Reality Check

Summoners attend the academy for three years, with around 500 students in each class. Our rankings change throughout the year based on grades, duels, and school-wide events, but our initial placement is based entirely on the entrance exams.

I search the board until I see:

#103 - Nora Littleroot - 3rd Order

“3rd Order… That’s good, right Lucas?”

“Definitely.”

As I search for Nettle’s nameplate, I spot Lucas’s:

#15 - Lucas Coppersmith - High 3rd Order

“Wow! Congratulations, Lucas! You’re really—”

Why does he look… frustrated?

“Ugh! Letting my emotions get the better of me, showing off to Coldheart—I’m such an idiot.”

“Lucas… what’s wrong?”

“Sorry, Nora. I really don’t wanna—”

I hit him with the puppy dog eyes. “...Please?”

He sighs. “I didn’t… I didn’t come here to become some great wizard. The opposite, really. I came here to work on my craftsmanship and blend into the background. Standing out like this, it’s just begging for other students to waste my time dragging me into duels and other shenanigans…”

“Oh…”

Glancing back at the top of the board, my heart sinks.

#1 - Arthur Stonefield - 4th Order
#2 - Nettle Wolfsbane - 4th Order
#3 - Damian Darkwell - High 3rd Order

“You don’t look too happy either,” Lucas says.

“…Nettle beat me. I let Vincent down.”

“Nora, you’ve been a summoner for like a week, have no formal magic training, and still got a rank mostly just nobles get. I know you’re amazing and all, but you’re not a miracle worker. You should be proud of where you ranked.”

“I guess…”

Coldheart shouts. “Alright, everyone! We’re taking a lunch break. Follow me to the cafeteria.”

“...Maybe that’ll cheer you up?”

“Lucas, I’m not that easy to—”

***

“Oh my gosh!” I exclaim, mouth stuffed with food. “This is the best meal I’ve ever had!”

“Squee!”

I feed Pudding another bite, then funnel yet another plate of food into my mouth as I eat through my guilt.

“Man, Nora.” Lucas looks horrified. “You sure can put it away.”

“That’s ‘cause I’m a growing girl.”

“Which direction?”

…

“You know it’s rude to comment on a girl’s—”

“GALESTORM!” WOOOOOOOOOOSH!

The cafeteria erupts in screams, and we all duck under our tables.

Moments later, something thumps against ours.

I—

Uh oh. I knew that sounded like Corbin.

Glimmering in the middle of the cafeteria is Racket, holding a letter in his mouth. I grab it and scold him.

“Racket, you can’t mimic spells like that in a crowded—”

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Aah!” Racket mimics in my voice.

I sigh.

“Nora, why does it feel like everything you do is designed to draw as much attention as possible?”

“I—”

Everybody’s staring at me.

I try to apologize to the room, but my voice catches. I just can’t get out the words with this many people staring.

It gets harder and harder to breathe. My chest starts to hurt. I just—

“Nora.” Lucas squeezes my hand. “It’s okay, everyone was just a little startled. Take some deep breaths.”

I nod. After a few deep breaths, my chest starts to loosen.

Lucas… I wish I could be that dependable…

“Any idea who the letter is from?”

I open it up and—

“I’m… wanted in the headmaster’s office.”

***

I enter the office and find Vincent and Coldheart arguing.

“Vincent!” I run up and hug him. “I wasn’t sure I’d get to see you again today.”

“I’m not leaving just yet.”

“I…I’m sorry I let you down, Vincent.”

“No, Nora. I shouldn’t have made that bet. It’s on me.”

“You’re right about that.” Coldheart smirks. “Rank two vs rank one hundred and three? Guess that’s just the difference in our teaching skills.”

“Yeah, well… at least my apprentice is more adorable. You could learn a thing or two from her.”

Coldheart’s face flushes. “And what’s that supposed to mean?!”

“Besides, how many years have you had your apprentice? Mine’s only been a summoner for like a week.”

“Ha! Yeah, right—”

Coldheart pauses upon seeing Vincent’s expression. “Vincent… are you serious? Have you—”

“Yes, he’s told me.” The old man from earlier walks in and sits down at his desk. “Two new students already at 4th Order, so many others at 3rd and High 3rd, and now someone like Nora landing in our laps—I don’t think the academy’s ever had such a gifted class.”

“Hi, friendly Gramps!”

Coldheart snaps. “You disrespectful little—you’re talking to the top summoner in all the kingdom!”

“Woah, so you’re like… a super grandpa!

Coldheart quakes like she’s about to explode.

“Now, Celeste, calm yourself. It’s not like I’ve introduced myself yet. I’m headmaster Limner, and I happen to run this academy.”

I shake his hand. “Nice to meet’cha, I’m Nora!”

“Well, Nora, do you have any idea why I’ve called you here?”

“Am I… in trouble?”

Coldheart grins.

Super Grandpa laughs. “No, no, quite the opposite.”

Coldheart’s grin flips upside down.

“It’s about your summon.”

Pudding pops out from under my hat. “Squee?”

Coldheart opens her mouth to scold me, but Super Grandpa stops her.

“Before you arrived, Vincent briefly informed me about you by letter. However, I’d like to hear in your own words how you came to have such incredible coordination with your summon, as well as the origins of your peculiar spellcasting.”

Coldheart turns around. “I don't need to be here for this—”

“Stay,” Super Grandpa commands. “You should hear this too.”

He nods at me. “Now, start from the beginning.”

I essentially spill my entire life story. Their expressions shift as I go, but by the time I finish, Coldheart looks visibly perturbed, while Super Grandpa strokes his beard in thought.

“The impact this could have on summoning… truly profound.”

“It’s a Blue Slime though,” Coldheart protests. “There’s no weaker monster. And look at its mana core—it’s clearly defective. It probably can’t even evolve. What if the nature of her contract is only possible precisely because of how weak her monster is?”

“Is it not worth dedicating some resources to exploring the potential of their bond? Need I remind you how increasingly dire the monster situation’s becoming?”

“Yeah, Coldheart, need he remind you?” Vincent taunts.

“Why don’t you just—”

The two of them begin arguing like children, and Super Grandpa pinches his forehead.

I gasp as everything suddenly becomes clear to me.

This woman…

…is definitely into Vincent.

I giggle.

Coldheart's head snaps in my direction. “And what are you laughing about?”

“You must really like Vincent, huh?”

Her eyes widen as she stumbles back a step, face turning bright red.

Vincent smirks. “Well, I am quite charming.”

Her head pivots to Vincent, then back to me. “That’s not—this deadbeat?!”

“I mean, you do give off a lot of the same signals around him as monsters do during mating season.”

Vincent snorts.

“MATING—Oh, I’m going to kill—”

“Coldheart!” Super Grandpa snaps. “Behave.”

I taunt her. “Ooh somebody’s in trouble—”

“Miss Littleroot.” He cuts me off. “I see great potential in you, but I’ve seen plenty of promising students amount to nothing without discipline. You’ve shown remarkable immaturity since you’ve arrived at our academy. Miss Boldheart is your teacher, and you will show her respect.”

“...Sorry, sir.”

“You may be excused.”

“Alright.”

But just as I turn to leave—

“Wait.”

I gulp and slowly spin around—

He holds out a bowl of candy. “Have some butterscotch.”

I meekly grab a piece.

“I like you, Miss Littleroot. I just ask that you get your impulses under control and think about the kind of summoner you aspire to be. I hope that’s a reasonable request.”

I pop the candy into my mouth and nod, smiling. “Yes, sir.”

“Alright, run along now.”

I give Vincent a quick hug goodbye, then head back to the cafeteria, with just one question stuck in my head.

What kind of summoner do I want to become?