Levi was standing up, looking at the notification box telling him he had unlocked the ability to have a familiar. A bond that will last him either his lifetime or the familiar’s lifetime, should the familiar die early. Levi was shocked. He knew nothing about summoning, he knew nothing about familiars or if they were good or if they were evil. All he knew at this moment was he could work to not to be alone. Exhaustion left his body replaced with excitement. He opened up the skill book which was a summoners guide. Thumbing through the pages he found a section on familiars.
Rather than reading it, the words appeared in their own text box in front of him. Like a guidebook or tips in video games. “Summoner’s Guide Chapter 17 - Familiar Bonds. There are various levels of familiar bonds,” Levi read out loud. “Familiar bonds can be summoned with certain materials; they are random but extra materials added can increase the chance of the summoned familiar.” He mumbled read a section until he found what he was looking for. “Ahh, here. Familiar bonds with salt ritual circle,” nothing stood out to him in that list. Consisting of normal animals, he was used to seeing on Earth, cats, dogs, pigs, cows, and a horse. “I’m in a land with summoning and magic, I could do better than a standard animal. Familiar bonds with sand ritual circles,” once again Levi found the list to be underwhelming. This list consisted of lizards, snakes, scorpions, which the last one freaked him out. “Okay, not sure how a scorpion could be useful for me but whatever.” He kept reading. “Familiar bonds with iron dust ritual circles, whoa.” His eyes grew wide at the options the iron dust provided. “This is what I’m talking about, proper magic creatures, Dragons, drakes, Wyrms, YES!”
Levi’s joy sank to the ground as he looked further to see that the dragons, drakes, and Wyrms all had a lengthy list of added materials, but one could get lucky to get a dragon. Very lucky. The list consisted of various summons, using iron dust didn’t necessarily mean he was going to get a familiar with an affinity to earth or fire but it was guaranteed to get a magical creature. Iron had magical properties and thus was important in summoning magical familiars. Electing that was worth the risk, he looked up on how to draw a ritual circle.
Levi felt like he knew what to do. He had never created a ritual circle before, but the skill books information entered his mind instantly. He took out his iron dust and created his own ritual circle. It was not complex, with a square inside a circle. The ritual circle lit up iron gray. Levi took a step back, trembling with excitement and anticipation. He had just successfully did his first magical thing. EVER. Wait, Levi had just done his first magical thing ever. Without even considering the negative effects that could come from having an unruly summoned monster. What if he summoned a monster? Something that could not be controlled?? It was too late, there was a shape being formed in the middle of the ritual circle.
Panic now fully set in; Levi hid behind a tree nervously as the creature’s silhouette was formed. Looking at the creature he couldn’t believe what he saw. It was about four feet tall and stood on all four “legs”, if you could even call it legs. It was completely made of metallic tentacles that allowed it a free-flowing and unique form of movement. Its center was glowing bright orange bioluminescence. Levi had seen this creature before, it was in a movie he quite enjoyed. It looked terrifying in person; it was a Mimic.
The creature turned its alien head towards Levi.
“Uhh,” Levi said nervously. “Hi!”
The creature gave him an assessing look. It’s slithered back and forth across the ground.
“Can you speak?” Levi asked. The creature shook its head. “Okay, but you can understand me,” it nodded. “Bet. Do you have a name?” It shook its head. “Would you like one?” It nodded. “Are you male?” it shook its head. “Female,” shook its head. “Hmmm okay,” Levi thought for a second. “What about Tenty?” The creature huffed and shook its head. Levi chuckled, “Yeah, didn’t feel right. I’m thinking a shorter name?” the creature nodded. “Oh, I’m Levi by the way. Honor to meet you.” The creature walked up and nuzzled its head as a welcome. “Oh friendly, awesome. Okay, hear me out…” he paused. “Benlo?” The creature paused to consider. It liked this name better than the other one its new summoner had suggested. After some time, it shook its head. Hoping he would come up with a better name.
This went on for an hour as he considered what to call his new friend. At this point, the creature had sat down and was sitting across from Levi, pacing. It was staring with amusement and assessment, uncertain what to make of the skinny human summoner. He paused.
“I think I have it; I heard this song a few years ago. It was spoken in an African language. Africa is a continent where I come from. Anyways, the song is Waloyo Yamoni.” Levi said. The creature looked back, dissatisfied. “No, not,” he pleaded. “Not the whole name just Yamoni, it means overcome.” Levi stood in anticipation, seeing if his new friend would accept the name. It looked and slowly shook its head. No luck, but he felt like he was getting closer. “Damn, okay, let me keep thinking.”
After some time, the creature had fallen asleep, but Levi was still up thinking. “I GOT IT!” he said. The creature slowly lifted its head and blinked sleep out of its eyes. “Anza?” The creature’s eyes sparkled. Thinking about it for a few seconds, it nodded emphatically. With a goofy smile and a relieved whoop! “Anza, it is.”
Levi was so satisfied he had finally found a name that fit his familiar. He was grateful she would actively participate in the name-choosing process. Levi thought about the name. In Swahili, it meant “begin”; it was the beginning of his journey wherever he was, doing whatever he had to do, and his new adventure. Levi wished he knew what it could do, but the summoner’s guide did not provide any context, so that was not helpful. He was curious, but he let Anza sleep; she looked tired. He wondered what bonuses it provided. It was a summoned familiar according to his ability which means she should be able to provide some bonuses. Levi looked at the notifications.
Familiar Bond established.
You have bonded with a Mimic Drone
You have given the name Anza to your familiar.
“A Mimic Drone,” Levi said. “I guess that’s what they call the small ones that were swarming.” Levi stood still, looking at the alien creature before it. It was hauntingly beautiful, and it allowed him not to feel so isolated. He had something that reminded him of home, it was familiar, and he chuckled at that.
Familiar Anza provides the summoner to perform chaos and water magic spells.
Character Log: Anza
Familiar
1 Star
Chaos Beam
“I can now perform chaos and water magic spells?” Levi murmured to himself. As if it was responding to his words, a brand-new textbox appeared that had a little wizard’s hat in the top left corner.
Spell Log
You have been given access to cast certain spells based on your familiar. The more familiars, the more spells.
1 Star Spells -
Orbs of Chaos
Orbs of Water
“I have no idea how to even use mana. How am I gonna cast a spell?” Levi said. Levi dismissed the message box, and the small wizard’s hat icon went next to his inventory icon. Levi noticed his mana had dropped half points., presumably from the summoning ritual. His mind was racing the whole time, he couldn’t sleep. He kept the fire going for the rest of the night. The stars started to fade. He looked up to the sky. It was the colors of red, orange, and some bits of purple as the sun was rising.
He had stayed up through the entire night. Waiting for Anza to wake up. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he tried to conjure an orb of chaos. Holding out his palm, he felt an instinctual feeling to use his mana. Pouring the mana into his palm, this mana felt unruly and uncontrollable. A small black orb started to appear that had red flashes of lightning swirling all around it. The orb looked like it was a storm ball from hell.
“Damn… what the hell… I-i-I did it! Holy crap I-I did it. I’m holding a ball of chaos wow. This feels AMAZING. I’ve never felt sooo exhilarated and so alive!! Wow.” Levi stammered, laughing at what he did. “I am literally holding a ball of chaos that I created with mana inside me! HA what the hell. You’re a wizard, Levi,” he said in his best-Hagrid voice. He looked up to see Anza was staring at him with amusement. “Where I come from, this is not possible.” he said proudly, holding the orb of chaos up to his familiar. A low noise emerged from Anza. It sounded like a garbage disposal had caught a spoon mixed, not to sound as bad.
“I can only do this cause of you,” Levi said. Same noise. “Are you proud?” Anza nodded emphatically. “Thank you,” Levi said with a smile. “Do you go into me?” he said slowly, not sure what the right words were. Anza nodded slowly but with hesitation. “I assume you don’t want to?” Anza nodded faster. “That’s fine with me,” Levi said. “Well,” he stood up and stretched. Diminishing the ball of chaos. “Can you put this fire out? Let’s head to the town… to find the Summoner’s Guild.” Anza nodded and blasted a small stream of chaos that doused the fire.
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The pair walked back to the dirt road where he had met the two women, Piper and Anna. He was hoping he would see them again, but he was likely not going to. The dirt path was clear and easy to follow; he felt like he was walking on a leisurely nature walk without great scenery. The weather was getting warmer, and they had left at first light. Walking more, he felt the temperature rise significantly. His burlap sack of a shirt did not help him in any way as it became itchy and way too hot. He was quickly uncomfortable, he regretted not going to the town to find a shop to purchase shirts.
Levi spent a lot of time asking Anza many questions. After some time, Levi developed a strategy to learn about Anza, right now they could only communicate with each other through yes or no questions and responses.
“Are you older than 20?” A slow shake.
“Are you older than 10?” A shake.
“Are you 18?” A shake. “Sooo, do you have an age?” It shook its head cautiously.
Levi shrugged. “I’m 24, although I don’t look it. I look younger, we call it black don’t crack, where I’m from,” he chuckled. Levi was an average man, and he had short hair, a two with a fade to zeros on the sides and back. He had no facial hair, a wide nose, or big lips. He had high cheekbones that made his face look chubby, but he was far from it. His teeth were straight and white after years of wearing corrective braces, and his smile was his best feature. His eyes were dark brown, slightly darker than his skin complexion. Levi was milk chocolate brown.
“Did you choose to be my familiar?” Anza nodded. “Well damn, I wish I could ask you why… hmmm. Was it an accident?” He asked. It shook its head. “Oh good, so intentionally chose. Can you breathe fire?” It shook its head but stared at him with hesitant eyes. “You can one day, maybe?” Anza nodded. “What happens if you go inside me?” Anza didn’t respond with a nod or shake, it demonstrated. It started to glow an off-white color and enter into Levi; he didn’t feel anything different. He looked around and couldn’t see anything different either.
Anza’s bonus was it provided was the ability to spell cast chaos and water spells. Which Levi assumed was not possible for summoners. It made him wonder if everyone could use magic, which he figured they could. His definition of magic will likely be expanded on, because that woman, Piper, didn’t look like a wizard. Like the other one, Anna. Anna had the wand, the robes, the book. Everything about her cried out she was a spellcaster.
Anza reappeared out of Levi and slightly bowed its head. “Is it boring in there?” Levi asked. Anza nodded. “Much more fun out here with me huh?” he said, partly sarcastic but also not. Anza nodded without hesitation. “Aww thank you!” The pair had been walking for what seemed like a few kilos without seeing anything new in the distance. The only thing that changed behind them was the fact the small town was gone.
“How far is this city?” Levi complained. The area they were in was hard to describe with one word for Levi. There was a scattering of trees amongst plains. The grass of the plains was tall and light green, looking like it had been one or two sunny days before dying. The trees were all varied, but they were tall, ranging from willows to oaks and maples. Levi looked at the trees, which were tens of meters tall.
He saw nothing particularly interesting about them. Levi wondered about the world he was in. Magic was real, and it existed. He still couldn’t believe it to be true, but it was. Magic was real, and it was something he could do. It was a nice mixture of nature and items that were things that he had back home. Dogs, cats, salt, sand, maple trees, oak trees, the list goes on. Why had they been so similar? It's like he was in an ancient version of earth where technology was replaced with magic if they were in the 1600s. He knew he wasn’t in the past and this was a different world because his text boxes said so. But was Levi ready to believe the disembodied textbox that he has been taking free items from?
Still unsure, he reached out to touch Anza. It worked. He felt its tentacles; they were cool to the touch. It felt like touching a smooth metal bar, which was peculiar as the tentacles had segmented parts. He went to lay his hand on its head. It nestled its head affectionately under his palm. This was clearly real. The Mimic next to him was real, the chaos orb he created was real, and the fire he made last night with the branches was all real. And yet, to Levi, that made more sense than normal animals, trees, and grass. Levi did a small hop and was brought back to the ground promptly. “So, gravity was the same,” Levi said. “I guess the laws of physics still apply here, somewhat.”
The more Levi thought about it the more something became clear. He would need to learn how/why he got here and what happened to his old life? Would he be able to go back? Would he even want to? It’s not like Levi left a lot of great things behind. He had a decent relationship with his mom. His dad had died several years ago. Levi had siblings, two older sisters. He did not talk to them, not since they left to college. They would show up around the holidays, but they were both married with families. They had no time for their boring little brother. Which he was fine with, it’s not like he wanted a deeper relationship with them. He had cared for them, naturally, but what was he going to do? He had no romantic interest; they all had fizzled up. He had never had a serious girlfriend. A little too nerdy for the girls at his schools.
Levi had no real friends besides Corey, the guy who had reached out to see how it went with his date. Corey and Levi had never actually met in person. They met online while playing video games. They were in a lobby together and were put on the same team. The two of them played well, so they joined up in a party and chatted. From that point forward, they exchanged usernames and were able to reach out to one another periodically. They had talked vaguely about making plans and going to a big tournament of the game they played together, but nothing substantial.
Levi worked in the corporate world and made decent money. He didn’t love his job, but he didn’t hate it either. Tired of working in the corporate world, he had put in his two-week notice two weeks ago. Two days ago, was his last day. His job was unremarkable. He went to work and sat at his desk in a cubicle at a computer for hours on end. Every day. He didn’t interact with anyone at the office besides his direct lead. Even then, it was cordial at best.
Levi lived a moderately healthy lifestyle because he didn’t work out or exercise. He ate healthily; it was his way of balancing everything out. Of course, now in a different dimension, he wishes he had worked out more, so he didn’t get laughed at by those two beautiful women, but hindsight is always 20/20. Levi saw this opportunity as a fresh start. The chance to be something he always wanted to be. He wasn’t sure what that was, though, but he could find out. Anza was a great start, as she was badass and so sweet. In part, Levi imagined if he had more of a life, he would be determined to get home as quickly as possible, but what for? There was nothing left for him there.
“Not so fast there,” a voice said from behind a tree. Pulling Levi out of his thoughts completely.
“Huh?” Levi said.
“Give me your money,” a scrawny boy said. He poked his head out from behind the tree with a small dagger. His stance was wobbly, and he looked nervous.
“What are you doing lil bro?” Levi asked.
“I said, give me all your money,” he replied.
“I’m skinny and you’re skinnier than me. You’ll never rob anyone like that.”
“It doesn’t matter,” the boy said incredulously. “I have a weapon and you don’t, so give me all your money.”
Levi chuckled. The boy was too focused on Levi to notice Anza had not been beside him anymore. “Yeah,” Levi said. “But I have an Anza.”
“What is an-” Before the boy could finish his sentence, a deep growl came from behind him. He turned around quickly to see a creature he had never seen before behind him. Dropping his dagger in fear, the boy runs away.
“Well,” Levi said. “I expected more fight from him on that, you didn’t even have to attack him. That’s lame, shall we continue?” Anza looked back to see the boy was coming back but this time with two older-looking men. They all looked the same but were carrying short swords.
“We hear you’re messing with our younger brother,” one of the elder brothers said. “You ain’t got no right to do that.”
“He tried to rob me, poorly, I might add but he did try,” Levi responded. “Look I don’t want to fight. I want to keep going until I find the next city and get out these stupid clothes.”
“Not until you give us all your money…” the brother protested. Levi sighed getting robbed was not the move. Levi studied the body language of both of the men, they had similarly poor stances. It was clear they were not professional thieves, simply some men who were hungry and got it into their heads, albeit foolishly, to rob people. “Save the trouble and hand it over.
“I’ll see y’all later,” Levi said. “He looked at Anza; if you’d like to knock them out, go for it.” Anza made another futuristic robotic sound and attacked. Levi turned around to watch what his familiar could do. Anza swept the legs of each of the men. Each man was splayed out horizontally their backs to the ground. Anza lashed out another tentacle and smashed them into the ground hard. They started coughing because they had the wind knocked out of them. The men all groaned and lay on the ground, unable to move or breathe well.
It walked over to Levi, looked him in the eyes, and kept walking down the dirt road.
“That was certainly impressive,” Levi told his friend. Let me tell you a little secret. I have no idea how to fight, and this is definitely something I need to train.” Anza looked at Levi as if to say they would practice together. “Thanks, friend, I’d appreciate it.” Levi thought for a second if he should take the items from the would-be robbers. He decided against it, that was not how he wanted to live his life here. He walked over to the youngest robber and handed him back the dagger.
“Here,” Levi said. “I don’t need or want this. Find a better source of income.” Levi turned from the boy, not allowing him to say anything in return. After some time of walking Levi figured, this could be a good time to train. He started running, the running only lasted a couple hundred meters till he was doubled over gasping for air. Anza looked at him with judgmental eyes.
“Hey,” he said in between deep breaths. “I, haven’t exercised in so long!” He said, raising a finger toward his familiar. “In fact… the walking we did was already so much.” Plucking a waterskin from his inventory, he took a deep long gulp. Feeling slightly better, he got to his feet and walked. Slowly, after time, he felt better. He decided to run again. This time it was going to be a lot slower and not a full-out run. After setting a measured pace and Anza running beside him effortlessly, he finally hit his wall. This time, Levi was able to jog five hundred meters. Doubled over once again, coughing hoarsely. He took another water skin out and gulped it down. He took a seat and relaxed. A text box appeared.
Status: Progress Made
Stamina has increased one point.
Speed has increased one point.
Speed and Stamina are now at 17.
“Crushed it,” Levi said pumping a fist in the air. He was proud he had made some subtle improvements on his attributes. He honestly had no idea that would work but he figured it wouldn’t actually kill him. After a few more moments he got up and began jogging again. Levi did this jogging, walking, and resting combination for three kilometers after that in the distance he saw a massive city wall surrounded by a river acting as a moat. Gasping for air once again, the very sweaty, stinky man that was Levi mouthed the words, “whoa” as he gazed upon the giant city.