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Chapter 6: The Connection

Elem knelt before the Sacred Fountain. He had long wondered what the site would look like and now he was finally there, it felt unreal. While many of the older disciples had told him about the Sacred Fountain, no amount of descriptions could have prepared him for what was before him now.

Although extremely bright, the Sacred Fountain’s light didn’t bother his eyes at all. Light blue energy pulsed from an unseen source, sprouting through the room as if it were some otherworldly blend of a raging fire and a crashing waterfall. He could feel its power connecting with the Essence inside his body. The interaction was so strong that it dizzied him.

He took a deep breath and focused on his Essence. If all went well, he would soon be eye to eye with his very own Summon. For a moment he dreamt off, thinking of the different Summons he could encounter. What were the chances of connecting with a Minotaur just like father and grandfather?

“Focus,” he told himself, squeezing his arm.

There was no use in speculating. Not anymore. His Summon’s type and class would entirely depend on his own Essence and whatever he’d connect with would be his destiny. All he could do now was meditate, foster his Essence and wait.

For a brief moment, the dreaded alternative crossed his mind. What if no summon would come for him? What if he did not possess a true Summoner’s Essence? The thought alone made his stomach turn.

“No,” he chastised himself another time. “Not now.”

Elem couldn’t allow his mind to drift. He needed to concentrate now. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. He felt his Essence dance through his body like a whirl of mist, activated by the Sacred Fountain.

When he finally opened his eyes, the blue light had disappeared. It had been replaced by a thick curtain of fog and an unbearable stench. He got up and began walking around, his feet wetted by the moist ground. Further ahead, he noticed the outlines oddly of shaped trees. He found himself in a swamp, Elem realized, far away from the temple.

This could only mean one thing; he’d successfully harnessed the Fountain’s power and had journeyed to another plane of existence. A world beyond his own. It was an odd experience. Something he could feel in every fiber of his body but would never be able to explain to anyone who hadn’t experienced it.

He felt lighter and yet more powerful than he ever had before in the physical world. His Essence, which he’d always known as an invisible, almost intangible force, now swirled across its body as a translucent trail of purple energy. Elem wondered if this meant that his cultivation forms could be used to weaponize his Essence in this other world. At Sekuheim he had learned that was how powerful Summoners handled violent Summons.

Elem figured it was best to set out and discover. The marsh was covered with tall grass and a spotty collection of still ponds. Mysterious lights looped between the patchwork of water but other than that, he saw no signs of life.

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“So it's a marsh,” he mumbled.

Did this mean he had connected with a Water Summon? He wouldn’t meet a Minotaur in a swamp that, at least, was certain. As time went on he began hearing the screeches of hidden animals; exotic birds, reptiles and some even sounded strangely human. Whatever was out there, it was close. Elem could feel it.

When his step accidentally cracked a fallen branch, he heard some rumbling in a nearby pond.

Elem rushed to the waterside and as he approached, the contours of a vaguely humanoid creature emerged from the water’s surface.

“What on earth…” Elem blurted without noticing. He was so nervous, he nearly fainted.

Obstructed by the mist, the being looked like some sort of massive frog. It didn’t look like any of the Summons Elem knew about. He had to get a better view.

Elem waded through the mist, stepping slowly as he didn’t want to startle the strange being.

However, the Summon was already aware of Elem’s presence and partly sank back into the muddy waters as he approached. That’s when Elem noticed the creature’s head. Its top was shaped like some sort of bowl and was filled with luminous water.

“Could it be?” he murmured, remembering a Summon with a similar description from his lectures at Sekuheim.

The creature emerged from the water once again. This time, it revealed more of its body. The creature didn’t resemble a frog. In fact, it had more in common with a turtle. Its torso was green and covered with slimy scales while from its back hung a large oval shell. That’s when Elem knew for certain; he had connected with a Kappa.

The Kappa’s eyes were a piercing yellow, similar to that of a snake and yet oddly human. Its mouth was a short beak that looked like it could generate enough force to bite through bone and muscle.

“Hello,” Elem tried. He didn’t know if the creature was capable of speech but, in truth, he wasn’t sure what else to do. All his father had ever taught him was that connecting to a Summon always was a unique experience. Summons were beings with individual personalities. Some required a battle but others could be convinced otherwise.

As he stepped closer, the Kappa maneuvered away from him. It popped its head lower in the water and swam to the side where it hid behind a boulder.

“Wait!” Elem called as he followed the creature into the water. He wanted it to know that there was no reason to fear him.

“My name is Elem. I am a disciple from the Sekuheim school. I am here trying to find my first connection. Hoping to find a Summon that matches my essence. Please don’t be afraid!”

The Kappa slightly reared away from the boulder, turning its head like an attentive dog. Even if it understood Elem’s plea, concepts like ‘’connection’’ and ‘“Summons’” meant nothing to it. These were human constructs, labels designed to processes and ideas completely foreign to the Kappa.

Finally, the Summon stepped fully away from the boulder and directly faced Elem. With the water at their waists, they appeared similar in height.

“That’s good,” Elem said quietly. “Now I am going to step closer so you can feel my Essence.”

He stretched out his hand and the translucid Essence raced across his entire arm. The movement seemed to startle the Kappa and it immediately dived below the surface

Elem cursed under his breath.

“What now?”