The crowd of students dispersed from the Ivory Tower. Many of them went with their parents to celebrate.

After Ms. Maribell left, Luke consoled his friend.

“Don’t get too down Liam. You still have your second summon on the 5th floor. We’ll help each other out.”

A couple waved excitedly at Luke.

“We’ll talk later! My parents are waiting.”

“Don’t worry about me. Go. Go enjoy your time with your family!”

Luke excitedly ran, shouting out to his parents of his achievements. Liam smiled happily for his friend. He ignored his unfavorable circumstances and looked around, wanting to congratulate Reld as well.

Reld stood on the opposite side with his family and at a distance from Liam.

Catching the sight of Liam’s happy waiving, Reld scornfully looked and pointed at Liam. He didn’t acknowledge Liam, but gave a mocking face and belittled him instead. He motioned to his parents and snickered while saying something to his parent’s before looking away. His parents mimicked their son, saying something about staying away from Liam.

Liam was taken aback, he did not expect Reld would start giving him the cold shoulder after finding out about his inability to bring out his summon. Dysfunctional summoners were frowned and looked down upon. But he felt hurt by Reld, who was someone he considered his friend.

It was a long day already, and Liam seemed to have already lost a friend. He stood there alone, hurt, and lost, as his peers joined their parents.

Barely holding on to his fracturing reality, Liam pulled himself together and headed back home.

Many thoughts and images spiraled in Liam’s mind as he trudged his way back home.

The tower, dungeons, Heathens, Lady Gwendell, Luke, Reld, Ms. Maribell, his parents, the voice and Ordinance…

They all circled around his thoughts.

Liam got home without knowing how he got there. He was distracted and somewhat absent-minded, but somehow made it back without getting into any accidents.

Liam entered his parent’s house and went straight to his room, collapsing into his pile of blankets, sheets and pillows.

He laid there motionlessly as he tried to stop thinking of the circling problems he was dealing with. But they relentlessly still repeated in his mind.

Recalling his interaction with Ordinance reminded him that he didn’t get answers to all his questions.

“Ordinance. Now that we are alone you can tell me. Why did you need saving?”

“I am uncertain, master. Much of my memories are damaged or erased. The only one I can recall is escaping.”

Ordinance paused, recalling his old memories from ages long past.

“I crossed a barrier and ended in the expanse of creation. I do not know what or who created the barrier, nor do I remember what was on the other side where I came from. Due to heavy damage, I went into slumber to preserve my strength, but there was no suitable host until I met you.”

Liam was now very curious about his new summon. Liam listens closely to Ordinance's story. He felt a slight warmth coming from his primal soul house.

“I was almost out of energy and about to fade away. I am thankful for you saving me master. I know I have duties left undone, but I cannot remember them. Maybe as I repair my memory, I will once again remember.”

Liam took in the information, but there was nothing he could do currently to help.

“Sounds like we both need origin energy, and lots of it too. There’s nothing I can do about it right now. Can you tell me about your abilities instead?”

“Most definitely master. The system abilities are the following:

Detection of beings or items within a radius of about 400 feet.

Mapping and displaying the information of an area that you have seen or traveled onto a window screen.

Analyzing and displaying information on yourself, others, creatures, items…practically anything, however, due to damaged memory, the amount of information available is limited or missing. Though I can still infer or draw out possibilities. Increasing information stored in memory will allow for better analysis and correct information provided.

Memorize and store information in an almost unlimited library. There is a scan feature that is still partially functioning allowing for quick copying or downloading of information into the database. The information can be applied to many of the other system abilities, and therefore makes the memory function very important.

Inventory is a subspace where you can store non-living items. Currently, due to lack of origin energy, master has 10 slots that can store 10 items. Master can increase the slots, by using origin energy.

Marketplace is a feature allowing master to buy and sell items from the entities of creation by accessing their Communal Warehouse. My prior user information has been lost, so master will have to register and acquire membership. The more master spends and spends past a threshold, the marketplace will upgrade master’s membership level. The higher level memberships give benefits like bulk discounts, access to more restrictive information about creation and beyond, gifts, requests, and other higher goods and services.

The host assistance package had items designed to give a boost to newly bounded hosts. A special lottery gift box was included and allowed a one time use to obtain a powerful item/skill/ability for the host. However, I am unable to retrieve the package from the marketplace as my account has been lost.

That is currently all of the system abilities. Pretty much all of them need more origin energy to unlock their full power.”

Liam was quietly taking in the information. He was surprised at the potential he could do with the system abilities. Ordinance was unable to fight, but it was not a simple or weak summon at all. However, he was still stuck with a dilemma, he needed to be able to fight. He had to climb at least to the 5th floor of the Ivory Tower to complete his second summon.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I wonder what ability I got taking contracting you as a summon. The summoner would get one additional skill from the soul house of their summon. I guess I’ll have to wait until tomorrow when we get that evaluated at the Lazar Institute.”

“Master. Actually you don’t have to. The status window would show that information for you. Would you like to see it now?”

Liam was ecstatic. He could see how he could already try to make use of the function.

“Yes!!! Show me! Ordinance do you think I can use it on others and charge them a fee?”

“You can master. However, I am not currently aware of how your world works. Do you think you will be safe? Would you be coveted and possibly kidnapped, and your power abused?”

“…I didn’t think of that…I think you’re right. I know the guilds for sure are looking for talent. I doubt they’ll take me out for battle much, but instead just use that ability for their guilds. My growth will be halved, and I wouldn’t be able to climb the floors of the tower. Heathens go after important or useful assets of the kingdom. They hunt down rising or important newbies…”

“I would advise for now not to do so then master. It seems the risks are not worth it. There are plenty better ways master can draw in or make more origin energy or origin crystals. At least until you’re capable of defending yourself.

“Right. I’m glad you made me think more before I jumped in. Let’s see that status window, Ordinance.”

“It is my duty to advise master. Displaying status screen, now.”

Ding!

System Ability: Analyze

Name: Liam Tarliot

Stage: 1

Species: Humanoid - Human

Subspecies: ???

Unique talents/constitutions:

???

Stats: (Average Humanoid)

Strength: 2

Agility: 3

Dexterity: 3

Intelligence: 10

Willpower: 6

Aligned elements:

Wind: 0 Water: 0 Earth: 0 Fire: 0 Wood: 0 Metal: 0 Light: 0 Dark: 0 Space: 0 Time: 0

Non-creation element:

Chaos: .009

Unique Soul Skills:

Miniature World

Skills: (Entry, Basic, Apprentice, Advance, Master)

Basic swordsmanship - 78.90%

Basic recovery - 44.89%

Basic fighting tactics - 89.99%

Apprentice Lazar Breathing Technique - 24.32%

Liam peered thoroughly at his information on the screen. There were some surprises that Liam was not expecting.

“Ordinance, do those question marks imply that I’m not fully human?”

“It would appear so. How much so, I cannot determine. The species is also not known with the current information in the database in the libraries.”

“Hmm… Wait! Does that mean mom or dad is not fully human!? Or is one of them not human at all!?”

“I can better answer your question, master, after we analyze your parents. We wouldn’t fully know, however, there would be some traces to draw some conclusions from.”

Liam was shocked at the possibilities. But he loved no matter who or what his parents were. They raised him with much love and care, it didn’t matter to him even if they were monsters.

“What about that other affinity? Chaos? It’s low, but you said I don’t have any affinities, right?”

“It is true that you don’t have any affinities from creation master. But chaos is outside of creation. You would seem to be slightly like me. Your parents or their ancestors could be a lifeforms outside of creation. However, it is hard to draw concrete conclusions. It would be best to not assume yet master.”

The long day kept getting more crazy the more Liam found out about the system and about himself. Liam had to take a deep breath to move on.

“…alright… then how about my unique soul skill? What does it do?”

“Unique soul skills are created and based from the summon dwelling within the soul house. The “miniature world” skill is likely derived from the system’s inventory ability. However, the unique ability, miniature world, is much more advanced as it allows for living and no living beings to enter into an isolated subspace. The subspace is similar to the real world, but it can speed up or slow down time inside.”

“…” the wheels in Liam’s head were spinning. “Can I do whatever I want inside the miniature world? Can I make a farm! A farm of herbs?!!!”

“Of course master. The miniature world belongs to you. You can also speed up their growth by using origin energy. I would recommend processing the herbs into potions.”

“I can make potions?!!! I can make and sell potions!!!” The rough day dragging on Liam’s face was no longer in sight. A surge of excitement rose from the depths of his heart. Hope had replaced his lost ambitions.

“Of course we would have to learn how to make potions first, master.“

Liam’s excitement dampened at realizing he didn’t even know how to concoct potions to begin with. Noticing the shifting mood of his master, Ordinance reminded Liam.

“However, worry not master. Remember the system ability, “memory function?” It can easily scan and store information, like potion brewing techniques. We can use the system ability, “analyze ,” to determine the best technique. We can even merge different techniques to form the best technique available. I can evaluate them and give the optimal solution to create the best potion. At that point, I can guide master through the process. Though we would still have to find the techniques.”

The wheels in Liam’s head was spinning faster and faster..

“I got it! The punishment Ms. Maribell gave us is a blessing in disguise! You said the system can scan or download information right? Ms. Maribell wanted us to dust every book in the academy’s library! We can swipe a copy of all the academy’s books!”

Liam’s and Ordinance’s conversation was interrupted by the desperate shouts of his weeping mother’s voice, and the pounding on their fragile door.

“LIAM!!!! LIAM! ARE YOU IN THERE! PLEASE! COME OUT QUICKLY! YOUR FATHER! HE’S BEEN GRAVELY INJURED!”

Liam bolted to the front door of the house. He opened it to a horrifying scene. A group of men held a blood stained stretcher. Drops of blood were still falling onto the pavement. Liam’s father grunted and heaved in pain even as he laid unconscious on the stretcher.

Liam has seen his father injured before, however, never to this extent.

Flesh was torn off his upper arm, exposing the bloodstained bone below. A clawmark streaked across his face. Tears through the leather guards on his arms and legs left pieces missing and barely attached. Even with the leather guards, deep gashes were still seen.

“Mom!! What happened!?”