The Price of Karma
1219 Words
When Valentina woke up, her body felt stiff, like her joints were rusted.
"Valentina! Oh my gosh, you're finally awake!"
She heard a surprised voice, followed by a soft, fragrant body practically falling on top of her.
"How long was I out? What happened?" she croaked, trying several times before she could force her voice out. Her throat felt like it was on fire, and every word she spoke felt like a blade cutting through her.
Amanda helped her sit up, pouring her some water as she spoke. "It’s been three days. After you fainted, I was so scared. Luckily, Ryan and Jett took you to the healer. The healer couldn’t figure out what was wrong, so they kept you there for a day, and then let me bring you back."
Valentina slowly became more aware, sensing her body's condition. She tried circulating some spiritual energy, and other than some stiffness from lying down too long, she felt fine.
Wait, what's this?!
Inside her dantian, there was a small golden scepter floating.
It looked exactly like the key that had disappeared earlier!
Had it been this scepter that caused her fainting spell?
She carefully reached out with her spiritual energy to touch the scepter. Immediately, a soft golden glow emanated from it, absorbing all of the energy she had sent toward it.
Feeling no ill intent from it—and remembering that it was given to her by her mother—she decided to put her concerns aside for now, making a mental note to investigate this thing further when she had the chance.
"Amanda, the summoning class is this afternoon, right? I’m getting up to stretch a bit and head to class!"
Amanda’s face lit up with a smile. "Oh thank goodness! You’ve been out for three whole days, and it’s been so lonely without you. At least Cain hasn’t been at the academy, so now we can stick together!"
After stretching a bit, Valentina made her way to the classroom. Ryan and Jett were already there.
"Thanks so much for what you did the other day," she said. "We’ll work hard over the next twenty-something days, and I promise we won’t hold you back during the new student trials!"
Ryan flashed a smile, and Jett gave a lazy salute, his hand briefly touching his head. "Welcome aboard," he said.
Valentina’s words indicated she had accepted their team invitation. With her determination, it seemed like she might surprise them in a month.
"Alright everyone, gather around the summoning array," Aria, the summoning teacher, called out. "Focus your mind and silently chant; your contracted beast will appear."
"Each of you will summon your spirit beast, which will automatically form a bond with you, connecting your bloodlines. Be sincere in your summoning!"
Anyone who could become a mage was capable of sensing the natural energy of the world and summoning a beast to become their companion. Many noble families would give their younger generations powerful beast cubs to foster a connection, allowing them to summon these beasts by name when needed. Stronger mages could even tame a wild beast and form a contract with it, although the bond would be weaker. If the beast became stronger than the mage, it could break the contract and leave.
Aria pointed at the two most talented students in the class. "Ryan, Jett, you go first."
Ryan stepped up to the array, and after a brief moment, blue patterns began to flow across the array, and golden light burst forth. As the light faded, a six-eyed divine eagle appeared, its wings unfurled as it let out a piercing cry.
"My God! Is that a six-eyed divine eagle?! They say it has the bloodline of the golden-eyed eagles! That’s practically a demigod!"
"No way! The golden-eyed eagle disappeared in the wars of the gods thousands of years ago. How could this thing be related?"
"Looks great on you, Ryan!" Jett added, admiring the majestic creature perched on Ryan’s shoulder. "I can’t wait to try my own summoning now!"
Ryan and Jett had grown up together, and neither of them had been given a beast by their families. They were both curious to see what they could summon on their own, and the appearance of the six-eyed divine eagle was an incredible stroke of luck.
Jett stepped up next, and soon a blazing fire swirled around the summoning array.
"Everyone, step back!" Aria called, urging students to keep their distance. "That’s the fire of the Flaming Spirit Deer!"
Jett was ecstatic. Being a fire mage, the Flaming Spirit Deer was the perfect match for him.
When the flames subsided, Jett approached the creature: a small deer with burning red horns and fiery fur.
The summoning was a success, and the deer nuzzled him affectionately.
The other students, eager to try their own summons, quickly formed their circles, but none of their summoned beasts matched the power or rarity of Ryan’s six-eyed eagle or Jett’s flaming deer.
Soon, it was Valentina’s turn.
The room fell quiet as everyone remembered the shock Valentina had given them a few days ago. They were all eager to see what beast she would summon.
"I heard she’s a water mage. Maybe she’ll summon a mermaid?"
"Maybe it’s a steel-shelled tortoise? They’re good for defense!"
"Here it comes!"
The array flashed with a deep blue light, and a small silver-white beast appeared, making a soft, plaintive noise.
Valentina didn’t even have time to examine it. As soon as the beast materialized, a bone-chilling cold wrapped around her, as if she had fallen into an icy abyss. She felt her scepter in her dantian vibrate, and its golden light grew even more intense.
Aria, noticing Valentina’s pale face, quickly reached out to check her pulse, but as soon as she touched her, she pulled back in shock—the air around Valentina had frozen, and even the lashes on her eyes had crystallized with frost!
Just as quickly, the cold faded, replaced by a warm, tingling sensation. Valentina took a moment to recover, and when she opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by curious classmates.
"…Is that… a dog?" Amanda hesitated, her voice shaking.
Someone laughed loudly, and others followed suit.
"Ha! This is so embarrassing. My Desert Scorpion looks much more intimidating!"
"That’s a dog, right? How is that even possible for a water mage?"
"Yeah, it’s cute, but seems pretty useless…"
"Ha! This is karma! This is what happens when that little country girl hurt Young Master Cain. What a bad omen!"
Though Cain wasn’t there, his loyal followers were, and they were quick to mock Valentina, adding to the tension with their cruel words.
Valentina pushed through the crowd and looked closely at the creature. "Huh, this is the little wolf from the forest, isn’t it?"
It seemed that the wolf had been knocked unconscious by the contract, and its forehead mark had shifted from gray lightning to a bright red.
Jett leaned in curiously, his slanted eyes widening. "This is a juvenile Silverwing Wolf?!"
He reached out to pet it, but Valentina swiftly grabbed the little wolf, protecting it from his reach. As she turned away, her voice rang out clearly, "No matter what it is, from this moment on, it’s my friend, my comrade, and my family!"
- Writer
