The Chimera Summoner - Ch 25

Ch 25--

The simmering, obsidian desert stretched endlessly around us. Heat rippled in an unbroken mirage to the horizon.

"It's sharp!" Squealed a student, in alarm.

Students were already shedding winter gear with sweaty urgency, and someone had made the mistake of putting a bare hand on the glittering black sand. She was staring at a hand laced with tiny cuts in horror.

I winced, eying the sand under my feet with new trepidation. That would not feel good to fall in.

"Welcome to the midnight desert." Valant responded, dryly.

She began rattling of pairings.

"Winners take five Loftys. Losers run laps." she added at the end.

"Here or at the gym?" Asked Nyke, Hera's towering tank.

"Here." Valant barked.

She tossed a yellow runestone onto the dune. It rolled a bit and then there was a loud thud. The sand in a ten meter circle was smashed down into a smooth flat surface. She did the same with three more stones, creating some sparring circles.

"Win by yield, or last in the ring." She said. "Go."

Fuck. The idea of running laps was one thing. I'd been doing that a lot lately, with all the training I had been doing. But running in this sharp, loose sand, under this sweltering heat? That was nearly torture.

The first duels were getting underway, with the rest of us arrayed in-between the rings. I joined the crowd at the side of Jennie's duel.

She was fighting Nyke.

The big, dark-haired girl had donned full plate armor that shone brightly in the glaring sunlight. I was jealous. Contrary to the deadly oven that mundane armor would've been, Wayfinder tank armor was heavily climate controlling. She had gone from ugly sweating, to shimmering like a sunscreen commercial.

Damn. Knight in shining armor, you can rescue me any...! I closed my mouth, with difficulty.

Jennie's fingers slid her long daggers out of their sheaths at her ribs with the solemn deliberation of a musician preparing to play.

I grinned.

Darkness burst to life around Jennie's blades like flames, that sucked light in rather than illuminate.

Nyke winced. "That's new."

Jennie gave her a smug little shrug.

"You found a Catalyst on your first dive." Nyke accused.

"I guess we did." Jennie said, spinning her daggers, and vanishing.

Nyke almost guessed where Jennie would reappear, which allowed the tank to take the worst of the attack on her armor.

She swung her spiked mace in a viscous circle, forcing Jennie to dance away before she could follow up. But the dark lines where Jennie's daggers had scored her armor pulsed jaggedly.

Nyke gaze the streaks a single, momentary glance, all she had time for in the heat of a spar. "Damage over time?" She guessed.

"In a manner of speaking." Jennie said, with satisfaction.

"Awesome." Nyke said, flatly.

The rest of the duel was more a question of whether Jennie could fight in the sun long enough to wear down Nyke, rather than if Nyke could beat her.

But that was the role of a tank. Endure long enough for something else to do the damage. Usually this would be a teammate. Now it was the sun.

It was a close thing. Much closer than Jennie probably would have liked. But in the end, Jennie managed to lay enough of a lattice of shadowy wounds on Nyke to overwhelm her with one of her new finishing attacks that rendered her opponent unconscious.

She was quickly revived by one of the fourth year healers that Professor Valant had portalled in for just such an occasion. Nyke hauled herself to her feet, and offered Jennie a hand. She shook it, surprised.

"You don't fight like a cheater." Nyke said.

Jennie scowled. "Because we didn't cheat."

Nyke shrugged and strode away to watch her friends fight.

Jennie fumed next to me as we watched the next couple duels.

"It doesn't matter what anyone thinks." I said. "It'll blow over the second there's a new little rumor."

Jennie grunted, uncheered.

"You seem more comfortable with the shadow enhancement on your daggers now?" I offered, encouragingly.

"Yeahhh." She lifted her eyes, and then seized my arm, examining my tattoos closely. "Three! What's your new Familiar??"

"Eir!" Valant barked. "Malory!"

I winked at Jennie. "You'll see!"

I gave her a peck on the cheek and dashed into the ring, where Valant and my opponent were already waiting, leaving Jennie spluttering.

"Places." Valant ordered.

Malory and I took positions in the ring. She stood near the center. She drew a long, silver broadsword from her back, and sneered condescendingly down its gleaming length at me.

"I was hoping to get a crack at one of the cheaters." She whispered.

My blood boiled instantly. Hadn't I JUST told Jennie it didn't matter? But I was suddenly livid.

I made my calls.

My tattoos burned, I felt the tug, and three circles of swirling magic formed before me. One forest green, one glacial blue, and the newest one cherry blossom pink.

Lucy, Lorna, and Violette strode to my sides. For once, all of my familiars were on the same page as me, and they were fully clothed and raring for battle.

Lorna immediately set herself close at my back, like an icy shadow, washing me in cold air. The relief from the scalding sun instantly made me feel a million times lighter, and clearer headed.

Dang. I should've thought of her immediately.

"What the fuck is this?" my opponent asked, incredulously. "Professor, I thought these were duels?! The cheater is even trying to cheat in class?!"

Valant regarded Malory. "A Bayloft student, unable to identify a Summoner Class, when it's right in front of her. Bewildering."

Malory flinched, but tried to stand her ground. "But four on one isn't fair."

Valant raised a brow. "You will both use your Classes during these spars. This is what Eir's Class does. Begin."

"But--" Malory started.

"You may surrender." Valant offered, coldly.

Violette held out her hand, and a white branch grew in the air before her, twisting and folding itself into a towering bow, a full six inches taller than herself. She strung it in a single smooth motion.

"PREY." she announced, eying our opponent contemptuously.

I'd made a shopping run to the school market, and picked her up some starting gear. She wore a tight sleeveless top, and long, loose black pants, of the kind often used to disguise footwork. Her dazzling white and pink hair flowed in the hot breeze.

"We are sparring." I said quickly,"Non-lethal attacks only. There's healers on standby. But be careful."

Violette tilted her head, her big pointy ears flopping to the side. "You want us to humiliate her."

I did indeed want that. I frowned. Violette had a very clear bond with me, already.

Lucy piped up, performing a few test jabs to warm herself up, making her big bouncy tits do that thing I liked. "Just be a good girl, and do as Eir says. She gives the best treats, when you do."

Violette's eyes dilated, and her nostrils flared. "Fine. Whatever. I don't need treats."

She was close enough I could smell her instant arousal.

"Good girl." I nodded to Lucy, sent a subtle pulse of gratitude down our bond.

She shot me a quick, freckly grin through her messy bangs that made my heart flutter.

"Let--" I started giving orders.

Malory stopped that plan by flying across the circle, sword painting a deadly arc in the sky. The girl was FAST.

Her sword danced around us. Lucy dashed forward, closing the distance and fended off her attacks. Lorna raised her hands and started weaving an icy slowing hex.

Beside me, I heard a woody creak that took me back to the shifting floorboards in Wally's old house. My old house, I corrected myself, grimly. I could still smell the dusty books on those shelves.

A deep thrum dragged me back to the present.

A thick, silver arrow with green fletching sprang across the circle and clanged off of Malory's sword, deflecting a blow that might've hurt Lucy.

I felt my eyes widen, as the bow in Violette's hands creaked again.

Her entire countenance had transformed.

She was a goddess of tranquility.

She drew her bow, a conjured silver arrow blossoming between string and rest. She was like a still pool of deep water. Not a ripple. Her bond felt utterly quiet.

Thrummmm thrummmmmm thrummmmmm!

Violette fired arrow after arrow, in a steady cadence. Her arrows streaked past Lucy's rapidly shifting form, as she and Malory tangled around each other.

But it didn't seem to matter how they moved, or how Malory tried to maneuver Lucy between herself and Violette's serene stare. Arrows found Malory, and only Malory.

"Damn." I whistled, watching the show.

I felt a sudden nudge from Lucy, and I rushed to send her a heal for the cuts she was accumulating.

[Tempest strike] let her clash directly with the sword without hurting herself, when she hit it, with the skill active. But she couldn't keep it going constantly.

But Malory was a Bayloft student. She was finding openings.

Individually, she was stronger than any of my Familiars. But as the battle developed I realized that the gap was not large. And there were four of us.

Lucy kept Malory busy. I kept Lucy strong and healthy. Violette slowly delivered damage.

I couldn't tell exactly what effect the conjured arrows were having. They whistled into the enemy brawler with the usual effects of a big-ass arrow, mostly sticking into her armor, but a few cutting into or even piercing her body. Each one that did strike flesh vanished into her, leaving a glowing mark.

I couldn't imagine that was a good thing for her.

"Ugh!" Malory screamed, "What are these things, you little freak!!"

I squinted, edging closer, to get a better look. Several tiny flowers were starting to sprout from within Malory's armor. They were tiny little pink and white things, with delicate, closed petals. As I watched, another sprouted. Just where another arrow had struck. They burned with a pale blue fire.

Malory dashed back, giving herself space from Lucy, and swirled her sword around herself, cutting many flowers away. But more grew in their places, and the distance let Violette land two more unerring shots.

"What do those flowers do?" I asked Violette, softly.

"Burn." She said, voice slow, breathing steady.

The duel shifted when Lorna finished weaving her hex. She faded, disappearing from view for a while, before emerging from the sand behind our enemy, like a spectre from hell. She placed a spectral finger against Malory's forehead from her shadow.

The swordswoman screamed, and slashed viciously, but it passed through my ghost-girl harmlessly and Lorna faded, to return to my side.

Malory's eyes slowly glassed over, becoming reflective, like they were carved out of ice. Ghostly mirrors formed around her, fading in and out of existence as she turned wildly.

"No!" She snarled. "Don't come close to me, I hate spiders. Stop."

Panic was growing on her face.

I turned, wide eyed, and Lorna gave me a shrug. Apparently this girl was extra susceptible to Lorna's fear enchantment.

I watched Malory, now basically ignoring us, screeching her head off to swing wildly at whatever spiders she was seeing all around her.

Without her pruning the flowers growing on her leather armor, she was quickly becoming a walking garden of the delicate things.

"She lives?" Violette asked, stopping her steady barrage.

"For sure." I said, sternly.

"And I get a treat?"

"You all get treats." I sighed.

"Let's let her toast, a little more."

"VIOLETTE."

Violette scowled, but snapped her fingers, and the flames and the flowers faded away like as much mist in the searing desert sun.

Lorna made a move like lifting a blanket, and the mirrors shattered silently and faded. Malory's eyes snapped back into focus.

She collapsed to her knees, sword falling from her limp fingers into the hot sand.

"Eir wins." Valant announced, flicking a silver Lofty into the sand at my feet, before moving on to observe another circle.

Malory just sat in the sand, stunned.

I walked up, cautiously.

"Good fight." I offered her a hand.

She flinched.

"Sorry if things got a little bit too much there, for a second." I apologized.

Malory just stared up at me, bewildered. "What are you?"

I blinked. I had meant to show off a little. But maybe I'd gone too far. "A Summoner."

Malory shook her head, looking down at her hands.

Yeahhhhhh, little too far. Even if she had called me and Jennie cheaters.

"Come on." I said, after giving her a second. "You'll feel better once you're back up. Besides, I think they need the circle for the next pair."

I wiggled my hand, and she finally took it, letting me haul her to her feet.

She slumped off to do her laps around the dueling area, looking dazed.

"We did good?" Lucy prompted, hopefully.

I turned, and my three Familiars were in a neat line, matching expectant expressions on their faces. Even Lorna, in her distant and dignified way, was looking a bit pleased and hopeful.

"You all did incredible." I nodded. "We are a great team. I was surprised how well we worked together, even without a chance to plan!"

"The bond." Lorna nodded.

I nodded, fervently. Having an intuitive understanding and awareness of each other made for a huge advantage that we'd barely begun to explore.

"And it'll only get better as our bonds get strongerrrr." Lucy said, leadingly.

I smiled warmly, and took her hands in mine. She took a step forward, and I gave her forehead a kiss. "Good girl."

She beamed. Then pressed her lips to mine, opening and drawing my tongue into her eager, playful mouth. We pressed together for a fiery moment, before I pushed her back, so I wouldn't rip her clothes apart.

I moved down the line to Lorna. She rested her spectral hands over mine like we were about to start a stately waltz.

"Princess." I said, bowing, and kissing her icy fingertips.

Lorna blushed silver, and favored me with a smile that spoke of shared secrets.

I moved down the line to my newest, Violette. She gave me an arrogant smirk, popping her hips to the side.

I paused, "how do you like--"

She grinned, and started lifting her shirt over her head, one puffy, pink areola popping free before I smacked bodily into her.

She took advantage and smashed her lips into mine, lashing her tongue desperately. I felt a long fluffy tail wrap possessively around one of my legs.

Heat rose in my chest and spread quickly to my rapidly stirring cock.

Reluctantly, I took Violette's supple hips and pushed her back, hauling her shirt back into place. She held my tongue in her teeth until she absolutely couldn't anymore and still stay on her feet.

She panted, eyes locked hungrily on mine.

"Not the kind of treat I meant!" I gasped.

"Breed me." She said.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head.

"I thought!? Can't?! Not same species?! Is that possible, even??" I gasped out.

Violette rolled her eyes. "You can't REALLY, obviously."

I sighed in relief.

"But that shouldn't stop you from trying." She continued. "Over and over and over."

Heat suffused my cheeks.

"Wow this black sand stuff really reflects the heat, huh? It's like an oven." I said, loudly.

I took a knee, as if to demonstrate my point.

It took some doing, but I thought I managed to keep my raging erection from showing as I calmed down over the next several minutes. Several, extremely flustered, and horny minutes.

Something about the unfiltered, earnest desire in Violette's voice had really done a number on me. I couldn't stop hearing it, bouncing around in my head.

Jennie found me out, of course. She'd joined us as I'd been praising my Familiars for winning the duel, and had watched the whole thing with ferociously rolling eyes.

"You really can't keep that thing under control for a single hour, can you?" She asked, disapprovingly.

"She's new, and very... Sensitive!" I snarled, bent over and trying to look like I was just catching my breath.

For several minutes.

In the end, Lorna had to drift through me, several times, effectively dousing me in ice, with her freezing ghostly temperature.

I dismissed my Familiars once I'd calmed down. The group of dazzlingly beautiful, scantily clad women was drawing a lot of looks. Which was great for keeping eyes off my boner. But bad for being left alone, in general.

"So, we both won our matches!" I said, brightly.

Jennie snorted. "Yeah, but I didn't traumatize my opponent. What the fuck happened?"

I looked around, worried. In a minute, I'd found Malory. She was back with her friends, and what I assumed was her current party. She was staring at me, but when I caught her eye, she swiftly looked away.

"I don't know... Lorna showed her some spiders? Violette kind of set her on fire." I muttered, concerned.

"Kinda set her on fire??" Jennie asked.

"Like a slow burn!" I squirmed, "It was very gradual! A lot of people are using fire Skills, look at that chick!"

A mage was channeling a gout of flame at a fleeing classmate. From the green hair, and the firefly-like glow, I recognized our bunkbed neighbor Tayla doing the chasing.

"I didn't do anything nearly that bad." I protested.

"Eir." Valant appeared at my side. I nearly jumped out of my skin. "A word." She said, then stepped away, into some empty sand.

I eyed Jennie. She shoved me after Valant with an exasperated expression.

Valant activated a privacy bubble, from a little broach at her breast, when I joined her.

"What level is your summoning Skill?" She asked, without preamble.

"Uh. Two. Three! I mean THREE!" I stammered.

'It's likely you will be able to fill a full party." Valant stated.

I nodded slowly. "I guess, if I get--"

"Is it your intention to become a soloist, long term?" She asked, ignoring me.

I paused. It was. But a fourth familiar wasn't a guarantee. And a soloist would never have the full raw power that five wayfinders together could have. And I still had the whole Jennie situation to juggle for a while.

"Understood." Valant nodded, jotting down a note. Her voice dropped. "Have you decided whether you'd rather keep a low profile or...?"

I nodded. "Consider me bait."

"Understood." She said, a tiny glint of approval tinging her eyes.

She popped the privacy bubble with a stern finger and strode away from me, leaving a vanishing trail of footprints in the sand.

"What the fuck was that about?" Jennie asked, as I rejoined her.

"Eir!" Valant's voice sounded.

I froze. I had already fought. Jennie looked alarmed, and waved her hand

s when I shot her a questioning look.

"Eir!" Valant repeated, as I jogged over to the circle she was indicating. "Hera! Tess! Ravale!"

I gawked. Two vs. two? She'd said it would be duels only today--

Three students turned from watching another ring. I recognized them immediately. Fuck.

"The three of you, versus Eir." Valant announced. "Go."

Fuck!