Summoner school, p.23
Summoner School, page 23
I shifted the leather backpack further onto my shoulder and grinned at the idea of selling off some of the materials. It had taken the better part of the afternoon to grind the antlers into dust, clean the fur, and separate the rest of the jackalope’s parts. Sarya had known what would sell at the Saturday market in town since she’d been to more than one in the elven realm, and she had given me guidelines for how much to accept.
The soft brown fur was the most valuable item that I had since it was perfect for a winter coat or for a small rug. I’d kept the creature’s fangs whole so that the buyer could use it for jewelry, but one of the textbooks had mentioned that they were used for some medicines. The antlers had made fifteen full vials of powder for my spells, and could fetch a pretty penny from other summoners, but I wanted to keep those for the upcoming fights in the underground arena.
“Hey, human,” a familiar voice growled and snapped me back to the present moment. “Where the hell have you been?”
I turned to see Rarus a few feet away from me with his usual glower firmly in place. The minotaur wore a pair of faded leather pants that probably needed to be replaced, and his bare chest showed off the scars that he’d gotten in the arenas. I took a step backwards to glare up at the tall man, sucked in a deep breath, and prepared myself for whatever nonsense he wanted to spout now.
The extra ogre security was still in place, and one of the green-skinned men patrolled the area across the quad. If the volatile minotaur tried anything, then I’d at least have backup, and I already knew that I could handle my own against the bull in hand-to-hand combat. It wasn’t exactly what I planned for my day, but I wasn’t about to shrink away no matter how terrifying Rarus and his magic were.
“I’ve been camping,” I said with a casual shrug. “How’s your weekend been?”
“Don’t start shit with me, human,” the minotaur said and jabbed a finger in my chest. “You know what I’m here about.”
“I actually don’t,” I said and sighed as the ogre went in the other direction.
“You think that you’re so special because you’re a human and a summoner,” Rarus growled. “But you’re nothing.”
“Sure,” I said. “Whatever you say.”
“I should kill you right now for humiliating my brother,” he said and stood to his full height.
The gold rings around the tips of his horns glinted in the sunlight, and I wondered if the bull-man was about to gore me. The healers would be able to save my life, if anyone actually saw it and called for them, but the campus was almost empty, and the security ogres had all moved onto other areas. I shoved my hands into my pockets, wrapped my fingers around a spell for wasps, and forced a smile onto my face like it was just any other day.
“I thought that we already went over that,” I said with a glance around. “And Ramis said that he’d beat me in the next match. Why are you bringing this up now?”
“I’m talking about the ranks!” Rarus roared and stomped one heavy hoof. “Don’t pretend like you’re stupid. You may be nothing when it comes to magic, but I know you’ve got something between those ears other than air.”
“Thanks,” I said and shook my head.
“It’s dangerous to underestimate an opponent,” the minotaur said as he narrowed his eyes. “You shouldn’t underestimate me. Or my brother. If you think that you’ll outrank him for long, then you’re dead wrong.”
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” I said. “I haven’t seen the ranks yet.”
“Likely story,” he said and then glanced at someone behind me. “You’re lucky the ogres came back. The next time I see you, you’re going to be mine.”
“Fantastic,” I said and ignored my racing pulse.
The tall bull-man stormed off in the direction of the arena, and I felt bad for anyone who might be out there trying to practice their spells. His temper needed to be kept in check, or he was bound to become the next dark mage. I’d already seen what he could do with a bubble of water, and a shiver ran up my spine at the thought of him using that on me.
I shook the thoughts of Rarus out of my head and turned back toward the teachers’ cafeteria. Most of the faculty had been at the council meeting, and I’d seen them come back the night before while Atlesia showed me the plants that she’d grown in the greenhouse. The staff looked like they hadn’t slept the entire time that the teachers were away, and the empty cafeteria made me think that most of the instructors had decided to sleep in.
Professor Lovelace sat near the windows with her back to the sturdy wall. Her dark purple dress hugged her every curve, and I couldn’t help but stare at the stray strands of ebony hair that fell into her pale face. She glanced up as I walked closer, pushed the wire-rimmed glasses further up her nose, and motioned for me to sit down.
“Mr. Hall,” she said with a faint smile. “If it isn’t my favorite student. Did you come to find out about the council meeting?”
“No,” I said with a shake of my head.
“Then please tell me, what could be so important that you had to interrupt my breakfast on my day off?” she teased and then took a bite out of a strawberry.
I watched as she bit into the succulent berry and then licked the juice from her lips. It was the sexiest thing that I’d ever seen, and my cock twitched against my pants as she let out a soft moan of delight. I pinched the side of my leg to regain my focus and then forced my eyes up to meet hers.
“I just have some questions,” I said and then took the piece of cantaloupe that she offered. “I could’ve waited until Monday, but I’d really like to get a head-start on it.”
Sarya had said that there was a fight on Sunday, but that only gave me a day to store extra mana, and I wanted to make sure that I had enough. I’d only need enough to summon one, and it wasn’t the most powerful magical creature out there, but it was an upper-level animal that could easily turn me into a mummy if I wasn’t careful.
“Oh?” the purple-eyed woman asked and lifted an eyebrow. “And what is it that you’re so eager about?”
“Storing mana,” I said and started to search through my leather backpack. “I’ve read all about it, but I need practical help, and the textbooks just say that it’s possible and advisable for bigger animals. Especially if they have magical properties.”
“I see,” she said and tapped her fingers on the table. “Planning on going after that jackalope sooner rather than later, Mr. Hall?”
“I’ve already killed it,” I said and then pulled out a vial of the powdered antlers.
The other teachers were far enough away that they wouldn’t be able to hear our conversation, but I still glanced around to make sure. The closest professor was a bird-man with ruffled feathers and a plate of what looked like worms, and he was definitely more interested in the creatures slithering across his plate. In fact, none of the other people in the room looked awake enough to eavesdrop, or to care about a chat between Professor Lovelace and one of her students.
“You did?” the dragon-lady asked when I looked back at her.
I tried not to smile too wide as she stared at me in shock. The beautiful woman quickly recovered, set her fork down, and reached out a hand for the small vial. I handed it to her and waited as she turned the glass over and held it up to the light that poured in through the windows.
“I had help,” I continued. “Mike, Atlesia, and Sarya were there. It was a lot scarier than I thought it was going to be. It was completely immune to Mike’s sleeping potion. And it even jumped over the ring of fire that Sarya created.”
“How did you catch it?” Professor Lovelace asked as she set the vial down.
“Mike managed to create these woody vines,” I said. “He has them all over the room. Atlesia tried, but there weren’t any flowering vines in the area. I used my wasps to sting its face and eyes. Once it was blind and pinned down, I slit its throat.”
“Impressive,” she said and pushed a stray piece of ebony hair behind her ear. “I may need to rethink the class ranks. The other students will have to replicate the feats that you and your team used during your hunt if they want to stay in the mix for the number-one spot, and your rank will clearly go up if you can actually summon the jackalope. It’ll be a complicated process, even with the right puzzle and the antlers.”
“I’m sure that’ll make them happy,” I said and stuffed the vial back in my bag. “I’m sure that Sarya wants to have the highest rank in the freshmen class, maybe the entire school.”
Professor Lovelace let out a soft laugh, then seemed to realize that we were in public, and cleared her throat instead. I couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected show of emotion, and I wondered why the beautiful woman didn’t let us see that side of her more often. Most of the students in our class were terrified of the strict woman, but they’d relax more if they could see her face light up with joy like I had.
“I’m sure that Ms. Kaylen would enjoy rising in the ranks,” Professor Lovelace said. “It’s common for her family to be the best. I’m actually a little shocked that she joined you. The Kaylen family is well-known for their dislike of humans.”
“I was kind of shocked, too,” I confessed. “But I think she’s warmed up to me since she found out that I’m a decent summoner.”
“And that obviously came from seeing you practice in the battle magic program,” the ebony-haired woman said with a lifted eyebrow.
“Yeah,” I said and shifted in my seat.
I had no doubt that the intelligent woman knew about the underground arena fights, but for some reason, she hadn’t turned me over to the headmaster. She did seem interested to see how far I could go, and the illegal fights were one way to do that, but something told me that there was more to it than that. The shadow creatures flashed across my mind, and I wondered just how close we were to an all-out war.
“Well, a jackalope will definitely help you with that,” Professor Lovelace said as she changed the subject. “You said something about wanting to store mana. I haven’t gone over that in class yet because none of the other students are on that level, but you’re determined to rise above them all, aren’t you?”
“Why do something if you’re not trying to be the best?” I laughed.
“Competition does breed innovation,” the dragon-woman said. “It’s why we invented the ranking system in the first place. And you’re clearly one of a kind.”
“Thanks,” I said and watched as she licked her lips.
“Why don’t you walk me back to my rooms?” Professor Lovelace said and stood. “We can talk in private about how to store your mana. Though, I think that you’ll be able to summon the jackalope with what you already have. It’ll test the limits of your abilities, but there are ways to prepare yourself for such a large energy output, and it’ll help you to grow the mana stores in your body.”
“Sure,” I said and grabbed my bag.
I watched her hips sway in the tight purple dress as she strolled out of the teachers’ cafeteria. The floor-length skirt hugged her hips, and I was grateful that she hadn’t worn her robes. I stuffed my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching out to touch her and forced myself to focus on the stairs up to the teachers’ apartments.
“Come in,” the pale woman said as she opened her door.
The apartment had a small sitting room with a coffee table covered in papers and books, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The windows looked over the quad, though dark blue curtains kept most of the light out. There were a few decorations around the room, but they were sparse, and I didn’t see a single picture of Professor Lovelace or her family.
“You can sit on the couch while we talk,” she said and walked over to a cabinet with bottles of water. “I’m impressed that you took down the jackalope and survived. And that you realized that you’d need to have access to a lot of mana to summon it. I have a book around here somewhere that will help you. I’ll save the one about storing the mana for another time. It’s a complicated process, and I’ll want to monitor you carefully to make sure that you don’t hurt yourself by expending too much energy.”
“Thanks,” I said and accepted the drink.
She sat so close to me that our legs brushed, and my heart sped up as the beautiful woman smiled at me. I had the urge to kiss her, but the moment passed as she turned to the books around the coffee table and then handed me one. The black dragon scales along her cheekbones shimmered in the low light from the windows, and I almost ran my hand over them, but fortunately, my hands were occupied with the new textbook.
“Anything for my favorite student,” Professor Lovelace said and then scooted back a little. “I really shouldn’t be alone with a student. It’s not against the rules or anything, but clear boundaries are important.”
“Right,” I said with a nod. “I appreciate you taking the time to help me with this.”
“Any time.” Her eyes dropped to my lips, and then she shook herself. “When you do start to store your mana, you’ll want to think of something inconspicuous to shape your crystalized mana into. Other mages can and will steal it from you. It should be something that no one will want.”
“I have the perfect idea,” I said and smiled at the thought of my grandma. “My grandma has these terrible butterscotch candies that she’s always trying to give away.”
“An interesting choice,” the ebony-haired woman said. “We’ll schedule a time for you to try storing your mana after you’ve successfully summoned the jackalope. It will be at the edge of your abilities, so you’ll need to know how to access all that’s stored in you. If you have any other questions, you’re more than welcome to come back whenever you want. Day or night.”
“Thanks,” I said as we both stood.
“Of course,” she said and then leaned in to press a kiss to my cheek. “I mean it. Stop by any time. Day or night.”
“I will,” I said and reached up to brush a hair behind her ear. “I appreciate you taking the extra time with me.”
“It’s an honor,” she said and led me to the door. “You have a lot of potential, Mr. Hall. And I’m happy to help you cultivate all of your talents.”
I walked out into the hall and watched as she shut the door behind me. My cheek still tingled from the kiss that she’d given me, and my mind turned over the conversation again and again. I was sure that she wanted more than a student-teacher relationship, even though she’d mentioned boundaries, because she’d immediately ignored them.
It was like she wasn’t sure what she wanted, and I wouldn’t press it until she’d made a decision. Professor Lovelace was a gorgeous woman and more than worth the wait. I glanced at the book in my hand, fixed the bag on my shoulder, and then shook my head clear as I headed toward town.
The Saturday market was in full swing as I walked down the street. The stores had their doors thrown open, and traveling merchants had set up tables in the shade. People from every realm strolled through the small town with drinks or portable food clutched in their hands.
“Mr. Hall,” Tins greeted me as I walked into his store. “How’s that bag treating you? I heard that the rattlesnake tail helped you gain a higher rank. Some of your classmates have already stopped by this morning. I knew you’d be good for business.”
“Thanks,” I chuckled at the opportunistic gnome. “Do you have any of the rattlesnake left? Or did you sell out?”
“No rattlesnake,” the short man said and pulled out a wooden box filled with vials of powdered animals. “But I do have some python tail. They’re not venomous, of course, but they can get pretty big, and a summoner like you will put it to good use.”
“Sounds good,” I said and pulled off my backpack. “Would you be interested in buying jackalope parts?”
“Jackalope?” Tins asked with wide eyes. “Now, how did you come to have that?”
“Hunting,” I said with a shrug. “I have teeth and fur to sell, but the antlers are spoken for.”
“Of course, of course,” the gnome said as he looked through the parts. “This was taken apart with expert skill. I think I’ll be able to help you.”
We went back and forth about the price, but I managed to convince the shrewd businessman to part with a hefty sum of gold, some python tail, and a few crystals for me to experiment with. It was the start of a beautiful friendship, and Tins was humming to himself as I left. I bought a hand pie on the way back to campus, but most of the money would be saved for my grandma’s treatment and repairs to the old Victorian manor.
“Andrew,” Sarya said as I walked through the gates into school. “Atlesia and I were just coming to look for you. Mike said that you were going to the market. How’d it go?”
The elven woman stood a little farther from me than Atlesia. Her shoulders were pulled all the way back, and her movements were stiff like she wasn’t sure how to act. She’d been able to relax with us while we were on the hunt, but there were a lot of eyes on campus, and any one of them could tell her parents that she was hanging out with a human.
“Great,” I said and then hugged Atlesia, smiled at Sarya, and adjusted my backpack. “I’m going to drop this stuff off in my room and then go to the woods for some practice. Professor Lovelace gave me a book about how to access all the mana in my body so I can safely summon the jackalope.”
“Do you mind if we join you?” Atlesia asked. “I can study the plants in the forest. I want to try talking to nonflowering plants. It’ll be harder, but I might be able to with some practice. I’ll never be as good as Mike, but I won’t be as useless the next time we go on a hunt.”
“Sure,” I said and slipped my hand into hers. “And you weren’t useless. Tins said that you did an amazing job taking apart the jackalope. How does a flower-nymph know how to take apart an animal?”
“My cousin married an elf,” she said with a shrug. “They taught me how to do it. Never really liked it, but it stuck in my head.”
