Instructor Maren continued. "Every summon path differs". "Beast tamers bind living creatures from the mortal plane, spirit callers reach into the echoes of dead souls, and other rare paths. Regardless of your branch, your summon will mirror your soul."
She folded her arms. "Now, let's see what kind of summoners we've been blessed with this term."
A flicker of excitement spread through the students. This was the moment everyone had waited for, their first display.
One by one, students stepped forward.
A tall elf girl, draped in silver robes, was the first. Her resonance sphere shimmered with emerald light as she raised her hand. "Elaris of Sylvaris," she introduced herself. "Rank A, Elemental Summoner." The air behind her shimmered, and a spirit made of wind and vines formed, its eyes glowing softly.
Maren nodded approvingly. "Excellent control. A balanced connection between spirit and essence."
Next was a human boy, proud and loud. "Darren of Valoria. Rank S, Primal Summoner." He drew a complex sigil midair, his hands steady and practiced. A massive beast materialized, a two-headed hound with molten eyes, its paws cracking the ground slightly as it landed. Gasps filled the hall.
"Typical," someone whispered. "Another noble from the inner divisions."
Maren only nodded. "Your summon reflects your flame affinity well. Be sure it doesn't consume your Aether reserves."
More students followed, each performing their summoning ritual. The room filled with the sights and sounds of conjured creatures, spectral serpents, glowing owls, stone golems, and miniature Rift beasts. Each summoner's rank was reflected in the aura of their bond. The lower division students struggled, some unable to maintain even the simplest contracts. Their creatures flickered or refused to appear altogether.
Lucien watched quietly, leaning slightly against a pillar. His calm demeanor contrasted the nervous excitement around him. He was used to being overlooked, and honestly, it worked in his favor. No one expected anything from the mixed-blood boy.
Instructor Maren eventually turned to the corner where several unawakened summoners stood. "Those of you without an initial bond," she said, "will be choosing from the academy's collection today. Remember, the beast chooses you as much as you choose it."
Assistants led the group toward a long corridor that opened into a wide chamber. The floor was marked with containment runes, and behind reinforced barriers rested dozens of beasts, some docile, some restless. The air carried the heavy, raw scent of Aether.
Lucien's curiosity stirred. Each creature radiated a unique pulse, and he could almost feel their essence brushing against his mind.
Then, the faint hum in his head returned, the familiar pulse of his system.
▓▒░ [Detected: Unbound Beasts in Proximity.] ░▒▓
▓▒░[Would you like to activate Monster Analysis Interface?]░▒▓
Lucien blinked. "You can do that here?" he muttered under his breath.
▓▒░ [Affirmative. Permission required.] ░▒▓
He didn't hesitate. "Do it."
At once, faint silver lines formed in his vision, tracing over the creatures around him. Interfaces began to appear before each beast, written in faint, pulsing light.
▓▒░ [Species: Riftborn Direwolf
Rank: C+
Affinity: Fire / Shadow
Potential Tier: High
Traits: Pack Instinct, Ember Fang, Rift Regeneration
Bind Compatibility: 30%
Essence Yield: 640 EP.] ░▒▓
Lucien's brows furrowed. He could understand most of the information, but one line stood out. "Essence Yield… what's that supposed to mean?". He asked reaching out to the system.
▓▒░ [Locked Function. You'll understand once you meet the condition of the Soulbinder System] ░▒▓
The voice was lazy, almost dismissive.
Lucien exhaled slowly. "You could at least try to sound helpful."
The system gave a faint hum in reply, something that felt like a shrug.
"Figures," Lucien said under his breath.
He continued walking, letting the system scan more beasts. Some were too weak, others too violent. A few looked promising, but their compatibility rates were low. Then, he stopped before a creature in the far corner.
It was small compared to the others, almost overlooked, a dark-feathered avian with faint silver streaks across its wings. It watched him in silence, sharp eyes following his every move.
The interface appeared again.
▓▒░ [Species: Shadowfeather Crow]
Rank: D
Affinity: Shadow / Spirit
Potential Tier: Intermediate
Traits: Keen Vision, Rift Instinct, Soul Trace
Bind Compatibility: 55%
Essence Yield: 410 EP] ░▒▓
Lucien tilted his head. "You're quiet," he said softly. The bird didn't move but blinked slowly, like it understood him.
▓▒░ [Summoning Conduit Status: Active..] ░▒▓
▓▒░ [Would you like to initiate Dominant Contract?] ░▒▓
Lucien hesitated. "Dominant Contract?"
▓▒░[The Soulbinder Interface can enforce a higher-grade bond by linking directly with the target's essence. Success rate depends on willpower and compatibility. Warning: failure may cause backlash.] ░▒▓
He thought for a moment. "And if I fail?"
▓▒░ [You'll probably pass out. Again.] ░▒▓
Lucien sighed. "You really don't make things sound comforting."
▓▒░ [Would you like to proceed?] ░▒▓
He looked once more at the creature. "Yeah. Let's try."
At once, faint strands of light wrapped around his hand, silver and black, twisting like threads of smoke. He extended his palm toward the Shadowfeather Crow.
The system's interface pulsed red.
▓▒░[Attempting Dominant Contract…]
[Connection initializing…]
[Compatibility — recalibrating…]
[Result: Failed.] ░▒▓
Lucien stumbled slightly as the energy cut off, his vision flickering for a second. The bird squawked softly but didn't move away.
▓▒░ [You overreached,] the system said, tone almost amused. [Dominant Contracts aren't just about choosing. You have to match wills. That little bird may look calm, but it's got more pride than you think.] ░▒▓
Lucien rubbed his temples. "Great. You could've said that before I tried."
▓▒░ [Where's the fun in that?] ░▒▓
He rolled his eyes. "You're insufferable."
The system gave a low hum, as if chuckling.
He took a deep breath and glanced around. Most of the other students had already finished their selections. Some boasted about their new bonds, others celebrated modest successes. Instructor Maren, focused on guiding an A-rank student, didn't even glance his way.
Lucien didn't mind. He preferred it that way. He looked again at the crow, its eyes gleaming faintly under the light. Something about it felt familiar, like an echo that hadn't faded.
"Fine," he murmured. "You win for now. But I'll be back."
He turned away, his expression calm but his mind already turning.