Chapter 38: Summoning Trouble
The next day Kouren came by my workshop and asked me something. "I'm curious; do you really like both Sakuro and Ureksa?"
"Yeah..." I'm not sure where Kouren is going with this but I don't think I'll like it.
"I just thought it was unusual that you couldn't decide..." A cold chills runs down my spine. Kouren is plotting, I don't know what she's plotting but I know she's plotting. "If you absolutely had to chose, you would pick Sakuro right?"
Is that what that creature sensed? "Good thing it doesn't matter."
"I think that if you like them both you should keep your options open. Don't be in a rush to decide," with that said, Kouren started to leave. What in the world could she be plotting?
"Kouren!" I rush after her. "I... there's..." If only I can trick her into keeping this quiet and stop her from further embarrassing me, because even if she claims to be helping she's not. "There is another man whom I like more then those two put together." I rush back into my workshop and Kouren makes no attempts to stop me. I don't think she believed me.
I'm just about fuming right now. I'm angry at Kouren for expecting every girl to be as much of an open book as she is eradiating confidence in her path, and I'm angry at myself for getting into this mess with the craft lords in the first place. I've been telling a lot of half truths, and they have evolved into lies... or maybe they were lies to begin with.
I'm not about to throw away my last bit of self respect. I can't openly admit things like Kouren. I'm not going to admit I lied, instead I intend to turn the lies into truths.
I run down the stairs in search of Master Bron. "Master Bron! Where can I find a summoner?"
"A summoner?" I don't think Master Bron expected such a question.
"Yes! Yes! A summoner!" I insist, running in place making my rush evident.
"Why do you need a summoner? I don't think you need a guardian beast for your job." I can't tell Master Bron what I'm planning. I'm sure he won't approve.
"Never mind, can you still tell me?" I insist.
Bron shakes his head. "What's gotten into you?"
"Alright, I understand, I'll ask someone else," I start to leave.
"Wait a minute!" Master Bron stops me. "Don't go doing anything unnecessary. You're acting very strange today..."
"It's okay; I just want a talk to a summoner. It's not even a sure thing I'll ask for a summon creature to be called." Unless of course there is one that can accomplish the twisted purpose I have in mind.
"Fine, just don't do anything rash, having a guardian beast is serious business," Bron wrote some directions for me on a piece of paper and I was well on my way.
I'm sure Bron must have found it strange to see me rush out of the Silver Guild, only to return a few minutes later and rush up to my room. I had forgotten to bring money and there's a good chance the summoner will have a sort of fee for the special type of summing I have in mind.
I was soon boarding the next boat headed for Vance. The trip went with nothing out of the ordinary and soon I was in Vance.
At Vance, I followed Bron's directions, got lost a few times, asked the locals for directions, and finally found who I was looking for. "Are you a summoner?"
"Yes, I am." The young woman was dressed in white, dark blue and red. She had long purple hair and glasses. "My name is Nina, I was about to go back home so you caught me just in time. Are you a craft knight? Do you want me to summon a guardian beast for you?"
"Yes I do! Um... how much does it cost?" I really don't need to get myself into another big debt. Besides, it's all for the sake of being stubborn and turning my lies into truths, so I don't think it's worth spending too much.
"One thousand boam for the summonite gem, unless you have your own. Otherwise I'm offering a free service during my stay here at Vance." Maybe my luck is improving after all.
"In that case I'll buy it." You know what they say, once you hit rock bottom the only thing left to do is climb up.
"Okay, here you go," Nina gives me the summonite gem and I pay for it. "Now I'm going to ask you a few questions to determine what kind of summon creature is best for you. It's hard to say what kind of creature will answer the call, but this will make it more likely for a certain type of creature to come."
"What?" This isn't good. "You mean it's random? But I already know what I want so can't you summon something that fits a description?"
"Just because you want a certain creature as your guardian doesn't mean that creature is best suited for you." Nina explains.
"It's no good if he doesn't fit the description," I pout; I knew my luck was too good to be true.
"You should give it a chance so matter what kind of summon beast you get. I always thought something small and cute was beast for me, but later I realized that my ideal companion is actually really big and strong." Nina doesn't understand that I don't really want a guardian beast, I want an actor.
I shake my head. "That's no good. Can you sent it back if it doesn't work? Can I use the summonite gem for a different summon then?"
"I'm afraid it doesn't work that way. You should also be thankful when a creature answers the summoning..." Nina doesn't get it and I have a feeling that she won't approve if I explain it to her.
"I'll think about it..." I'm lying again, I don't like lying.
"Okay, but I'm leaving in about an hour. You shouldn't rush if you're not sure though," Nina advices.
"I understand," I leave the inn with a plan in mind. I'll find another summoner, one that will give me what I came for, even if I have to pay a little extra money for it. I've become more stubborn, and I know I'm being a fool but I don't care. The man I said I liked more that Sakuro and Ureksa... he may not exist now, but soon someone will summon him to me.
To be Continued
Disclaimer, I do not own Summon Night: A Swordcraft Story. Nina is from Summon Night: A Swordcraft Story 2. This won't really be a crossover; it's just a little cameo.