Intermediate Summoning

This is it. Your last new class for the semester.

And what a class it is!

Professor Hobbins is a rather unremarkable looking man but there is nothing unremarkable about the summoning circle he has already drawn in the corner of the room that many of the other students are already talking about. "Take your seats," he says, "I know you're curious about the shiny circle in the corner but we're going to have to do a bit of reviewing the basics just to refresh our memories before we get to that today. Can't have you accidentally summoning He Of Many Deaths And Tendrils. It would make the next Parent Teacher conference awkward to say the least."

Most of the class laughs at the joke and you hear a familiar giggle from beside you. Turning your head to look, you are surprised to see that Parisa has slid into the seat next to yours, giving you a warm smile as she says, "Hi! I see we have another class together so I hope you don't mind if I sit near someone familiar."

"Not at all," you reply with a smile of your own even as your mind processes what you are seeing now compared to what you just saw in the gym, "You seem very... interesting."

Parisa giggles but turns her attention back to Professor Hobbins starts the class. You take an extra moment to observe her, the more primal part of you still noting how goddamn hot she is and the fact that her tits are almost the same size as Harmony's... but that is the only real observation you have time to make before class properly begins and you are distracted by the fact you may soon be summoning some kind of gollem or gryphon.

The class starts slow, with a detailed explanation of the first three chapters of your textbook. The lecture covers how to make a summoning circle of your own, the basic symbology that the circle uses to dictate what kind of creature is summoned, and some examples of how to summon some basic creatures.

"And now for the part you have been waiting for," Hobbins says as he wraps up the lecture, "Today, I want each of you to try summoning a familiar. It is a standardized spell but one that can vary greatly depending on both the caster's spirit and power. Think of it as a chance to deal with the unexpected in a controlled environment."

With that out of the way, you open your text and flip to the index, looking to see what catches your interest.

"So what are you thinking of summoning?" Parisa asks as she does the same.

"I don't know," you reply, "I was thinking maybe a gryphon or a gollem of some sort."

"A gryphon sounds fun," Parisa says with a smile, "Maybe we can have a race if I manage to summon the Pegasus I want."

"We'll see," you say as your eyes settle on something and you flip to the appropriate page to start drawing your magic circle on the floor space provided in front of you.

You and the brown-haired girl next to you work silently for a few minutes as you get the initial shapes of your circles worked out. Eventually, you look back over at her and ask, "Say, Parisa? Do you mind if I ask you about what happened in that last class in the gym?"

"Magic Self Defense?" she replies, "We were just practicing spell clashing and the guy I got partnered up with wasn't too good at it. Why do you ask?"

You frown, once more something about her answer ringing false to you. "Was that really all? You were hitting poor Artie pretty hard."

Parisia stops working for a moment, turning more fully towards you as a note of uncertainty enters her voice, "Oh. You've... met him?"

"Yeah," you reply, "Selena and Mana introduced me. He seemed like a nice guy."

Parisia squirms uncomfortably as she looks away from you. "... He's a bit of a pervert, actually."

"Huh?!"

"He's always... looking at all the girls in a really creepy way," she explains, "And I know he's copped a feel of my butt a few times when we've had to stand next to each other in some classes. Not to mention I found a camera in the girls showers one time that I'm pretty sure is his but I can't prove it. AND there was the time I'm sure I saw him sneaking out of my room and when I went in to check my stuff me and my roommate were each missing two pairs of panties and one of my bras was gone too."

She suddenly starts looking more than a little bit sad before adding, "And I keep trying to warn those two about him but they won't believe me. Nobody does. They were the only ones who had my back when I caught Victor trying to put a love potion in my drink but this time even they're doubting me about it. So I just stopped talking about it around them and just stay away when he's with them. I guess... maybe stuff like last class is the only chance I had to really... defend myself. Maybe scare him off. I mean, just because a lot of people pick on him doesn't mean he's instantly a good guy, right?"

You bite your lower lip, returning to your own work. Somehow, these words sound believable... or at least in the sense that Parisia herself certainly believes what she is saying. It makes you more confused in light of both your own interaction with him and Selena's glowing recommendation. It seems that is another angle you may have to follow up at a later time. "I'm sorry," you eventually say, "I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's okay," Parisia replies with a warm smile as she tries to banish the gloom on her face, "You were looking out for what you thought was a harmless little guy. That's... actually kind of noble. Just... please be careful. And please believe me."

Unable to think of an answer, you are glad to see your summoning circle is complete. Kneeling down next to it, you place your hand just outside the edge as your textbook instructed and allow your magical energies to flow towards the circle. The symbols along the edges begin to glow a rich purple color, growing brighter swiftly before you have to look away from the climactic flash of light that is your summoning taking form in the world.

When the light fades, you look back to see what you have summoned.