The halls leading to the library were empty. Not a single person was in sight. Only Liam’s footsteps echoed through the silent corridors. However, he did not notice. He only had one thing on his mind. Defeating Ms. Maribell.
Liam was still angry at Ms. Maribell for her degrading comments. He could not stomach her ridiculous accusations at his parents for not raising him to live up to society’s expectations as a summoner chosen by the Tower. Ms. Maribell insinuated his parents had the power to decide his fate or even how they lived their lives. She was like many others, judging people’s worth by the cards forcefully dealt in their hands.
“Master, I do not understand. Why was there such a strong aversion to you not being able to call forth a physical entity?”
The sounds of Liam’s footsteps continued to echo out, fading into the empty halls as he stopped walking. The dread from Ordinance’s question circled through his mind. Honestly, he understood the reasoning behind the scorn of the Dysfunctional, even though it wasn’t entirely their fault. No one could not change what happens inside the soul palace, though many have tried.
“It’s rather an unfortunate circumstance to have, Ordinance. Although not set in stone, there has been a pattern for summoners whose first summon cannot be called out. If the first contracted being could not be brought forth, the remaining summons are likely to be unable to be summoned as well. And that is practically a death sentence in the towers or the dungeons.”
“I see, master. I cannot see the actual numbers to validate the claim, but if just going by your statement, then the downfalls of a Dysfunctional can be a danger to your life. However, since there is variability, I believe we can change the outcome for your next summon.”
“My thoughts exactly. We’ll prove everyone wrong!”
Yet, Liam’s circumstances were currently not very promising.
“Ordinance. No offense, but I’ll need another summon for the coming duel with my so-called teacher. I don’t have many combat abilities, and you can’t fight either. But I still think you can help me plenty. We can continue to gather and plant herbs to sell, but money won’t solve my ultimate problem.”
“Your statement regarding money is partially valid, master. If you have a high membership level and recognition from the Marketplace, you can technically solve the majority of your issues through money. Currently, however, you are not a high-level member, nor do you have large quantities of money to simply purchase items or services to solve your problems. Regardless, you must still gather more origin energy. Some form of it will is required in all your endeavors.”
“I agree with acquiring more origin energy. However, I don’t understand how the Marketplace function could solve my problem. Elaborate how the Marketplace would be able to do so, Ordinance.”
“Certainly. Currently, master only has not registered with the Marketplace and therefore has little access to the goods and services provided. Had master had my previous level of membership, then you would have access to buy almost anything in the universe. Almost everything is listed for sale by an entity of creation. Of course, for a price that is. You could gather all the needed items and resources for your new summon, buy skills, weapons, tools, techniques, and even the contracts for summons.”
“Wait! You said I could get techniques, skills, and a summon!?”
“Yes, master. I recommend that you stop using your current technique. You would be better off buying a more effective one from the Marketplace, or possibly acquiring other techniques in your world.”
“I don’t even have to go through the trials then! Can’t I just buy a contract and acquire a new summon?! And what about creating new techniques?! Maybe you can create a new one from the library?!”
“To answer your first question, yes, you could buy your next summon. However, compatibility is an issue, seeing as you don’t have any affinity. Payment is also an issue. There could be more requirements besides origin energy needed to fulfill the cost. Regarding your second question about creating new techniques. Possible. I would need to analyze other techniques along with a clearer understanding of how energy is moved and stored in the body. With enough information and time, creating a new skill or technique would be possible.”
“Money still is a problem then.” The cogs in Liam’s head came to a halt from an impassable roadblock. “And other techniques, you said. Damn! The academy is so stingy! The area I have access to is only to the bottom floor, which contains only general information. But let’s see what you can get for us.”
Liam quickened his footsteps and arrived at the end of the hallway. Connected to the corridors, was the first floor of the library. There were no doors. The academy boasted how charitable it was by providing access for all students chosen by the Tower. But access to the first floor was limited. Philanthropy ended on the other side of the first floor unless they could pay for more access to the subsequent upper floors.
Liam stepped into an enormous room with high ceilings and walls that were practically all windows. It was called the library, but the first floor would be more accurately described as a lobby where the students could buy refreshments and socialize. The academy found ways to make money off the generosity it gave.
The usually loud area was silent from the lack of students and staff. Liam walked past the tables and trash receptacles and saw his goal in sight. Separating the food area was a hedge of potted trees and shrubs. A path cut through the hedge. It continued to the other side, between more tables, and led to the bookshelves at the end of the building.
Liam followed the path to the first bookshelf. The area with books was small and paltry for a so-called library. But there were still ten shelves, twice the length of his body, and a couple of heads taller than he was. Liam hastily took out the book he was most familiar with: “A Guide to Botany and Useful Findings in the Wild.”
“Ordinance, what do I have to do to scan and store the information in this book?
“Master, with the currently limited functions, you must scan over each line of the text with your eyes. I will compile the information and store it. Simultaneously, I will be able to analyze the data. Later on, If you restore the system functions, I can eventually scan a set area and store the relevant information.”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“Alright! I definitely need some origin energy! For now, it will be tedious having to flip and glance over every line, but that still beats me reading all of these books.”
Liam went through each book, scanning line by line. The sun was setting from outside the large windows of the library, but Liam had not reached halfway through the books. Dusting and reading the books took him much longer than he anticipated. However, he was building part of his strengths and didn’t care if he had to stay there all night.
Unknown to Liam, a snicker could be seen from the face watching him from the hedge.
Ms. Maribell looked at Liam diligently completing the task she forced upon him. There was a slight unease in her heart as she watched Liam, but she squashed and splattered the feeling like a bug.
Seeing Liam dusting and then skimming through the books, she could not help but recall a familiar person. From her childhood, Ms. Maribell’s father was a person she was embarrassed by. He too was a Dysfunctional. She recalled memories of her father desperately scouring countless books in the hope of finding a solution to his inability to call out his summon. His results were fruitless, but he didn’t give up. However, he died trying to obtain his second summon. That day her father died, and so did a piece of her. The small piece that once gave her hope.
Because of her father’s circumstances, she experienced a tough childhood. She was constantly harassed by children and adults alike. With her hope gone, she allowed the thoughts of others to change her mind. Before she knew it, hate of the Dysfunctionals was embedded into her mind. She blamed her misery and the loss of her father on the Dysfunctionals.
She came to believe all Dysfunctionals were weak and only baggage for the true climbers of the Tower. To this day, even after the long years since her father passed, never was Ms. Maribell able to forgive the Dysfunctionals. To her, they were the plague of society.
Ms. Maribell looked at Liam in disgust, reminded of the useless acts of her father.
“Fools. Try as you might. You will just die a meaningless death in the Tower. Why do you have to get me involved!?”
Turning around, Ms. Maribell stomped her way out of the library. Hearing the loud echoes of the stomps, Liam turned around and looked, seeing the disappearing silhouette of his teacher. He ignored her, thinking she was there to check up on him.
He continued late into the night, and only returned home after he finished scanning every book. By that time, the moon was already high in the sky.
“Liam! Honey! You’re back! You had us worried!”
“Your mother is right! We thought you ran off somewhere! We were about to go and find you! We’ll always be here for you. Talk to us if you need help.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t run away. I was just thinking about how to take down my so-called teacher.”
“Well, that’s enough thinking for tonight. You took so long the food we made is cold. I’ll warm it up, and we’ll enjoy your graduation from the Lazar Institute.”
The family of three enjoyed their time together into the early hours of the next day. Liam awoke from his pleasant dreams from the loud banging on his door.
“Liam! Get up! Your savior has come to help you!” Luke’s loud voice shocked him awake.
“Wha? Luke? Why are you so loud!”
Luke disregarded all courtesy and opened Liam’s door, walking right in.
“Get up, sleepy head! It’s our first day as new graduates! Let’s think about how we’re going to climb the tower!”
“Did you forget? I can’t call out my summon. Wait. Did you get recruited?! I was sure you would!”
“Ha! Ha! Ha! Your friend here was recruited into the Adonis Guild!”
“If that’s the case, why are you talking about us going to the Tower? Wouldn’t you have to go together with your guild?”
“Hehehe! Here take this!”
Luke handed Liam a ticket reflecting with a metallic sheen.
“What’s this?” Liam looked at the ticket and read the word written on it. “Voucher to enter and select one item from the first floor of the Adonis Guild’s treasury… Huh?! Why are you giving this to me?! You need to use this, not me!”
“It’s for you! The guild gave the ticket voucher to you, not me.”
“What?! Stop lying, Luke! You need to use it!”
“I’m not! I told Guild Master Kai that I wanted you to join with me, or else I wouldn’t join at all. But my parents and Guild Master Kai forced me to join. As a compromise, the guild and I would help you get to the fifth floor and obtain your second summon. But I felt like that wasn’t enough, so I was able to get you a voucher to the guild’s treasury.”
“…” Liam was speechless. He had barely woken up and was still dazed. The length his friend went to look out for him was beyond anything he could imagine. He looked at Luke, who was grinning ear to ear.
“See how great I am!? Even the Adonis Guild had to…”
Liam had to look away as he started to tear up.
“Hahaha! What’s this? Are you so touched you’re crying?”
“What?! No! I’m not crying! I just needed to make my bed! Leave! I need to get dressed.”
“Hahaha! Yeah right! Bawl! Go on! It’s ok.”
“I’m not crying! Out! I’m going to change!”
“Che. It’s not like I want to see a naked hairless kid anyway. Fine. And make sure you keep that ticket safe. We should redeem it first before we do anything else.”
Luke turned around and was about to leave, but Liam stopped him.
“Luke! Wait!”
“Huh? Weren’t you kicking me out? No thanks, but I don’t want to see your hairless naked body, Liam. Unless you feel like crying now? Go ahead. I won’t judge.”
“Oh shut it! That’s not it!” Liam sighed and looked grateful at his friend. “Thank you, Luke. You should have left me and only focused on yourself and your future. I don’t know what to say except thank you.”
“You can show me your crying face as thanks too! I’ll accept that.”
“Never! Out!”
“Stingy! Hahaha! You’re welcome, Liam! You can pay me back with your share of your mom’s cooking!”
“What! No! I’m not going to pay with that!”
Luke closed the door. His footsteps were heard rushing downstairs. Liam sighed but smiled as he looked at the metallic ticket. He was grateful to have Luke as a friend.
“Master. I recommend we find some time to plant those herbs we found in the miniature world. I think your odds of obtaining your second contracted summon are much higher with the help of your friend and his guild.”
“Yes. I agree. In return, I’ll help Luke, and get his summon to become more powerful. Let’s get ready and see what Luke has planned.”