Ch 5 - Summoning

“First she just avoided me, now not only she spends her time with that commoner girl but also that cocky fuck Irhamel” Huon Curnow Vaesta complained to himself in his room.

“Just how else does he intend to humiliate me? How much more does he want to steal from me? First my honor, now he wants my woman too? DAMNIT!”.

Born a prince, with a considerably high talent for the Military arts, from an amazing pedigree of warriors he was the youngest of three children, and largely overshadowed his siblings in talent.

He was always at the top of what he did, and since joining the University four years ago he established himself as one of the most talented individuals.

“CURSE THAT FUCKER, CURSE HIM! I WILL NOT FORGIVE HIM” he screamed.

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The new group has been together ever since that day 5 weeks ago, today as they are about to leave the university Irhamel asked something surprising.

“Ehm, I promised my little sister that I would play with her today. You all want to come with me?”

All six of them were frozen in place by the question, it seemed no one expected such a request. After looking at each other they all agreed, it was a great chance to deepen their relationship and a change of pace didn't hurt.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the group was standing in front of a house in the residential area outside the University.

“Mom I’m home and I bring visitors,” Irhamel said as soon as he opened the door.

The first one to make an appearance in the hall was a lovely little girl. Running from a room to the left, the little girl jumped and hugged Irhamel faster than lightning.

“Irha, Irha, Irha, welcome home! I’ve missed you” with a large and wide smile Neruniel welcomed her brother.

“Hello Neru, now where are your manners? I brought friends over, what does a good girl do in this situation?” With a loving smile and caressing the head of his sister Irhamel said.

“Sorry brother, *ahem* Good afternoon and welcome to our home, I’m Neruniel, Irhamel’s sister, please do come in,” the girl said in a childish but polite tone.

It was a heartwarming scene seeing their friend caring for his sister and lovingly scold her. As they made their way in the Golden Lathai welcomed them in the living room.

“Hello and welcome to our home, I’m Sahiel Stingryn, Irhamel’s mother it's a pleasure to meet you all! Thank you for taking good care of my son.”

After exchanging greetings and introductions the group was guided to the backyard, there they spent the remainder of the afternoon talking and playing with Irhamel’s little sister.

“Will you all be staying for dinner?” Sahiel showed her head from a window and asked.

“If it's not much of a bother, we would love to right?” Wallace answered as fast as he could, to avoid anyone denying the invitation.

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‘How did it end up like this?’ Irhamel thought as he sat beside his mother in the basic magic practice room.

Students from all the courses were visiting this particular session, Lathai Roesia invited the Golden Lathai today and suggested to bring him along.

“So as you know, we have today with us the Golden Lathai, Sahiel Stingryn. Please receive her cordially, she will today help me with the class and assist with your first conscious contact with the ‘Moonwell’” Roesia spoke to the class introducing Sahiel to the class.

When she took the stand the class started with a couple of assertions, to make sure the level of the students. Covering topics of a wide range of knowledge.

Mages, in essence, are gifted people who have access to channel mana from the realm known as ‘The Moonwell’ where mana is infinite.

Mages are grouped in 5 ranks.

Vennelis - the lowest level of mage, with very low mana control and capacity. Elsalor - the most common level of mages, with normal-mediocre mana control and capacity. Velatha - Considered full-fledged mages, capable of teaching and have a normal-to-high mana control and capacity. Noesys - Expert magicians with high mana control and capacity. Lathai - The highest attainable rank for a mage, they possess a remarkably large mana capacity and control. Velethuil - The rank of legends, mages believed to be able to wield and control unlimited amounts of mana at will.

The mana in the moonwell is too pure and its density is too high; if handled improperly by mages of Elsalor or higher rank it can lead to irrecoverable damage to the caster’s mind.

For this reason, mages enter in ‘willing contracts’ with the entities that reside in The Moonwell, the Elementals, who manifest into the mortal realm to filter the mana used by the mage.

Elementals have 3 known ranks and are contracted accordingly by the mage’s rank.

Harufi - the lowest level of elemental, they manifest as an item and cannot be commanded to assist the mage in anything other than filtering mana. Jinnei - The common level of elemental, they manifest in corporeal form and can be commanded to assist the mage in whatever way they can while also filtering mana. Burkha - Elemental Lords, beings of untold power said to only form contracts with the legendary Velethuil mages, channelers of the most purer and denser mana there is.

To make a willing contract with the moonwell, one has to be of at least Elsalor rank, Vennelis can't control enough mana to pose a threat to themselves.

There are 7 major elements, and contracts can be made with up to one of each type. Based on the mage rank, affinity and capability.

Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Lightning, Light, and Darkness.

“Does the number of contracts affect or is influenced by your rank as a mage?” Some girl asked

“Irhamel, could you answer the questions from here on?” Sahiel instructed her son to take care of the tedious task, as he expected. Giving a light nod to his master he stood in the middle of the Teacher’s stand.

“Yes and no, Jinnei elementals have a wide range of power they can manage, yet they are ultimately limited to help the mage filter from 3% up to a maximum of 6% of your mana capacity from The Moonwell, more and they are consumed by it and disappear,” Irhamel answered.

After a few seconds of silence and some musing, some students smirked as one spoke.

“Teacher, isn't Irhamel too young to be answering questions in class?” A boy spits words with as much venom as he could muster.

“This is why I didn't want to do this mom!” Irhamel said looking at Sahiel.

Sahiel stood up again and looked at the boy who had reproached her decision.

“Do you believe that I, a Lathai mage, would put my ‘apprentice’ out of simple nepotism to answer questions if I didn't think he was capable?” With a serious expression on her face and making emphasis on the word, ‘apprentice’, Sahiel spoke staring at the boy.

The boy and many others who were equally discontent couldn't do much but to sit back and shake their heads, no one would dare to refuse a Lathai mage.

With a hand gesture, Sahiel instructed Irhamel to continue.

“Questions? Anyone?” Irhamel asked, his eyes were half opened and his mouth was a little shifted to the left.

“Are you bored Teach?” Erneis Mavis, one of the new friends asked in a joking tone.

“Questions? Anyone? Oh, not really but if I’m not good enough to answer I’ll happily sit down” Irhamel said raising both arms and shoulders making a bored expression with his face.

“So having many contracts only ensures more refined mana?” Smiling, Bree DeClare asked leaning forward on her desk.

“Yes, if for example, you can contract one of each Jinnei, and if they are top tier ones, as long as your mind can process it, you could potentially channel 42% of the mana available to you,” Irhamel answered after nodding to her friend.

“But you say 42% does that mean of the total mana of The Moonwell or of your own capacity?” Another boy asked.

“Of your own capacity, only the legendary Velethuil can channel mana directly from The Moonwell, but consider the implications. If the mana in the Moonwell is infinite, how do we quantify that?.

Now how do you quantify your own mana capacity?

That's usually guessed by your rank as a mage and the scale of the magic you can wield. It can also be measured by a higher rank mage, by confronting each other's mana.” Irhamel replied patiently.

“How many Jinnei elementals does teacher Sahiel and Teacher Roesia have contracted?” A very young girl asked.

The two teachers stood up and walked towards Irhamel, there they started chanting in low voice and after some four to five seconds called their elementals.

The Golden Lathai summoned five elementals, and Lathai Roesia Summoned four.

The students were excited at the display of power that just happened in front of them, seeing the formless figures hover about was an awe-inspiring scene.

“Teacher Sahiel, does your apprentice has a contract? Can he show us his Harufi?” Lunet mustered her courage and asked the innocent question.

“Why yes, of course. Irhamel, I know you don't like boasting, but could you show them what it means to be the apprentice of a Lathai, more so one like myself?” With pride brimming from her eyes Sahiel asked her son to demonstrate his worth.

“And who is boasting now ‘mom’?” Irhamel reproached his mother’s tone and attitude.

Sahiel just shot a stare at her son but then turned towards Lathai Roesia and whispered something to her ear.

Roesia Saunbary one of the most powerful mages of the continent Squealed ‘what’ and with her eyes wide open stared at the boy.

“All of them? master...” Irhamel asked her mother pleading with his eyes.

“All of them, show everybody that you have to be at least of high Naesys rank to be my apprentice.” Sahiel coldly replied without looking away from the students.

‘So she wants me to appear of Naesys rank, then two Harufi and one high ranked Jinnei should suffice.’ Irhamel thought while nodding to his mother.

The class went into an uproar at the revelation just made by Sahiel, claiming that her son, a kid of barely eighteen years of age was ranked Naesys was just too unbelievable.

Chatter could be heard all around the classroom, words like ‘impossible’ or ‘lies’ were repeated like an echo around the students.

Irhamel looked at the students, his face looked pinched and his eyebrows drew together. Ending with a nod looking at the girl who requested the display.

Taking a deep breath Irhamel’s body suddenly was enveloped by a thin but visible bluish layer of mana. The color of his eyes oscillated between silver and his own.

With the elbows bent he brought up both his arms to the level of his chest and murmured a really short chant.

“Ehm, what was it? whatever.” The murmur was so low that only the teachers heard it.

In a flash, 2 gloves of different colors formed in his hands, then a large dark figure began to form.

The figure that had just joined the corporeal plane circled around its master.

“Sahiel, you... by the gods... what is he?” Lathai Roesia couldn't control her surprise at the spectacle that had just taken place in front of her very eyes.

At the sight of the elementals, some students squealed while others stared intently; fear, surprise, and awe were displayed on their faces.

Irhamel shook his head and slowly turned around then just uttered one word in a commanding tone.

“Leave.”

The elementals vanished one after the other while Irhamel went back to his seat.