The spectral form of a rat darted across my parents’ bedroom, its body a transparent blur that glowed subtly in the dim light. Its light-blue frame emitted a faint purple hue, with intricate black patterns embroidered along its back. Its eyes were pure white—lifeless yet alive at the same time. At moments, its ghostly form seemed to “disperse,” the edges of its body dissolving into the air, only to realign itself when it paused. Despite its ethereal appearance, the rat’s body was tangible, evident as it scampered onto the bed and began tugging at the blanket playfully. This was no ordinary rat. It was a soul summon, and not just any—it was mine.

It’s been a few months since my birthday—or at least, according to Sys’ calendar. Zarvendia doesn’t follow Earth’s calendar, so Sys decided to adopt the more familiar and straightforward “Earth calendar” for convenience. It might seem strange that this world celebrates birthdays, hinting at a similar solar-based calendar system. Yet, as Sys explained, while Zarvendia’s calendar differs from Earth’s, the two are close enough to align without issue. Perhaps it’s the result of Zarvendia being a parallel world. One clear advantage, though: no daylight savings time.

You don’t like daylight savings?

“I honestly cannot put into words how much I despise that time of the year.

That’s cool.

“The fact that it turns completely dark at only 6 p.m. makes absolutely no sense-”

I thought you said you couldn’t put it into words.

“It’s ABSURD that I have to turn on my lamp by 6 p.m. 6!”

I’ll take over Beric’s place of narrating this part. Clearly, he’s…….busy ranting. To sum up the events that led up to Beric learning soul summoning, I’ll explain the process of soul summoning itself. Beric, in simple terms, exported a copy of the rat’s “Original Insight”, out of his own soul. After absorbing the rat’s soul, obviously, the Original Insight was absorbed alongside the soul shell. Because of this, Beric was able to manually replicate the said soul shell, thanks to his newfound knowledge of the rat’s soul design from the Original Insight, out of pure mana. This mana, because of the usage, then transformed into a “soul”, though really, it was but a mere imitation. However, this was enough, as Beric then used more mana to supply a “physical” body that was capable of housing the makeshift soul. This all then led to the creation of the shadow-like being that’s currently zooming across the room.

“It’s astounding how I get drowsy at 9. 9?! Did I suddenly age 80 years? Why am I dozing off at only 9 p.m.?!”

…….He’s still going off on-anyway, if it helps, think of the Original Insight as a blueprint. Like any blueprint, it requires materials to bring it to life. These materials can be acquired by absorbing other creatures, which provide mana and experience. The soul shell is one of the key “building materials” in this process. However, the effectiveness of the blueprint isn’t solely determined by the number of soul shells absorbed. Other factors, like Beric’s stats and soul rank, also play a significant role. Currently, his abilities are limited: he can summon only one rat at a time. On the other hand, his capacity for ants—thanks to his diligent absorption efforts—caps at around 25. The mana cost for summoning reflects this difference in complexity: a single rat requires 50 mana, while a single ant only consumes 2 mana. Beric could summon a few more ants right now, but it isn’t recommended for one’s mana to be near depletion.

Level: 23

* Strength: 40

* Speed: 33

* Stamina: 44

* Endurance: 43

* Durability: 39

* Mana: 60

* Soul Rank: Tarnished

* Soul Color: Purple

While absorbing soul shells correlates with an increase in Beric’s mana, it does not directly influence mastery over the blueprint. True mastery requires an understanding of the fundamental principles of magic and an unyielding will—both necessities for Beric to progress along this path. That said, absorbing additional soul shells of the same creature might hold untapped potential. If Beric were to absorb more rats, the increase in mana and refined control over soul magic could eventually elevate the intelligence of his rat summons, perhaps transforming them into worthy companions. While soul shells primarily serve to enhance mana, repeated absorption of a specific creature’s soul shell may allow the user to develop such proficiency that they can alter the very laws governing the blueprint. As intriguing as this possibility is, it remains speculative. Whether or not it comes to pass depends entirely on Beric’s choices and growth.

He finally tired himself out. Is this what it’s like to be a parent?........Though, now that it’s all quiet, I can’t ignore this small question……Why didn’t Beric gain the ant’s Original Insight? I had stated that due to a general lack of individuality within the ant’s soul, there was no need for one……but that was mainly an educated guess. I truly did not know why that was the case, and for some other reason……I was compelled to answer in that way……I wonder why that is?

Whatever the case, it’s time to get back to work. Arthur and Elaine are at the village school, and Lucian is off helping a fellow villager with a construction project. Meanwhile, Merrol is outside tending to the garden. With everyone occupied, this is the perfect opportunity for Beric to delve deeper into the art of soul summoning. *alarm clock*

“..hmmm?...”

*military whistle* Up, we got work to do.

I let out a yawn as I tried to regain clarity. I was watching my rat summon mess around…..then I recounted about the calendar…..What was it again?

You fell asleep because you weren’t used to the spell's strain on you.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“That sounds right……but wasn’t I talking about something before-”

No.

“You sure? I could’ve sworn-”

Yes. I’m sure.

“.....Alright.” I slowly rose from the floor and made my way to the rat. Peering at the bed, I spotted its charcoal tail poking out from beneath the covers. Gently, I nudged the fabric near it, but the rat paid me no mind.

Buddy, you obviously have to call for it.

“Well, what do I say?”

Try something like, “Here boy.”

“Are you dumb? It’s not a dog, so why the hell would it respond like one?

Oh, I’m sorry. Are you the system?

“......I mean, no but-”

Yeah, that’s what I thought. So, say that shit.

I cleared my throat. Then, as quietly as I could, I whispered, “Here boy.” Of course, the rat still paid no heed.

Wow, you actually did it. Good boy.

“I swear, if you do more bullshit like this, I’ll-”

You just need to reenter soul sense and locate the faint link between you and the rat. Once found, reinforce the connection with mana to fully reestablish the tether. The disconnection happened because, when you fell asleep, your body instinctively prioritized preserving all your mana, causing the rat to become inert.

I let out a small sigh as I scratched my head. “That’s going to be annoying.”

It won’t be like this forever. With time and dedication, you’ll become adept enough to maintain the connection to your summons automatically.

I entered soul sense and began searching for the “link.” Thanks to my consistent meditation practice, finding the faint connection between my soul and the rat’s was almost effortless. I carefully channeled my mana through the link, reinforcing it until it grew clearer and more stable. Almost on cue, I noticed a slight disturbance beneath the blanket. Exiting soul sense, I looked up to find the rat emerging from the covers, its pale, glowing eyes fixed intently on me. Admittedly, the sight of those hollow-like white eyes did put me off. However, I noticed that it stayed completely still, just staring at me. The stare was unnerving, as if it were silently waiting for my orders.

“Soooooo, now what?”

Give it a test run. Try to order it to go to the corner of the room.

“Go over there.” I pointed to the corner.

In your head, genius.

“Oh.” Go over to the corner. I locked eyes with the rat, staring hard in an attempt to intimidate it. It didn’t so much as flinch, its glowing eyes fixed steadily on mine. An awkward silence filled the room as I repeatedly tried to will it into following my mental commands, to no avail.

Well, that’s to be expected.

“What is?” I asked, snapping my fingers at the rat. I had hoped that would incite it to move.

The obedience of your summoned creatures hinges on two factors: your mana and your will. Mana is straightforward—it serves as the power source for your summons. Your will, however, is a more complex matter. A strong will is not only necessary to lead your summons but also to establish the bond between you. Without a commanding will to follow, why would your summon obey you? Why should it respect the commands of someone with weaker resolve?

“I’m not weak-willed.”

Really? Then, how do you explain that moment when you admitted you were “scared” by the rat’s gaze on you?

“I wasn’t scared.”

…………….

“........Okay, maybe, I was slightly ‘unnerved’, but I was not scared.”

"Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others."

– Fyodor Dostoevsky.

I let out an annoyed sigh and flopped onto the bed. “Why does it matter whether I have a strong will or not? This is a being I literally summoned. Doesn’t that mean, by default, it has to listen to me? I’m its creator, after all.”

If you want the truth, you really only have yourself to blame.

“Huh?”

As I explained, your summons are formed from your mana—the very same mana that originates from your soul. This means, by default, your summons inherit some of your own attributes, including your own will and resolve.

“My will and resolve?”

Think of it in this way. This rat may just be an ordinary rat, but it contains your very own hate and rebelliousness towards being controlled by someone else. To solve this, you’ll simply have to stop being unnerved by its appearance and to establish yourself as its master. Typically, I would recommend one to befriend the summon, and to gain a long-lasting bond. But, this is you.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

The best course of action for you is to force it under your ruling. You’ll have to prove your dominance over it, though that path will depend on you. I personally don’t have any ideas of the way to go about this.

I groaned as I sat back up, glancing at the rat. It was still staring at me. “How am I supposed to do that if it has the exact same will as me?” I muttered, tugging at my hair in frustration. Letting go of my hair, I fixed my gaze back on the rat. Resting my head on my right hand, I stared at it. If what Sys said was true, I’d have to use force to command this rat, given my nature… but, it was precisely because of my nature that I thought there might be another way. Slowly, I stretched out my hand… and began stroking and patting the rat.

Hmm…….That’s interesting.

“What?”

I didn’t think you would go on this path instead.

“Well, I’m a man of many paths. And, I’m not one to follow the obvious one.” I began flicking the rat’s whiskers, trying to play with it. To my surprise, the rat’s tail twitched, just for a split second.

I’m not too confident that this will work…….but, I can’t help but be interested in seeing how this will end up. I do prefer this path anyway.

Gently scratching the neck of the rat, I laid on the bed, humming the nursery rhyme that Mom had sung to me many times before.