitation. Did you see this room from your realm? Or…”

Rolly crosses her arms over her chest. Her very flat chest. How is she a she? She doesn’t even have anything down there, it’s as smooth as her chest.

“I didn’t see the room. The most we get are impressions. I could feel the good cheer, smell the goodies on the tables, and I heard the faintest traces of a beautiful voice. All of that was wrapped up in an impression of the summoner.”

Her featureless face turns to me. “An unbridled personality steeped in mystery promising adventure. It was more than enough to make me curious.”

“Huh. Lou, do you also get these impressions?”

“Nothing of the sort. I have to trust in the circle. It’s why it’s so important. You don’t know what you’ve summoned until it’s standing in front of you.”

“Yeah, summoners are all crazy. If they accidentally summon something too strong for their circle, they’re dead. Then there’s always the chance a lurker will hijack the summoning and kill everything in sight. Nasty creatures.”

I freeze. “What in the Abyss is a lurker?” Did she just say it can intrude on a summoning? Any summoning?!

“Ah, I can answer all your questions once the contract is done. I’m hungry, you know? And that honey smells wonderful. Come on, Lou. Let’s do it.”

If she were a lot bigger and not so flat, those words might have done something for me.

“Hey, you just thought something rude, didn’t you?”

“You’re imagining things.”

“Hmm.”

“Don’t worry about the little details. Come on, you’ve got an oath to swear.”

“Yup!” Rolly’s wings hum as she flies up. She raises her arms and looks toward the ceiling. “Great Guardian of Dimensions, once more your follower seeks your blessing as I swear an oath in your name. I seek a contract with this summoner. I swear to be a loyal and faithful companion, to obey her will with the exceptions we have mentioned. I do so willing, knowing that going against this vow will cost me everything that I am. Bless this contract and may our journey be a story passed down through the generations.”

Undoubtedly a creature with a love for theater. “I accept your vow. Take my mana as your own and we will be bound henceforth.”

The lueorale slowly floats to the edge of the circle and places her feet on the edge. The mana in the white stone dims as it enters her body. The moment the bond between us is formed, Rolly disappears.

My head snaps around to find her suddenly hovering over the bowl of honey. She dips her hand into it, groaning as she samples it. “Oh, yes. Did they feed these bees **** ambrosia? This can rival the ***. Doesn’t hold a light to the **** though. Ah, but maybe with a bit of instruction…hey, Lou! Ever thought of raising bees?”

“No, but feel free to.” She just spoke in at least three different languages that sound nothing like words. A part of me is interested but most of me is thinking what a pain it would be to try and learn them. Can I even make those sounds? I don’t think so.

“I might, I might. I’ve got a cousin who’s into that. Best mounts in the realm.”

Mounts? Ah, she is small. But not small enough to ride a bee. Unless…how big are the bees she’s talking about?

While my new companion is engaged in the honey, she doesn’t notice Kierra and Miss Talia walking up to her. Miss Talia’s expression gives nothing away but her interest is clear from her open eyes, a rare sight, as she examines the creature. My wife stands at her shoulder, smiling softly.

Eventually, Rolly looks up from the honey, jumping as she sees Miss Talia. “Oh! Huh. Are those *****? Er, the closest translation would be, hm, mana sight, I think. First time seeing those on a human.”

“It is also my first time seeing a creature like you.”

“I’ve heard our kind looks funny to those eyes. You should turn them off before you make yourself sick.”

The dorm mother freezes. The whole room freezes, in fact. Even the succubi.

Rolly looks between our stunned faces. At least, her face turns toward each of us in turn. “Hm? Hmmm? Oh, surely you knew you could turn them off? You’re not one of those starchilds swimming in the primordial soup of creation. The sight is supposed to be a boon. One could hardly call it that if it blinds you to the material world.”

“How?” Miss Talia asks with the most emotion I’ve heard from her to date. Saints, she almost sounds…normal.

“Eh? You really—”

“Rolly.” The lueorale turns to me and I give a sharp shake of my head. This may seem silly to her but this a life-changing moment for Miss Talia.

“Oh, fine. It’s simple. Just channel your mana through your eyes. You’re not expending the mana so it doesn’t take anything more than concentration. Hah. You should have learned this as a child. By now, you wouldn’t even have to think about it.”

Miss Talia ignores the elemental’s criticisms, closing her eyes. We all wait in tense silence for several minutes until she opens her eyes again. They look the same but I can tell something is different. The way she looks about the room, lips slightly parted and eyes wide, says it all. Then something amazing happens.

She smiles. A full smile, showing teeth and wrinkling the skin at the ends of her mouth. It even reaches her eyes, their ends crinkling too. It’s a perfectly average smile, nothing special about it, but somehow, it’s almost blinding. I reflexively squint as I stare at her. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she has the light affinity.

“Oh.”

Kierra chuckles. “As quiet as ever lily. What an auspicious start to our journey together, little lightfly. May you continue to bring prosperity to our clan.”