Summoner summer camp 2, p.16
Summoner Summer Camp 2, page 16
The dussubus grinned with excitement. She wiggled her wand and snarled, “Lacero et frangam magia vinculum!”
The spell that erupted from her wand was nothing like Katherine’s gentle golden light. This was violent and brutal, a slash of crimson energy that struck the dummy with physical force. The construct exploded. Stuffing erupted from a dozen slashes, and it fell in pieces.
“That,” Peaches said, slightly breathless, “is Arcane Sundering. It will rip enchantments out by the roots and make the target pay dearly for every spell they had active. Use it on a mage with multiple buffs running, and you won’t just strip their protections. You’ll leave them bleeding magic, potentially crippled.”
“Try it,” Katherine urged. She used a series of spells to repair the target. “But be prepared. This spell has teeth. It will fight you for control.”
I raised my wand and pictured the Seed Swallower’s death magic shattering under my assault. “Lacero et frangam magia vinculum!”
The spell fought me the moment I cast it. It wanted to be brutal, wanted to destroy without restraint, and I had to wrestle it into submission even as I released it. When it finally launched, the recoil nearly knocked me off my feet.
The spell didn’t cut the dummy. My casting went off like a bomb. Books flew from shelves. Loose papers whirled through the air. Various implements clattered to the floor. When the debris settled, there was nothing left of the dummy except a few wisps of straw.
“Holy shit,” I breathed. My wand arm trembled.
“Indeed,” Katherine said dryly. “That version is not for casual use. Certainly do not use it in the Games or against other students. Ever. The magical backlash alone could cause permanent damage. But against an opponent like a Seed Swallower, something already cursed and corrupted? It could save your life.”
We spent the next hour drilling the spell. Peaches took over for the repetitive parts and proved herself a teacher every bit as effective as Summer Shandy. The dussubus was equal parts encouraging and demanding. She’d demonstrate, I’d attempt, and she’d correct my form with hands that lingered perhaps a moment too long on my shoulders. The flirtation was there and unmistakable, but beneath it was pure focus. She wanted me to master this.
By the time Katherine called a halt, I could cast both versions of the spell reliably. The standard Enchantment Severance came easily now. The advanced Arcane Sundering still left me winded and shaking, but I could control it without destroying Katherine’s office.
“The second spell,” Katherine said as she returned to her chair. “It’s defensive. The scholastic version is called Protective Barrier. It’s simple shield magic that absorbs incoming attacks until it breaks. It’s part of the curriculum for third-year combat courses in the second semester.”
She demonstrated without standing. A translucent dome of blue light formed around her and shimmered gently. It looked stable and reassuring.
“Consider it perfect for the Games and minor threats. It will stop most physical attacks and moderate magical assaults. The advanced version, however...” She dismissed the barrier. “The advanced version is called Aegis of Absolute Defense. It doesn’t just absorb attacks. It negates them entirely, at massive mana cost. Hold it too long and you’ll burn through your reserves in seconds, even with your warlock capacity. But for those few seconds you’re untouchable. Nothing can reach you.”
Peaches took over the demonstration and cast both versions one at a time. The standard barrier looked solid and reliable. The advanced version looked hungry. It shimmered with golden-white light that devoured any magic that touched it. Lady Katherine conjured small projectiles and hurled them at each barrier. The standard one absorbed them with visible ripples. The advanced one consumed them completely, and the projectiles simply ceased to exist on contact.
“This one will be harder to master,” Katherine warned. “The mana drain is catastrophic, and the spell requires absolute concentration. Any lapse, even for a fraction of a second, and it collapses immediately. You cannot cast other spells while maintaining it. You cannot move. You can only defend.”
She was right. My first three attempts at the standard version flickered and died within seconds. The fourth held, barely, forming a trembling dome. The advanced version stayed completely beyond my grasp. The spell structure was too complex, and the mana requirements too steep at the moment, after all of the other casting. I could feel it in my mind and see the framework, but executing it was another matter.
“Don’t worry,” Peaches said with her hand on my shoulder. “You’ll get it with practice. You’ve got the foundation, the raw power, and the understanding. The rest is repetition and refinement.”
“Practice somewhere safe,” Katherine added. “And Reggie? If you encounter more Seed Swallowers, don’t try to be heroic. Alert faculty immediately. These creatures are dangerous in ways you don’t fully understand yet. They’ve had centuries to master their cursed existence.”
I was utterly spent from the advanced spellcasting. My mana reserves had dropped to maybe twenty percent, so I didn’t argue. “Got it. No problem. Thanks for all your help.”
“Of course. We wouldn’t want anything to happen to you or the good ladies of Cabin 7, would we?” Her smile was faint but playful as she looked at a grand clock in the corner. It had been knocked slightly askew during our practice. “Ah, and now I have my own classes to attend. Talk again soon, Reggie.”
I waved goodbye and headed toward the library. Once I had enough mana to cast spells again, it would be time to resume my studies of the lustfruit.
The library was blessedly quiet after the intensity of Katherine’s lesson. Professor Applebottom looked up from her desk as I entered. Her green skin was bright in the afternoon light filtering through the high windows.
“Mr. Hickson,” she said warmly. “What can I do for you?”
Remembering that none of our previous interactions had happened in the waking world, only in dreamwalks that she had no memory of, I went through the motions all over again. I explained what I needed and why. I described the lustfruit situation and my research goals. She listened with rapt attention and occasionally asked insightful questions. She allowed me access for precisely the same reasons as the first day. She even acted slightly more interested in my research this time, leaning forward as I described the fruit’s unusual properties.
By the time I arrived in the now-familiar examination chamber, I had only a few hours before the girls and Summer were due to arrive for our advanced spell training session. I crossed to the examination table and settled into a chair to relax and center myself. Meditation would help organize my thoughts and speed up mana regeneration.
My first goal was to learn more about the fruit’s connection to fertility, if such a connection existed beyond speculation. After that, I needed ways to tap into the fruit’s inherent properties to develop new spells. A less selfless man might have used them to create enchantments of infinite arousal and endless production.
But, as I’d told the girls repeatedly, I had no interest in becoming the father of thousands of children unless I had absolutely no other choice. There had to be better solutions.
Eventually my objectives solidified into clarity. Soon after, my mana returned enough to use the lab’s tools reliably. I went to work with renewed purpose.
The girls arrived precisely on time. Summer accompanied them with her rose-colored mane perfectly styled. After a quick introduction of our objectives, our fourth explanation from Cabin 7’s perspective but first for Summer, we moved to a practice chamber on the library’s second floor. There, we picked up where we’d left off in the advanced spell training.
As with the dream sessions, Summer proved to be an effective tutor. She warmed to the team quickly once she saw how fast they picked up what she had to teach them. Her aloof princess act melted into something more friendly. Pride flickered in her eyes when Bekkah successfully cast a complex conjuration. Approval warmed her voice when Tizzy maintained multiple summons without strain.
When the session concluded, all of us were pleasantly exhausted but measurably stronger. We said our goodbyes. Summer departed with a final meaningful look in my direction. We headed back to Cabin 7, where by mutual agreement we went for a long nap before traveling together to meet Kasirah's swan summon.
New Spell Entries
Enchantment Severance (Official Version)
Spell: Enchantment Severance
Incantation: Abrumpo vinculum magicae
Casting Time: Standard
Mana Cost: Standard-High (scales with enchantment complexity)
Range: Close (within 30 feet, line of sight)
Duration: Instantaneous
Details: Severs active magical enchantments from a target, removing curses, charms, buffs, and other ongoing magical effects. The spell works methodically, unraveling magical bonds without causing harm to the target. More complex enchantments require more mana and concentration. Cannot affect permanent magical traits (like species abilities) or enchantments protected by legendary magic. Commonly taught in advanced combat classes for dealing with hostile magic users. The removal is clean and controlled, making it safe for allied targets.
Arcane Sundering (Advanced Version)
Spell: Arcane SunderingIncantation: Lacero et frangam magia vinculumCasting Time: StandardMana Cost: High-Extreme (scales dramatically with number of active effects)Range: Close (within 30 feet, line of sight)Duration: InstantaneousDetails: NOT OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED. Violently tears enchantments from a target, shattering magical bonds with brutal force. Unlike Enchantment Severance, this spell doesn’t gently remove effects - it rips them out by the roots. The backlash deals magical damage to the target proportional to the number and power of enchantments removed. Each severed enchantment inflicts pain and temporary magical exhaustion. In extreme cases, targets may suffer permanent reduction in magical capacity if too many powerful effects are sundered simultaneously. The spell has significant recoil, potentially staggering the caster. Highly effective against opponents relying on multiple magical buffs or sustained combat enchantments, but dangerous to use on allies. Leaves magical “scars” that can be detected by skilled mages.
Protective Barrier (Official Version)
Spell: Protective Barrier
Incantation: Scutum protectionis
Casting Time: Short-Standard
Mana Cost: Standard (plus sustained cost)
Range: Self or Touch
Duration: Until dismissed or broken (sustained concentration)
Details: Creates a translucent barrier of blue light around the target that absorbs incoming attacks. The barrier has a damage threshold based on mana invested and caster’s skill. Once that threshold is exceeded, the barrier shatters. Effective against physical attacks, magical projectiles, and area effects. Does not prevent movement or restrict the caster’s actions, though sustained concentration is required to maintain it. Multiple barriers can be layered for increased protection at proportionally higher mana cost. Standard defensive spell taught in combat magic courses.
Aegis of Absolute Defense (Advanced Version)
Spell: Aegis of Absolute Defense
Incantation: Aegis absolutum defende
Casting Time: Standard
Mana Cost: Extreme (massive sustained drain)
Range: Self only
Duration: Until dismissed or mana depleted (sustained concentration)
Details: NOT OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED. Creates a barrier that doesn’t merely absorb attacks - it negates them entirely. Incoming magic, physical force, and energy attacks are completely nullified upon contact with the aegis. The barrier appears as a shimmering field of golden-white light that consumes any magic that touches it. The trade-off is catastrophic mana consumption. Even for a Warlock with exceptional reserves, the spell can only be sustained for seconds before completely draining the caster. Any lapse in concentration causes immediate collapse. Cannot be cast on others - the mental and magical demands require the aegis to be self-directed. While active, the caster is functionally invulnerable but cannot cast other spells without dismissing the aegis. Prolonged use can cause temporary magical exhaustion, nosebleeds, and in extreme cases, mana burn (temporary inability to cast any magic). Used primarily in life-or-death situations where absolute protection is needed for a critical moment.
Chapter 21: Elegance
(Awake)
We made our way toward the Glimmerfen Marsh as the afternoon sun turned the sky amber and pink. Kasirah led the way, but her confident stride was tempered by tension visible in her defined shoulders.
“You okay, Kassi?” I asked and fell into step beside her.
She glanced at me, then away. “I’m fine, mostly.”
“Mostly?”
“My previous meetings with the spirit have gone differently each time. I don’t know what to expect.”
I reached out and put a hand on her arm. “You’ve got this. I know you do. We all do.”
The girls all moved in to support her, and their care for one of our own touched me. It showed just how far we were coming as a harem, even with the relatively short time we’d all been together.
Then again, I guess I was the new addition to the dynamic, not any of them. No matter how you sliced it, though, I was the tentpole that currently held things together.
Heh. Pole.
As we continued walking, the landscape gradually shifted from well-maintained paths to softer ground, and the air grew heady with the scent of water and growing things. Cattails lined the marshy edges while dragonflies zipped past.
The route we took was adjacent to the dream date Kasirah and I had shared. It took us to an outlet of water so still it looked like glass. Lily pads dotted the surface with white and pink flowers fully open to the fading sunlight, and smooth stones ringed the pool’s edge, and the whole space felt special, like it was even more magical than the rest of the gorgeous landscape.
And in the center of the pool, floating gracefully, was the swan from our date.
I recognized her immediately. During my dreamwalk with Kasirah, we’d encountered this same creature, and she’d been impressive then too. Seeing her in the waking world somehow made her even more striking.
I looked her over anew. She was huge, with intelligent, kind eyes that matched the deep blue of Kasirah’s own, and as we approached, she raised her wings in welcome.
The creature spoke in a feminine voice that reminded me of Lord of the Rings elves, which in turn reminded me that I was overdue for a rewatch. “Greetings, women and Warlock of Cabin 7. I am Seraphelle, Guardian of Still Waters. What brings you here this night? Reggie, do you seek to add another spirit to your menagerie?” Man, I really wanted to marathon the extended editions all of a sudden.
Kasirah stepped forward with her shoulders straight and proud. “It is I, great spirit, who seeks to bond with you.”
“Ah. A valkyrie.” Seraphelle tilted her long neck. “Why are you interested in gaining me as a summons? Are your kind not warriors in your own right?”
“I wish to...” Kasirah swallowed and shifted like she might look at me, then pushed on. “I wish to be more than a warrior. My heart yearns to protect and nurture as much as to do battle.”
Seraphelle glided closer, and I couldn’t help but notice she barely sent a ripple across the water’s surface. “More than a warrior. An interesting phrase from your kind. Tell me more of what you desire, Kasirah.”
The valkyrie was silent for a long moment, and when she spoke, her voice was rough but clearly not holding back any bit of her truth. “I want to heal. I want to protect without destroying. I want to be someone my friends can turn to.” She paused, and I could see her gathering herself for what came next. “I want to be a mother and raise a family.”
Well, damn. My heart did a little flip at that. We hadn’t talked about kids yet, and hell, we’d barely talked about what we were doing next week. But hearing her say it out loud like that, to this ancient spirit, hit different.
“And you believe bonding with me will help you to achieve that?”
“I believe it will be a step in embracing my truth,” Kasirah said. “With you at my side, I will have options no other valkyrie has ever possessed.”
Seraphelle’s gaze pierced straight through Kasirah. “You speak both flattery and truth, both of which are welcome in this little congress of ours. But tell me this: if embracing our bond and becoming a mother changes your fate, are you willing to risk that which makes you a valkyrie?”
Kasirah shifted from foot to foot, and I could tell this was a new question, one she hadn’t anticipated. “I believe there is a path forward with room for both. If not, I will make one with my new family at my side.”
The swan’s beak opened and closed, her tongue peeking out in a thoughtful, almost human gesture. “That... Yes. I will accept that. You have touched my heart. I will give you the test.”
The girls murmured in delight, and Tizzy started bouncing while Bekkah’s wings fluttered bright enough to throw little rainbow patterns on the water.
Seraphelle continued. “Kneel by the water’s edge and place your hands in the pool. Feel its stillness, its peace, its patient endurance. Water does not fight the stone. It flows around it. It does not battle the earth. It nourishes it. Be still, warrior. Let the water teach you.”
Frankly, I was already tired of all the zen shit, but Kasirah moved without hesitation, dropping to her knees and cupping the water, which had taken on a velvety white glow. Her eyes went wide as she studied it. “It’s so calm,” she whispered. “Still in a world of so much chaos and change.”
“Yes,” Seraphelle said gently. “And in that stillness is great power. The power to wait. The power to observe. The power to respond rather than react. This is the first lesson of healing: you must be still enough to truly see what needs healing.”
