"Carrion is a dimension inhabited by different creatures. Ranging from common field assisting creatures to live calamities," the instructor explained. "As summoners, we go into Carrion to record the beauty of these creatures to remake their image in our dimension."
Alexander watched as Isabela's eyes sparkled while listening to the lecture.
"Each creature has an elemental type, species category, and rank," the instructor listed. "For example," the instructor summoned a beast with emerald claws and fangs. "This Emerald sabertooth has the rock element, beast category, and is elite-rank."
Alexander sighed as he already knew all this information. He wasn't even a beginner summoner. Alexander already had a full team with him and even more within his grimoire.
"But as summoners, we also have certain rules to follow," the instructor mentioned. "Who knows what they are?"
Several hands were raised, and the teacher pointed at a young lady with long silver hair. "A summoned could only have four creatures stored in their codex. All other creatures' records will remain in their grimoire."
"Correct. Who could state another rule?"
The instructor pointed to the crown prince. "The creatures of Carrion can not be used for malicious deeds."
Alexander scoffed.
"As honorable as that statement is, Your Highness, that is not a restriction enforced by Carrion's magical signature."
The instructor gestured to Isabela. "Recorded creatures can not be passed to others."
"Correct," the instructor nodded in approval. "A valuable part of being a summoner is having the ability to acquire your own creatures,"
the instructor stated. "As you all know. Carrion has many different sectors with varying creatures living within them. To be a summoner, you would need to navigate these dangerous environments and personally encounter these creatures."
Alexander noticed that the students began whispering about forming groups or hiring trained professionals to help them. He couldn't help but laugh.
"Some of you may be thinking of getting help," the instructor spoke up. "But once you enter the portal, you will be transported to a random location in that sector. Going in unprepared to face everything by yourself is suicide," the instructor warned.
"Remember that."
------
Alexander observed from a distance as the affinity reveal ceremony began. Since Alexander already knew his affinities, he didn't need to partake in this ceremony. That's why he chose to observe as the people who garnered his interest took the ceremony.
First was Elodia Guine. A woman with long brown hair and eyes. She had a slender figure and a beautiful face. This invader had managed to get close to the crown prince. It was revealed that she had an affinity for Earth.
Next was Irelia Ironhide, an athletic woman with orange hair and teal eyes. Alexander isn't entirely sure what her plans are since he only discovers her as an invader because of her suspicious behavior toward the protagonist. It seemed despite her being an invader. She retained the original owner's affinities, the signature steel and earth affinity of the Ironhide family.
After Irelia was Michelle Karvan, a tall woman with red hair and black eyes, she seemed to be the planner between the duo as his investigations revealed her being involved in several trades in the market recently. The Karvan family didn't have a specific affinity tied to them, but she was revealed to have both steel and fire.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The last invader present in this batch of the ceremony was Luxanna Midas. She was the invader with the highest noble status with the original owner's family being a count's daughter. She had long spiral blonde hair and blue eyes. She was short but had a slender figure. She was revealed to have a light affinity. As for which of the potential love targets she was after, Luxanna was after one of the few female love targets available, Diantha Frostheart.
If Alexander was known as the Tyrannical dragon, Diantha was known as the ice witch. Her control over ice magic was on par with Alexander's fire magic. Despite neither of them caring, people regard them as rivals.
"Good luck to her," Alexander couldn't help but chuckle.
Diantha Frostheart was literally and figuratively the coldest person Alexander knew. He doubted seducing her would be easy.
Finally, it was Isabela's turn to find out her affinities. The crystal revealed a golden glow, symbolizing the divine element. As expected, the crowd reacted as the rarest affinity appeared before them.
Everyone reacted.
Except the invaders.
------
"Welcome to your first official practical summoning class!"
The instructor was a bulky woman with wild purple hair named Nazaria, also known as the academy's guard dog. She was one of the strongest summoners in the kingdom. So strong that Alexander wondered how the academy got her to become an instructor.
"A summoner needs to have three things to become an official summoner," Nazaria stated. "A grimoire," she raised a large book with a purple cover and pink accents. "A recording crystal," she placed two translucent crystals on the podium. "And a holding core," she placed a translucent marble next to the crystals.
The teaching assistant began handing out blank grimoires to the students, along with a small wooden box containing four recording crystals and four holding cores.
Alexander did not need these, but he stored them within his spatial ring anyway.
"I want all of you to place your hand on the cover and let your mana flow," Nazaria instructed.
In response, Alexander summoned his grimoire. It had a black cover with bright red accents and crimson borders. A short distance away from him, Alexander saw Isabela's grimoire turn from brown to a pristine porcelain white cover with golden accents.
"Fitting," Alexander commented before turning back to Nazaria.
Nazaria waited for everyone to integrate with their grimoires before proceeding with the class. "Now that everyone has bonded with their grimoires, I want all of you to prepare for our first dive into Carrion next week," Nazaria announced. "The portal would be designated to Fairy Meadow, a sector with a very low danger rating. But I want all of you to still be prepared," Nazaria explained. "Dismissed."
The students trickled out of class while Alexander stayed for a moment and watched them all leave. An important moment was supposed to happen here, so Alexander shrouded his presence and waited.
A few minutes later, Elizabeth Saurden marched into the room. She was the fiancee of the crown prince, and she clearly wasn't pleased about some harlot getting close to the prince.
Alexander took out a handful of sweets from his spatial ring and watched the drama unfold.
Should he spare the others from the cliche dialogue? Nah.
"Crown prince! You shouldn't be associating yourself with this woman. You have to uphold your royal dignity."
"The people I keep around me are none of your concern, Elizabeth."
"I am merely concerned about your image as the crown prince."
"I am capable of taking care of myself. Leave us be."
More cliche dialogue will follow, but Alexander has run out of sweets. What was the point of keeping your ears entertained when your mouth was not busy?
Alexander was about to teleport out when he heard the sound of a slap, then another. Elizabeth had slapped the invader, and the crown prince slapped Elizabeth in return.
"Ooh... I wouldn't want a person like that ruling the kingdom?"
Alexander's voice rang out through the room, getting their attention.
"I might feel the need to revolt."
The air grew cold. The Magenta kingdom was in an era of peace, but that didn't mean the royal family held the power. They're in power simply because the three great families see governing the kingdom as nothing more than a bothersome task.
The agreement was that as long as the royal family didn't run the kingdom to the ground, the three great families would protect it.
If the heir was some spoiled brat, is there a reason to protect it?
Don't you agree?