"So my father is a Demon." Aaron sat on his seat, his gaze fixed on Aurora, a look of utter bewilderment etched on his face. Even Lilly was uncharacteristically silent.
"Demons emerged from the gate alongside Monsters," Aurora began, a melancholic smile gracing her lips. "However, most demons chose not to participate in the war. They sought refuge, desiring a peaceful existence, yet they were still relentlessly hunted by the soldiers of every race."
"Are there still Demons in Elvis?" Lilly asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
"I don't know." Aurora shook her head, then her expression brightened, as if deliberately pushing away unpleasant memories. "Now, I want to teach you how to summon your familiar."
Lilly's eyes lit up at Aurora's words. "Yey!" she exclaimed.
Aaron, however, remained perplexed. He didn't quite grasp the concept of a familiar or understand Lilly's excitement.
'Perhaps it's an additional power,' he mused, 'maybe even an animal companion.'
The two children focused their attention on Aurora as she displayed a silver ring on her finger. "This is an enchanted ring, capable of holding your familiar. Each person can only have one, which is why it's crucial to understand the summoning process."
"Diamond, show yourself."
Aaron and Lilly watched intently as the silver ring shimmered momentarily, and then, a small, white Baby Dragon materialized before them.
"Wow!!" they both exclaimed in unison.
"How are my two little ones doing?" Diamond asked, a warm smile on its draconic face.
"It speaks!" Lilly exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder.
"Don't refer to me as 'it,' child. I am not an object, but a pureblood Dragon," Diamond corrected gently.
"Now, now, Diamond," Aurora interjected with a soft smile.
Aaron, meanwhile, was scrutinizing Diamond with his All Seeing Eyes.
{All Seeing Eyes.}
{Name: Diamond. (Ice Dragon.) Class: Legendary. Info: Mastered the Ice Affinity, Unbeatable in water and Exceptionally Loyal to its master.}
"Why are you staring at me, Aaron?" Diamond inquired, taking a few steps towards him.
"Where have you been? Why haven't I seen you before?" he asked, a slight frown creasing his forehead.
"My Master sent me on a mission. I returned a month ago, bringing these with me." Diamond turned towards Aurora, who waved her hand, causing two ornate golden books to appear on the table.
"This is a summoning book. I asked Diamond to help me retrieve it from the palace," she explained, handing one book to each of them.
Aaron accepted the book, examining it calmly. Almost instinctively, his All Seeing Eyes activated.
{All Seeing Eyes.}
{Name: Summoning Book. Class: ??. Info: ??.}
'Huh?' Aaron was taken aback. He glanced at Lilly's book.
{All Seeing Eyes.}
{Name: Summoning Book. Class: Elite. Info: Can summon pets as strong as Demon-Stage Monsters.}
He turned to Aurora, a look of confusion on his face.
"That book was given to me by your father. He asked me to give it to you," Aurora revealed.
Aaron nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the book that even his All Seeing Eyes couldn't fully comprehend.
"Now," Aurora announced, rising from her seat. She walked towards the sitting room, crouched down, and began to draw a circle on the floor. Aaron, Lilly, and Diamond stood to the side, observing her every movement.
Once the circle was complete, Aurora meticulously drew countless runes within its boundaries. The circle appeared ordinary, devoid of any glow.
{All Seeing Eyes.}
{Name: High-Class summoning Rune. Class: Legendary. Info: Consume a lot of Sid energy.}
'A lot of Sid energy?' He subtly observed Aurora, noticing the slight pallor of her face. He sighed inwardly. 'She always prioritizes us, never considering the toll it takes on herself. What a caring mother.'
Aurora sat down on a nearby chair, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead.
"Are you okay, Mom?" Lilly asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Yes, Lilly. I'm finished with the circle," she reassured them with a smile. "Now, place a drop of your blood on your summoning book, then step into the circle with it. It will choose the animal you are most fond of."
"Lilly should go first," Aaron suggested, reaching for the dagger that was always at his waist.
Lilly took the dagger and made a small cut on her palm. She grimaced slightly as a single drop of blood fell onto the book. Then, she cautiously stepped into the center of the drawn circle.
Diamond swiftly conjured a wall of ice around her. The next instant, a resounding BOOM! echoed through the room.
The ice barrier held firm against the violent surge of Sid Energy, effectively channeling it back towards Lilly.
Aaron watched, mesmerized, as the ice slowly cracked apart, revealing Lilly holding a small, white Baby Eagle in her hands.
{All Seeing Eyes.}
{Name: ?? (Predator). Class: Elite. Info: Known for its speed and high magic and wind resistance, unbeatable in air.}
'I was right,' Aaron thought. 'An Elite-class summoning book can only summon Elite-class Familiars, similar in strength to the fox and dog we encountered in the forest.'
"Wow!!! You are beautiful! I'll name you Snow!!" Lilly exclaimed joyfully, hugging the baby Eagle, which looked around with a curious expression.
"Your familiar is still a baby. The only way it will grow stronger and larger is if you yourself become stronger," Aurora explained, gently stroking Diamond's back.
Aaron turned his attention to Aurora and was instantly stunned. 'Is she siphoning Sid energy from Diamond? No one told me she could do that!' A bright smile spread across his face.
Lilly stepped back from the circle, her new companion nestled securely in her arms. The three turned to Aaron, who smirked and confidently walked towards the summoning circle. He made a cut on his palm, letting more than just a single drop of blood fall onto his book.
"What are you doing, Aaron? That's a lot of blood," Aurora said, standing up quickly, concern etched on her face.
"I'm okay, Mom," he reassured her, stepping into the circle. Immediately, Diamond encased him in a protective layer of ice.
CRACK!
BOOM!!!
The eyes of the three onlookers widened in astonishment as the ice shattered into countless pieces, sending shards flying across the room.
"What the—?" Even Diamond seemed momentarily stunned.
The three watched in disbelief as Aaron held a quivering, circular blob in his hands.
'Are you kidding me?!' Aaron yelled inwardly, his mind reeling. 'Lilly gets an Elite-class Familiar, and I get... Huh?' He paused, his All Seeing Eyes focusing on the strange creature.
{All Seeing Eyes.}
{Name: ?? (The Shifter). Class: ??. Info: ??.}
'Huh?'
"Brother got a blob?" Lilly asked, her voice filled with confusion.
'A blob? I've never seen a familiar like that before,' Aurora mused, equally perplexed.
Aaron stared at the remnants of the summoning circle, which had cracked and vanished completely. He looked down at the gelatinous blob in his hand, utterly bewildered. The blob, in turn, looked up at him with two large, unblinking eyes.
'Why are you staring at me like I'm useless? Let me tell you, I can kill you with one bite!'
Aaron froze, stunned by the voice that echoed directly in his mind.
'If you aren't useless, show me what you can do?' he thought back, a hint of challenge in his mental tone.
'I need to feed. I don't act without eating.'
'Are you kidding me?!'