Summoner's Department (3)

Anything specific huh? I called it. I had been anticipating this question so I know exactly how to answer.

"It happened in my room, a summoning circle appeared on the floor— initially I thought it was a portal but when it settled down what I found was her— Liliath," I said. It's the truth right? That said, I think it's essential that I hide the information regarding my phone. I know that there are people who possess TALENTS that could read one's mind but.. if that's the case then there's nothing I can do. However, I will try my best to avoid leaking this information— at least by not making what I say sound suspicious.

"A summoning circle? Have you ever thought that it may not be your TALENT?"

Of course I have.

"Mister Keaton, I believe you have understood it wrong. He was the one who summoned me without a doubt; however he himself cannot explain how such an event occurred," Liliath spoke on my behalf.

"Hm? I see," for a second I saw Keaton look to his secretary, she gave a nod— was that a sign?

"So it's like that.. then can I assume that you are Noel's familiar?"

"Yes," Liliath replied with a firm tone.

My mom chuckled, breaking the mood.

Seriously..

"Sorry," she said, covering her mouth.

I had already briefed Liliath about hiding the matter in regards to my phone so I don't doubt she would adeptly twist her words in some unimaginable way to avoid exposing anything.

Fortunately there were less questions directed at me than there was towards Liliath— the expert here.

The conversation went on with Liliath and I answering a number of questions thrown at us by Keaton. Basic questions that confirmed our identity as a summoner and a summoned. Also included was a simple test for Liliath to test her general knowledge of this world.

By simple I mean...

'A picture of a plane'

— A divine mechanical dragon.

'A gothic church'

— The demon's chapel.

'A long haired female ghost with white clothing dripping in blood'

— A slave with long hair.

'A conceal flask with some blue acid'

— Mana potion.

'A round egg-shaped pudding with frosting on top'

— Christmas slime.

WHO THE HELL CREATED THIS TEST?!

"When Keaton said 'answer honestly' he didn't mean it in a literal sense.. you know Liliath?"

I said to no one.

I wasn't allowed to help her. Liliath had been asked to go to a separate room to fill in the forms while we— still in the office -- watched her do so from the surveillance camera.

Eh wait.. Liliath celebrates Christmas in her world?! Wait.. how... or it could be the effect of direct translation. Like how 'duck' could mean 'dodge' in another language—

I had my fingers pinched between my nose bridge, Keaton let out a surprise noise at every answer, the secretary clenched her stomach with a puffy mouth and tears in her eyes, the principal remained quiet-- or was rendered speechless, while my mom focused on the painting on the wall.

When she returned the printer on Keaton's desk started rolling out the form in a printed state.

"D-did I do something wrong?" Liliath asked, hesitating when she noticed the mood of the room.

Hearing that the secretary bawled out laughing.

"You did well Liliath. YOU DID ASTRONOMICALLY WELL. AHAHAHAHA,"she continued to laugh like that while holding onto her stomach.

Liliath hung her head.

"It's alright.. at least it proves that you're from a different world," I said as a means to console Liliath.

"I understand," Liliath sat back down.

"With this I would like Rachel to stay while the rest of you wait outside while I discuss with her the possible actions we would have to take in this situation," Keaton got up from his seat and opened the door for us.

Huh.. can we not tune in?

"Alright, thank you."

"Sorry for troubling you mister Keaton.."

"It's alright, you gave me some useful information to work on, please don't be too down, Liliath."

*

Keaton, instead of returning to his desk, sat on the couch facing Rachel.

"You found an interesting one," he crossed his legs and smirked.

"And so? He's going to leave again?" Rachel frowned.

"Unfortunately so... his TALENT.. it's a troublesome one. I can't seem to wrap my mind around it."

"Huh? So he has a TALENT," the secretary raised a surprised voice

"They didn't lie during the questioning session did they?"

"They didn't ... but there was a half-truth mixed inside once."

The secretary, Quin's TALENT was the ability to perceive truths, lies and half-truths.

"Let me hear it."

"It seems the boy is doubting whether or not summoning the girl was his TALENT."

"That's strange indeed..." Keaton contemplated. "That boy Noel.. he holds a TALENT that is a combination of internal and external."

"That's rare."

"No. It isn't all that rare in fact, the white haired girl— I think her name was Prune, she had a minor external TALENT too. In fact, most TALENTS are both internal and external TALENTS, the difference is the degree and distribution."

"So you're saying my student is somewhere around 50/50?"

"40/60, more or less.."

"How about the girl? I'm curious?"

"My TALENT didn't react to her, I think it's because she isn't from this world. Even a TALENTLESS possesses some kind of frequency I can perceive but for her.. I sensed nothing."

Keaton's TALENT was the ability to vaguely analyze one's TALENT.

"So what's your conclusion Keaton?"

"I believe it's best to move him, Rachel. I have a feeling that something isn't right.. it's best we put him under observation. It's the second time I've seen someone with such a weird TALENT— he could become a dangerous existence if not treated carefully."

"Eh? He isn't even sure if he has a TALENT though?"

"Quin, I'll confirm with you one more time here, you are sure he did not lie— correct?"

"Correct. I can tell if there's something jamming my TALENT but I'm 100 percent sure what they said was genuine."

"Hah.. another top student gone just like that," Rachel dropped her weight on the sofa.

"Is that so.. my condolences," Keaton said with a sympathetic smile. "That said.."

Keaton looked at the answer sheets that had been filled up by Liliath.

"What exactly is his TALENT?" He murmured in wonder.

*

"In the end it has been decided by the government that you would be changing schools— isn't that great?" My mom said while keeping her eyes fixed on the road. She turned the steering wheel and pulled up to a curb.

Swaying in the car I read the forms that had been given to me. Liliath holding a ball of light in the air for me. The sky was now glowing orange.

Liliath would have to do a medical check-up.. review her abilities.. receive her identity card.. school transfer form..

There are a lot of documents. I have to look through them one by one to understand what in the hell Liliath has to do before she can officially become a citizen of this country— the thing that bothered me was the creature register form.. Liliath wasn't a creature so why did I have to fill in this form? I think I'll have to ask Keaton again.

Apparently Keaton wasn't in charge of the summoners department, and a letter of approval wasn't necessary to actually go to the summoners department to register one's summoned creature. Rather, the letter of approval's purpose was to invite Keaton, who was a big shot in the government department that dealt with troublesome TALENTS. A chairman of sorts you could call it? But I wasn't too sure about his corporate rank or posting and all that confusing hierarchical order.

In any case, he asked me to contact him if I found any issues with the form he prepared. Since my case was the first of its kind, he had trouble attaining the required items. And he said that not everything had been approved yet so there were still more documents coming my way..

Ugh...

"We'll pick up Novelle and head over to Prune's place for dinner, any objections?"

I turned to Liliath, she just smiled.

I had no idea what that implied.

"No problems.. I guess."

Getting out of the car I first placed the documents in my room before checking in on my laptop— which fortunately had no signs of being used. She had apparently been binge watching that same cartoon on television while we were away.. what's up the marathon? I was expecting something to happen.. I can't believe that exception was betrayed..

Still though..

So Prune's TALENT had been classified as a troublesome TALENT? Why, though?

Hm.. wait..

From what I heard those who have troublesome TALENTS would attend a special school built just for them which means..

'Prune, I'm headed over to your family restaurant.'

I texted her and left it at that. I wasn't sure if she would come meet Liliath and I but it's worth a shot.

I wonder if letting the two meet is a good idea? I think I understand why Prune would feel that Liliath iss a dangerous person. Prune is a half-human, half-animal now, and Liliath's presence naturally scares the shit out of animals— as seen back at the summoners department... I wonder why pigeons don't drop dead from the sky though..

I think I should try to clear up this misunderstanding.

Liliath isn't a dangerous being— she's honestly just a frail Princess that went through hell in her previous world.

The best I can do is to not let her experience such a thing in this world ever again..