In the ritual room, Tycen stood behind the glass observational wall to watch the ritual. He was standing next to Piper and Anna as they watched Levi draw a 3-star ritual circle. The circle was not as complex as the magic essence ritual he had just performed yesterday. Rather than using chalk, he used rarer ritual material, chaotic shard dust. He had picked up some at the trades hall, it had cost a small fortune, but Levi felt like it was worth it. After he had finished the drawing the circle he placed the dungeon essence in one rune circle, he stepped into the other, and put some chaos shard in the last.
“He seems very comfortable drawing circles,” Tycen said. “It is incredible to watch.”
“He is very good,” Piper said proudly.
“I think he has an ability that reduces the cost of materials when creating ritual circles and summoning circles,” Anna said.
“That is an amazing ability for a summoner,” Tycen said.
“It’s an amazing ability for anyone,” Anna replied.
“Just so,” he nodded. “What is it that you are hoping for?”
“Not sure,” Piper said. “We are kind of going into this blind. Besides the fact that Levi knows a lot about ritual magic.”
The group paused as they saw Levi touch the shard dust with his mana, and the entire circle lit up midnight red. The essence began glowing ice blue, and Levi was glowing slightly. The dungeon essence flew into the shard dust in the rune circle, and then the combination merged into Levi. He staggered a little as the ritual circle faded, and small smoke started to rise from some of the overused chaotic shard dust.
Ability Unlocked: Dungeon Treasurer
Ability: Dungeon Treasurer
Passive Ability
User Interface can be upgraded. Every time the user enters a dungeon, an additional map with be shown. The dungeon map will lead to secret rooms and hidden items. If the user reaches the end chest, guaranteeing one Legendary item. This is a passive ability that will activate inside a dungeon.
“Hell yeah,” Levi said. “Treasure!”
“Oh,” Anna said with a wry smile. “That is very nice.”
“Way to go babe,” Piper said. “Okay my turn.” She assisted Levi in creating her own ritual circle; she elected to do a 2-star ritual because she didn’t have an affinity to any specific material. She also wanted to use basic chalk. As much as she loved Levi, chaos was his thing, and she would let it be his.
“That did not seem chaos orientated,” Tycen said.
“Depends on how you look at chaos my friend,” Levi said.
“Chaos is bad,” he replied as if it were obvious.
“Hmm,” Levi said. “You might want to check your sources.”
“Boys,” Anna said. “Piper is chanting.” Unlike Levi who had the ability to perform rituals and summons without an incantation, Piper had to. The incantations were always natural, and the person chanting would know what it was the moment they started chanting it. This was one way to know if they did something right or wrong, depending on the incantation. Piper’s was done and her experience was similar to Levi’s. Although she looked more worn out from the ritual.
Ability Unlocked: Dungeon Raider
Dungeon Raider
Passive Ability
Aura strength significantly increases inside dungeons. Aura creates two bonus effects: speed boost and Strength boost to all allies within your aura. Aura strength and distance are determined by star rank. This is a passive ability; it will turn on automatically in dungeons.
“That is awesome, Piper,” Anna exclaimed. She was genuinely happy for her best friend. This ability was a massive aid to the team. Anna made note of the two abilities that were unlocked and how they matched their friends' personalities, which made her slightly nervous for hers.
“Smooth as hell,” Levi said as he gave her a big hug.
“That is another powerful ability,” Tycen said. “Congratulations. Back to the chaos being bad, while Anna draws her circle. How is chaos not bad,”
“Piper, can you go help her, I don’t think she knows ritual magic,” Levi said.
“I do not,” Anna replied. Piper nodded and went to help her friend.
“Why would chaos be bad?” Levi asked.
“Because it is disorderly and causes destruction,” Tycen said.
“So does fire. Is fire bad?” Levi asked.
“Well-”
“What about earthquakes? Raging waves or strong currents in rivers? Windstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes? Solar flares? Who is the judge of what is good and what is bad? Those all cause destruction.”
“Some could argue that chaos magic is the reason that earthquakes happen, strong currents, windstorms. Chaos comes in to disrupt the peace.”
“But you missing one key vital fact,” Levi said.
“And what’s that?” Tycen asked, voice calm as ever.
“Peace and Chaos are not opposites of each other. Order and Chaos are opposite. I can have peace in the midst of chaos. And I do. Look, I get it chaos has a nasty association with being evil, and so do all of my familiars, but they aren’t. Everyone deserves a second chance, and no one deserves to be judged without intimate knowledge of them.”
Tycen went to respond when Anna interrupted, “We can continue this argument later, let me get on with this ritual.”
Piper was getting better at her ritual magic, but she was not comfortable performing this ritual for Anna. Levi looked over the circle and approved. He touched his hand to the circle and watched it glow.
Ability Unlocked: Dungeon Mastermind
Dungeon Mastermind
Passive Ability
Dungeons are often full of ways to lead a team to failure; with the Dungeon Mastermind leading the charge, chances of failing dramatically decrease. When inside dungeons, the Dungeon Mastermind is able to spot any traps, tricks, or deceit. Allowing for a perfect run in a dungeon. This is a passive ability.
“Dope,” Levi said. “That’s so dope!”
“So,” Piper said. “Not only are we going to be finding every secret room of treasure we will be finding all the traps to be faster.”
“Your, I mean, our team will be able to conquer dungeons quickly,” Tycen said.
“We’ll get you one soon big guy,” Levi said.
“I believe you,” Tycen said.
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“Did anyone notice how the abilities were exactly tailored to our personalities?” Anna asked. Everyone shook their head. “I got one, a leadership-specific one. Levi got a loot/reward boost, and Piper’s calming nature and being an encourager were also given a boost.”
“Oh,” Piper said. “How interesting. But it does make sense, abilities aren’t completely random, especially not the hidden abilities.”
“From the research that I have seen, there has been many hypotheses,” Tycen said. “That suggest that all hidden abilities are related to who we are as a person and the way to unlock the additional three are by essence rituals or by being so sure of who you wanted to be.”
“That is an interesting theory,” Anna said. “How accurate to you believe it to be?”
“I cannot say,” Tycen said. “There is so much about magic that is random, take summoning for example. You,” he gestured to Levi, “you can choose what kind of creature you summon based on a specific ritual, right?” Levi nodded. “Can you choose which specific creature you want?”
“I can,” Levi said. Remembering the other all-consuming entity, Calekton Skeletors, it gave him a specific item to resummon. “But it seems only if I have a name or an item.”
“Hmm, so Anza, Vapor, Willow & Crystal, and Dameion were all random?”
“Yes,” Levi responded.
“That,” Tycen turned to Anna. “Is the randomness of magic. Summoning can bring great beings into our realm, but it is hard to do precision summons, at least more costly. For other forms of magic, like unlocking abilities or class evolutions, it's like the magic inside is constantly analyzing data points. to grow more efficiently.”
“Are you following?” Piper whispered to Levi.
“I was,” Levi said. “Now I just don’t really care. You think this’ll happen a lot?”
“OH yes,” Piper chuckled. “If there is one thing Anna loves, it’s a rival. That’s you for star rankings, Declan for guild stuff, me for something, she just won’t tell me, and now Tycen for magical theory.”
“Deep relationships,” Levi said.
“What?” Piper asked.
“She competes with you over deep relationships. You’re crushing her.”
“What, why do you say that?”
“Piper, when we first had a proper conversation and I was clothed, you came over to talk to me first, right?”
“Yes,” she nodded.
“You and I clearly hit off, despite how awkward I was and well am. It was obvious that we were already friendly with each other. Anna tried to do that, but it didn’t work, it’s harder for her. Sure, we’re good now; that took what two or three months of hanging out?”
“She wanted to completely guarantee you weren’t evil,” Piper defended.
“I understand her reasoning. That’s the difference, if she thought I was evil, why would she be around me so much?”
“To protect me.” Levi gave her a flat look.
“Piper please, you need as much protection as I need more familiars.”
“That’s sweet of you to say,” Piper giggled. “Then why?”
“Because she wanted a friend and didn’t want to be left behind her best friend and her best friend’s new friend.”
Tycen looked at Piper and Levi, whispering to each other. He turned his gaze to Anna.
“What are they talking about?” he asked.
“No clue,” Anna said. “This is an improvement from the glossed overlook of confusion whenever I discuss magical theory to them.”
“Really?” Tycen asked, somewhat offended. “But magical theory is amazing.”
“You’re preaching to the choir,” Anna said.
“What does that even mean?” Tycen asked, confusion plastered on his face.
“I’m not sure; I heard Levi say it once. I like how it sounds,” Anna said.
“You are a fascinating person, Anna Onyx,” Tycen said. Anna blushed and looked away shyly. “Do you think they will finish their conversation anytime soon?”
“It depends on us; they’ll keep talking, then they might find their way back into the conversation. It’s nice to have someone to talk to about it.”
“Do they not understand?”
“I think, they just don’t care,” Anna said. “Come on you two,” she said. “Let’s go, so you can stop pretending to listen to us.”
“I don’t think we were pretending,” Levi said. “We were pretty obviously not listening.” Piper laughed and Anna rolled her eyes.
“How was your break Mr. Winters?” Professor Egret asked. It was the first day back from break and Levi was sitting in the lecture hall with his professor.
“It was fine,” Levi said.
“I’d call that an understatement since you are a new class, a new rank, and your eyes are two different colors. How many familiars did you get?”
“You can tell my class?” Levi asked.
“I don’t know what it is, but I know that it happened because of your rank up and aura.”
“Gotchu. I’m a familiar summoner now and I have five. Although I am not sure how many you have met.”
“Five?!” Professor Egret said in shock. “I have only met the two, Willow and Anza. and hi Anza.” Anza bowed at the professor.
“Yes,” Levi said chuckling. “Although I think technically it’s still four. I’m not clear on Willow and Crystal, the other crystal wisp.”
“Why do you say that?”
“The ability to summon another one was a product of 3-star rank up for Willow.”
“Oh,” Egret mused. “Who are the others?”
“Come on out y’all,” Levi said. An eclectic group of familiars all appeared around Levi. Professor Egret’s eyes scanned all five. Her face revealing nothing. In front of her was what looked like an orb with orbiting galaxy, a terrifying looking white cloak, two crystal wisps, and Anza, the mimic who was equally as terrifying.
“My, My,” she said scanning the familiars. “You have gotten yourself a neat group of friends. What are they?”
“This,” Levi said pointing to Dameion. “Is Dameion, he’s an Avatar of the Void. The white crystal wisp is Crystal. The smoke spirit is Vapor, and you know the rest.”
“An Avatar of the Void,” she said quietly. “Levi, are you aware how incredibly rare all of your familiars are?”
“Apart from familiars being just rare, no?” Levi said.
“I want to watch you perform a summoning familiar ritual. Do you have any left?” She asked.
“If crystal doesn’t count, then yes. One more,” Levi said. “Why?”
“I’ll explain after, come come,” she said hurrying off to the ritual room. “BERTRUM!” She shouted. “TO THE RITUAL ROOM!”
Levi looked at his familiars and shrugged. He followed the professor, who practically sprinted out of the room. In the ritual room, Levi saw his two professors standing whispering to each other. Professor Egret was no doubt filling in Bertrum on all that was happening. The two looked at Levi as he walked in.
“What?” he asked, nervously.
“Nothing wrong dear boy,” Bertrum said. “Come now, summon another familiar.”
“Uhh,” he said. “Vapor? What material? We have two swarm and two utility even though y’all are different utility.”
“A defense specialist would be good for our collective group although, I am unsure what type of fighter our new teammate is,” Vapor responded.
“He’s a paladin, if I had to judge off personality it would be defensive. A healer would be nice, especially since Dameion can restore mana.”
“Are you sure Dameion won’t be able to hear at next rank up?”
“No clue, but that could be in a couple of years at least.”
“Fair point,” Vapor said. The two professors looked on with amazement as Levi interacted with his familiars in a way they had never seen before. As uncommon as having a familiar was, Levi was far from the first student to have one at the guilds. Years of teaching had allowed the two to see hundreds of familiars out of the hundreds of thousands of students. Never had either of them encountered a person who treated his familiars as friends with respect. Why would the summoner care about the opinions of his summons? That was unique to see. They wondered how the relationship would develop between Levi and his familiars.
“Professors?” Levi asked. “Do y’all have any rare magic ritual materials? I have some chaotic shard dust left, but not sure if I want to use that.” Anza made a low whirling noise. Levi turned to look at her. “Are you sure?” she nodded. “Okay, never mind.”
“What did she say?” Egret asked.
“To use, iron fillings, coal dust, crystal dust, and chaotic shard dust,” Levi responded. He walked into the ritual room and started laying that down.
“What does that produce?” Bertrum asked, more to himself than anything. The professors both looked on puzzled at what could come from that combination. It was clearly going to be a magical beast from the dust. The combination of the crystal and chaotic would produce an interesting confluence, one that channeled chaos magic and peace magic. That would call on a beast from the pixie fairy realm. Which would not be good. However, that was not it with materials used. Bertrum thought about the combination of the iron fillings and coal dust, that would easily produce anything to do with smoke, combustion, fire, or some sort of metallic, combining that with the magical dust, who knows that would come from it.
Professor Egret was just as confused. She was an elf, so she had a deeper understanding of beast from the pixie fairy realm. It would be nearly guaranteed that the summons would come from that region. She suspected that the other two ritual materials would cut that off. Which concerned her. What in the greater realms, hells, and dimensions would exist in chaos and peace, with fire and metal? The possibilities were endless. Unable to think of anything she stood speechless watching her student draw a complex familiar ritual, with a wand.
Levi pulled out his wand and made a complex ritual circle. With four different ritual materials he needed it to be complex and precise. First, he drew a square, each line a different material then he etched the circle on the outside of the square with chaotic shard dust. After that he drew three petal shapes with the points. all converging in the middle. Each petal had a rune circle inside it. Levi placed an iron fillings in the iron petal, coal dust in the coal petal, and crystal dust in the crystal petal.
He took a deep breath. Anza didn’t tell him what it would summon but he trusted her. Anza was quiet but she was very wise. Levi wasn’t sure how old she was, mimics are weird organisms that are only hive mind within in their own omega. Two omegas don’t interact with the same hive mind. So, because Levi is the omega it made him wonder about mimics in a deeper capacity.
He put his mana into the wand and shot a burst of mana to activate the ritual circle. The professors took a sharp breath, here it was the moment they had been waiting for. A new familiar summon. Bright light shone from the ritual circle. Each of the petals all glowed brightly of their respective colors. Blue/grey for iron, black for coal, white for crystal, midnight red for chaotic shard dust. All lines made from each material also glowed those same colors.
The rune circles lit up and began to form runes. The runes were growing brighter and brighter as a figure was forming in the convergence of the runes.