“Alright, that concludes the basic classification of familiars for now.”
“Next, we’ll discuss the most fundamental and crucial aspect of the Summoning School: the summoning method itself.”
As Leiruiya waved her hand lightly, the slide projected by the magic lamp switched.
The images of various oddly shaped summoned familiars vanished, replaced by two complex and intricate mystical arrays.
Hearing Leiruiya’s words, Tunzuo quickly sat up straight, pen hovering over his notebook, adopting the posture of a diligent student eager to learn.
“There are two main methods of summoning familiars.”
Leiruiya raised two slender fingers and waved them in front of Tunzuo.
“The first is the basic summoning method that most witches can master. We call it Projection.”
“Projection?”
Tunzuo unconsciously repeated the word after Leiruiya.
“That’s right, Projection.”
Leiruiya nodded, her gaze warm as she looked at Tunzuo and continued her explanation.
“The essence of Projection is that the witch uses a stable summoning array and incantations as a bridge connecting the mortal world and the Spirit World. When the bridge is established, the witch can summon a reflection of a familiar that already exists in the Spirit World and matches her needs into the mortal world.”
As she spoke, Leiruiya used her magic to sketch a simple phantom of a projection summoning array.
“What you need to know is that the true body of the familiar summoned via Projection remains in the Spirit World. What you see in the mortal world is merely the familiar’s shadow projected there. If you want to maintain this shadow’s presence in the mortal world, you must continuously expend your own magic. Once the magic supply is cut off or the contract is voluntarily dissolved, the familiar’s shadow will dissipate in the mortal world.”
At this point, Leiruiya paused briefly, giving Tunzuo time to digest the knowledge she had just imparted, then added:
“Also, don’t treat the shadow as a disposable resource just because it’s not the true body. Their feelings matter.”
“The mortal shadow and the true body in the Spirit World share the same consciousness. Everything you do to the shadow in the mortal world is synchronously felt by the true body in the Spirit World. So, the care and companionship you invest are equally essential.”
Tunzuo nodded thoughtfully.
Leiruiya’s explanation gave him a fairly intuitive understanding of projection summoning.
“What’s the second method?”
Tunzuo asked curiously, because he could infer from Leiruiya’s words and tone that this so-called second method was probably not simple.
Sure enough, facing Tunzuo’s question, Leiruiya’s expression turned serious.
“The second method is what we call Creation.”
“Creation?”
Tunzuo blinked in confusion.
The word “Creation” sounded lofty, but it also sounded difficult.
“This is the advanced realm of the Summoning School, and it’s a high-level summoning method that only a small fraction of summoning witches can master.”
Leiruiya’s voice became somewhat ethereal, as if deliberately creating a sense of mystery.
“The essence of Creation summoning is that the witch, based on her own needs, directly creates a familiar that meets her criteria within the Spirit World.”
“Create a familiar?! Is that even possible?!”
Tunzuo’s eyes widened in shock, finding it hard to believe.
“Of course it is, as long as we can understand the rules of the Spirit World.”
Leiruiya cleared her throat and explained in detail to Tunzuo:
“The Spirit World we speak of is actually a fantastical world formed by the thoughts, consciousness, and fantasies of all intelligent beings in the universe. It is filled with endless concepts and impressions.”
“If a witch can find a way to leave a clear and deep enough impression of the familiar she wants to create within the vast ocean of thoughts in the Spirit World, then the Spirit World will respond to the witch’s desire, gather and condense the scattered concepts of that familiar, and grant it life.”
Hearing this, Tunzuo had a sudden realization.
It sounded a lot like writing a novel.
As long as the characters in a book are vivid enough and leave a deep impression on readers’ minds, the Spirit World could potentially bring those characters to life in the form of familiars.
“The advantages of the Creation method are obvious.”
Seeing that Tunzuo had a preliminary understanding of Creation summoning, Leiruiya continued:
“Familiars summoned via Creation are no longer illusory shadows in the mortal world—they possess true physical forms. They don’t need to consume the witch’s magic to remain permanently in the mortal world. Moreover, because these familiars are usually custom-designed by the summoner, their abilities are often highly customizable and have growth potential. They are truly perfect partners.”
“Sounds tempting.”
Tunzuo was mesmerized by the benefits of Creation familiars.
No magic consumption and customizable abilities—wasn’t that the perfect tailor-made companion!
“Don’t be misled by the advantages of the Creation method. This path is not easy and is fraught with danger.”
Leiruiya saw what Tunzuo was thinking and shifted her tone, becoming somewhat solemn as she warned:
“First of all, the difficulty of Creation summoning is far greater than Projection. If you want the familiar you create to leave a deep impression amid billions of thoughts, besides the summoner herself needing an extremely pure and strong obsession, the familiar she creates must also have corresponding unique characteristics.”
“Secondly, this method of creating something from nothing is highly unstable. The familiar you create might undergo uncontrollable mutations due to the chaotic thoughts in the Spirit World. Every year, there are incidents in the Duonayongla World caused by out-of-control familiar created via Creation. How to precisely and safely use the Creation method to summon familiars remains one of the challenges faced by the Summoning School.”
Leiruiya’s detailed explanation made Tunzuo nod frequently.
He internally compared the Projection and Creation methods.
Projection had the advantage of stability, while Creation had the advantage of power.
Both methods had their pros and cons.
Choosing between them was like walking on a forked path—one was a safe and efficient smooth plain, while the other was a steep cliff whose peak was full of treasure.
“The time is about up. Let’s stop here for our first class.”
Leiruiya looked up at the clock on the wall, then stood up and interrupted Tunzuo’s random thoughts.
At the same time, she pulled a yellowed piece of parchment from her pocket and gently pushed it in front of Tunzuo.
“Teacher Leiruiya, what is this?”
Tunzuo picked up the parchment and looked at it.
It was covered with intricate and obscure lines and runes, along with several neatly metered phrases.
The complicated image left Tunzuo completely baffled.
“This is the blueprint for a projection summoning array.”
Leiruiya shrugged and said casually.
“Consider it today’s homework. When you go back, you can try using the Projection method to summon a relatively simple familiar. I’ve written the method on the parchment. After all, only when you truly have a familiar can the Summoning School curriculum truly begin, right?”
Hearing this, Tunzuo carefully tucked the parchment away and nodded solemnly to Leiruiya.
“I understand, Teacher Leiruiya. I’ll complete the homework properly.”
“Good. I believe that student Tunzuo will be a good kid who completes his homework on time.”
Seeing Tunzuo’s sincere attitude, Leiruiya felt quite gratified, the corners of her mouth twitching upward a few pixels.
As the clear sound of the class bell rang, Tunzuo’s first specialized theoretical class on the Summoning School officially came to an end.
“Time to say goodbye. Be careful on your way back. I look forward to seeing your first familiar, student Tunzuo.”
Leiruiya straightened her slightly wrinkled clothes and looked up to remind Tunzuo.
“I know! Goodbye, Teacher Leiruiya!”
Tunzuo waved goodbye to Leiruiya, then picked up his bag and walked briskly out of the classroom.
Because of the homework left by Leiruiya in the morning, Monday afternoon’s magic theory class felt like a painful hearing for Tunzuo.
Teacher Sherry was lecturing enthusiastically at the podium, but Tunzuo was absentmindedly listening below, his mind full of thoughts about what kind of familiar he would summon.
After barely making it through until school ended, Tunzuo instantly turned into a cloud of black mist and vanished from the classroom.
He joyfully sprinted all the way back to his dorm.
Tunzuo pushed open the dorm door and found it empty.
Huli had been dragged out by Sally to play, probably not coming back for a while.
Olivia, that perverted golden dragon, was off doing who knows what.
“Heh heh, no one’s here? That works perfectly!”
Tunzuo clenched his fists full of motivation.
This was a golden opportunity!
If Sally and Huli were present, they’d be chattering endlessly and disturbing his spellcasting.
If Olivia were here… who knows what that perverted golden dragon would cook up.
But now, the entire dorm was Tunzuo’s exclusive summoning ground!
Tunzuo casually tossed his bag onto the sofa and dashed into his room, slamming the door shut with a bang.
He dug out a box of chalk from his desk and then began preparing to draw the summoning array for the familiar.
Tunzuo let out a breath to calm his excited emotions, then knelt on the floor and began copying the patterns and runes from the parchment onto the floorboards, bit by bit.
The chalk scraped against the wooden floor, making a squeak, squeak sound.
Tunzuo was focused, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
He didn’t dare make the slightest mistake.
Every angle of the lines, every structure of the runes had to match the original diagram on the parchment exactly.
Even the smallest error could cause the summoning to fail, rendering all his efforts useless.
As time passed minute by minute, the sky outside the window gradually darkened.
After who knows how long, Tunzuo finally finished drawing a summoning array about two meters in diameter on the floor.
The lines were smooth, the runes clear, and it emitted a faint glow in the dim room, giving it a mysterious aura.
Tunzuo collapsed onto the floor, breathing heavily, looking at his masterpiece with a satisfied smile.
“Haah, I’m exhausted. Finally done.”
He wiped the sweat from his forehead and sat cross-legged beside the array, pondering an extremely critical question:
What kind of familiar did he want to summon?
A combat-type familiar?
Images of mighty familiars like rock giants or wyverns flashed through Tunzuo’s mind, but he quickly dismissed that idea.
First, his current life didn’t require fighting.
He didn’t need a bodyguard with nothing but brute force who would be hard to control.
Second, Tunzuo figured that with his current level, even if he summoned a combat-type familiar, it probably wouldn’t be very strong.
If he tried to use a combat-type familiar to deal with Olivia, his little minion might not even withstand a single punch from her.
Then he’d have to clean up the mess himself—how embarrassing for a witch!
He’d better summon a service-type familiar.
Tunzuo’s eyes darted around, and then he came up with an idea.
As a seasoned slacker, Tunzuo’s greatest wish was to enjoy a laid-back life.
If he could summon a familiar that could both fly like a mount and carry his bag like a porter, that would save him a lot of energy and time!
“Alright! I’ve decided! A transportation-type familiar that can fly and haul stuff!”
Tunzuo thought this idea was absolutely brilliant—he was truly a genius slacker.
No time to waste!
Tunzuo took a deep breath and struck a pose he thought looked cool.
He opened his hands, palms facing down, aimed at the summoning array in front of him.
He closed his eyes and began channeling his shadow magic.
Thick black mist flowed from his fingertips, slowly seeping along the lines of the summoning array.
The once-dormant chalk lines instantly lit up, emitting an eerie purple-black glow.
The light around the array began to circulate.
The black mist on the array was stirred by an invisible force, forming a small black vortex.
Feeling his magic drain, Tunzuo silently recited the prepared incantation.
He had adapted it from the basic formula written on the parchment, combining it with his own requirements for the familiar.
It might not be very stylish, but as long as it worked.
[Familiar who dwells within the Spirit World, heed my call]
Tunzuo’s clear voice echoed in the room, carrying a strange rhythm.
[I, in the name of the contractor, hereby beseech]
As Tunzuo chanted, the temperature in the room plummeted.
The black vortex grew larger and larger, the bridge between the mortal world and the Spirit World slowly being constructed.
[Wanderer who roams the shadows of the Spirit World]
[Hearken to my wish]
[Bear my burdens]
[Cross the boundary of space]
[Here in this mortal world, reveal your shadow]
Drip.
As Tunzuo finished the incantation, his shadow magic wrapped around his words, turning into a single pitch-black droplet that precisely dropped into the center of the array, penetrating into the Spirit World.
However, what Tunzuo didn’t know was that at the moment the droplet passed through the summoning array and entered the Spirit World, it suddenly underwent a transformation.