It was evening when Yuca finally got back to her dorm. Her shoulders were slumped and her body tired as she flopped to her bed like a sack of potatoes.
"Ugh... It's over. I don't have a future anymore..." Her soul felt like it was slipping out of her mouth as she said those words in despair.
Above her was a floating fire who moved languidly. It's brilliance from awhile ago felt like a lie as it looked dim. Yuca turned to her side and glanced at the summoned entity for a moment before she sighed.
"Stop being depressed. It's not your fault." The sentient fire lit up.
She could understand why it was depressed. Through their connection, it didn't understood what it did wrong, but it felt her panic and distress mostly when the school professors called her to the headmaster's room to reprimand her.
It couldn't protect it's Master because she stopped it from doing so, and also tried to convey that the people who were scolding her stood on top of her. The Paraph at least knew of the concept of hierarchy, so it finally relented though now depressed.
"... Well, I only need to pay my debt and then I can get the benefits from this school again. I think I can do that with you on my side!" She sat up. "That's right, you can use fire effectively. I'm sure there is something in the school board that we can do!"
The School Board was a place in the school where the school gave students persistent assignments that they could do. If they managed to submit the requirements for these assignments, they would be given compensation from the school itself.
Of course, being a school, they won't give something that was impossible for a student. Teachers catalogue everything first before they put it on the board. If an unreasonable assignment had been put on the board and it costs the life of a student, the throne or the ministers would be notified and the teacher or staff in charge of it would be punished severely.
These assignments were put by school to train students as a Summoner. Being Summoners, Apprentice Summoners needed experience in many things like work and combat. Even with the mainstream of summoning female entities, there were still many types of summoned entities so they needed all kinds of work, and the School Board had it.
Yuca's words held a certain hint of seriousness in it. Her words indicated her determination to work together with the Paraph. The Paraph also noticed it.
"... You have a decent power, so I am considering making you a Familiar." She muttered.
A Familiar. A term used to a summoned entity that was put on a permanent contract by the Summoner. There was a difference between just summoning an entity and putting it into a contract.
A Summoned Entity could only sustain it's entire existence through the magic provided by their Summoner. They would return to their own realm if the magic runs out. This was unlike making a permanent contract which solidifies their existence to this world, cutting them off on their realm and truly making them a part of this world.
There were pros and cons to it, though for a Summoner, simply summoning someone was enough. Turning them into a Familiar would put a burden on them. It also meant something important for a Summoner to turn someone into a Familiar. It would mean they were commiting anything they have to that single entity for their entire life.
Unlike a Summoned Entity who only took the required Mana for their brief existence in the world, by turning a Summoned Entity into a Familiar, the Summoner would truly be bound by that Summoned Entity, and the Summoner would provide for that Summoned Entity, including a shelter and their Mana.
It was that kind of commitment that most Summoners couldn't do. Summoners became summoners because they wanted to become strong, be independent, and many other selfish reasons. Even Yuca had her own ambitions.
Yuca felt like the Paraph might be strong enough, that she was willing to turn it into a Familiar. It was unlike the orcs and goblins which she simply summoned. It would exist permanently on her side.
"I want to be a famous Summoner. I thought it's impossible with my talent, but seeing your capability, I think I might have a chance!" She muttered before she looked to the corner of her bed. She reached out and take the book hidden below the pillows. "And there were many creatures listed in this book. Maybe with this book, I might become popular, and then acquire a lot of wealth and even position. Wouldn't that be great?"
The fire brightens for a moment, before it moved around excitedly. She nodded with a smile.
"So you just want to explore this world. That's fine." She sat on the edge of the bed and then urged the sentient fire to go in front of her.
This was the first time she was going to do a binding process. The binding process was simple. She only need to use twice the amount of Mana for summoning the creature. She had already recovered that amount before coming here, so she could do that now.
It was also a good thing for her to make a contract. Her mana capacity would grow depending on what type of Familiar they had, and how many. She was still at the First Magical Foundation Stage, which was a stage for starting as a mage and any magic-related professions. This stage focused on reinforcing the body through magic, and expanding the metaphysical magic container within their body to produce more magic.
She wasn't doing so on goblins and orcs because she was hesitant. The growth of the Summoner depends on the type of creatures they were contracted to. If she tried making a contract with a goblin, then her growth would end up on the high ceiling of the goblin kind, which was incredibly low. She had more Mana compared to a goblin, so she couldn't possibly put a limit on her potential.
If she tried making multiple contracts, that would be akin to suicide. Making the same summons as a contracted familiar would only net the Summoner diminishing returns. To give an example, if the first summon of that race gave one hundred percent additional for potential growth of the Summoner, then the second summon of that same race would only give seventy five percent of potential growth to the summoner. It goes quickly until nothing would be added anymore to their growth.
Which meant it was useless.
A Summoner could have multiple Familiars, but they did so on different species. That was a way to acquire more profits than simply putting their potentials into decline.
Of course, not every Summoners could benefit on contracting any monsters. They need compatibility with it, or else their body would reject it. Summoners who had an affinity with water would obviously summon a water type creature, unlike summoning a fire type creature which wouldn't even give them any potential and might even cause a backlash on their body when they tried trait sharing.
Fortunately for Yuca, she was compatible with any monsters. They simply have a limit to their growth unlike anthropomorphic monster girls, so she was hesitant. Now that she had proof that this sentient fire was strong, she thought it wasn't a bad idea to make it her first contract.
She begun the formula for the binding process. The magic circle for it was simple, so she quickly managed to form it with her magic. After that she urged the magic to enveloped the both of them.
"In this binding contract, I, Yuca Meidill, pronounced to the world that this being be my Familiar. I bestow the name of Para to this humble creature!"
The binding process was a success. She felt a sense of tugging within herself. It was linked to the floating fire in front of her. Even if she closed her eyes, she knew where it was located.
"... That's your name now, Para." She said. Her heart beating for a bit at this new sensation.
She was surprised. She could feel their bond. The bond had expanded her limited potential. It's so much that she felt that she could quickly reach even the next level after the Magical Foundation. There was also something within her that was added. On the potential that the Paraph had given her, there was a new affinity within it.
"Wait... I got Fire Affinity!?"
It was surprising. Monsters couldn't share their traits. Their potential was also limited. Though she could feel the talent that was given to her. With a simple self-analysis, she managed to learn that it was a fire related trait.
"It's not just Fire Affinity. There were other fire related traits within my talent pool." She gasped for a moment. Her heart beating faster.
Acquiring a new trait from a summoned entity so far in human appearance was impossible. It couldn't happen unless if there was a really special circumstance within them.
"... Is this also because of my affinity with monsters?" She wondered.
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She looked up and saw that the sentient fire was lit brightly. The room, despite having taken off the fire on the lamp, still looked brightly lit with it's excitement.
"It looks like you feel happy being bonded with me."
She couldn't feel anything changed on it with their bond, but she thought if it was happy it might be because it got a boon with their connection. That was how mutual contracts between the Summoner and the Summoned were.
"Okay! I'll sleep early so we can do some jobs tomorrow! I still need to pay my debts on this school..." Her happy mood quickly fell as she recalled about it.
Though she doesn't want to blame the Paraph. She was the one who asked it to show what it could do.
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Grandshire Academy was one of the large Summoning Schools on Soleil City. It was close in fame with the two biggest Summoning Schools of this city which were the Zantark Academy, and the Obscurite Academy.
Early in the morning, on the wide halls of this school, many people glanced or whispered on each other as they looked at the brunette and her floating fire familiar.
"Isn't that the one who burned the west side of our school?"
"Just when did she get a monster that strong? What kind of summoning circle did she use?"
"I thought it was Lady Falhart's Fire Spirit who did it. I didn't thought there is a monster who can also do that!"
"Did she really summon it? She's just at the First Magical Foundation Stage, so it's impossible to summon a strong monster like that!"
"Even though it's just a small flame elemental, it can burn the west side of this school? Is it really easier to burn the structure of this Summoner's School?"
Many more were whispering to each other, gossiping about her. Her face was red as she could hear them despite their hushed tones.
'Ignore them. I just have to face forward and do some assignments!' She thought to herself.
It took awhile for her to get to the School Board. She decided to find an assignment first before she goes to the cafeteria.
On the School Board, there were several students who crowded the large wooden board filled with parchments plastered around it. When she arrived there, there were some who glanced at her and at her summon before they simply snorted and returned to looking at the board.
She waited for a moment until she had a space to get closer and read one of the assignments on the board.
"Let's see... any fire related works... oh, how about this Para? You just need to use your fire!" She pointed at one of the parchment.
It was a request from a blacksmith. They needed fire elemental creatures to help them power up the Hellfire Furnace. It was an artifact used by Arcanesmiths to create other types of magical armaments or artifacts.
Para gleamed, and then spun around her. She smiled at it's excitement.
"Tsk. So there are still idiots in this school who makes contracts with monsters? What a disgrace!" Her smile quickly changed into a frown as she turned to the girl who said that.
It was a haughty looking lady whose nose was so high up her head as she gazed down at her with a frown. Along with this lady was a few high class girls who stood besides her.
Yuca gazed at the girl for a moment before she widened her eyes in realization as she noticed the level of power within this girl.
'Ugh... Fifth Magical Foundation Stage. I can only bow my head...' And so she did. "Sorry, we'll be going now..." She tried to leave the place along with her summon when suddenly she was blocked by that girl's followers.
"Stop! Who gave you the permission to leave?"
'Tsk!' She almost clicked her tongue, but decided to hold it as she turned back to the girl. Now that she looked at her carefully, she noticed that the blonde haired lady wore a pendant with a symbol on her chest. That indicated that she was a noble. 'Such misfortune!'
She was used to being ridiculed, being someone who had a blessed talent on summoning but with the unfortunate affinity to monsters only. She was expecting for this person to also throw scathing words her way while she left. She didn't thought they would actually bother to stop her.
"Hmm... you look familiar." The girl said before her eyes widened in realization. "Aren't you that fool who burned the west side of this building?"
"Yes... do you need something from me?"
"Ha! Talking back to me? So shameless!" She huffed. "No, I want you out of this school! Your very existence tarnished even my own heritage! To be with the same school as a loser who made contracts with monsters makes my skin crawl!"
That, Yuca, couldn't let go. "Well, I'm sorry if my talent is trash! But that's no way to talk to me! I won't leave this school!"
"Hah? And who are you to defy me? I am from the illustrious house of Galvant! A house of great Summoners! As the heiress of that house, I can get anything I want! And that includes your presence on this school to be taken off!"
"Dream on! I won't let anyone dictate what I can do!"
The two of them glared at each other. Before the others quickly raised their hand. Yuca knew they would get violent so she tensed up.
"Do you accept a duel?" The Galvant girl suddenly suggested.
"Bring it on! If I win, you should leave me alone!"
"Hah, as if you'll win with that puny ember!" The girl smirked.
Yuca glared at the girl. Her fists were clenched and her shoulders shook in anger.
She could only accept the duel. Duels between Summoners, Mages, and any people with magic-related professions had an unspoken rule between them. It was a principle between them to always respect the essence of conditions and rules stated on a duel.
It was an important rule that every mages and summoners followed. It was like a Knight's code for them. The pride of the Summoners were staked on this duel.
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The newly repaired dome was crowded once more. Despite having been amongst the burnt area on this school, the staffs and their earth elemental familiars easily managed to recover everything back to normal.
This place was a field for students to fight each other. There were many rings that they could use, all of which had runic symbols on the edge of the circular ring for the barrier to function around it. This had been done so the audience wouldn't be harmed as the two combatants fought each other.
Yuca stood outside too. This specific duel was a duel between their Summoned Entities. It wasn't really a true battle between them, but rather a showcase of their strength as a Summoner. A Summoner's strength came from their Summoned Entities, so their familiar's victory would be considered their own victory too.
A Summoned Entity was considered the extension of the Summoner itself. Any of it's feat would be attributed to the Summoner.
Only a few watched their battle. Others were more focused on the battle taking place on the larger ring.
Yuca doesn't really care. She just want her Paraph to win so she could start with her assignment.
"Hmph! Your only going to use that small ember as the combatant? This will be trifling!" The girl huffed as she formed a magic circle, summoning a water elemental.
It was a beautiful girl whose entire body was made of pure water. It was a water elemental girl. A common summoned unit.
"I don't need to use Bleu. A simple water elemental girl is enough!"
Yuca gritted her teeth. Between Summoners, using a creature that hadn't been in a contract yet was an insult to a Summoner who was using their contracted familiar in a duel. It essentially meant that their foe doesn't mean anything to them.
"Hey... are you insulting me? Haven't you heard, my Para has burned the majority of the west side of this school! I think you shouldn't be underestimating me too much!"
"Hmph. What can a small fire elemental do to a water elemental girl?" The girl simply snorted.
Having seen that the girl was intent on further insulting her as a Summoner, Yuca decided not to bother and start the duel.
"Para! Defeat that water elemental girl! Use everything you can!"
Actually, Yuca was also nervous. Fire elementals couldn't contend against water elemental creatures. They were weak against it. The Paraph was made entirely of fire, so it was easy to imagine what would happen if a water elemental got in contact with it.
'No! I'll believe with my fire elemental! It managed to burn the majority of this school, so I think it might be able to hold on for a long time...'
She actually didn't believe she would win. She only hoped her Para survived until the Galvant Heiress became fed up and let her give the win. It could spread fire around, so she wanted to use that as distraction.
The noble lady simply scoffed as the battle started. She didn't tell anything to her summon as she was confident that nothing could hard her water elemental girl. She wanted to show Yuca just how futile her struggle was, and get her kicked out of this school as she felt insulted. It was that kind of pettiness that made her smirked at just imagining it.
The water elemental girl gazed at the small ember of fire, tilting her head as she haven't gotten any orders from her Summoner. Para on the other hand flickered for a moment, before it let out a pulse of heat around it. She noticed that, so the water elemental girl raised it's arms and produced water around her, covering her body with a dome of water.
The Paraph then flared after that pulse. It's small torch-like flame suddenly turned larger. The whole ring lit up, which alerted the many students who were busily watching the other combatants on the other rings. Even those who were still in the middle of the duel got curious at that and stopped their duels for a moment to watch it.
Yuca's foe gasped and covered her eyes due to the sudden brightness, and almost anyone couldn't really watch as the intense radiance of the flame makes it's impossible. It was like a star itself had lit up on this world. They could even feel the heat that even with the barrier around the ring, they were already sweating a lot and those who were nearer felt their skin being scalded.
The only one who was unaffected was Para's Master, Yuca Meidill. Her eyes were stuck on what was happening on the field, unperturbed by the radiance of flames that burst forth and burned everything within.
That was right. She saw how the Paraph simply bursts, and turned the whole surrounding into a blaze of inferno. Fire formed on the air, on the ground, and even on the edges of the barrier. She could watch it all without being affected by it. Once again watching in awe at the sheer prowess of the Paraph.
"... Wait, am I seeing this right?"
She only thought that Para could simply spread fire magically. It was still fire, and she couldn't feel any magical influence on these fire. She was surprised when that fire got in contact with the water elemental girl.
In a brief moment it touched the dome of water, that dome of water bursts into flames. Large fire, small fire, every form of fire was formed on each particles of the water. It turned water into fire itself. Of course the water elemental girl ceased to exists, it's substances that made it up now also fuel to the fire of Paraph. That water elemental girl's essence returned to whence it came, not even knowing how it got turned into flame on this material world.
"Para, that's enough!"
Seeing the barrier that was letting out steams and cracks around it, Yuca knew it was dangerous. Her call stopped the Paraph who was immersed on spreading it's kin to this world. It's large body turned small, though it was indistinguishable by the amount of flame that burns everywhere within that ring.
It easily managed to pass through the barrier, and spun around Yuca in excitement. Yuca could somewhat convey that it was happy as it managed to spread more of it's flame. She simply smiled, though a bit awkwardly as she was more surprised at the fact that it could defeat a water elemental that swiftly.
'It's fire is not even magical in nature. How come?' She wondered to herself.
It took awhile before the noble lady noticed that her vague connection with the newly summoned water elemental girl was gone. She only learned about it when Yuca said it herself.
"Impossible!" The noble lady exclaimed, her face darkening in shocked and denial.
"Now that I win, you should leave me alone! That's my condition for winning!" Her words seemed to have struck something on the noble lady's nerves as she gritted her teeth.
"Eurgh... Fine! In accordance to the rules of this match, I, Suila de Galvant, will not bother you anymore!" She said that with greeted teeth, her eyes narrowed on her way.
Having gotten her word, which was heard by the public, she finally decided to leave before another troublesome thing happened. As she left, the others who watched could only mutter to themselves.
"Did you see that? She managed to defeat a Summoner five stages higher than her!?"
"That's Suila de Galvant, right? The Princess of Blue, Suila de Galvant!"
"No way. Even if she only used a normal water elemental girl, that water elemental girl should still have a boost with Lady Galvant's magical prowess! How come that first stage monster summoner managed to defeat that?"
"Much so, with a fire elemental!?"
"Hey, look at the ring! Am I weird, or is the fire getting stronger?"
"Shit! It's breaking the barrier on that ring! Call the professors and the staffs!"
Many immediately panicked as they finally noticed that the fire wasn't letting up. It was getting stronger and stronger.
In the end, the staff was involved once more and they quickly contained the flames with their different types of treasures or high level summons.
Along with this was another rise of popularity. Yuca doesn't know it, as she quickly left the place.