Chapter 54 - Here For a Reason_The Familiar Summoner

Letter #10

To the one who was Summoned,

I hope you were able to find your way. I apologize if you were summoned into a hostile environment. This letter, if you find it. It is not going to provide you with any hope. I'm sorry.

I am running out of time to write this. You are in danger. There is a being of immense power rising to summon a world-ending engineer. I put every effort into summoning the perfect being to come to this world and stop it before it happened.

The ritual is intact; unfortunately, I will have to sacrifice my life to bring you here. I am sorry I cannot be more of a guide to you. The prophecy of old is true, as I was the one to write it. It was my mistakes that brought this evil to the world. The amount of materials and rituals it will take to summon a world-ending engineer is extensive, and there are specific materials needed that are nearly impossible to find. Unfortunately, the summoner is resourceful and evil. I fear that there will only be five more years until it is ready. I summon you now so you may build up the power and allies.

I hope you get this letter and can do what needs to be done. I have written many letters about my history spread throughout the world. Seek them, and you will soon understand what you are up against. Be discrete, be cautious, and be brave. You were summoned for a reason. Good luck,

You can do this,

M. Veluvius

Levi had read the letter over and over again after they left the dungeon. It hadn't taken the team long to figure out where they were. Well, it hadn't taken Tycen and Anna long, the resident smarty pants. Upon exiting the dungeon, the team expected to see the forest bordering the city of Arcross. Yet, to their surprise, they saw rolling hills of clouds. They had entered the Cloud Plaine Kingdom.

Levi looked over the vast… eh plains that were made of clouds instead of grass. Levi questioned if that would have changed the word "plains." Putting that question to the side, his eyes were drawn to the sky above. It was a starry sky.

"Wait where is this kingdom?" Levi asked.

"It's up," Tycen said. "We're 500km in the sky. The word kingdom is also a misnomer. There aren't actually any established cities or rulers here. It is a vast open area that are full of mosnters, dungeons, random outposts, and some treasures."

"Sooooo how do we get down?" Levi asked.

"We have to find a teleportation outpost," Tycen said. "We have to pick a direction and walk." Levi scratched his head. He wasn't too fond of that plan, but there wasn't anything else for him to do. He called out Anza, his first familiar, a mimic. A mimic was a creature that was made of metallic tentacles that formed into legs of some sort. It was about eight feet tall and had a vicious-looking face, similar to a canine that was wrapped in metal, had sharp teeth, and had blue alien eyes. Levi jumped up and landed on her back.

Anna Onyx, princess of the Onyx kingdom, stood and looked at Levi. She had dark black hair that was up in a bun with two mini wands holding the bun in place. Her dark skin and features reminded Levi of an earthly Sri Lankin woman with a bit more Asian features. She was absolutely stunning, and well, she knew it. Levi looked at her and summoned a smaller version of Anza, which was called drones. The drone was about half the size of Anza and burned with an orange glow in its cores rather than the blue that Anza produced.

Tycen, the purple-haired, dark-skin avian, waved off Levi's gaze and began flying. He didn't need the drones to ride. Lastly, Lady Piper Vendular of the Vendulars was looking at Levi. To Levi, he would have described her as a Pacific islander, an Olympian. She was also beautiful. She had wavy brown hair that was tied into a practical ponytail with two little curlies falling and shaping her face. She smiled her beautiful smile at Levi and jumped up onto Anza's back.

She wrapped her arms around him, and the group set off. While they were wandering, Levi pulled out the last letter from Veluvius. He read it over and over, nervously chewing on his lower lip. Each time he read it, he focused on a different section.

To the one who was Summoned,

I hope you were able to find your way. I apologize if you were summoned into a hostile environment. This letter, if you find it. It is not going to provide you with any hope. I'm sorry.

What did he mean he was sorry? Levi thought. He was right; this letter did not provide me with hope. Why was he sorry? Was he the one who summoned me here? Is it his fault I got brought here? Frankly, I don't care that he brought me here; this has been the best thing that has happened to me… but why did he?

That question had been the one replaying in Levi's head a lot of as late. It had caused him to reflect on his life before and his life now. Here he was, a young adult black male living in a world of magic. He entered into this world a year or so ago, scrawny, unfit, and completely lost. Now, he was a little more fit, less scrawny, and not so completely lost. He had some confidence in his actions.

He was certainly not angry that he was brought here. A small part of him was grateful that the letter confirmed he had been summoned here. It was proof that he had not been dreaming, in fact. That was all Levi needed. It had given him some hope that he could indeed live a better life. Learn from the mistakes of his past and be a better person. But being a better person and saving the world were two very different things.

The man had sacrificed his life to bring Levi. Not specifically Levi, but he had no idea who Levi was. But apparently, Levi fit the criteria for being brought here. Was the potential that Levi showed truly enough to sacrifice his life? Levi didn't believe it was, in fact he thought Veluvius or whoever he was should have tried a different summoning ritual. Levi had no idea what made him so special, apart from the chaos affinity, but surely that couldn't have been the only reason. Right? There had to be more that would have caused the ritual that picked Levi.

"What's troubling you," Piper's sweet voice interrupted his thoughts.

Levi chewed his lips some more before answering, "I uh, am curious what criteria it was for me to be chosen to come here… the letter says, 'perfect being'. Why would a 25 year old from Rancho Cucamonga, California be the perfect choice? I'm human apart of a race that is younger than some people on this planet. Seems odd."

"Still lacking self-confidence I see," Anna said.

"Hush," Piper scolded. Anna chuckled, and Tycen cracked a smile.

"I don't know if this is a self-esteem thing or just something that doesn't make sense. In my short year, I have met many many facinsating beings. Races, that were only told in myths. Yet they are alive and kicking here, they are plentiful, powerful, and strong."

"Apart from plentiful," Piper said. "That does sound like you."

"Powerful and strong?"

"You threatened my father," Piper said. "That's not something someone who isn't powerful and strong would do."

"I agree," Anna said. She had pulled a book out of her bag and was reading it. Or she at least grabbed the book to look like she wasn't eavesdropping on the conversation.

"Want to just be apart of the conversation?" Levi asked.

"What are you talking about, I am reading my book?" Anna said with faux calmness. She was clearly hiding a chuckle.

"Glad to see you're in a light mood," Levi said quietly.

"Levi," Anna said, putting her book away. "We just beat a dungeon, the second one I have completed with you. Both times you did exceptionally well. You have a posse of quite possibly the most impressive, if not terrifying group of familiars. Perhaps against my better judgment, I am ready to follow you. So when are you going to be ready to lead us you big dummy?"

"You might be the worst at giving compliments," Levi said. "So many insults. With a dash of praise."

"I can admit, that is a shortcoming of my upbringing, but my sentiment remains true," Anna admitted.

Levi paused and considered her words. It was true he had grown in confidence since they had formed their little team. He returned my gaze back to the letter.

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You can do this,

M. Veluvius

He was summoned for a reason, which made Levi think back to a moment he had with his mom. When Levi was mourning his dad's death at home, his mom walked into his room. Levi was playing a sad song on his guitar—a song about following his dad into the dark so they could be together. Levi's mom entered the room and sat beside him as he played the somber yet beautiful song.

"That's a beautiful song, son," she said.

"It still hurts, Mom," Levi responded. "When will the pain stop?" His mom gave a soft chuckle; it was sad. Levi looked up at his mom. Her eyes were puffy and red. She had dark circles around her eyes, and it was clear she hadn't slept in a long time.

"I'm not sure it will," she said. "I know you're in pain, son; I am too. Levi, I knew your father for most of my life. I know it seems unfair. It is unfair. You have to push to get out of this room and do something."

"What is there for me to do? Life is meaningless now, I can't do anything without seeing him, everywhere? How can you tell me that I have to push through?"

"I can't sit here, Levi, and watch you throw your life away."

"I don't even know why I'm here," Levi said. "It's not like I was loved by many people… I'd trade places with dad in a second. Then you'd be happy you still had your life long best friend."

"Levi Winters," his mom snapped. "I don't want to hear you say such things again. Do you understand? I loved your father—we all did—and we love you! Son, I know you are lost, and I know you did so much with your father. You are here for a reason, not just someone to trade your life for another."

Levi had a small tear run down his cheek at the memory. He hadn't been the kindest to his mom. Of course, hindsight was always 20/20, and he recognized that now. Add another thing to the list called, "Damn, I messed up big time, I'm sorry list." Wiping the tear from his eyes, he took a steadying, deep breath. He closed his eyes and focused on the mana that was coursing through his body. The chaos mana that was flowing freely in his body.

He felt the warmth from his two Wisps, Willow and Crystal, encouraging him to keep going, that they believed in and trusted him. The warmth was comforting. Levi imagined it to be a fireplace after playing in the snow all day. It melted away the coldness and replaced it with comfort. He felt his core stir as Serenity, his aura dragon familiar, encouraged him as well. She pushed waves of peace over him, the calmness of a still peaceful night.

Levi felt Vapor, the steam spirit, echo feelings of steadfastness. She was an ancient being who had seen many people rise and fall; through it all, she remained steady. He smiled at her projected feelings; they filled him with a sense of pride. Dameion, his avatar of the void, perhaps had the strangest projected feelings. It was alien, unknown to Levi; the avatar was essentially a sapient veil nebula. Although Levi couldn't identify the exact feelings that Dameion was projecting, he understood their meaning.

By his side, he felt Piper squeeze his waist. She gently kissed his cheek.

"Thanks y'all," Levi said. He took a long, calming breath. "I can do this." He clenched his fist. "I can do this." Levi put the letter away. He was done looking at it. Done obsessing over it, done feeling like it was too much of a tall task. He was ready. "We've been walking for a bit, have we seen anything?"

"No," Tycen said. "Which is strange."

"Strange?" Piper asked. "Why strange?"

"The cloud plains are not an empty void. It should be crawling with life," Tycen said. "We should have at the very least felt the auras of some other beings. But we haven't."

Levi frowned; Anza felt his troubles and stopped walking. Levi pulled out his ritual wand and began drawing ritual circles under each of his team members' feet. Piper, understanding what he was doing, did the same thing. Tycen and Anna shared a look, then slowly started to pull out their weapons. Red and blue wisps of energy started to envelop each of the members of the team.

"Levi," Anna said. "Did you sense something?"

"No," Levi replied. "That's what troubles me… if we should have seen something, that means the weaker things are hiding from something-"

"BOAROROR," a massive sound bellowed. The clouds shook. In the distance, a cloudy hill began to shift slowly. The ground started to tremble; the clouds looked like they were moving and shifting. To Levi, it looked as if a hill was moving toward them quickly. Very quickly.

"Holy shi," the words died in his mouth as he felt the power of the creature… "f-f-five star!" he shouted. Another drone appeared instantly for Tycen. With empowered movements, Anza and her drones took off in the opposite direction. With amazing speed, Anza traveled a reasonable distance, but the moving hill still followed.

"BOAROROROR," the creature bellowed again.

Anza looked at Levi. She would not be able to outrun this monster, so they had to set traps.

"Piper," Levi said. "We have to set traps. It's gaining and gaining fast, and we will not be able to outrun it."

"We sure as hells cannot kill it!" Anna said.

Anza stopped, and Piper and Levi both jumped off. "Then you run, find help, be quick because we don't have that much time," Levi said. Anna and Tycen looked at each other. They shook their heads, told their drones to stop, and walked back to where Piper and Levi were standing.

"We will not leave you behind," Anna said with power in her voice.

"Say less," Levi said. He began conjuring various trap rituals, and so did Piper. The two of them, on their own mounted mimic, covered several hundred kilometers in traps. Some traps stole health, some traps froze movements, took away mana, and took away stamina. They would all be relatively worthless. Levi suspected that the monster's regeneration was far superior to their basic traps, but any second gained was enough time that someone or something might save them.

Dameion appeared in its chaotic energy form. Dark grey nebula clouds were surrounded by midnight red lightning that flowed in a stream. Any astronomer would see it as a veil nebula that was alive. The lightning strikes grew bigger as Dameion charged power. Serenity, the aura dragon, appeared next to Levi's side. The light blue feathered dragon sat peacefully as the hill monster approached. As it got closer, its power radiated down. Levi felt the strain but had the protection of Serenity to keep his bearings. She pushed her power to protect the others.

Slowly, the monster got closer. The clouds disappeared as they broke through the surface. It set off all the traps with little consequence; nothing happened. They just shattered under the immense pressure. The sound of broken glass echoed through the plains as each trap ritual was destroyed. Levi finally got a good look at the monster. It was a behemoth snake. Its scales were cloud white, and it had sky-blue reptilian eyes.

There was no telling how giant this snake was. Its head was roughly the size of a cottage. Its forked tongue kept sticking out. It would look at each of the team members, sticking its tongue out like it was tasting their aura. Slowly, it turned back to Levi. His familiars took a defensive position. Levi stood staring at the creature, wondering what was going to happen. There was no way this creature was going to lose any battle to this group.

It opened its mouth; four fangs about the size of Levi flashed a brilliant white. There was a power building inside its opened maw. Levi thought this was the moment that he would die. They did all that work to beat the dungeon and get sent to his new place, and it would be the end as they found the first five-star monster. Man, did it put into perspective for Levi? He thought he was strong; his traps were higher quality and strength than Piper's, but his broke just as fast as hers.

"You wield a marking of a former friend," the snake finally said.

"Uhhh," Levi said, fully confused it spoke. "Who is your friend?"

"An ancient ssssssummoner, one I haven't ssssseen in many years. He ussssed to call on me when I was a mere 4-star cloud sssssserpent. Asked for guidance for a number of things."

"Did it happen to be M. Veluvius?" Levi asked.

"That is correct, young one. I ssssssensed the marking and made my way to investigate. The last time one who had a marking of his came bearing trouble."

"The crown prince?" I asked.

"Precisssssely," the snake nodded. "However, you don't ssstrike me as ssssomone, who comesss bearing trouble. What markings do you bear? You are too young to be his apprentice, he had been gone for longer than you've been alive."

"He uh, left me these letters," Levi said. "His aura is all over them, that's probably what you sensed. Do you have a name?"

"They call me Rivoloa," Rivoloa said. "Ahh so you are the one his prophecy spoke of, the otherworlder?"

"That's me," Levi said.

"The being who wields chaos," Rivola said, the snake phrased it like a question but Levi knew it wasn't.

"Yep," he nodded.

"Hmm," Rivola mused. The snake looked like it was in deep thought. Tycen, Anna, and Piper had all taken a step back when the snake first spoke. The three of them were sharing looks with each other. They had no idea what was going on and how Levi was able to stand strong in the presence of a 5-star being. Not only that, he seemed to be composing himself quite well. Tycen nodded his head, a slight smile teasing his lips. Anna was amazed. Piper was not surprised. She had seen Levi's potential from the jump. She knew that he always had the potential to stand firm.

"Allow me to provide you aid. As I missed being summoned from Veluvius in his times of need," the snake bowed her head? His head? Levi couldn't tell, especially not with the name. It, sure, its head. It opened its mouth, and something appeared; there was a small chest. "Veluvius would contact me for help with vital manipulation." Levi walked over to the chest as the snake explained. He opened it to see many vials of light blue liquid. There were at least 25 vials. "My venom has healing properties. Inside the box contains three different types of venom. The first is an elixir that will give a permeant growth to Vitality, with a chance of granting resistance to poisons. The second is vialsss of poissson to use in your rituals, since they desperately need work. The last is to be used to sssssummon me." The snake said that last part somewhat sadly.

Levi looked up, "you'd want to be summoned again?"

"Very much ssso," Rivola said. "I have no kin. I rarely leave this domain, I am isssolated. Which I do not mind but it was nice to have a friend that could call on me from time to time. It was nice to feel needed. Pleasssse usssse that or come visssit.”

"Thank you," Levi said. "Seriously, I appreciate the gifts; this is incredible. Can you point us to the nearest teleportation outpost?" Rivoloa nodded, pointing its nose behind us. "200 kilometers that way is the closest one."

"Damn," Levi said. "Alright, thanks! We'll see you around." The snake bowed and returned back the way it came.

Chapter 54 - Here For a Reason

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