Chapter 9: The First Summoning

Arin decided to try creating his first summoned companion according to the book he received. He immersed himself in study and found that he had three simplest creatures to choose from: a giant rat, a venomous rat, and a feral dog. He chose the giant rat because it cost only 350 mana, which he had plenty of.

He repeated the words from the book and tried the summoning for several hours, but it still didn't work. He was desperate and didn't know what to do. Finally, he remembered his attribute window and decided to focus on the "Summon Familiar" spell and the plus sign next to it.

As soon as he concentrated on it, the spell expanded, and a new window opened. He saw tabs numbered from 1 to 10, but he could only access the first tab. In it, he saw wolves, bears, lizards, and horses. There were 17 wolves, 4 bears, 3 lizards, and 45 horses in total.

Arin was confused as to why it looked different from the book, but he decided to try summoning a wolf. As soon as he focused on it, all the creatures in the first tab cost 400 mana, which he also had, but it was close to his limit. What also surprised him was that he didn't have to say anything – he just thought about the wolf, and it materialized.

A wolf appeared beside him, but it wasn't an ordinary wolf. It was a large, tattered wolf with many scars, looking dangerous and strong. Its fur was torn in places, but it also appeared majestic, and a dark power radiated from its eyes. Arin was surprised because the wolf was twice as big as he expected and took up all the free space in the room. In the book, it was depicted that the summoned wolf should be as big as a large dog, but this wolf was at least as big as a horse.

The wolf breathed its foul breath on Arin, making him feel nauseous. He didn't know whether to cry or laugh. The wolf looked at him with its dark black eyes, and Arin wondered what to do next.

He flipped through the book and found that the creatures he summoned at lower levels didn't have their own intelligence and had to be given commands. Arin tried saying, "Sit," but the wolf just growled. Then he tried, "Lie down," but the wolf started howling so loudly that it woke his sisters and mother. Arin tried other commands like "Turn around" and "Stand up," but the wolf still refused to listen. When he tried "Sit" and "Lie down" again, it was clear that the wolf was getting annoyed and bored, which led to it howling even louder.

His mother burst into the room with a broom in hand, and his sisters peered in behind her. "What's going on here, Arin?" she asked, alarmed.

Livia and Elenor stood in the doorway, eyes wide open, utterly amazed by the wolf's size and appearance. "Is that a wolf?" whispered Livia.

"It's huge!" Elenor exclaimed, unable to believe her eyes.

Arin tried to calm the wolf, but it kept growling and howling. "It's okay, Mom. I was just trying a spell," he said nervously.

His mother looked around the room, which looked like a battlefield. "You need to be careful, Arin. What if it hurt you?" she said as she began to calm down. "And what if the neighbors hear?"

Arin thought for a moment and then said, "I'll try to dismiss it. That should work." He focused, and the wolf disappeared. His mother visibly relaxed.

"This is dangerous, Arin," she said. "You need to be careful. I've heard that some of these creatures can be very dangerous."

"I know, Mom. I'm sorry. I just wanted to see if I could do it," Arin replied, feeling downcast.

His mother sighed but smiled at him. "Just be careful. It's late now." She then sent his sisters to bed in the living room. The sisters protested but saw the broom in their mother's hand and reluctantly complied. His mother returned and said to Arin, "You should go to bed too. You look pale."

Arin nodded and went to lie down in bed. As soon as he lay down, he fell asleep immediately.

The next morning, Arin overslept. His mother didn't wake him because he didn't have to go to school. He woke up at 10:00, still tired from the previous night. Summoning the wolf had exhausted him, and he hadn't checked his attributes in the evening.

He opened his attribute window and saw the same as before:

Level: 1

Summoner

Strength: 10

Agility: 10 (+5)

Intelligence: 40

Willpower: 40 (+3)

Endurance: 25

Mana: 400 (+30)

Health: 250

Magic equipment:

(rare) gloves of concealment (adding +5 agility and +3 Willpower and ability to conceal rings on hand)

(???) Ring (???)

Skills/Spells:

Summon Familiar (+)

He reviewed his attributes and thought about what had happened. He remembered how the ring "ate" the book, which might have caused his abilities to be different from what was described in the book. He began to consider that the ring and his abilities were somehow connected.

He thought about the number of creatures he saw in the attribute window. There were 17 wolves, 4 bears, 3 lizards, and 45 horses. He had summoned one wolf, but there were still 17 wolves, not 16. This meant that the wolf returned to the list after being dismissed. Each summoning of the creature cost 400 mana.

He went downstairs for breakfast, where his mother had prepared a buttered roll. "Where are my sisters?" Arin asked.

His mother replied, "They went to buy vegetables. They'll be back soon."

During the meal, he thought out loud about his discoveries.

"Mom, I think the ring I have is somehow linked to my abilities," Arin began. "Yesterday, I summoned a wolf, but when I dismissed it, it returned to the list of creatures. I still have 17 wolves."

His mother looked at him thoughtfully. "That's interesting, Arin. Maybe the ring isn't just an ordinary item. Maybe it gives you some special abilities."

Arin nodded and said, "I know, Mom. I'm not that stupid. There is nothing free in this world," and finished his breakfast. "Today, I'll go to the 'Broken Tooth' tavern and tell Maloren our decision," he said determinedly.

His mother nodded, kissed him, hugged him, and left for work.

Arin quickly washed in cold water, changed into his better clothes, which he wore during the awakening ceremony, and set off towards the tavern. The tavern was on the other side of town, in the wealthy district, a place he rarely visited. One of the reasons he changed into his better clothes was to blend in and avoid drawing suspicion from the guards.

As he walked from the poor district to the wealthy one, he noticed the stark differences. The wealthy district had well-maintained houses, clean streets, and guards patrolling everywhere. The buildings were made of sturdy stone, with intricate carvings and ornate windows. Shops selling luxurious goods, fine clothing, and rare magical items lined the streets. Children played happily in the parks, their laughter a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere of the slums.

In the wealthy district, he also saw several guild houses and buildings where the Hanseatic League and various guilds were based. There were shops with alchemical supplies, material buyers, and even several shops catering to the awakened, offering special weapons and magical items. The district was bustling with activity, from merchants negotiating deals to craftsmen showcasing their skills.

He noticed the additional security measures in place, with guards posted at regular intervals and patrols ensuring the safety of the residents. The wealthy district was not just cleaner and more beautiful, but also significantly safer. It was clear that this part of the city was home to the wealthy and powerful, including many of the awakened and nobility.

Arin passed by one of the grand houses where his mother worked as a servant. He remembered all the stories she had told him about the lives of the rich, about the grand parties and the opulent lifestyles. The contrast between his own life and the lives of those in the wealthy district was striking.

As he continued walking, he saw taverns and brothels that served as resting places for merchants and adventurers. These establishments were much more refined than those in the slums, with well-dressed patrons and well-maintained exteriors.

Finally, Arin arrived at the "Broken Tooth" tavern. It was a large, well-kept building with a bustling crowd inside. He took a deep breath and stepped inside, ready to deliver his family's decision to Maloren.